This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
It's not often that a golfer with an Official World Golf Ranking higher than 600 is almost a household name, but after the year he's had, Billy Hurley III was nowhere near as anonymous as he should have been entering this past weekend at the Quicken Loans National. The genesis of this recognition lies in several factors, all of which lead Hurley III to this point. Even prior to the events of the past year, Hurley was a recognizable name, possibly because he shares the same surname with one of the best point guards in the history of college basketball, but a name alone can only bring so much recognition. Hurley III first hit the radar for his on-the-course accomplishments at this same event in 2014 when his status as a former member of the Navy made for a perfect storyline heading into the weekend as one of the leaders. It didn't work out that time for Hurley III and things would get worse before they got better. The summer of 2015 brought more attention to Hurley III, but this time it had nothing to do with his play on the course. In a well-documented story, Hurley III used his status as a professional golfer to plead for help in finding his father who had disappeared in July of 2015. Though he was eventually found safe, that particular story did not have a happy ending and his father would be found again a couple weeks later, dead of a self-inflicted
It's not often that a golfer with an Official World Golf Ranking higher than 600 is almost a household name, but after the year he's had, Billy Hurley III was nowhere near as anonymous as he should have been entering this past weekend at the Quicken Loans National. The genesis of this recognition lies in several factors, all of which lead Hurley III to this point. Even prior to the events of the past year, Hurley was a recognizable name, possibly because he shares the same surname with one of the best point guards in the history of college basketball, but a name alone can only bring so much recognition. Hurley III first hit the radar for his on-the-course accomplishments at this same event in 2014 when his status as a former member of the Navy made for a perfect storyline heading into the weekend as one of the leaders. It didn't work out that time for Hurley III and things would get worse before they got better. The summer of 2015 brought more attention to Hurley III, but this time it had nothing to do with his play on the course. In a well-documented story, Hurley III used his status as a professional golfer to plead for help in finding his father who had disappeared in July of 2015. Though he was eventually found safe, that particular story did not have a happy ending and his father would be found again a couple weeks later, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Looking back, it's easy to see why Hurley III was a familiar name to so many golf fans this past weekend, even though his ranking didn't seem to justify it. Avid golf fans knew Hurley III's story before this past week in Bethesda and even casual golf fans surely know the story now, but perhaps after this win, Hurley III can be defined for what he does on the course, rather than what's happened to him off the course.
This week: WGC-Bridgestone Invitational - Firestone C.C. (South) - Akron, OH
Last Year: Shane Lowry shot a final-round 66 on his way to a two-stroke victory over Bubba Watson.
Players to Consider:
Jim Furyk
I surmised a few weeks back that Furyk wasn't ready for U.S. Open conditions, but he certainly proved me wrong. While the conditions at Firestone aren't generally a walk in the park, they sure can't be any harder than what he faced at Oakmont. I bring that up because the only thing holding Furyk back is his health. His track record here is very strong and as long as he holds up physically, he should be in contention come Sunday.
Jason Day
Day does not have the resume here that some others do, but as he proved at the U.S. Open a couple weeks back, he can contend no matter the course, no matter the conditions. His amazing run has to come to an end at some point, but it doesn't appear that it will be anytime soon, so if you still have him available, this could be a good spot to use him.
Adam Scott
Scott has been in top form nearly the entire season and if he brings that level of play to Akron this week, he should find himself in the hunt yet again. Scott won this event in 2011 and he's finished inside the top 15 in four of his six starts since 2010.
Shane Lowry
Lowry was a surprise winner of this event last year and while he's not going to sneak up on anyone this time around, that might not matter as Lowry has proven that he's got the mettle to battle the best. The only concern this week is whether or not he'll have put the final-round collapse at Oakmont behind him.
Brooks Koepka
Koepka will need to step-up his game to take down the world's best at Firestone, but the past few weeks have proven he's ready to take that step. Koepka has finished runner-up in two of his past three starts and he carded a top 10 here in his first start at this event last year.
Players to Avoid:
Dustin Johnson
Johnson solidified his spot among the best golfers in the world at the U.S. Open and while he's on an incredible roll right now, he might have a bit of a setback this week in Akron. DJ's track record here is less than stellar and he might be suffering the effects of a hangover (not literally) this week.
Brandt Snedeker
Snedeker was a popular pick to play well at the U.S. Open, but he couldn't find his game. It might be difficult to find this week as well as he's never really impressed at this event. Through six starts in Akron, Snedeker has cracked the top 30 just one time, and remember, this is a limited-field event.
Phil Mickelson
The top 64-or-so in the world have met-up at this event in Akron for the better part of the past 15 years, and in that time, Mickelson has yet to figure this course out. Mickelson has managed to crack the top 40 just two times in his past seven starts at this event.
Rickie Fowler
Fowler has a solid track record at this event and he very well could use a return trip to Firestone C.C. to jump-start a final run through the end of the season, but his game is so far off now that it's hard to imagine using him in a one-and-done format. Prior to last week's event, Fowler missed three consecutive cuts and although he started well last week, he finished with a thud.
Charl Schwartzel
Schwartzel is having a solid season, but he'll have a hard time keeping the momentum going this week as he's struggled for the most part at this event over the years. Schwartzel did finish T4 in 2014, but that is his only top 10 here in seven starts.
ONE AND DONE GOLFER
Last week: Marc Leishman (T39) - $28,290; Season - $7,639,675
This week: Jim Furyk - Though Lowry was victorious last year at this event, it's more suited for a veteran with a track record like Furyk. Furyk has always played well on this course and he seems to be doing well physically right now, so might as well pull the trigger on him this week.
YAHOO PICKS
Points: 3503
Rank: 22,688
This Week:
Group A: Adam Scott, Jason Day
Group B: Jim Furyk, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, Justin Rose
Group C: Branden Grace, Shane Lowry
SURVIVOR PICK
Last week: Byeong-Hun An (T8); Streak - 5
This week: N/A - N/A
