Zurich Classic of New Orleans

This week the US PGA Tour is in New Orleans to play the  Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Below is the list of the top 15 players in the CLi rankings for the Zurich Classic.

#	Player	CLi
1	Cameron Tringale	14.0
2	Charles Howell III	19.6
3	Rory Sabbatini	23.6
4	Camilo Villegas	23.7
5	Rickie Fowler	25.2
6	Jeffrey Overton	26.5
7	Charley Hoffman	28.8
8	K.J. Choi	29.0
9	Jason Dufner	29.4
10	Justin Rose	29.9
11	Boo Weekley	30.6
12	Jerry Kelly	30.9
13	Billy Horschel	31.2
14	Brendon De Jonge	31.9
15	Graham Delaet	33.2

I am late in submitting this post; it is actually after the tournament has started.  It has been a rough week with the end of the semester at WMU.  Since I am late in this post (especially since the tournament has already started), I feel it is only fair to go with the CLi rankings (top 5) with my normal configuration.  Therefore there is not human manipulation on my part for my picks based upon today's results from the first round.

Below are my 5 picks for the Zurich Classic:

#	Player	CLi
1	Cameron Tringale	14.0
2	Charles Howell III	19.6
3	Rory Sabbatini	23.6
4	Camilo Villegas	23.7
5	Rickie Fowler	25.2

I would much rather have picked Choi and passed on Sabbatini.  However, I don't have that luxury.

Below are the top 5 players in the Power Rankings from Rob Bolton:

1. Justin Rose
2. Jason Dufner
3. Billy Horschel
4. Rickie Fowler
5. Fredrik Jacobson (withdrew before start of tournament)
6. Charley Hoffman

Jacobson has withdrawn since Bolton posted his players on Monday.  Since I was late in posting, it is only fair if that Bolton is able to go down to his 6th player for his final pick ().

Here is a link to Bolton's Power Rankings so that you can read more about his thoughts on his top players in this week's Power Rankings:

Bolton's Power Rankings: Zurich Classic

We have 1 player in common this week: Fowler.

Below are the settings for the CLi calculation I used for the Zurich Classic:

Number of Past Tournaments Looking Back
Number	Scoring Avg Weight (SA1)	Earnings Avg Weight (EA1)
5	25%	25%
Number of Days Looking Back
Number	Scoring Avg Weight (SA2)	Earnings Avg Weight (EA2)
30	5%	5%
Number of Tournaments Looking Back
Number	Scoring Avg Weight (SA3)	Earnings Avg Weight (EA3)
4	20%	20%

If you don't like the configuration of my CLi calculation, feel free to run your own CLi calculation with your own desired settings by going to golfcli.com.

RBC Heritage

After a fun-packed week at The Masters, the US PGA Tour is moving to its normal post-Masters tournament, the RBC Heritage.

Below is the list of the top 15 players in the CLi rankings for the RBC Heritage.

#	Player	CLi
1	Boo Weekley	10.90
2	Brandt Snedeker	14.80
3	Jim Furyk	15.40
4	Matt Kuchar	20.55
5	Brian Davis	21.35
6	Pat Perez	21.65
7	Charles Howell III	21.85
8	Jason Day	23.15
9	Camilo Villegas	25.80
10	Luke Donald	26.95
11	Ben Crane	28.70
12	Stewart Cink	28.85
13	Charley Hoffman	31.60
14	Jason Dufner	32.25
15	Kevin Chappell	36.40

Since I haven't been able to spend much time on thinking about my picks this week, I am going to with the top 5 players in the CLi figures.

Below are my 5 picks for the RBC Heritage:

#	Player	CLi
1	Boo Weekley	10.90
2	Brandt Snedeker	14.80
3	Jim Furyk	15.40
4	Matt Kuchar	20.55
5	Brian Davis	21.35

Below are the top 5 players in the Power Rankings from Rob Bolton:

1. Brandt Snedeker
2. Jason Day
3. Jim Furyk
4. Bill Haas
5. Boo Weekley

Here is a link to Bolton's Power Rankings so that you can read more about his thoughts on his top players in this week's Power Rankings:

Bolton's Power Rankings: RBC Heritage

We have 3 players in common this week: Snedeker, Furyk, and Weekley.

