The Greenbrier Classic Preview: Casey Looks to Bounce Back

If you've followed this column over the years, you know that even though I love golf, I don't see the sport through rose-colored glasses. I call it like I see it. So, you won't be surprised to hear that I was a little skeptical entering last week that we'd actually be entertained by the Travelers Championship. You see, after the finish we had at the U.S. Open, it felt like we were due for a stinker, for lack of a better term. Nothing against the event itself or the players involved, it's just a numbers game. It's hard to produce a fantastic finish every time out.

As luck would have it, though, that's just what we got Sunday. Sure, the final hole lacked drama as Paul Casey flew his green-side bunker shot halfway to the Atlantic Ocean, but prior to that mistake, Casey played lights out just to force a playoff.

As for the eventual champion Bubba Watson? Well, he didn't exactly bring back memories of the great Jordan Spieth, but he made the shots when it counted, including a clutch par putt on the 72nd hole and an outstanding approach shot on the second playoff hole, which forced Casey's hand and likely had at least something to do with the shot heard 'round the world.

Up next is the Greenbrier, and if history tells us anything it's that good finishes come in threes, so we are set this week. OK, I made that up, but after last week's finish, I'm a little more optimistic.

This week: The Greenbrier - The Old White Course, White Sulpher Springs, W.V.

Last Year: Angel Cabrera shot a final-round 64 on his way to a two-stroke victory over George McNeill.

PLAYERS TO CONSIDER

Paul Casey

Both combatants from last week's playoff are in the field this week, so why is Casey ahead of Watson on the list? It's safe to say both players are in good form, but Casey is the one left with the bad taste in his mouth from last week. Therefore, he should have a little more determination this week.

Bubba Watson

I'm actually a little hesitant to put Watson on the list this week as I wonder if he'll be a little complacent this week after winning in Connecticut last week. But he's proven to be a fairly streaky player in his career, so he should carry some momentum into this week.

Tony Finau

Yet another top-25 last week for Finau. For those keeping score at home, that's six consecutive top-25s dating to mid-May. Finau has been a first-timer at pretty much all of the places he's played this year, so the fact that it will be his first time on the Old White Course this week shouldn't matter much.

David Lingmerth

Lingmerth has been wildly inconsistent this season, so he's the furthest thing from a safe pick this week, but he's nearly a month removed from his huge win at the Memorial and his track record at this event is pretty solid. Lingmerth has two top-20s in two tries at this event.

Webb Simpson

Of the few big names in the field this week, Simpson has the most impressive track record here. In five starts at this event, Simpson has three top-10s, including a solo third last year. He's not exactly tearing it up this year, but he's played well enough to think he can pull out a win this week.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Keegan Bradley

Bradley is a good player, there's no denying that, and he's always safely inside the top 125 never fearing for his PGA Tour card, but I'm starting to wonder if he'll ever be the great player many thought he would be after his PGA Championship in 2011. That's the long view, though. As for this week, there's no reason to think he'll win this week, so why use him?

Kevin Kisner

Kisner is having a great year and has played his best golf the last two months, but the fact remains that he's never made a cut here in three tries. Yes, he's certainly a better player now that at any time during his previous three starts, but it could be that this course just doesn't suit his eye.

Vijay Singh

Normally I wouldn't even bother putting a player like this on the "avoid list," but I did select Singh as my survivor pick last week, so he is still relevant ... somewhat. Anyhow, Singh missed the cut at the Travelers last week, an event where he had never missed the cut, so you can guess how I'm feeling about him at the moment.

Marc Leishman

Leishman, like Singh, had everything going for him last week and even though he made the cut, he didn't accomplish much on the weekend. This week his prospects don't look as good as he's missed the cut in two of his four starts at this event.

Angel Cabrera

Cabrera is the defending champion this week, and while I don't picture Cabrera as the type who would have trouble defending a championship, I don't like the state of his game. Cabrera has only one top-25 since the beginning of February and hasn't finished inside the top 50 since the Masters.

ONE AND DONE GOLFER

Last week: Marc Leishman (T39) - $23,680; Season - $4,556,801

This week: Paul Casey - There are a handful of quality options this week outside of Bubba, and while I might go with Webb if I had him available, Casey seems like a solid choice. I don't like that he's a first-timer here, but he was a first-timer last week at the Travelers and we all saw how that turned out.

YAHOO PICKS

Points: 3,913
Rank: 6,564

This Week:

Group A: Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson

Group B: Paul Casey, George McNeill, Graham DeLaet, Nick Watney

Group C: Tony Finau, David Lingmerth

SURVIVOR PICK

Last week: Vijay Singh (MC); Streak - 0

This week: Bill Haas - After the Vijay Singh experiment last week, I'm obviously a little gun shy about selecting another risky golfer, so I'll stick with a big name this week in Bill Haas. Haas has played here four times and finished safely inside the cut line each time.