2020 QBE Shootout: Ranking the 12 teams at Tiburon GC
No. 12 Kevin Na/Sean O’Hair
Sean O’Hair’s a two-time QBE Shootout champion so I won’t besmirch his name too much, but I’m not liking his and Kevin Na’s chances too much. O’Hair first won with Kenny Perry in 2012 then got back to the promised land in 2017 with another Tiburon stalwart, Steve Stricker.
Since then, he was T-8th with Stricks in 2018 and in last by 12 shots in 2019 with Michael Thompson. World No. 713 O’Hair has just one top-20 in his last 12 outings.
No. 39 Kevin Na teamed with Bryson DeChambeau for T-3rd in 2018. He has four top-50s leading in but hasn’t been his sharpest since early summer. Nevertheless, a strong putter like him can make up for a lot.
No. 11 Ryan Palmer/Harold Varner III
Ryan Palmer is no stranger winning team events. He and Jon Rahm won the 2019 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The Texan nearly did it again later that year when he and Harold Varner III took third at the 2019 QBE Shootout. Palmer and HVIII were the 18-hole leaders by two with an opening 55 but were passed up after scores of 70-63 to finish T-3rd and three back.
World No. 30 Palmer had a stellar 2020 despite not being able to end his 10-year individual win drought. He finished second at the Memorial and had four more top-10s, including in his last start at the Zozo Championship (T-4th).
No. 126 Varner III has top-30s in half of his last eight events. He finished sixth with Bubba Watson at the 2018 QBE Shootout.
No. 10 Rory Sabbatini/Kevin Tway
This seemed like a very random pairing in 2019, and had I been writing these rankings back then, I probably would have projected them toward the bottom. Heck, I almost did it again until I remembered they’re the defending champions. By two shots!
I won’t pick the duo to become the third to go back-to-back at the QBE Shootout, but I’ll show them a bit more respect in 2020. World No. 112 Sabbo just doesn’t have the firepower to contend on the PGA Tour, but he’s sharp enough in all other facets to forge out a path in his 40s as a top-25 machine. He had one a couple starts ago at the RSM Classic where he took T-12th.
No. 342 Tway’s going to have to summon the magic from Tiburon seeing as the one-time PGA Tour winner didn’t finish higher than T-30th since the QBE Shootout.
No. 9 Daniel Berger/Steve Stricker
The PNC Father/Son Shootout isn’t until next week, but the age disparity here is on pace. The 53-year-old Steve Stricker has owned this event and will look to spread the wealth to first-time teammate, 27-year-old Daniel Berger.
World No. 471 Stricker won the 2009 QBE Shootout with fellow Wisconsinite, Jerry Kelly, a duo that racked up several more high finishes. Stricker was about to knock on the door of the PGA Tour Champions when he won again in 2017 alongside Sean O’Hair. That year, Berger was in the hunt five shots back alongside Gary Woodland.
If No. 13 Berger has a good ball striking week, Stricker can still wedge and putt it well enough for them to make a compatible tandem. Stricks just showed he can still hang with the big boys last week by finishing T-17th with four under-par rounds.
No. 8 Mackenzie Hughes/Lanto Griffin
A North American alliance is formed between the U.S.’s Lanto Griffin and Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes. Both are QBE Shootout debutants and own one career PGA Tour win.
In their last eight events, Griffin, ranked No. 61 in the OWGR, has four top-20s (two top-10s) and No. 50 Hughes has four top-10s.
No. 7 Joaquin Niemann/Sebastian Munoz
Two rising South American stars join forces to each make their QBE Shootout debuts.
World No. 43 Niemann has experience in a team format when he made the 2019 International Presidents Cup team. He’s also got experience as a winner on the PGA Tour at the 2019 Greenbrier. The Chilean has seven top-30s in his last eight starts.
No. 56 Sebastian Munoz is on pace to be considered for his first Presidents Cup team when 2022 rolls around. The Colombian won the 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship and has three top-10s since August.