Showdown, Week 21: Rickie Fowler vs. Zach Johnson

So in an attempt to inject a bit more life and interest into tournaments, and because we’re all inveterate gamblers who are one bad card from being out on the streets, Jay Busbee and I are playing a golf version of a football suicide pool: We each pick one golfer per tournament and see how they do against each other, straight up. Victory over the other guy gets one point, victory in the tournament gets three points, and a tie between two of the three lands you half a point. (Double for the majors.) And when we burn a golfer, he’s done for the year. We turn our attention to the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

Wall: I hate burning this guy before the second major of the year, but I have to take Rickie Fowler. Aside from the breakthrough win at Quail Hollow, he posted a runner-up finish the following week at the Players Championship. That’s three Top 10s in his last three starts, which is reason enough for me to take the hot hand. He’s never had a high finish at Colonial, but over the last two years he’s posted rounds of 63 and 64. I like his chances, especially with the newfound confidence. Let’s keep the Showdown rout going!

Busbee: Zach Johnson’s my pick this week. His last tour victory came right here at Colonial, so he knows the course. He’s quietly putting together a heck of a season, with two runnerup finishes in his last three starts. (They bracket a T69 at the Wells Fargo, but let’s ignore that.) He’s primed to bust out his first win in two years this weekend. Or at least beat whoever you’re running out. Please…?

Last week: Once again, Busbee’s selection didn’t even make the weekend, as Adam Scott posted 4-over at the HP Byron Nelson Championship. Wall’s pick of Jason Day finished T-9, giving him his second consecutive point. Do I smell a blowout coming?

Current score: Wall – 3.5, Busbee – 1.5.

Already Used: Wall – Gary Woodland, K.J. Choi, Martin Laird, Nick Watney, Lee Westwood, Jason Day. Busbee – Nick Watney, Webb Simpson, Bill Haas, Ben Crane, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott.

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