This year we will be tracking each of our writers’ performances in our 95 person One And Done (OAD) pool. For those of you who do not know what a OAD pool is, it is a season long contest in which you select one golfer per week with the golfer’s earned money that week adding to your season total. Once you select a golfer, you cannot use him the rest of the year (so, no, you cannot pick DJ or Tiger every week).
Texas Valero Open Results
Mike McNamara: Ryann Moore, 3rd-510K
Jake Mulholland: Sungjae Im, T20-91K
Tony Kasper: Jordan Spieth, T30-46K
Sean Carney: Haotong Li, T52-17K
Kevin Walsh: Tony Finau, T61-16K
Jack Corrigan: Lucas Bjwhatever, MC-0K
Frank Laterza: Luke List, MC-0K
Sam Scherman: Luke List, MC-0K
Bear: Kramer Hickok, MC-0K
-Mike the big winner here with a solo 3rd from RyMo.
-Im almost continued the Rouge magic but faltered late.
-Let’s get to what you’re here for, the Masters picks!
Season Standings through Week 14:
Mike making a big move jumping three guys to get to the middle of the pack!
| Place | Points | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | |
| Jake | 14th (↓1) | 3713618 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Kevin | 19th (–) | 3329088 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Tony | 45th (↓2) | 2357139 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Frank | 65th (↓1) | 1774121 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Mike | 67th (↑16) | 1738243 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Jack | 73rd (↓4) | 1653150 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Sean | 77th (↓3) | 1551221 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Sam | 82nd (↓3) | 1390130 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Bear | 88th (↓2) | 1092900 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
The Masters Picks
Jake Mulholland: Rory McIlroy — Arguably the most successful golfer on tour this season on a per tournament basis, I like Rory’s form right now and he will be rolling the rock well this week at the historic Augusta grounds. There has been a ton of pressure on Rory to perform at such a high level this year, and he has made a ton of headway in the confidence department since edging out Captain Jim Furyk @ THE PLAYERS. Additionally, I’ve intentionally held off on rolling Rors the entire season because I committed to using this Irishman at the tournament he wants to win the most. Pride has gotten in the way of this pick so there will be no statistics attached this week. Rory hits the Grand Slam at the Masters in 2019.
Kevin Walsh: Tiger Woods — It is time. My favorite player at my favorite tournament. The mocks are back in action, and the fists are ready to punch the air. I don’t think Tiger has been this ready for a Masters in awhile, and I know at this course if he plays well he will be in the mix. I could bore you with stats, but his hunger and affinity for Augusta is more than enough for me to roll him out. Winter is coming — #15 could be as well.
Tony Kasper: Hideki Matsuyama — I hate going with chalk any time, and that’s especially true in majors. Lately, the perceived favorites have fallen short of expectations for a myriad of reasons. Following that trend rules out bigger names I haven’t used yet such as Rose, Rickie, DJ and Tiger. I don’t expect Hideki to be a popular play, but almost every stat for him is elite:
SG: Off-The-Tee: .467 (29th)
SG: Approach-The-Green: 1.165 (2nd)
SG: Around-The-Green: .374 (21st)
SG: Tee-To-Green: 2.006 (3rd)
SG: Putting: -.408 (180th)
SG: Total: 1.598 (9th)
As always, the problem is the flat stick. He has been in the mix for a few tournaments despite that brutal SG:Putting. If he can putt average this week, which has been a big ask so far this season, he’ll be firmly in contention. His history here is strong, with four top 20’s and two top 10’s in his last four Masters. He could join the recent run of first-time major winners this weekend.
Frank Laterza: Justin Thomas — In his interview, Justin brought up how in years past, he was pressing come the Masters, hammering home every little detail he possibly could, and he felt drained, as though he needed to play at this high level for almost a week straight. This year? He went on vacation last week, and he’s well rested. In a pre-year interview, he said this was the tournament he wanted to win most – and to a contrarians point, who doesn’t want to wear that Green Jacket? However, not everyone can say that they are 4th in the world in SG Approach, and Augusta is known to be a second-shot track. His SGT is 3rd on tour, he is the best player in the world in my book, and he’s not a sexy pick this week. I love JT every week he tees it up, but I love him even more this week with his value. He has gotten better each year here, finishing T17 – even after going +4 on the last 3 holes on Sunday – in 2018. That trend continues. JT completes his second leg of the Grand Slam at age 25. Roll Damn Tide.
Mike McNamara: Justin Rose — The heartbreak in 2017 has been completely flushed from Justin’s head. Very few have been as consistent at Augusta National as JR has over the last 6-8 years. He’s in a great frame of mind, is well-rested, and has all the shots you need to pull off on this golf course. Rosey gets major #2 this week.
Jack Corrigan: Jordan Spieth — He got me my first OAD win ever here and has not let me down since. Golf seems to repeat itself in some aspects, as generations have multiple winners. I believe our generation’s multi-multi-champion will be Jordan Spieth. It has been 4 years since he won here, and I know that irks him. He is in a slump right now, but I foresee this place opening his eyes again and realizing he is the most magical golfer in the world.
Sean Carney: Rickie Fowler — Death, taxes, and the narrative of every major, Rickie Fowler will break through at a major. What’s different about this major, I am sipping the Kool-Aid! I am riding the Fowler train! Fowler gave Patrick Reed all he could handle last year, and I think this year he breaks through. The key this week is flourishing on the dance floor. Fowler has led the field in putting 3 of the last 6 Masters. Hoping he shook some demons at the Waste Management and is poised to put on a green jacket.
Sam Scherman: Tiger Woods —
Bear: Paul Casey — I am venturing slightly out of “Tier 1” golfers and riding Paulie. This year, Casey has a 1st, 2nd, and T3rd to his name. So, current form: Check. From 2015 to 2017 at Augusta, Casey did not finish worse than T6. Last year he finished T15 but went 69-65 on the weekend. So, course history: Check. Our stats guru Sam has him ranked as the 5th best golfer this week from his stat driven model (seen in his preview). So, the stats to back it up: Check. Can Paul Casey really win the Masters? Yes he can… and yes he will.
The Amateur Hour Golf Podcast 