Fantasy Golf Buy, Sell, or Hold for The Barclays

The playoffs begin this week and a strong field heads to New Jersey for a very important event, The Barclays.  In a few weeks the PGA will crown this year's winner of the FedExCup.

Here is this week's buy, sell, and hold.

Buy:

Matt Kuchar (A) - It's a different course, but he used this event as a springboard last year.

Luke Donald (A) - Playing well right now, he should be a solid play this week.

Steve Stricker (B) - If you have any starts left for Stricker, use him.

Webb Simpson (B) - Is anybody playing better than Webb Simpson right now?

Davis Love III (B) - Davis might be able to snatch a win at one of these tournaments.

Rickie Fowler (B) - Fowler is primed for a good run in the playoffs.

Tommy Gainey (C) - Why not?  He's playing well.

Adam Scott (C) - With Stevie on the bag, he's playing well.  He could win this week.

Sell:

Padraig Harrington (A) - Hasn't really been a threat in 2011.

Ben Crane (B) - One top-10 all year is not great.

William McGirt (C) - Just squeezed into the top-125.  Not a threat.

Hold:

Jim Furyk (A) - It hasn't been the best of years for this veteran, but he's playing better now at the end of the year.

Stricker in Position to Win Again at John Deere

Two-time defending champion Steve Stricker shot a flawless round of eight under par on Saturday to head into Sunday's final round of the John Deere Classic with a two stroke lead.

The #1 ranked American golfer followed up his earlier rounds of 66 and 64 with a bogey-free 63 to reach 20-under par with the kind of spectacular golf that could well bring him a third consecutive triumph in the Silvas, Illinois event.

"I feel pretty relaxed out there to tell you the truth, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow," Stricker said.

Overnight leader Chez Reavie slipped back to outright third place at 17-under after overcoming a bad start to his round. He bogeyed the sixth and eighth holes but made birdies in four of his last six to finish a shot clear of fellow American Kyle Stanley and three behind Stricker.

"It's hard enough to win an event three times let alone three in a row so it'll be tough tomorrow," Stricker said.

Fantasy Golf Buy, Sell or Hold for John Deere Classic

While some players have the British Open on their mind this week, others are still state side for one of the best run events on tour, The John Deere Classic.

It is played each and every year at the TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, IL.  It seems more and more golfers are playing the John Deere before they head to Britain, and they all have a good time.

Two-time defending champ Steve Stricker is back before he heads across the pond.  Also expected to tee it are reigning British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, Davis Love III, Stewart Cink and Jason Day.

Can Stricker three-peat?  Here is this week's buy, sell and hold.

Buy:

Brian Gay (A) - Gay is having a great season and should show well here.  He hasn't played here since a T-12 in 2008.

Steve Marino (A) - Marino could get real hot and go low here.

Steve Stricker (B) - How can you not go with the two-time defending champ?

Chris Riley (B) - No shame in going with this veteran golfer who had three solid rounds at the AT&T,

Vaughn Taylor (B) - Taylor is having a nice year and he finished T-7 here in 2010.

Jason Day (C) - A solid C-level pick.  He finished T-15 last year.

Charles Howell III (C) - Howell's game may be finally coming around and he likes this course and event.

Sell:

Michael Sim (A) - Has made only 3 cuts in 2011.

Todd Hamilton (B) - Has made only 3 cuts in 2011.

Rich Beem (C) - This may sound like a broken record, but he has made only 3 cuts in 2011.

Hold:

David Toms (B) - Is having a good year and should play well on this course.  A little risky, but usually a safe play.

Check back for our "flyer" of the week.

Fantasy Golf Buy, Sell or Hold for Northern Trust Open

 

A strong field is expected as the 2011 Northern Trust Open tees off at Riviera.  This tournament has a rich history, dating back to 1926 when the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce puts up a $10,000 purse for the first LA Open, it was at the time, the richest prize in professional golf.

The list of winners here reads like a who's who of golf.  Ben Hogan Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson all have been winners here and Steve Stricker is the defending champ. 

Tiger, Phil and Steve are all in the field as are Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar and two-time winner this year, Mark Wilson.

Who will win this year?  We'll find out in a few days, but in the meantime here is this week's buy, sell and hold.

Buy:

Matt Kuchar (A) - Kuchar is back playing this week.  He has three top 10's in three events so far this season.  He'll be looking for a fourth this week.

Steve Stricker (B) - With the weather forecast calling for rain later this week, you would do well to have an experienced player like Stricker on your team.  He is the defending champ and was runner up here in 2009.

J.B. Holmes (C) - Three top 7 finishes in his last three starts at Riviera.  His game is waking up.  He had a T-5 at Phoenix and a T-13 at Pebble.

Marc Leishman (A) - May be a surprise start  to many as an A-level player, but he's a good scrambler and is playing well.  Had a T-15 here last year and should improve on that this year.

Sell:

Ernie Els (A) - Els has withdrawn from the Northern Trust, don't put him on your team this week.

Shaun Micheel (B) - Two missed cuts in three events in 2011.  No need to select him this week.

Rich Beem (C) - An awful start to 2011 for Beem.  What has happened to his game?  His results so far this year...+9, +10 and +1.  Don't look for him to make the cut here.

Hold:

Jhonattan Vegas (C) - Has Vegas cooled off after his hot start?  Let's see how he fares this week.  Hold him out this week if you can.


Don't forget to listen to the AudioBoo for the flyer of the week.