This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
The storylines entering the 2017 Masters were seemingly endless: Dustin Johnson's three-event winning streak, DJ and his slippery socks, Ernie Els in his last Masters, the first Masters without Arnie, several top golfers searching for their first majors, Jason Day's mental state; I could go on and on. Oddly enough, there wasn't much talk around Sergio Garcia. (I should rephrase. There was nothing odd about the would he/wouldn't he drama of Sergio winning a major dying out a few years ago. It's not that he couldn't or wouldn't win a major, but with guys like Rickie Fowler and Jon Rahm, there were just more exciting players on whom to focus.)
The weather was the story after days one and two, but heading into the weekend, there was Sergio, lurking like he'd done so many times, but that wasn't the main storyline. In fact, there were many storylines heading into the weekend and most managed to stay alive as the final round approached. There at the top of the leaderboard sat a plethora of names and all would make for a good story ... and then, one by one, they all slipped away.
By the time the final group made the turn on Sunday, the 2017 Masters was on a path to be one of the most uneventful final rounds in recent history. All those big names at the top were gone, save for Justin Rose and Garcia, and only one seemed to be playing at a high level. Rose is
The storylines entering the 2017 Masters were seemingly endless: Dustin Johnson's three-event winning streak, DJ and his slippery socks, Ernie Els in his last Masters, the first Masters without Arnie, several top golfers searching for their first majors, Jason Day's mental state; I could go on and on. Oddly enough, there wasn't much talk around Sergio Garcia. (I should rephrase. There was nothing odd about the would he/wouldn't he drama of Sergio winning a major dying out a few years ago. It's not that he couldn't or wouldn't win a major, but with guys like Rickie Fowler and Jon Rahm, there were just more exciting players on whom to focus.)
The weather was the story after days one and two, but heading into the weekend, there was Sergio, lurking like he'd done so many times, but that wasn't the main storyline. In fact, there were many storylines heading into the weekend and most managed to stay alive as the final round approached. There at the top of the leaderboard sat a plethora of names and all would make for a good story ... and then, one by one, they all slipped away.
By the time the final group made the turn on Sunday, the 2017 Masters was on a path to be one of the most uneventful final rounds in recent history. All those big names at the top were gone, save for Justin Rose and Garcia, and only one seemed to be playing at a high level. Rose is a fine player, but he's never really moved the needle, and while Sergio has always moved the needle, he just wasn't doing anything after his hot start to the round.
With a two-stroke deficit, Garcia appeared destined for another, "what might have been" major ... and then the birdie on the 14th, which not only put Garcia within one stroke but made believers out of the Augusta patrons that he could actually win.
An eagle on the next hole, and for the first time since the front nine, a tie at the top. Suddenly, it was on. A new ball game, for lack of a better term, but what felt like a coronation of Justin Rose just an hour before, turned into a match-play scenario for the Green Jacket.
Rose made a putt, then missed a putt. Sergio missed a putt, then made one, and suddenly both golfers had a chance to win on the 72nd green. As you know by now, Sergio birdied the first playoff hole and captured his first major. It was truly a win for not only Sergio, but the fans as well.
Sergio Garcia not only won his first major Sunday, but he was directly responsible for saving the 2017 Masters.
This week: RBC Heritage - Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, S.C.
Last Year: Branden Grace shot a final-round 66 on his way to a two-stroke victory over Luke Donald and Russell Knox.
PLAYERS TO CONSIDER
Matt Kuchar
There are several good options this week, but Kuchar looks like the best after factoring in recent play and course history. We've all seen the ace that Kuchar made on the 16th hole on Sunday, but that was just a part of his Masters story. Kuchar had a great week at Augusta on his way to a top-5 finish, and his track record here is among the best in the field. Kuchar won this event in 2014 and followed that with two top-10s in the last two years.
Branden Grace
Grace is the defending champion, and while that's usually a sketchy proposition, he posted a top-10 here the year prior, indicating that he has a great feel for this course. Grace has yet to post a top-10 this season, but he played well last week at the Masters and considering his track record here, that elusive top-10 should be a thing of the past after this week.
Luke Donald
If recent play were of no consideration, Donald would be the clear choice this week. While he's never won this event, he's come close on several occasions. In eight starts at this event, Donald has five top-3 finishes. That number includes three runner-ups.
Jim Furyk
A similar case here as Donald. Furyk has not played that well this season, but his track record here is hard to ignore. Furyk won this event in 2010 and 2015 and has an amazing eight top-10s in 17 starts. While he's not the golfer he used to be, Furyk has a very real chance of winning this week.
Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau started slowly this season, but he started to turn his game around in Puerto Rico where he finished runner-up. He has some experience here as well, which is why I have him on the list. Last year DeChambeau posted a T4 at this event.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Russell Knox
If you were looking just at course history, Knox would be near the top of the list, but you have to factor in current form as well, and that's where we eliminate Knox. Know started the season on fire, but since the calendar flipped, he's struggled mightily. Knox has made only one cut in 2017.
Johnson Wagner
Wagner is a guy who plays well only in certain spots and this isn't one of them. In seven starts, Wagner has made only three cuts and of those three cuts made, he's cracked the top 20 just once. Wagner might be a good option next week, but there's no reason to think he'll play well this week.
Brian Gay
Gay won this event in 2009, but he's struggled here since. He managed to make a couple cuts in the years following his win, but over his last four starts, he's missed two cuts and hasn't finished better than T55.
Bill Haas
For the level of golfer that Haas is, it's strange that he's never really played well here. In 12 starts he's made only six cuts and has never cracked the top 10. He's played well the last two years here, with two top-25s, but you don't take a guy like Haas to get a top-25.
Billy Horschel
Horschel had a stretch a few weeks back where he looked like the Horschel of old, but in his most recent start, he could only manage a T55. That result could be just one bad week, but his history at this event leads me to believe that he'll struggle again this week.
ONE AND DONE GOLFER
Last week: Rory McIlroy (T7) - $354,750; Season - $5,548,574
This week: Matt Kuchar - This pick came down to Kuchar or Grace, and while Kuchar holds more value than Grace down the road, he's simply a better play this week. Kuchar has the best combination of recent play and course history in the field this week.
YAHOO PICKS
Points: 1,774
Rank: 25,234
This Week:
Group A: Branden Grace, Luke Donald
Group B: Matt Kuchar, Charley Hoffman, Brandt Snedeker, Jim Furyk
Group C: Wesley Bryan, Russell Henley
SURVIVOR PICK
Last week: Rory McIlroy - (T7); Streak - 3
This week: Matt Kuchar - Now that I've built a tiny little streak here, I'd like to keep it going, and there's no reason to think Kuchar will miss the cut this week. Kuchar has missed the cut here just once in 13 starts and that came more than a decade ago.
