Caddie Picks: How they fared at the 2019 Desert Classic

By T.J. Auclair · January 21, 2019

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This is the tally of top-10 finishers for our caddie picks in the 2018-19 PGA Tour season:

1^st: 3
2^nd: 3
3^rd: 3
4^th: 2
5^th: 2
6^th:
7^th: 2
8^th: 2
9^th:
10^th: 2

Here’s a look at how all the caddie picks have made out this season, tournament by tournament (WD = Withdrawal; MC = Missed Cut; DNS = Did Not Start; MDF = Made Cut, Did Not Finish):

2019 Desert Classic:

The 60th edition of the Desert Classic at PGA WEST did not disappoint. Phil Mickelson, making his 2019 debut, flirted with 59 early in the week (but settled for a 60), and the leaderboard was tight throughout.

Ultimately, it was little-known Adam Long who pulled through. Long made an incredible birdie on the par-5 18th hole Sunday to win the tournament by a single shot over Mickelson and past Desert Classic champion, Adam Hadwin.

So how did the caddie picks fare in the desert?

They identified four, top-18 finishers, highlighted by defending champion Jon Rahm, who finished alone in sixth-place.

Here’s a look at how all the picks finished…

Caddie 1

1. Justin Rose, T34
2. Abraham Ancer, T18
3. Andrew Putnam, T34

Caddie 2

1. Jon Rahm, 6th
2. Patrick Cantlay, T12
3. Brian Gay, MC

Caddie 3

1. Corey Conners, MC
2. Russell Knox, T18
3. Charles Howell III, T34

THIS WEEK: Farmers Insurance Open

2019 Sony Open in Hawaii:

It was tight for a little stretch at Waialae on Sunday in the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii, but Matt Kuchar pulled away over the last few holes and strolled to a four-stroke victory over Andrew Putnam. The win was Kuchar’s second of the new season to go along with his triumph in Mexico at the Mayakoba Classic in November.

As for the caddie picks… Though they didn’t pick a winner, four of the players they told you to look out for finished inside the top 16, highlighted by top-10 finishers Charles Howell III (T8) and Bryson DeChambeau (T10).

Here’s a look at how all their picks fared…

Caddie 1

1. Patton Kizzire, T13
2. Bryson DeChambeau, T10
3. Justin Thomas, T16

Caddie 2

1. Troy Merritt, MC
2. Justin Thomas, T16
3. Gary Woodland, MDF

Caddie 3

1. Kevin Kisner, T69
2. Charles Howell III, T8
3. Andrew Landry, MC

2019 Sentry Tournament of Champions:

It was a short field at the winners-only Sentry Tournament of Champions last week at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui. Just 34 players were scheduled to tee it up, but a Kevin Na withdrawal reduced the size to 33.

Xander Schauffele fired an incredible 11-under 62 in the final round to overcome a five-shot deficit to begin the day and win for the fourth time in his PGA Tour career.

Here’s a look at how our caddie picks fared in paradise for the first event of calendar year 2019…

Caddie 1

1. Dustin Johnson, T4
2. Matt Kuchar, T19
3. Gary Woodland, 2

Caddie 2

1. Dustin Johnson, T4
2. Brooks Koepka, 24
3. Justin Thomas, 3

THIS WEEK: Sony Open in Hawaii

2018 Hero World Çhallenge:

Spain’s Jon Rahm continued his impressive play in 2018, capping off the calendar year with a victory at the Hero World Challenge on Sunday.

Though none of our caddies picked Rahm to win this past weekend, they did identify three top-8 finishers. Two caddies selected Tony Finau, the runner up. They also picked Justin Rose (third) and Xander Schauffele (T8).

Here’s a look at how all the caddie picks fared in The Bahamas…

Caddie 1

1. Tony Finau, 2
2. Hideki Matsuyama, 18

Caddie 2

1. Bryson DeChambeau, T12
2. Tony Finau, 2

Caddie 3

1. Justin Rose, 3
2. Xander Shauffele, T8

2018 RSM Classic:

Patrick Rodgers set a PGA Tour record for scoring in his final two rounds of the RSM Classic, firing 61-62. That, however, wasn’t enough to beat Charles Howell III. Howell claimed his first Tour victory since 2007, downing Rodgers on the second hole of a playoff.

It was a sensational week for our caddies, who not only successfully identified Howell as the tournament winner, but also had third-place finisher Webb Simpson, as well as Kevin Kisner and Zach Johnson who both tied for seventh.

Here’s a look at how all the caddie picks fared in Sea Island…

Caddie 1

1. JT Poston, MC
2. Chris Kirk, T46
3. CT Pan, MC

Caddie 2

1. Kevin Kisner, T7
2. Charles Howell III, Won
3. Kramer Hickok, MC

Caddie 3

1. Webb Simpson, 3
2. Robert Streb, T32
3. Zach Johnson, T7

2018 Mayakoba Golf Classic:

Matt Kuchar snapped an 89-start winless drought on Sunday, as he was victorious in the Mayakoba Golf Classic. He did so with a local caddie, no less.

