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Golf Unfiltered Podcast 19: Luke Kerr-Dineen

This week on the Golf Unfiltered Podcast we welcome Luke Kerr-Dineen from USA Today's For the Win blog! Luke and I kick things off with the craziness surrounding Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods this week and serve up some ridiculously hot takes on why gambling and women (respectively) are the devil's brew. Well, ok... we don't actually go that far, but both of these guys have to pump the breaks at some point, right? Right.

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This week on the Golf Unfiltered Podcast we welcome Luke Kerr-Dineen from USA Today's For the Win blog! Luke and I kick things off with the craziness surrounding Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods this week and serve up some ridiculously hot takes on why gambling and women (respectively) are the devil's brew. Well, ok... we don't actually go that far, but both of these guys have to pump the breaks at some point, right? Right.

We then dive deep into the Greenbrier Classic and go through our tournament picks for the week. Will Tiger make the cut this week? Can Bubba Watson go back-to-back after winning last week's 2015 Travelers Championship? Why the hell hasn't Graham DeLaet won a golf tournament yet? Why am I asking so many questions?!

This was one of our more fun episodes to date, so be sure to listen below!

Follow Luke on Twitter at @lukekerrdineen.

While you're at it, why not give us a 5-star review on iTunes while you're at it? I'll pay you. Actually, no I won't. But I'll appreciate it.

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Monday Morning Marshal: PGA Tour Week in Review 2/9/2015

Our new segment examines what happened on the PGA TOUR the previous week. Here's our recap for the week of February 7, 2015.

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As a new segment here on GolfUnfilitered.com, we'll take a few minutes every Monday morning to offer our take on the previous week on the PGA TOUR. Be sure to add your own take on the topics discussed in the comment section below. You can also reach out to me on Twitter, where I will do my best to respond.


 

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Jason Day Wins the Farmers Insurance Open

It may have taken a four-man playoff to get it done, but Jason Day's victory at the 2015 Farmers Insurance Open says a lot about where the PGA TOUR is headed. The 27-year-old Aussie now has three PGA TOUR wins on his resume, and it seems like he should have at least a half-dozen more by now. His efforts have earned Day a spot in the Top 5 of the Official World Golf Rankings, becoming the highest-ranked Australian on the list (Adam Scott is ranked way down the list at No. 5). Throw in the fact that he has three runner-up finishes at two different majors (Masters 2011, U.S. Open 2011 and 2013) and it's clear to see that Day has been simmering to a boiling point for years.

Which is what makes watching Day so maddening. At some point we need to stop talking about Jason Day's potential and more about him taking the game by the horns. Unfortunately, wins at the Farmers Insurance Open isn't going to cut it. While he took a step in the right direction by winning the WGC Match Play event in 2014, Day will remain in the "Could Be" column until he wins his first major.

That being stated, the Golf Channel's Jason Sobel tweeted the best reaction to Day's win:

 


 

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are Falling Apart

Their respective departures from this week's tournament may have been different on paper, but it is abundantly clear that neither Tiger Woods nor Phil Mickelson have any damn clue what they're doing on the golf course anymore. Poor play can be attributed to any number of external factors -- such as bad weather, missing teeth or inappropriate stock tips -- but it appears what ails Big Cat and FIGJAM is an unhealthy mix of physiological and psychological shittiness. In Tiger's case, poor physical health coupled with yet another swing change (his fourth!) has all but rendered the greatest player of our generation to nothing more than a weekend hacker. Actually, check that; Tiger needs to make it to the weekend first before he's worthy of that designation. shots-fired-o Phil's situation seems a bit different. He's not exactly the youngest guy on TOUR anymore -- and hasn't been for awhile -- and he's got his own medical concerns as well. But something that Phil never seems to do is blame his poor play on anything other than what's going on between his ears. Unlike Tiger, Phil's golf swing as a whole seems sound; it's his putting that has all but deserted him, and it's left him baffled.

