Fantasy Golf Picks, Odds, and Predictions – The 2014 McGladrey Classic

Fantasy Golf Picks and Predictions for the 2014 McGladrey Classic

This Week’s Tournament Preview

The PGA TOUR will head back east after a brief Las Vegas stint where Chris Kirk will look to defend his title at Sea Island Golf Club. Having just won the Deutsche Bank Championship three starts ago, Kirk was in prime position to take home the FedExCup crown until Billy Horschel derailed him in the final two events.

The McGladrey is the last U.S. event before the TOUR begins its Asian swing, eventually returning to the U.S in January.

Last Week’s Fantasy Results

Last week’s Shriners Hospital for Children Open yielded our picks $503,879 in total fantasy earnings, highlighted by a T4 and another T10. Our salary-cap “sleeper” pick also made the cut and finished T28 to earn a modest $42,160.

With the second event of the year in the books, we currently have an average of $651,000 in weekly earnings and plan on getting back to last year’s weekly average just north of $1.2 million.

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The Field

The field this week will include the defending champion and 2013-2014 FedExCup runner-up Chris Kirk, along with U.S. Ryder Cup players Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson. Kuch and Zach are locals of St. Simons Island and both have respectable track records on this course.

Webb Simpson will return to action after a T4 finish last week rounding out a roster that will comprise of four of the Top 35 ranked players in the World. Lastly, 87 entrants will be making their third start in as many events of the new season as most of the Web.com graduates fight to get off to a roaring start in the early FedExCup race.

The Course

The Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club measures in at a relatively short 7,005 yards and plays as a par 70. This oceanside track sits on the southern tip of St. Simons Island and dates back to 1929 where it originated as a 9-hole track. Bobby Jones once described this place as the best nine holes he’d ever encountered (paraphrasing). Later in 1973, Joe Lee stepped in to designed the “Marshside Nine” and Tom Fazio finally brought the two together in 1999.

The course contains tidal creeks, dunes and salt marshes, and undoubtedly each player will describe in their course preview interviews that course management is key to victory here.

Decent weather is in store for the week and dry course conditions should prevail, so be on the lookout for fast firm greens and a tight, short course.

Photo by SeaIsland.com

Weather Forecast for Sea Island, GA (from weather.com)

• Round 1: Thursday (Oct 23) 71 degrees, 0% chance of rain, sunny.
• Round 2: Saturday (Oct 24) 75 degrees, 0% chance of rain, sunny.
• Round 3: Sunday (Oct 25 ) 75 degrees, 0% chance of rain, sunny.
• Round 4: Monday (Oct 26) 76 degrees, 10% chance of rain, sunny.

2013 Results

It was the Chris Kirk show last year as the young gun became the first Sea Island member to win the McGladrey Classic, where his home field advantage appeared to have helped. Krik shared the lead with Briny Baird up until the 18th where Baird mishit a 4-iron out of a fairway bunker where it eventually trickled into a hazard. Baird was within eyesight of his first victory, but fell short right at the end.

Kirk went on to make par and finished with 4-under 66 which earned him his second PGA TOUR win. Kirk’s birdie on 17 was the key to his victory here where he showed that he truly knows how to dominate this tough course.

Here is wrap-up of Round 4 from last year’s edition of The McGladrey Classic:

Kirk wins The McGladrey Classic: Round 4 Recap

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Media

• Television Broadcasts
  • Thursday – Sunday 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST (Golf Channel)
• Radio Broadcasts
  • Thursday – Sunday, 12:00 pm – 5:00 p.m. EST (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.COM)
• Mobile Broadcasts
  • Simultaneous coverage on the Golf Live Extra app for iPhone and iPad.

This Week’s Fantasy Notes

There is no secret recipe this week, other than looking for players who have experience on this course, and short tight courses in general. The only two par 5s will be particularly important for those looking to to score well, as they present the only real legitimate eagle and easy birdie chances out there. Last year, Kirk ranked T2 in par-5 scoring with an average score of 4.25 (six birdies and two pars).

Although it’s a short track, the average score from the field last year was above par at 70.255. With that in mind we’re going after the scramblers and par-5 stats this week.

Our Top 5 (and Top 2 Sleeper) Fantasy Picks and Odds to Win the 2014 McGladrey Classic

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Last Week’s Results:  Top 5 Picks/Odds to Win the 2014 Shriners Open

• Ryan Moore (Golficity Odds 8 /1): MC
• Billy Horschel (Golficity Odds 8/1): MC
• Hideki Matsuyama (Golficity Odds 15/1): T10 ($137,433)
• Martin Laird (Golficity Odds 20/1): T18 ($68,014)
• Webb Simpson (Golficity Odds 30/1): T4 ($256,267)

Last Week’s Results: Sleeper Picks/Odds to Win the 2014 Shriners

• Sang Moon Bae (Golficity Odds 40/1): MC

Last Week’s Results Salary Cap Sleeper Pick/Odds to Win the 2014 Shriners Open

•  Ryo Ishikawa (Golficity Odds 60/1): T28 ($42,160)

Fantasy Golf Predictions Stats to Date: 2014-2015 Season

• Tournaments Played YTD: 2
• Total Fantasy Dollars: $1,302,874 (Average = $651,437).
• Total Top 10s: 5 out of 14 players picked (35.71%).
• Total Top 3s: 2 out of 14 players picked (14.29%).
• Total Missed Cuts: 3 out of 14 players picked (78.6% made the cut).

Remember to visit the The Clubhouse and our private Facebook group to discuss this week’s picks for the 2014 McGladrey Classic  with other Premium Members.

(Cover Photo Credit)