FanNation

It's time for the unofficial second half of the PGA Tour Season, and while the first half has been full of plenty of drama and storylines; the second half should have that and then some.  The FedEx Cup Playoffs will be starting in just a few weeks and, unlike last year (and although he still technically leads the points standings), there will be no Tiger involvement, meaning the $10 million prize is really up for grabs.  Perry, Cink, Ogilvy, Kim, Trahan and Harrington among others, all have legitimate shots at winning; joining your traditional Phil/Vijay crowd.  It should prove to highlight tournaments that traditionally were pretty meaningless on the Tour schedule, and make for, wait for it, new viewers!  The playoff push starts this week in Ontario of all places where the RBC Canadian Open is being hosted.  Traditionally, this is a well contested tournament with a deep field, and although the field isn't the greatest this week; it's still not bad for a non-Major (well, unless you're Canadian; then it's a Major).  Jim Furyk is your two-time defending champ in this tournament.  This year it will be held at the Glen Abbey Golf Club (for the 23rd time in its history), and at around 7,200 yards, should be accessible to just about everyone this week.  I would expect scores in the 60s most of the week on the Par-71 course.  Weather shouldn't be a factor as it's expected to be a gorgeous weekend for golf; temps in the high 70s with light to moderate winds and sunny with little humidity.  So, I think this week it's going to boil down to the great equalizer; who is playing the best right now.

Start

Richard S. Johnson - A Group - Before you jump on me for violating my own rule about "last week's winner" there are a few things to keep in mind.  First off, the A Group this week is depressingly thin, and my only other option to pick here is the two-time defending champion; which would violate another rule.  So, I chose to violate the rule I did based on the "he's playing better" right now, and that's true.  I'm sure 90% of you (if not more) didn't see any of the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee last weekend (there was another tournament going on that was kind of important); but Johnson had a fantastic back nine on Sunday, carding a 30 and closing everyone else out (including Kenny Perry) in a very tightly bunched field.  It was by far his best finish of the season (his next best was a T-37th) and his stats are all in the "not very good" range (except for putting, where he's 60th in Average and 73rd in Putts Per Round).  However, admittedly, I was very impressed with the way Johnson played this weekend, especially Sunday; and he ripped off big-time drive after big-time drive; splitting the fairway on the back 9 all the way down the stretch.  I think if he's in it; he'll show that same closing ability.  I don't know if I expect an outright win, but I really think he's going to card a nice finish here.  And trust me when I tell you; the A Group is terrible this week.

Alternate: Jim Furyk

Anthony Kim - B Group - Now we're talking.  Kim has been smoking hot of late, overshadowed by only Kenny Perry over the last couple of months or so.  He's coming of a fantastic T-7th performance in his first Open Championship (in insane conditions) and his play continues to improve week after week.  It's fun to watch.  His stats have gone from "average at best" to "crazy good" over the last two months or so; and the results have spoken for themselves.  He's 10th in Driving Distance (155th in Accuracy for a 42nd in Total Driving).  He's 35th in Greens In Regulation.  He's all the way up to 49th in Putting Average and 53rd in Putts Per Round; up from the mid-100s where he was not too long ago.  He's 27th in Scrambling and 20th in Bounce Back (both on display at The Open).  He's 7th in All-Around Ranking, and just appears to be giving off the "I'm on fire right now" aura recently.  The field isn't as deep as it was at The Open, and the course and weather conditions won't even be in the same neighborhood.  This will be my "win" pick this week, I think.  If nothing else, he's a lock for the top-10.  Mike Weir is also in this group, and although he's been struggling this year; he's Canadian, and has traditionally always done well in this tournament.

Alternates: Mike Weir, Briny Baird, Ken Duke

Dean Wilson - C Group - And here's another player who has been on fire of late.  Wilson finished in a logjam for T-2nd last week, and has, for the most part, been truly "in the mix" of late; although he can be tough to find.  He's got six top-25s in his last 10 events and two top-3s in his last three.  He's bounced back after a very rocky start early, and while he's not exactly consistent yet; his play has shown marked improvement; punctuated last week when he finished last week with the clubhouse lead that the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee.  He's another player who has stepped it up with the putter of late; now standing at 46th in Putting Average and 71st in Putts Per Round.  He's still simply bad off the tee (176th in Driving Distance, 113th in Driving Accuracy, 190th in Total Driving) but he's all the way up to 59th in Greens In Regulation; and believe it or not those driving numbers have actually gone up over the last few weeks.  I'd expect Wilson; if he can get some confidence rolling before the weekend, look for him to be on the first page of the leaderboard before it's all said and done.  Also in the field this week is Freddy "Boom Boom" Couples.  Why do I bring that up?  Sure, he's not the Couples of the late 80s and early 90s; but he's got three top-10 finishes in 12 tournaments started this season.  It's food for thought at least.

Alternates: "Boom Boom" Couples, Troy Matteson, Brad Adamonis

Sit

A Group - It's tough to pick just one here; because it's a really thin group once you get past Furyk and Johnson.  There's that, and the fact that there's no one else on this list that's you'd even consider picking.  Let's go with Matt Kuchar if you really want a name.  He's been hitting even shorter than usual, and has really come up pretty small over the past month or so.

Retief Goosen - B Group - This is another pretty thin list, but at least Goosen is a name that might jump off the page to you.  It's not inconceivable that he pulls it all together for this one tournament in a beatable field, but he's simply not the same player as he was a few years ago.  His stats are horrific.  He's 111th in Driving Distance and 170th in Driving Accuracy, which is good for 185th in Total Driving.  He's 182nd in Greens In Regulation.  Once a true strength of his, Goosen is 171st in Putting Average and 92nd in Putts Per Round.  He's 137th in Sand Saves.  He's 125th in Scrambling and 117th in Bounce Back.  And worst of all, this U.S. Open legend currently ranks 179th in All-Around Ranking.  He's been quite good in the Majors this year (top-25s in all three) but outside of that, he's been just terrible.  This week is not a major.  A made cut would be quite the achievement this week.

Corey Pavin - C Group - I'm torn here, because I think he's got the skillset to compete here; but I also think 7,200+ yards is simply too long for him at this point in his career.  It's right around average for a Tournament course this season; but Pavin has struggle mightily at any tournament over 7,000 yards this season.  I just don't think he can hang on a course longer than that.  208th in Driving Distance is just not going to cut it.  Even his 19th in Putting Average and 8th in Putts Per Round shouldn't be enough to save him this week; because his lack of length also makes his Greens In Regulation number 173rd.  Maybe another week for Pavin, but at this point in his career, it's just too long of a course.