“My putting is beyond pathetic,” he told Golf Digest after missing the cut at Torrey Pines. “And if I can’t get back to the levels of 2013, I’m not sure what I’m going to do.” Me neither, Phil, because I predicted you'd be named a player-coach for next year's Ryder Cup. GET IT TOGETHER MAN.


 

Best of Twitter

For those unaware, a "hot take" is a knee-jerk reaction shared or angle taken on a sports topic without first giving it any semblance of a coherent thought. Or, in other words, "anything I write in my Twitter feed." There were a few doosies this week from around the interwebs, including the one I tossed out following Brook Koepka's five-putt on 18 during Friday's second round:

Tough room.   Other favorite tweets from the week include:

 

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U.S. Open 2014: Fantasy Golf Picks

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us open 2014The 2014 U.S. Open Championship returns to Pinehurst, North Carolina this week, and as is usually the case with major championships, the number of storylines is huge. Will Phil Mickelson put aside his recent off-course troubles to finally capture the elusive U.S. Open crown, thus completing his career grand slam? Can Masters Champion Bubba Watson go two-for-two in major titles this year, inching him closer to a season's Grand Slam? Will the young Jordan Spieth -- quite possibly the future of American golf -- defy the odds and become one of the youngest Open winners of all time?

Let's not forget about the veteran Miguel Angel Jimenez, who at 50-years old is playing the best golf of his career en route to two victories already this year. If he wins this major, social media will explode, the golf world will instantly become intoxicated, and I'll dance the tango down Interstate-88.

My favorite fantasy golf pick this week, however, is Jason Day.

Day has been a contender in almost every major championship over the past two years. The young Australian tends to peak four times a year, and it is only a matter of time before he finally breaks through and wins his first career major. Look for him to have another strong showing this week at Pinehurst, and don't be surprised to see him come out with the victory.

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Adam Fonseca Adam Fonseca

Fantasy Golf 2014: The Players Championship

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fantasy golf 2014 the playersCome for the TPC at Sawgrass, stay for the chance to see Sergio Garcia lose 17 golf balls! The PGA Tour returns to Ponte Verde Beach, Fla. for the 2014 The Players Championship. There is no way I can write that previous sentence without sounding like a grammar douchebag. Note to tournament namer people: never start off the name of your golf tournament with the word "The." It gives me fits.

Anyway, Tiger Woods is the defending champion at this event, but he's at home beating his children at putt-putt golf and nursing a back injury. As the video above reminds all of us, Sergio Garcia was in the hunt before screwing the "perro" on Sawgrass' 17th green in epic fail fashion. Since that time he has played very well in both Europe and the US, making him a safe fantasy golf pick this week.

Adam Scott has been Steady Eddie for most of the year, averaging 45 Yahoo fantasy golf points per tournament. He also has yet to miss the cut in six tries. Jim Furyk made a run last week at Quail Hollow and has played well at Sawgrass in the past. Phil Mickelson also recorded a strong showing last week, and we all know Lefty is good for one or two tournaments a year.

What do you think of my fantasy golf picks this week? Leave your comments below or hit me up on Twitter at @chicagoduffer.

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Adam Fonseca Adam Fonseca

Fantasy Golf 2014: The Masters

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the masters 2014It's the most wonderful time of the year! The season's first major tees off this week at The Masters from legendary Augusta National Golf Club, so get your fantasy golf rosters ready because this week is going to be special. Yes, we all know that Tiger Woods is out of the tournament. Boo-hoo, whatever will fantasy golfers do? You're going to pick Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy on your roster, that's what. Both men are easily the favorites heading into the week, and don't be surprised in the least if Scott successfully defends his title come Sunday.

Jason Day is another must-have on my fantasy golf picks this week. He absolutely loves playing at Augusta National and has done so incredibly well over the last few years. The same can be said for Phil Mickelson, bad back and all. Look for Lefty to be in the mix by Saturday, as evidenced by a solid showing in Houston last week.

Could this be the year that Sergio Garcia finally breaks through at a major? He's ranked sixth in the world -- his highest ranking in decades -- and seems to be firing on all cylinders headed into this week. Oh, and let's not forget Jimmy Walker, who has three tournament victories already this golf season.

