The Bryson Dechambeau Challenge - Notes on the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic Day 2

Rocket Mortgage Classic – Thoughts on Day 2

 The 3-1-3 Challenge is Nearly Impossible

In the spirit of the Rocket Mortgage 3-1-3 challenge I made a similar, albeit less lucrative, offer to my son – if he can jump twelve feet in the air, fart three times on the way up, whistle the Star Spangled Banner at the apex, and burp the alphabet on the way down, I will give him $10,000.  More realistically, I will pay him $500 if he can complete any single element of the challenge.

Then I will wash him down with the garden hose before I give him the money.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States

Okay, the 3-1-3 is a good thing in principal.  The money will go to a good cause, bridging Detroit’s digital divide.  But it’s dang near impossible.  To ring the 3-1-3 bell this feat must be completed on the 14^th, 15^th and 16^th holes at the Detroit Golf Club.

According to statistics released from the PGA Tour, in 318,000 tour rounds played since 2003 a consecutive eagle, ace, birdie combination has been completed only three times in competition.  It’s never been done at the Rocket.  Statistically, there’s about a .000001 chance that that a player will complete the challenge.  What comes to mind here is the probability that monkeys will fly out of one of my body orifices.

But the Rocket Mortgage tournament directors did sweeten the donation pool by promising $5,000, $25,000 and $5,000, respectively, for any player who completes a single stage of the challenge.  If you’d like to ensure that the good people of Detroit are brought up to par on internet access and computer literacy, there’s an easier way to ensure progress towards that goal.  Text the message AREA313 to the number 243725 and make a donation.

The Bryson DeChambeau Challenge

This off season I want you to add thirty pounds of muscle so you can hit for power.  That is basically the advice every baseball coach gives to every skinny 17-year-old baseball player.  But aside from spending five hours in the weight room every day, how are you supposed to accomplish it?

Earlier this week monumental golf stud Bryson DeChambeau revealed the diet he used to stack on 30 pounds of mostly muscle.  It was basically bacon and eggs, snacks, a PB and J sandwich, steak and potatoes and seven protein shakes per day.  I had to question this diet for one reason.  With all that protein, accompanied by an apparent lack of fiber, greens and fruit, the challenge that I see for DeChambeau is how in the world does he manage to take a crap.

Maybe all those protein shakes rip through him like the human equivalent of the Playdooh Fun Factory.  But I would suggest apples, pears, and salads of spinach and kale.

An Actual Golf Update

The big news at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time is that Matthew Wolf shot an 8-under 64 to join a four-way tie for first.  DeChambeau spanked a minus-5 for a share of the lead.  Seamus Power and Mark Hubbard each shot minus-6 to round out the current top of the leaderboad.

One of the best stories I read this morning concerned Chris Kirk, who stepped away from golf in April of 2019 to seek treatment for depression and alcoholism.  He’s back folks and looking good.  As I am writing this, Kirk shot a birdie and currently holds a piece of what has now become a five-way tie for first. His honesty about his personal challenges gives hope to others who might face similar barriers to work and life.  Talk about it, take steps to improve.  It’s possible.

Withdrawals:  Wyndham Clark withdrew from the Rocket Mortgage Classic yesterday after completing 13 holes due to a back injury.  This morning Talor Gooch withdrew before the start of the second round, also due to a back injury.  Neither player was setting the course on fire.

Open Your Mouth, Say Something Stupid:  The twisted sound bite of the week goes to Webb Simpson, who said, “The safest place that anyone can be in the United States right now is on the PGA Tour.”

The team here at McKenzie Golf Analysis take exception to this statement.  “The safest place in the United States right now is here on the couch in my living room, wearing my mask, slathering myself in hand sanitizer, and arranging to have my groceries and beer delivered to my front door,” stated sub-genius

Mike McKenzie. “I admire all the dudes on the tour, but if you really want to be safe, stay home.”

In the spirit of full disclosure, I took a lot of Simpson in my DFS lines this week.

