HTWD Picks of the Week: The Deutsche Bank Championship

JJ: Happy Labor Day Weekend, everyone! With Labor Day comes shopping sales, the start of the college football season, the tennis US Open, and finally, the Deutsche Bank Championship! The Friday start and Monday finish is one of the most unique things in all of golf. It is also the 2nd leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs, so that means we gotta keep trucking along with our picks. I'm going to go with Jason Dufner here. He took the Barclays off, so he is pretty fresh heading into this final run that will include the Ryder Cup. A two time winner this season, hopefully he can pick up right where he's left off this season and continue the massive success.

Bernardo: This week I'm picking Louis Oosthuizen for the 2nd event of the FedEx playoffs. Louis is coming off a hot finish at the Barclays, finishing T5. He currently sets 21st on the points list and is exhibiting some great golf as we near the end of the season. Louis has had his share of ups and downs this season, but as a previous major champion he has proven to be a contender. I look forward to some beautiful ball striking and hopefully a win by Louis. 

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hunter Mahan, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Bud Cauley, Jeff Overton, Steve Stricker, Vijay Singh, Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods, John Daly, Sergio Garcia

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, Bud Cauley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, JB Holmes, Brendon De Jonge, Frederick Jacobson, Zach Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, Bo Van Pelt, Steve Stricker, Carl Pettersson, Tim Clark

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The Barclays: Watney To The Top

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The first week of the FedEx Cup playoff has come to a completion, crowning Nick Watney the Barclays Champion and holder of the #1 position in the points list. Watney got the job done with some stellar play that included rounds of 65,69,71 and 69. The start of Sunday morning had the media on their toes over the issue whether Sergio Garcia could possibly go back-to-back this week. That definitely wasn’t the story today with world-class players like Brandt Snedeker, Dustin Johnson, and of course Watney huning for the large pay out that comes with winning the FedEx Cup. Watney has had a average season this year, but after winning a playoff event the perspective will change for the Fresno State alumnus.

HTWD Picks of the Week: The Barclays

JJ: The FedEx Cup playoffs are finally here! Normally I wouldn't be that excited for it, but with all of the story lines going on this year, it's going to be a thrilling month of golf to watch. And even though this pick race is all but over, I still must make picks. Because of that, I'm going to go with Sergio Garcia this week. Bethpage Black is somewhere he has played fairly well, and since he won last week his confidence is sky high. Hopefully he can bring me home a point (or two) and make this race closer than it really is.

Bernardo: Its playoff time or at least golf's version. The Barclays is the first leg of the 4 events that make up the playoffs. In order to continue to the next stage, players this week must finish within the top 100 point leaders. This week I'm picking Tim Clark who is coming off a hot finish at the Wyndham Championship. Clark could use another high finish to keep his momentum going as the season comes to an completion. A win would be the best scenario. 

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hunter Mahan, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Bud Cauley, Jeff Overton, Steve Stricker, Vijay Singh, Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, Bud Cauley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, JB Holmes, Brendon De Jonge, Frederick Jacobson, Zach Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, Bo Van Pelt, Steve Stricker

Make sure to “like” our Facebook page! Either by going to the page itself (fb.com/hacktillwedie) or clicking on the “like” button on the right side of our home page.

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Wyndham Championship: Re-SURGE-nt

With the FedEx Cup playoffs and Ryder Cup looming, there were many players looking to make a move in the final regular season tournament on the PGA Tour. One of the more notable players to watch this week was Sergio Garcia. Ranked outside the top 100 in the FedEx standing coming into this week, Sergio needed to make a big move. He also needed to make a big move on his European Ryder Cup points list, as he was outside of the projections there as well. With that said, he definitely left a big impression on the golfing world as the final big part of the season comes along.

After a calm 67 on Thursday, he flew right into contention with a sizzling 63 on Friday. This put him 2 shots back into the weekend. He then followed that up with a controlled 66 on Saturday to snag a 1 shot lead heading in to the final round. Garcia looked as composed as ever this week, even when Sunday play had to be stopped due to a rain delay. The sudden downpour had to push the tournament to a Monday finish. That definitely tested his and all of his chasers' mental fortitude.

Sergio eventually was able to do more than just handle the delay- he took advantage of it. He made many birdies, including 4 in a 5 hole stretch to put the tournament away, and never looked like he was in too much trouble. His putting was superb, and his ball striking was just as good. The soft conditions allowed him to fire at pins whenever he wanted, and it really made things every easy for him.

With the win, he racked up his first one on the PGA Tour since 2008 (THE PLAYERS) and his 8th overall.

What's next: Expect Sergio to be full of confidence heading into the playoffs and Ryder Cup. He will definitely not be the same golfer who said "I can't win a major" back at Augusta. With this stellar performance, he showed us again why he's fits right in with the other elite golfers.

Congratulations, Sergio!

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HTWD Picks of the Week: Windham Championship

JJ: I'm really, REALLY close to being mathematically eliminated in this Fed Ex Cup picks race. I probably need to win out just to have a chance. So, I'm going to try to mount my comeback with a guy who is doing the same thing - John Daly. He has played solid golf the past 2 weeks, and with this being the final tournament before the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs begins, it'd be nice for him to grab a win and possibly enter the Playoffs. That'd be nice. For the both of us.