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Adam Fonseca Adam Fonseca

Fantasy Golf Picks 2014: WGC - Cadillac Championship

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2014 wgc cadillac Will he or won't he? That's the biggest question on every fantasy golf player's mind heading into this week's 2014 World Golf Championships - Cadillac Championship. Tiger Woods has a bad back. Again. As of Wednesday morning, there was no official word on whether or not Tiger will defend his title this week at Doral. That's not good for people like you and me who need to throw together a fantasy golf picks roster.

Here's a word of advice: don't play Tiger this week. That probably means he'll end up winning by like 20 shots, but play the odds and go with someone else in the A Group. I went with Phil Mickelson and Luke Donald, even though the former has had back issues already this season. The only difference between Phil and Tiger is that Lefty has had time to heal.

I'm going with an unofficial rule this year: if Miguel Angel Jimenez is available, I'm putting him on my roster. Every damn time. Not only is he the Most Interesting Golfer in the World, but he's still playing extremely well as of late.

Rory McIlroy and Jason Day are no-brainers as both men have been in the final pairing in each of their respective tournaments. I feel like that's a really poor sentence I just wrote. Meh, who cares? You know what I mean. PLAY THEM THIS WEEK.

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Adam Fonseca Adam Fonseca

Fantasy Golf Picks: 2014 Honda Classic

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honda classic fantasy golfAll the big boys are back this week on the PGA Tour for the 2014 Honda Classic at PGA National. Tiger Woods makes his return to action after a piss-poor showing at this year's Farmers Insurance Open. The Honda Classic also marks the beginning of his unofficial Masters prep, which is likely the case for many of his fellow competitors this week.

As you can see by my fantasy golf picks above, I'm not going out on any limbs this week. Only the biggest names are on my roster (well, with the exception of Chris Kirk and Matsuyama) because I need a win on my year stat totals. To date, I've only recorded three Top 10 finishes, one Top 3 and a big ol' goose egg in the "wins" column.

Expect big things out of young Rory McIlroy this week. He's won here before, he played really damn well in Abu Dhabi a few weeks ago and won't have any cacti to hit golf balls into at PGA National. Besides, this is supposed to be the year he gets things back on track.

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Adam Fonseca Adam Fonseca

Fantasy Golf 2014: Waste Management Phoenix Open

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2014 waste management phoenixIt's that time of the year again when all the crazy people come out to the TPC Scottsdale to scream at PGA Tour players at the 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open. All kidding aside, this is one of my favorite events of the year, and for the reason expressed above. Tournament organizers have done a great job idolizing the 16th hole with its stadium atmosphere. In my opinion, this is how professional golf can and should be in most events; tons of fanfare, interactivity with the fans during tournament play, etc.

Phil Mickelson is the defending champion, but he's also nursing a bad back that flared up at Torrey Pines last week. I wouldn't expect too much from Lefty as he'll be pleased with a top-30 finish. Last week's winner, Scott Stallings, returns to action with a ton of confidence. K.J. Choi was the clubhouse leader on Sunday last week for most of the day before Stallings finally broke the 8-under barrier. Both men are on my fantasy golf pick roster.

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Adam Fonseca Adam Fonseca

Fantasy Golf 2014: Farmers Insurance Open

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farmers insurance fantasy golfWhile most of the golf industry is playing with their balls in sunny Orlando at the PGA Merchandise Show, the PGA Tour is on the west coast for the 2014 Farmers Insurance Open. Looks like it's time for some more fantasy golf picks. No, your eyes do not deceive you; I am starting Patrick Reed over Tiger Woods this week. Reed's performance at last week's Humana Challenge was incredible, so giving him the nod to at least begin the week is the right thing to do. I know Tiger has won this tournament seven times. I don't care.

Many of the bigger names on Tour are in the field this week, so I wanted to focus on players who are making their 2014 debut for the rest of my roster. Phil Mickelson should probably be on my team after his runner-up finish in Abu Dhabi, but Torrey Pines just doesn't suit his game. Steve Stricker looks like a strong play this week despite his lack of distance (like that's ever bothered him before).