Below are the settings for the CLi calculation I used for the RBC Heritage:

Number of Past Tournaments Looking Back
Number	Scoring Avg Weight (SA1)	Earnings Avg Weight (EA1)
5	25%	25%
Number of Days Looking Back
Number	Scoring Avg Weight (SA2)	Earnings Avg Weight (EA2)
30	5%	5%
Number of Tournaments Looking Back
Number	Scoring Avg Weight (SA3)	Earnings Avg Weight (EA3)
4	20%	20%

If you don't like the configuration of my CLi calculation, feel free to run your own CLi calculation with your own desired settings by going to golfcli.com.

The Masters Review

It is now time to review the picks for The Masters to see how the results turned out.

Here are the results of the Tour Outsider (my) picks.

1. Tiger Woods | 4 | $352,000
2. Justin Rose | 24 | $56,040
3. Adam Scott | 1 | $1,440,000
4. Phil Mickelson | 54 | $18,320
5. Charl Schwartzel | 24 | $56,040

Here are the results for the Tour Insider's (Bolton's) picks.

1. Tiger Woods | 4 | $352,000
2. Justin Rose | 24 | $56,040
3. Rory McIlroy | 24 | $56,040
4. Phil Mickelson | 54 | $18,320
5. Matt Kuchar | 8 | $232,000

Here is the comparison of the results for our picks.

	Tour Outsider	Tour Insider	Winner
Total Earnings	$1,922,400	$714,400	TO
Avg Rank	21.4	22.8	TO
Made Cut	5	5	DRAW
Outcome	--	--	TO

The Total Earnings category was won by the Tour Outsider.

The Avg Rank category was won by the Tour Outsider.

The Made Cut category was a draw.

The tournament overall was won by the Tour Outsider.

The overall results between the Tour Outsider and the Tour Insider is 5 wins to the Tour Outsider, 9 wins to the Tour Insider, and 2 draws.

Even though I had the winner, Scott, and thus clearly won the Total Earnings category, I almost lost this tournament.  Bolton and I both had all 5 of our players make the cut...very nice.  And then I squeaked out the win in the Average Rank category to take the tournament this week.

Congratulations Scott and Aussieland!!!

Valero Texas Open Review

It is now time to review the picks for the Valero Texas Open to see how the results turned out.

Here are the results of the Tour Outsider (my) picks.

1. Fredrik Jacobson | 15 | $93,000
2. Justin Leonard | 37 | $25,420
3. Cameron Tringale | 82 (MC) | $0
4. Brian Davis | 29 | $43,090
5. Matt Kuchar | 22 | $55,889

Here are the results for the Tour Insider's (Bolton's) picks.

1. Matt Kuchar | 22 | $55,889
2. Fredrik Jacobson | 15 | $93,000
3. Charl Schwartzel | 22 | $55,889
4. Billy Horschel | 3 | $322,400
5. Cameron Tringale | 82 (MC) | $0

Here is the comparison of the results for our picks.

	Tour Outsider	Tour Insider	Winner
Total Earnings	$217,399	$527,178	TI
Avg Rank	37.0	28.8	TI
Made Cut	4	4	DRAW
Outcome	--	--	TI

The Total Earnings category was won by the Tour Insider.

The Avg Rank category was won by the Tour Insider.

The Made Cut category was a draw.

The tournament overall was won by the Tour Insider.

The overall results between the Tour Outsider and the Tour Insider is 4 wins to the Tour Outsider, 9 wins to the Tour Insider, and 2 draws.

Bolton's pick of Horschel was a good one...which notched another win for him.

The Masters

The US PGA Tour, as well as the rest of the major tours around the world, head to Augusta National to play the first major of the year: The Masters.

Below is the list of the top 15 players in the CLi rankings for the Masters.

#	Player	CLi
1	Tiger Woods	3.10
2	Justin Rose	9.45
3	Adam Scott	12.80
4	Phil Mickelson	13.00
5	Charl Schwartzel	13.55
6	Brandt Snedeker	17.25
7	Matt Kuchar	17.35
8	Steve Stricker	17.50
9	Fred Couples	17.60
10	Peter Hanson	18.40
11	Lee Westwood	20.50
12	Keegan Bradley	22.30
13	Rory McIlroy	22.80
14	Padraig Harrington	24.75
15	Jason Day	24.80

Tiger (analysis) has a fairly clear advantage this week per the CLi calculation.  His CLi figure is 3.10, which is low in absolute terms and the next closest player's CLi figure is more than 6 points higher (3 times higher).  The reason for such a strong CLi figure is because of his strong play (love for) the Masters and his recent improvement in play.