Bernardo: This week I'm picking Carl Pettersson, who has had great success at this event. We're entering the final stretch of this year long competition and should play out to be an exciting finish. Carl is having a great season filled with high finishes, winning, and recently contending in the PGA. Due to his past achievements at this event I believe Carl will continue his end of the season comeback with a victory. 

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hunter Mahan, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Bud Cauley, Jeff Overton, Steve Stricker, Vijay Singh

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, Bud Cauley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, JB Holmes, Brendon De Jonge, Frederick Jacobson, Zach Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els

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PGA Championship: Oh Hail Rory!

This year’s PGA Champion is none other than Rory Mcllroy, who showed no mercy after obtaining an 8-stroke lead to become a 2-time major champion. The day started with the completion of the third round, which was delayed due to some unplayable weather on Saturday. Most eyes were on Tiger Woods this week due to the public cry for a major win from el tigre, but that was not the case this week. Rory defeated the field with rounds of 67,75,67, and 66, exhibiting the level of play needed to be ranked amongst the legends of the game (currently ranked world #1). 

What’s next: Rory will be expected to compete at a high level due to critics not believing in the young star’s talent.  Many will compare him to Tiger and his possibilities of becoming the next TW. Let’s face it, Rory is fully capable of becoming the world’s best, but no one is perfect at this game.  I predict he will continue to be a contender in big events, along with winning a few events per year. In other news we need Tiger to win a major, failed attempts has been the trend and many are ready to see Tiger reclaim his dominance in the game.  

Congratulations Rory Mcllroy!!!!!!!!

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HTWD Picks of the Week: PGA Championship

JJ: Finally! It's PGA Championship week, and we are now going to be hearing a lot about "Glory's Last Shot". That phrase will be alive for many this week, especially for world No. 2 Tiger Woods. He's going to have a lot of pressure this week to perform and win, and that's why I'm going to pick him this week.

Bernardo: The last major of the year is upon us and the race for Ryder Cup Points will be a priority  for some besides holding the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday.  This week I'm picking Steve Stricker who is coming off a hot finish at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Stricker certainly isn't a favorite this week, but he already has a win under his belt this year and is looking to add a major championship to his collection of achievements.  

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hunter Mahan, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Bud Cauley, Jeff Overton, Steve Stricker, Vijay Singh, Rickie Fowler

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, Bud Cauley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, JB Holmes, Brendon De Jonge, Frederick Jacobson, Zach Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, Bo Van Pelt

Make sure to “like” our Facebook page! Either by going to the page itself (fb.com/hacktillwedie) or clicking on the “like” button on the right side of our home page.

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WGC Bridgestone Invitational: Keegan's Back

What another wacky finish this week at another high profile golf event. Last time at The Open Championship, we saw a slow meltdown of Adam Scott, who led most of that tournament right up until the end. Today, we saw another "collapse" of sorts by Jim Furyk, who made double bogey on 18 to lose by 1 stroke over Keegan Bradley.

Keegan made an astonishing charge with solid play all day, eventually ending up with a 64. He went into the 18th hole down one and needing some magic like he had at Riviera. He made a clutch up and down by sinking a 15 footer that HAD to be made. If you couldn't see how he was able to win last year's PGA Championship, this day definitely showed how and why he did it. 

I feel very bad for Jim, however, as he led for 71 holes this week, and on the 72nd and most important, he couldn't come through. A la Phil Mickelson, all he needed was a bogey or better, but it didn't happen. Jim also had a chance to win another big tournament, the U.S. Open, earlier this summer, but he couldn't finish that off either. Hopefully he can shrug off this tough defeat and play well next week at the PGA.

What's next: Next week we have the final major of the year, the PGA Championship, fittingly dubbed "Glory's Last Shot". Many golfers will have something to prove next week. Some of the headliners are: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, and Luke Donald. There's gonna be a ton of storyline, and only one winner will come out of it. It will definitely be very compelling to watch. See you guys then.

Photo via Getty Images/PGATOUR.com

HTWD Picks of the Week: WGC Bridgestone Invitational

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JJ: As the final tune-up for the PGA Championship begins, there are a handful of players that we'll be keeping our eyes on to see how they're doing at this week's WGC event. A great tournament to prepare you for a major is on hand at this Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone, which will surely bring a lot of drama to the table. With that said, I'm going with Rickie Fowler. He has already notched one win this year, and is eagerly looking for his second. He hasn't been too much of a factor lately, but he can always seem to step up his game at the right time, and right now would be perfect.

Bernardo: Well we're down to the final few weeks before the 2012 PGA Tour comes to a completion and the hunt for FedEx Points continues. This week I'm picking Bo Van Pelt for the WGC Bridgestone Invitational. Bo is currently having a superb season that includes eight top 10s and is ranked 22nd in FedEx Points. Bo is not known for winning many tournaments, but he has progressively improved. This momentum will certainly lead him to become a better player and possibly obtain his second win this week. 

Already used: 

JJ: Jonathan Byrd, Keegan Bradley, Bryce Molder, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hunter Mahan, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Bud Cauley, Jeff Overton, Steve Stricker, Vijay Singh

Bernardo: Martin Laird, K.J. Choi, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, Bud Cauley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, JB Holmes, Brendon De Jonge, Frederick Jacobson, Zach Johnson, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els

Make sure to “like” our Facebook page! Either by going to the page itself (fb.com/hacktillwedie) or clicking on the “like” button on the right side of our home page.

Also don’t forget to follow us on twitter: @HTWDsports

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