Expect big things from Graham DeLaet this week. Mark my words. He's a man on the move.

EDIT: Thanks to Adam Sarson (@Adam_Sarson) for the head's up; Patrick Reed has withdrawn from the event. Apparently he has a rib issue? Looking at his physique, I wouldn't say he has an issue with any ribs.

I went with Gary Woodland instead. Tiger can still sit the bench. For now.

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Adam Fonseca Adam Fonseca

Watch Charl Schwartzel's Amazing Road Shot

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Golf Central Daily posted this YouTube video of Charl Schwartzel hitting what has to be an early contender for Shot of the Year:

As amazing as that shot was (even though Charl missed that putt), hitting a ball off concrete isn't the hardest thing to do. Of course, fading the ball as much as Charl did isn't something Average Joe Golfer can do at his local municipal course, but Phil Mickelson explains the art of hitting off concrete.

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Adam Fonseca Adam Fonseca

Fantasy Golf Picks: 2013 Tour Championship

9-17-2013 8-22-50 AMThe 2013 PGA Tour season comes to a close this week at the Tour Championship presented by Coca-Cola. The FedExCup Champion will also be determined on Sunday, along with the newest $10 million winner in the season-long series. Tiger Woods enters the week as the FedExCup Points leader, followed by Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson and Bill Haas.

East Lake in Atlanta will once again host the Tour Championship. The venue has proven to be a tough test for the world's best players over the years, however we are sure to see some exciting golf near the home stretch.

Here are my fantasy golf picks for the 2013 Tour Championship.

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Adam Fonseca Adam Fonseca

Fantasy Golf Picks: 2013 BMW Championship

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9-9-2013 8-35-22 AMThe PGA Tour returns to my back yard this week for the 2013 BMW Championship from Conway Farms in Lake Forest, Ill. Consider me slightly excited. Rory McIlroy is the defending champion at this event, which marks the third stage of the FedExCup Playoffs. Henrik Stenson is the current points leader slightly ahead of Tiger Woods, who has grown rather comfortable winning in the Chicago area throughout his career.

Other golfers to consider this week include Steve Stricker -- who also prefers Midwest courses -- Phil Mickelson and Chicago-resident Luke Donald.

Here are my fantasy golf picks for this week's BMW Championship.

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Adam Fonseca Adam Fonseca

Fantasy Golf Picks: 2013 The Barclays

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8-20-2013 10-19-28 AMThe first round of the 2013 FedEx Cup Playoffs starts this week at The Barclays from Liberty National in New Jersey. The majority of the world's top players will be in the field, including all four major championship winners from the season. Liberty National got a ton of flack from golfers and fans alike as the site of the US Open four years ago, but a lot of time has passed since that tournament and the course has grown into one of the finest in the country. It will undoubtedly be a challenging test for all competing, so choose your fantasy golf picks wisely.

Here are my fantasy golf picks for the 2013 The Barclays tournament.

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Adam Fonseca Adam Fonseca

PGA Championship 2013: Fantasy Golf Picks

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8-5-2013 1-50-29 PMThis week marks the final major championship of the 2013 season as the world's best compete at the PGA Championship at Oak Hill. Tiger Woods is once again heavily favored to win his 15th major this week, however a slew of great players will be looking to thwart his efforts. Reigning Masters champion Adam Scott will be in hot pursuit of a second major this season, and don't be surprised if he does exactly that. Scott has played well in every major this year and the story should remain the same this week.

Jason Day is another player who simply rises to the occasion for every major, having carded numerous Top 10 finishes over the past two years. Matt Kuchar is another threat this week to Tiger's plan, having played well at both the British and US Open championships.

Here are my PGA Championship 2013 fantasy golf picks.

