Fantasy Golf Predictions – 2013 WGC-Cadillac Championship

Fantasy Golf Predictions for the 2013 WGC-Cadillac Championship March 7-10 2013

The Course:  Trump Doral measures 7,334 yards and plays as a par 72. Doral’s signature course “The Blue Monster” has water along the entire left side, making it an obstacle for tee and approach shots alike. This track has played host to the PGA TOUR for almost 50 years. Originally designed by Dick Wilson, this course consistently provides a challenging test for the world’s best players. The famous 18th hole, a demanding par 4, is ranked consistently as one of the Top 100 Holes in the World. At the inaugural Doral Open in 1962, pros went a combined 104-over par for the week at No. 18.

The Weather in Miami, FL (from Weather.com):

• Round 1:  Thursday  (Mar 7) 69 degrees, 0% chance of rain, sunny.
• Round 2:  Friday (Mar 8) 75 degrees, 10% chance of rain, mostly sunny.
• Round 3:  Saturday (Mar 9) 75 degrees, 0% chance of rain, cloudy.
• Round 4:  Sunday (Mar 10) 77 degrees, 0% chance of rain, partly cloudy.

2012 Results:  Justin Rose fought off the tough Miami winds that swirled around the Blue Monster last year as he chased down Bubba Watson from three shots back to win his first WGC title. A 2-under-par 70 was all the Englishman needed to hoist the blue trophy as Tiger Woods withdrew on 12th tee after aggravating the tender left Achilles. You may remember the helicopter video footage of Tiger driving off to get some medical assistance.  Bubba went 2-over 74 and had a real tough time finding fairways in the windy conditions.  On 18, he had a chance to draw even with Rose and after an errant drive right off the fairway, Bubba found a gap between trees to leave his second shot 9 feet from the pin. His birdie attempt to tie it fell just below the hole.

Notes:  World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is planning to return after an alleged toothache forced him to withdraw from defending his title last week at The Honda Classic. The 23-year-old lasted just eight holes in the second round of the Honda going 7-over before withdrawing. As for Tiger, he seeks to end a five-year win drought at the Blue Monster since posting consecutive WGC wins in 2005, 2006, and 2007.  He certainly knows the track well and it was unfortunate to see him withdraw last year as it marked the first time he hadn’t finished among the top 10.  Phil Mickelson, who has gotten off to a great start in 2013, is back in action this week to continue his 2013 FedExCup climb.  We’re not picking Tiger this week…until he proves to us that his game is back on track, we’re going to hold out and see where he finishes this tournament.  He’s always a fantasy pick by others, so we’re going to try something different and stick Jason Day in the mix this year.

Top 5 Picks/Odds to Win:

• Matt Kuchar (Golficity Odds 10/1) “Kuch” is well rested after winning the WGC-Accenture Match Play. In his three appearances at TPC Blue Monster, he’s finished T3 (2010), solo fifth (2011) and T8 (2012) giving him 3 top-10s in all 3 appearances.  Kuchar also has a win in his last outing, so needless to say, we like his chances this week.
• Charl Schwartzel (Golficity Odds 14/1): The South African is coming off a steady but relatively sub-par week at PGA National where he shared ninth place, which is his worst finish in his last eight stroke-play starts worldwide. With those numbers, we’re riding the Schwartzel train for another week.  He was the runner-up at the WGC-Cadillac in 2010 and T4 last year.
• Justin Rose (Golficity Odds 19/1): Since clinching his first title in a World Golf Championship at TPC Blue Monster a year ago, the 5^th ranked in the world has posted 14 top-10s worldwide but hasn’t won an event. Rose played well before the course got the best of him on Sunday at the Honda Classic where he pulled a T4.
• Lee Westwood (Golficity Odds 25/1): The now Florida resident shared ninth place at The Honda Classic, ranking T18 in greens hit and T14 in scrambling. He’s had a pretty inconsistent record at Doral, and like what we see from Westy lately.  This certainly could be his run to try to win his first major of his career in 2013.
• Jason Day (Golficity Odds 33/1)): After winning the consolation match at the WGC-Match Play, he withdrew from the Honda due to an illness. The Aussie, whose name made it in the newest Golf Boys 2.Oh song, has three top 10s in just four starts already this season.  Day ranks 16th on TOUR in greens hit and fourth in the all-around.

Sleeper Picks/Odds to Win:

• Charles Howell III (Golficity Odds 50/1):  We’ve loved this Howell’s level of play since the beginning of the year. So far in 2013 CH3 has a T3, a T2, a T9 and over $1 million in winnings under his belt – in just 7 events!  Ranked 7 in FedExCup standings, Charles knocked out Tiger in the desert at the WGC Match Play Championship event and has been hanging around the top-10 area quite often.  If you need a sleeper this week, he’s your guy.
• Michael Thompson (75/1):  A Thompson pick is a super long shot but only because a guy of this caliber usually doesn’t win two weeks in a row. We love the fact that he got his first win under his belt, because he storms into Doral this week with his chin up and a little extra swagger in his step.  He dominated the field in windy conditions in Palm Springs, who’s to say he can’t dominate the wind in Miami?

Last Week’s Fantasy Golf Predictions Results (The Honda Classic)

• Graeme McDowell (Golficity Odds 12/1):  T9
• Charl Schwartzel (Golficity Odds 15/1): T9
• Tiger Woods (Golficity Odds 20/1):  T37
• Louis Oosthuizen (Golficity Odds 20/1): MC
• Justin Rose (Golficity Odds 25/1):  T4

Last Week’s Fantasy Golf Sleeper Picks/Odds to Win:

• Russell Henley (Golficity Odds 50/1):  T13
• Nicholas Colsaerts (Golficity Odds 50/1):  T68

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