 

Mike McKenzie

Portland, Oregon

Handicapping the 2020 RBC Heritage for Yahoo DFS

A lot of people questioned the comments I made before the Charles Schwab Challenge about not wanting to have a beer with Phil Mickelson.   Please allow me to clarify.  Rather than follow Uncle Phil down the stairs yet again to wine room, I’d rather go have a kale and spinach smoothie with Rory McIlroy.  Yeah, so Rory fell apart in the last round of the Schwab but it was better than watching Mickelson’s miss the cut.

I’m not saying that it’s time for Mickelson to join the old dirty grandpa tour, um, I mean the senior tour, but the clock is ticking if he wants to win another PGA Tour event.  Anybody want odds on that? One more win for Mickelson in 2020, that’s the proposition.  Which one do you think he wants most?  Of course, Mickelson won’t play at the RBC Heritage.  He’s saying home to study Medicare benefits and the latest AARP offerings.


Can anyone explain why the NBC Sports coverage cut out 20 minutes before the end of the last round of the Schwab Challenge?  I mean, hey, I watched the 2020 Charles Schwab for four solid days, then they cut their signal just before the drama climaxed.  I pay $5.99 per month to watch the PGA on NBC Sports.  Yeah, I want to see the end.  I want to see every chip, drive, put and rim shot.  Is that too much to ask? 


The 2020 RBC Heritage

A good place to start handicapping the coming event is with a review of the previous event. I didn’t see Berger coming for the win.  I did see Morikawa, Rose and Dechambeau, but it’s not much of a news flash to tell you that they are excellent golfers.  The smartest money last week was on names like Kokrak, Poston, Watson, Spieth and Champ – the guys who golfed up and landed in the top 15.


Value Players in the Mid-Range for the RBC Heritage

I like Bubba Watson ($34 on Yahoo DFS) and Jordan Spieth ($35 on Yahoo DFS).  Given their performance at the Schwab, these guys are partying with our old friend, Mo Mentum.  I took some lines for the RBC that combine Watson and Spieth based upon price and their performance at the Schwab Challenge.  The relatively low prices on these two golfers offer a lot of value.  Watson hasn’t faired well in his eight prior rounds at the RBC Heritage, so keep that in mind.  Spieth, however, has done well in 12 prior rounds at this event.


I wonder how much Daniel Berger ($31 on Yahoo DFS) to take.  I will take him more now that he won the Schwab, but I won’t over do it.  For him to win two in a row is about as probable as getting hit by lighting twice in two weeks.  An intriguing story line but highly improbable.   Still, he has a lot of value for the price.  If you are planning on playing Berger, please note that his course history at the RBC is not good.

Value?

You will pay a premium on Yahoo DFS if you play Matthew Kuchar ($39 on Yahoo DFS).  Kuchar scores well in course experience (60 rounds) and shots gained at the RBC.  Of course, Kuchar keeps his bronze Olympic medal in his sock.  Just saying.


Bargains on Yahoo DFS for the RBC Heritage

Here’s three players to consider at the RBC:


Matthew Nesmith ($21 on Yahoo DFS):  A South Carolina native with no prior playing experience at the RBC.  I make this pick based upon a belief that he has played Harbor Town Golf Links a few times as a collegiate and non-professional player.  It’s nice to play at home and get your name in the paper.


Brandon Grace ($24 on Yahoo DFS):  With 16 rounds at RBC under his belt, Grace has a solid total shots gained score.


Brian Gay ($21 on Yahoo DFS): Gay shot the course record at Harbor Town in 2009 and has 60 prior rounds of RBC experience.


THE CUT

There are 155 golfers scheduled to play the 2020 RBC.  As with most PGA events, the cut will send 60 percent of them home before the weekend.


Most PGA events feature a cut.  A cut at the midway point is the most common form PGA cut.  Yes, there are no cut events.  No, I don’t like no cut events.  The cut is based solely upon your score.  The cut is the great golf equalizer. The cut doesn’t care if you are the son of the boss or schtuping the president’s daughter.  Make the cut or go home early.  


© 2020

Mike McKenzie

Portland, Oregon

MikeMcKenzie on Draftkings

MikeMcKenzie on Yahoo DFS



The opinions expressed herein are the those of the author only.  Should you choose to gamble on this or any other sporting event, do so at your own risk.  That’s what I do.