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Adam Fonseca Adam Fonseca

Fantasy Golf Picks: 2013 WGC - Bridgestone Invitational

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7-30-2013 7-39-43 AMTiger Woods is the heavy favorite (again) heading into Firestone, a course that he has dominated throughout his career. While he is coming off a disappointing final round at the British Open, Woods did show he is in top form for this week. There are a ton of strong players to choose from this week, including most of the Top 10 players in the world. Phil Mickelson returns to action after becoming the newest major champion of 2013, and reigning Masters Champ Adam Scott returns to a course on which he has won one already.

Here are my fantasy golf picks for the 2013 WGC- Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone CC.

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Adam Fonseca Adam Fonseca

Jack Nicklaus Compares Phil Mickelson to Himself

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nicklaussunday_1000Ever since he burst onto the professional golf scene in 1996, fans have always compared Tiger Woods to The Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus. Would Tiger become the best player to ever live? Will he break Jack's major championship total? But in which player does Nicklaus see shades of himself nowadays? Phil Mickelson.

According to the Golf Channel's Jason Sobel, Nicklaus gave kudos to the newest Open Champion in addition to comparing Mickelson's game to his own.

“I give him great kudos for what he's done over the last couple weeks. I'm very happy for him. I know that for him to go win at the British Open as high as he hits the golf ball, like I was,” said Nicklaus. “I won at Muirfield and I was a high ball hitter and people said, ‘Jack will never win, particularly Muirfield. ‘It's a golf course he can't play.’

“And I proved them all wrong there by being a little smarter than some of the other guys on that particular week. I didn't use a driver very much.”

Mickelson certainly proved any doubters wrong last week -- myself included -- and in impressive fashion.

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Talking the 2013 Open Championship on 1070 The Fan - Indianapolis

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headerThanks to Dave, Grady and Big Joe for having me on their radio show for 1070 AM The Fan in Indianapolis earlier this morning. You can listen to the clip below.

Senior Golf Writer Adam Fonseca of the Back9Network joined Grady & Big Joe to recap Phil Mickelson's performance in the Final Round of the Open Championship, where the round ranks among the all-time best, the struggles of Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods and if they're mentally stressed, Woods' inability to take leads on Sundays, and if the mystique of Tiger Woods to his fellow competitors is now gone.

Download clip here.

Or below:

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Fantasy Golf Picks: 2013 US Open Championship

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6-10-2013 7-51-55 AMThe season's second major is set to tee off at Merion Golf Club just west of Philadelphia (born and raised, on the playground is where I spent most... nevermind). Tiger Woods is once again the overwhelming favorite headed into Thursday, however a slew of young first-time winners are drooling at the bit for another victory in 2013. Phil Mickelson had a strong showing last week at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, however can Lefty keep his poise to finally win his first US Open? Matt Kuchar is the only other two-time winner this season, and coming off his win at The Memorial two weeks ago, he might be a strong second favorite.

Let's not forget about reigning Masters Champion Adam Scott. While he has been quiet since his victory at Augusta, Scott has proven he can remain patient and consistent in the most nerve-racking situations.

Here are my picks for the 2013 US Open from Merion Golf Club.

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Adam Fonseca Adam Fonseca

Fantasy Golf Picks: FedEx St. Jude Classic

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  6-5-2013 7-42-33 AMThe FedEx St. Jude's Classic marks the final PGA Tour stop before the US Open, and a group of strong players will be in contention this week at the TPC Southwind.

Big-time names like Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson and defending champion Dustin Johnson are ready for action, but don't be surprised to see another first-time winner come out of Memphis. I've decided to stick with a group of veterans for my fantasy golf picks this week, so here's hoping one of them can get me back in the red this season.

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Adam Fonseca Adam Fonseca

Fantasy Golf Picks: 2013 Wells Fargo Championship

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Rickie Fowler returns to Quail Hollow this week to defend his title at the 2013 Wells Fargo Championship. Commonly seen as one of the more difficult courses on the PGA Tour schedule, Quail Hollow will see the likes of Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and world No. 2 Rory McIlroy on its fairways throughout the week. Will another first-time winner come out of the field again, adding his name to the five that have already made the jump?

Here are my fantasy golf picks for the 2013 Wells Fargo Championship.

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