The Loop
Fantasy Fix: Is Dustin Johnson an easy call at the Barclays?
The good news from last week's Wyndham Championship is Tiger Woods came through on our bold top-10 finish prediction. The bad news is the tournament's winner was three decades older than the guy we picked. But such is professional golf in 2015. Pro golf in 2015 also involves the world's best competing for a $10 million bonus in a four-event playoff that begins this week at the Barclays. Sure, the system has its flaws, but would you be as into the Barclays if it wasn't part of the tour's postseason? OK, if you're reading a fantasy-golf article, you probably would, but you get the point. Let's try to limit the comparisons to playoffs in other sports and appreciate the FedEx Cup for what it is: A big money grab with star-studded fields. Who do I expect to, um, deliver at Plainfield CC? Here's my PGA Tour Fantasy Golf lineup:
Dustin Johnson: What little history the PGA Tour has at Plainfield CC came four years ago when Hurricane Irene caused a 54-hole event. And since Johnson was that year's winner, there's no reason -- not even a WD from Wednesday's pro-am due to chest congestion -- not to expect another big week from DJ in NJ.
Brooks Koepka: If it weren't for Jordan Spieth's historic season, this guy would be getting a lot more pub as the potential future face of American golf. Koepka has a win this year and is coming off three straight top-6 finishes, including a T-5 at the PGA Championship. He's my winning pick for both this week and the FedEx Cup.
Justin Rose: Even hotter than Koepka is Rose, who enters with four consecutive top-six finishes, including a solo fourth at Whistling Straits. He also shot 67-65-67 the last time this event was played at Plainfield.
Jordan Spieth: The new No. 1 said he's taking it easy this week and trying to get his game to peak at the Tour Championship. Ha. Spieth is way too competitive to take it easy as we saw when he won the John Deere Classic the week before his close call at St. Andrews. Oh, and if Spieth doesn't finish in at least 14th place, he'll lose the top spot to an idle Rory McIlroy. As competitive as Spieth is, I'm not betting on that happening.
__ Bench:__ Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama.
And for those of you playing other fantasy golf formats:
Yahoo! lineup: Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, and Patrick Reed.
Bench/backups: Bill Haas, Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama, and Justin Thomas.
Knockout/One-and-done pick: Brooks Koepka.
Previously used: Keegan Bradley (Bay Hill), Paul Casey (Honda), Jason Day (Farmers -- WINNER!), Luke Donald (Valspar), Jamie Donaldson (Doral), Jim Furyk (Valero), Sergio Garcia (Players), Bill Haas (Riviera), Billy Horschel (Memphis), Charles Howell III (Sony), Dustin Johnson (Pebble), Zach Johnson (Colonial), Matt Kuchar (Heritage), Marc Leishman (Nelson), Hunter Mahan (Canadian), Phil Mickelson (U.S. Open), Geoff Ogilvy (Hyundai), Louis Oosthuizen (Houston), Ryan Palmer (Humana), Justin Rose (PGA), Webb Simpson (Greenbrier), Brandt Snedeker (Travelers), Brendan Steele (Phoenix), Henrik Stenson (British Open); Steve Stricker (John Deere), Justin Thomas (Wyndham), Jimmy Walker (Masters).