Tiger had his worst finish in the Masters last year, placing 40th.  Before last year, his worst finish since 2000 was 22nd (in 2004).  His average rank in the event since 2000 is 8.2 (his average rank is 5.5 without last year's finish).  He has won the event 3 times since 2000 and placed in the top-10 ten time since 2000.

Recently, Tiger has won in his last two outings: the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Cadillac Championship.  In addition, he has a third win this season, at the Farmers Insurance Open.

Thus, my first pick is Tiger.

A for my next four picks, I am also going to stick with the CLi rankings:  Rose (analysis), Scott (analysis), Mickelson (analysis), and Schwartzel (analysis).

Below are my 5 picks for the Masters:

#	Player	CLi
1	Tiger Woods	3.10
2	Justin Rose	9.45
3	Adam Scott	12.80
4	Phil Mickelson	13.00
5	Charl Schwartzel	13.55

Below are the top 5 players in the Power Rankings from Rob Bolton:

1. Tiger Woods
2. Justin Rose
3. Rory McIlroy
4. Phil Mickelson
5. Matt Kuchar

Here is a link to Bolton's Power Rankings so that you can read more about his thoughts on his top players in this week's Power Rankings:

Bolton's Power Rankings: The Masters

We have 3 players in common this week: Woods, Rose, and Mickelson.

Below are the settings for the CLi calculation I used for the Masters:

Number of Past Tournaments Looking Back
Number	Scoring Avg Weight (SA1)	Earnings Avg Weight (EA1)
5	25%	25%
Number of Days Looking Back
Number	Scoring Avg Weight (SA2)	Earnings Avg Weight (EA2)
30	5%	5%
Number of Tournaments Looking Back
Number	Scoring Avg Weight (SA3)	Earnings Avg Weight (EA3)
4	20%	20%

If you don't like the configuration of my CLi calculation, feel free to run your own CLi calculation with your own desired settings by going to golfcli.com.

Valero Texas Open

The US PGA Tour stays in Texas this week to play the Shell Houston Open, the last tournament before the Masters.

Below is the list of the top 15 players in the CLi rankings for the Valero Texas Open.

#	Player	CLi
1	Fredrik Jacobson	6.25
2	Justin Leonard	18.15
3	Cameron Tringale	18.35
4	Jimmy Walker	21.65
5	James Driscoll	25.95
6	Brian Davis	26.85
7	Matt Kuchar	32.45
8	Vaughn Taylor	32.45
9	Charlie Wi	33.15
10	Brian Harman	37.75
11	Brendon De Jonge	42.00
12	Chris Stroud	42.75
13	Jordan Spieth	42.95
14	D.J. Trahan	43.55
15	Kevin Chappell	43.75

I am making some quick picks, and won't be providing an explanation for them, as I need to get some sleep before I hit the road to Chicago tomorrow.

Below are my 5 picks for the Valero Texas Open:

#	Player	CLi
1	Fredrik Jacobson	6.25
2	Justin Leonard	18.15
3	Cameron Tringale	18.35
4	Brian Davis	26.85
5	Matt Kuchar	32.45

Below are the top 5 players in the Power Rankings from Rob Bolton:

1. Matt Kuchar
2. Fredrik Jacobson
3. Charl Schwartzel
4. Billy Horschel
5. Cameron Tringale

Here is a link to Bolton's Power Rankings so that you can read more about his thoughts on his top players in this week's Power Rankings:

Bolton's Power Rankings: Shell Houston Open

We have 3 players in common this week: Kuchar, Jacobson, and Tringale.

Below are the settings for the CLi calculation I used for the Valero Texas Open:

Number of Past Tournaments Looking Back
Number	Scoring Avg Weight (SA1)	Earnings Avg Weight (EA1)
5	25%	25%
Number of Days Looking Back
Number	Scoring Avg Weight (SA2)	Earnings Avg Weight (EA2)
30	5%	5%
Number of Tournaments Looking Back
Number	Scoring Avg Weight (SA3)	Earnings Avg Weight (EA3)
4	20%	20%

If you don't like the configuration of my CLi calculation, feel free to run your own CLi calculation with your own desired settings by going to golfcli.com.