As for our caddie picks at Mayakoba? It wasn’t a great week, but they did have two, top-16 finishers in Emiliano Grillo (15th) and Rickie Fowler (T16).

Here’s a look at how all the caddie picks fared in Mexico…

Caddie 1

1. Brian Gay, T41
2. Gary Woodland, T41
3. Jordan Speith, MC

Caddie 2

1. Emiliano Grillo, 15th
2. Gary Woodland, T41
3. Keith Mitchell, T65

Caddie 3

1. Rickie Fowler, T16
2. Jordan Spieth, MC
3. Chez Reavie, T26

2018 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open:

It might be a new season, but one thing remains the same: Bryson DeChambeau is on fire.

For the fifth time overall and the fourth time in as many months, DeChambeau won on the PGA Tour. His latest — the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas — came on Sunday at TPC Summerlin, where he edged Patrick Cantlay by one stroke, thanks largely to an eagle on the par-5 16th hole.

It was a stellar week for our caddies, too, as they identified three top-10 finishers, highlighted by DeChambeau. They also had Rickie Fowler (T4) and Gary Woodland (T10).

Here’s a closer look at how all the caddie picks fared in Vegas…

Caddie 1

1. Troy Merritt, T57
2. Sam Burns, MC
3. Cameron Champ, T28

Caddie 2

1. Tony Finau, T36
2. Gary Woodland, T10
3. Bryson DeChambeau, Winner

Caddie 3

1. Scott Stallings, T69
2. Tony Finau, T36
3. Rickie Fowler, T4

2018 Sanderson Farms Championship:

In Jackson, Mississippi at the Sanderson Farms Championship, heralded rookie Cameron Champ — just 23 years old — won his first PGA Tour event by an impressive four strokes.

Our caddies identified five, top-25 finishers, including Champ. It was the first victory of the season for our caddie picks.

Bill Haas was the next-best caddie pick finisher with his T14. Here’s a look at how all the caddie picks fared…

Caddie 1

1. Tom Lovelady, 25th
2. Sungjae Im, MC
3. Scott Stallings, T39

Caddie 2

1. Bill Haas, T14
2. Ryan Blaum, T20
3. Seamus Power, 19th

Caddie 3

1. Ryan Armour, T54
2. Aaron Baddeley, MC
3. Cameron Champ, Winner

2018 CJ Cup at Nine Bridges:

Brooks Koepka, the PGA Tour’s 2017-18 Player of the Year, looks to be picking up right where he left off. Koepka won the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges on Sunday in South Korea. It was his fifth career PGA Tour victory and propelled him to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

As for how our caddie picks fared, Gary Woodland was the lone bright spot, as he finished runner-up to Koepka. The only other top-20 finisher among last week’s caddie picks, was Marc Leishman — winner of the CIMB Classic. He tied for 18th.

Here’s a look at how all our caddies’ picks fared in Korea:

Caddie 1

1. Justin Thomas, T36
2. Marc Leishman, T18
3. Kyle Stanley, 66

Caddie 2

1. Marc Leishman, T18
2. Justin Thomas, T36
3. Brandt Snedeker, T36

Caddie 3

1. Marc Leishman, T18
2. Gary Woodland, 2nd
3. Justin Thomas, T36

2018 CIMB Classic:

Australia’s Marc Leishman won for the fourth time in his PGA Tour career on Sunday at the CIMB Classic. Leishman ran away from the field at TPC Kuala Lumpur with a dazzling, final-round 65 and a five-stroke victory over Emiliano Grillo, Chesson Hadley and Bronson Burgoon.

Our caddies had a solid week with their picks. Justin Thomas and Gary Woodland tied for fifth, while Austin Cook tied for 13th.

Here’s a look at how all our caddies’ picks fared in Malaysia:

Caddie 1

1. Justin Thomas, T5
2. Xander Shauffele, 25th
3. Gary Woodland, T5

Caddie 2

1. Xander Shauffele, 25th
2. Austin Cook, T13
3. Justin Thomas, T5

2018 Safeway Open:

The first event of the 2018-19 PGA Tour season is in the books and a first-time PGA Tour winner was crowned.

Kevin Tway, son of PGA Champion Bob Tway, captured the Safeway Open, outlasting Brandt Snedeker and Ryan Moore in a playoff. With his victory, Tway made it so that he and his father are the 10th father-son duo in history to have victories on the PGA Tour.

As for our caddie picks, let’s just say they were a little rusty in the first start of the season! The top finisher among all the picks was Cameron Champ, who tied for 25th.

Here’s a look at how all our caddies’ picks fared at Silverado:

Caddie 1

1. Chez Reavie, T33
2. Brendan Steele, T53
3. Andrew Putnam, DNP

Caddie 2

1. Cameron Champ, T25
2. Beau Hossler, MC
3. Ollie Schniederjans, MC

Caddie 3

1. Brendan Steele, T53
2. Chez Reavie, T33
3. Kelly Kraft, MC