This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
After an actioned-packed Saturday at the PGA Championship, the one question in my mind was – is there another golfer on the planet I would trust more with a 54-hole lead at a major than Brooks Koepka? Although he had only two majors on his resume at that point, the answer was no. The reasons for that opinion would become obvious by the end of the day. What most of us assumed, that Koepka was a machine sent from the future to destroy the hopes and dreams of golfers and Tiger Woods' fans everywhere, was obvious by the time Koepka strolled up the 18th fairway.
If there were any questions, they were quickly answered by his post-round interview when he said he had won three of the last seven majors by simply focusing more. No mention of nerves, no problems with his mechanics, nothing that those human golfers worry about; no, he just needed to focus. Koepka appeared human for about 30 minutes Sunday as he bogeyed consecutive holes, but after that software glitch was fixed, he never wavered the rest of the way. He missed a few birdie putts, but he never let up. Koepka was simply relentless.
While the entire golfing world had their eyes on Woods, Koepka refused to give golf fans a real belief that Woods could somehow best him. That's the thing about making a charge from behind at a major – you almost always need some help. Woods did just about everything he could
After an actioned-packed Saturday at the PGA Championship, the one question in my mind was – is there another golfer on the planet I would trust more with a 54-hole lead at a major than Brooks Koepka? Although he had only two majors on his resume at that point, the answer was no. The reasons for that opinion would become obvious by the end of the day. What most of us assumed, that Koepka was a machine sent from the future to destroy the hopes and dreams of golfers and Tiger Woods' fans everywhere, was obvious by the time Koepka strolled up the 18th fairway.
If there were any questions, they were quickly answered by his post-round interview when he said he had won three of the last seven majors by simply focusing more. No mention of nerves, no problems with his mechanics, nothing that those human golfers worry about; no, he just needed to focus. Koepka appeared human for about 30 minutes Sunday as he bogeyed consecutive holes, but after that software glitch was fixed, he never wavered the rest of the way. He missed a few birdie putts, but he never let up. Koepka was simply relentless.
While the entire golfing world had their eyes on Woods, Koepka refused to give golf fans a real belief that Woods could somehow best him. That's the thing about making a charge from behind at a major – you almost always need some help. Woods did just about everything he could Sunday to force Koepka's hand, save for hitting a fairway, but Koepka refused to crack. Others had their chances. Justin Thomas struck the ball as well as anyone on Sunday, but after turning a potential birdie into a bogey on 14, his momentum was lost. Adam Scott hung in there all day, but it always felt like he was playing his best and just to stay in striking distance, and Woods, while he was throwing darts, couldn't stay out of trouble for more than a few holes at a time. It was Koepka and Koepka only, who did everything he had to, to win a major – just like we knew he would.
This week: Wyndham Championship - Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, N.C.
Last Year: Henrik Stenson shot a final-round 64 on his way to a one-stroke victory over Ollie Schniederjans.
PLAYERS TO CONSIDER
Webb Simpson
A lot is working in Simpson's favor this week. Let's start with his track record. Simpson won here in 2011 and finished in the top 11 in four of his last five starts. Next, he's coming off a solid showing at the PGA Championship. Finally, the pressure is off as Simpson secured the final automatic Ryder Cup spot this week. Whether that serves as a pressure release or a boost of adrenaline, it should work as a positive this week.
Joaquin Niemann
As you might imagine, with the FedEx Cup Playoffs on the horizon and the PGA Championship in the rear-view mirror, many top players will take this week off. Of those who are here, there aren't many with strong track records. Enter first-timer Niemann, who has torn up several courses on his first try this season.
Brandt Snedeker
There really aren't a lot of great options this week, but Snedeker, while not great, is a pretty solid option. Snedeker has the track record here, with two top-5s in his last three starts, and his form has been good the last month with two top-10s in four starts.
Si Woo Kim
There aren't many golfers in the field this week with the upside of Kim. Kim missed the cut at the PGA Championship last week, but he posted a top-10 the week prior at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Kim has run hot and cold since he came on tour, and it would make perfect sense for him to win the week after missing the cut. Oh, and one other possibly significant note – he won this event in 2016.
Hideki Matsuyama
If you haven't used Matsuyama yet, and chances are if you didn't burn him in Phoenix you probably haven't, this might be the best spot remaining. Matsuyama is 88th on the FedEx points list, so he's only guaranteed one more event after this week unless he plays well. It makes perfect sense that he'll fare better against a field like this than what he'll see in the playoffs. Matsuyama finished T3 in his most recent start here.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Whee Kim
Kim is just a few weeks removed from a runner-up showing at the RBC Canadian Open, and he's shown solid upside several times this season, but he's been off as much as he's been on this season and odds are, he'll be off this week. Two reasons: first, he's coming off a missed cut at the PGA Championship, and second, he missed the cut in all three starts at this event.
Chesson Hadley
Hadley is in the midst of an impressive season as he's in line to make it to the Tour Championship in five weeks, but he hasn't played very well during the second half of the season and his track record here is terrible. Hadley missed the cut in five of his six starts at this event and has never cracked the top 50.
Jhonattan Vegas
There's no way around it, Vegas' current form is extremely lacking. He posted a T29 at the Canadian Open, which looks like a decent showing, but when you factor in that he was the two-time defending champion, it puts that top-30 in a whole new light. He followed that with two sub-50 showings, which confirmed what we thought – he's off his game. His track record here is lacking as well, with missed cuts in two of three starts.
Hunter Mahan
Mahan has fallen so far that when he posted a top-10 at the Barbasol Championship in July, it was actually a big deal. He followed that with a MC at the Canadian Open but bounced back with a top-25 at the Barracuda. The problem, of course, is he has no upside anymore. A top-10 is a big deal, which is a bad thing because it means that a win or even a top-3 is almost out of the question.
Harris English
It wasn't that long ago that English was included in the group of bright young stars on the PGA Tour, but unlike many others from that group, English has failed to build on the momentum of early success. English's 2018 has been particularly bad, with 19 missed cuts in 29 starts. He's missed the cut in seven of his last eight starts entering this week.
ONE AND DONE GOLFER
Last week: Francesco Molinari (T6) - $334,712; Season - $8,527,982
This week: Webb Simpson - As luck would have it, I have yet to burn Simpson this week, and since he's clearly the No. 1 option, I'm pulling the trigger without hesitation. Simpson is the odds-on favorite this week at 12-1 and there is only one other golfer (Henrik Stenson) lower than 20-1. Everything is lined up for a win this week, which isn't always a good thing, but I'll take my chances against this weak field.
PGATOUR.COM PICKS
Starters: Webb Simpson, Henrik Stenson, Joaquin Niemann, Brandt Snedeker
Bench: Si Woo Kim, Hideki Matsuyama
SURVIVOR PICK
Last week: Tommy Fleetwood - (T35); Streak - 6
This week: Webb Simpson - When you have an event like this, the week after a major and the week before the playoffs begin, you have to make sure the guy you select in this format is invested. Looking at Simpsons' results the last decade, there's no question that he comes here with the mindset to win. You'd think everyone in the field has the same mindset, but it's not easy staying focused every week. I think the Brooks Koepka said something to that effect on Sunday.
