Hyundai TOC: Three Players To Watch

Sep 14, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Billy Horschel waves to fans after winning the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup at East Lake Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The 2015 Hyundai Tournament of Champions signals the real start to the new PGA Tour golf season at the Plantation Golf Course on the beautiful island of Maui this week. Most critiques around golf that I have spoken with, have said this tournament has lost its esteem over the years, but with a $5.7 Million Dollar Purse and a small, no-cut field, it gives fans a chance to see how some of these pros have weathered the down time.

Hyundai Tournament of Champions Jan 9 – Jan 12, 2015

I have submitted my Fantasy Picks for this event that tees off on Friday afternoon, but there are some players I want to see in action that are not on the list, and could be a factor when the prize money is handed out on Monday afternoon.

Next: 2015 Hyundai Fantasy Picks

For instance, we know Jimmy Walker can play on the West Coast. He amassed three wins last year before the Florida Swing, and rode it to a Ryder Cup berth, and a pretty nice season. Who saw that coming?

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My interest lies in players who had pretty good seasons in 2014, and need to take their games to the new level, and after coming of this six-week rest period, can they push themselves into the top-tier of PGA Tour players?

Billy Horschel

I was impressed with Billy Horschel’s run to win the FedEx Cup Championship. Especially after the six-iron debacle at TPC Boston when he hit in the hazard on the last hole with a chance to win.

I saw a determined player who was ready for the spotlight when it was on him, but I want to see what he does next.

After winning the Zürich New Orleans Classic in 2013, The 28 year-old former Gator went into the tank for 18 months. It changed his life, but he missed four cuts, including his next outing at the Players Championship. The only top tens he had after the win, was a T4 at the US Open, and T7 at the Tour Championship.

After winning the BMW Championship, and the Tour Championship last year, he bombed on a couple of starts before he got it going at the Hero Challenge where he finished T8. Sorry, I don’t count the T3 at the Franklin Templeton Shootout.

Like his win in New Orleans, Horschel missed the cut in his first outing at The Shriners. He managed a T37 at The CIMB Classic, and a T73 at the WGC-HSBC Championship.

Billy Horschel averages over 310 yards off the tee, and has the game to compete on Maui, I would like to see him do it. He tied for 6th place last year in his début, and was the low man during the final 36 holes. His 72-72 start kept him out of the Monday picture.

Chris Kirk

I really liked what I saw from Chris Kirk last year, and felt that a missed birdie putt at the 72nd hole of the Deutsche Bank cost him a nod from Ryder Cup Captain, Tom Watson, even though the young Georgia Bulldog won the tournament.

Sep 13, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Chris Kirk chips up to the second green during the third round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

Even though I felt Billy Horschel should have gotten a better look after winning the FedEx Cup, I felt Chris Kirk would have been a better pick than Hunter Mahan, or Webb Simpson.

Chris Kirk is not long off the tee, but we saw Zach Johnson win here last year with the same tools. He has an excellent iron game, and can get hot with his putter.

With three starts already this year, he has finished in the top 25 in all events which included a T4 at the McGladrey Classic.

PGATour.com has Kirk ranked third this week, and I think he could be one to keep an eye on. He finished T 7 here in the wind bowl of 2012, and settled for a T 16 last year.

I think Chris Kirk is ready to take the next step, and we may see him on some leaderboards in the 2015 season, maybe even a major.

Sang Moon Bae

We pretty much don’t see Sang Moon Bae on leaderboards after the tour moves East, but even with the South Korean military committment hanging over his head, he has performed well in the early going.

The 28 year-old South Korean won the season opener at the Frys.com, and finished T 4 at theCIMB

Apr 8, 2014; Augusta, GA, USA; Sang-Moon Bae on the 2nd hole during Tuesday practice rounds at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports

Classic. He missed the cut in Las Vegas and sits in second place in FedEx Cup standings.

Bae hits greens at a 77% clip, and with a driving average over 300 yards, can compete at Kapalua this week. If he can get his putter on track, he can play with anyone on the tour.

Sang Moon Bae is at the point where he needs to take the next step, and be a factor when the big boys come back to work in Florida.

It would be a shame if he can’t get his military service deferred until he is done playing golf, and it keeps him from taking that next step.

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