This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
There is a difference between interesting and exciting. Take for example the last two weeks on the PGA Tour. Last week we had an interesting finish because several players on the back nine had a chance to win. The week prior, however, was an exciting finish. The difference is in the names. Heading into Sunday there were plenty of potentially hot story lines: would Jason Day take control of the Fed Ex Cup race after nearly winning a week earlier? Would Rory McIlroy display his dominance again and put everyone in their place? Was former FedEx champ Bill Haas within striking range? As you know, none of these story lines came to fruition, which was a bit of a letdown in my eyes. I don't want to diminish what Chris Kirk did on Sunday, but at this point in the season, it's just more exciting when the big names show up on Sunday, and, unfortunately, that didn't happen at the Deutsche Bank. The good news is only the best players on the PGA Tour, or rather, the ones playing the best, continue on, which means more weekend leader boards with names like Day, Kuchar, McIlroy, Haas, Mahan, etc. ... In other words, with a 70-man field this week and a 30-man field next week, the odds of an exciting finish are again in our favor.
This week: BMW Championship - Cherry Hills country Clu. - Cherry Hills Village, Colo.
Last Year: Zach Johnson shot a final-round 65 on his way
There is a difference between interesting and exciting. Take for example the last two weeks on the PGA Tour. Last week we had an interesting finish because several players on the back nine had a chance to win. The week prior, however, was an exciting finish. The difference is in the names. Heading into Sunday there were plenty of potentially hot story lines: would Jason Day take control of the Fed Ex Cup race after nearly winning a week earlier? Would Rory McIlroy display his dominance again and put everyone in their place? Was former FedEx champ Bill Haas within striking range? As you know, none of these story lines came to fruition, which was a bit of a letdown in my eyes. I don't want to diminish what Chris Kirk did on Sunday, but at this point in the season, it's just more exciting when the big names show up on Sunday, and, unfortunately, that didn't happen at the Deutsche Bank. The good news is only the best players on the PGA Tour, or rather, the ones playing the best, continue on, which means more weekend leader boards with names like Day, Kuchar, McIlroy, Haas, Mahan, etc. ... In other words, with a 70-man field this week and a 30-man field next week, the odds of an exciting finish are again in our favor.
This week: BMW Championship - Cherry Hills country Clu. - Cherry Hills Village, Colo.
Last Year: Zach Johnson shot a final-round 65 on his way to a three-stroke victory over Jim Furyk.
PLAYERS TO CONSIDER
Jason Day
The way he's playing, he's bound to pick up a win this week or next. Track records can be tossed this week as this will be the first time this event is held at Cherry Hills, so it's all about form this week, and Day looks really good entering this week.
Rory McIlroy
Broken record time. Day and McIlroy, McIlroy and Day every week. Well, they had a chance to finish 1-2 last week, but neither played well on Sunday. The point is, both players are at the top of their games, which means along with Day, McIlroy should have a chance to win this Sunday.
Billy Horschel
Horschel hasn't lived up to the hype that he built last year, but we saw last week what he's capable of when he's on. An errant shot on the 72nd-hole aside, Horschel appears to be locked-in right now. If that's the case, he'll be a factor come Sunday.
Jim Furyk
Furyk has owned this event over the years. Unfortunately for him, the BMW is no longer played in Illinois. Even without the track history, Furyk looks to be one of the best options this week as he generally plays well this time of the year and had a chance to win just two weeks back.
Adam Scott
Call it a hunch, but I have a feeling Scott is about to make a run at the FedEx title the next two weeks. He hasn't been a factor the last two weeks, but he's been hanging right around the second page of the leaderboard, which leads me to believe he's close.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Chris Kirk
It's not easy to back up a win during the FedEx playoffs, just ask Hunter Mahan. Part of the problem for anyone who wins is they no longer need to play well until the final week. It's just a natural human reaction to let up when a win is no longer necessary.
Bubba Watson
Watson enters this week on consecutive top-30s, but for a player of his caliber, that's simply not good enough. Bubba will certainly take advantage of the thin air this week, but the rest of his game is not where it needs to be.
Will MacKenzie
MacKenzie is still alive in the FedEx playoffs due to his hot start to the season, but he can only ride that success so long, and his season is likely to end this week. He did make the cut last week, but it was only his second made cut since the start of April.
J.B. Holmes
No matter how he closes the season, this year has been an unquestioned success. Entering the season, no one was sure if Holmes would ever be the same player as he was pre-brain surgery, but a win at the Wells Fargo Championship put those fears to bed. That said, he hasn't been all that sharp lately and his season likely ends this week.
Phil Mickelson
One of two things going on here with Mickelson. Either his game just isn't sharp enough or his heart just isn't in it. Whatever the case, he's not a strong option this week.
ONE AND DONE GOLFER
Last week: Jason Day (T7) - $258,000; Season - $6,900,000
This week: Rory McIlroy - With all players available, and I know, not many would have McIlroy at this point, but if you do, he's the play. I get the sense that he's ready to go into major mode and take control of the FedEx playoffs this week.
YAHOO PICKS
Points: 5,178
Rank: 14,238
This Week:
Group A: Adam Scott, Matt Kuchar
Group B: Jason Day, Jim Furyk, Rory McIlroy, Billy Horschel
Group C: John Senden, Jimmy Walker
SURVIVOR PICK
Last week: Hunter Mahan (64); Streak - 1
This week: N/A - No more cuts this season.
