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  • ⛳️ Hideki Matsuyama? Absolutely dialed.

⛳️ Hideki Matsuyama? Absolutely dialed.

Plus: One of our readers hit for 23k.

Author

Josey Orr
February 19, 2024

Good Morning! Welcome to Shanks. Hideki Matsuyama saved the day and maybe the whole year yesterday with his win at Riviera. In fact, one of our community members hit for $23,000 because of our pick. Great stuff. Otherwise, if we’re being honest, most of the Genesis lacked any type of juice. Many are wondering if LIV’s poaching of talent from the Tour is finally starting to take its toll.

Golf Fact: The guys who play well at Riviera tend to also play well at Augusta. Just check out this list. 

Here's what we've got for ya today:

  • Quick Recap: The Genesis

  • ICYMI: Mackenzie Hughes Walk and Talk

  • A Win For Our Readers

  • Shots Heard Round The World

  • Early Lines: Mexico Open

  • Thing We’d Buy If We Weren’t Broke

Quick Recap: The Genesis

Hideki Matsuyama? Absolutely Dialed.

2024 has seen some record scoring.

Wyndham Clark and Nick Taylor broke records the last two weeks, but neither seemed as special as what we saw from Mr. Hideki Matsuyama yesterday.

And no, that’s not because he won us money.

He began the day six strokes off the lead.

He ended the day winning by three strokes.

That’s what happens when you have the lowest closing round ever at Riviera.

With his 62 yesterday, Hideki notched his 9th win on tour. That makes him the most prolific Asian golfer of all time, now one win ahead of KJ Choi, from South Korea.

What about everyone else?

Patrick Cantlay was our short-odds pick to win and he totally looked out of sorts on Sunday, which would’ve been heartbreaking if it wasn’t for Hideki.

It was reported after the round that he woke up with a 100+ degree fever. At least it gives some context as to how he started the final round up by two strokes and then ended up losing to Hideki by four.

Luke List and Will Zalatoris both made it interesting, but faltered down the stretch. They tied for second.

However, it’s worth noting that this is the best Will has looked since coming back from back surgery. Could we be entering Willy Z comeback szn? Maybe!

Shanks Picks Recap 2024

We’ve tabulated the numbers and Shanks is up +41.7 units on the year, if you placed an equal amount on every pick we’ve made. That’s with Sahith Theegala coming in second at The Sentry, when we picked him to win, a truly heartbreaking loss.

Outright Picks: 0-7

Top Five: 1-6

Top Ten: 3-4

Top Twenty: 1-6

Longshot: 1-6

MTCP: 1-2

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ICYMI: Mackenzie Hughes

Unless you’ve been sleeping under a rock, you know that pro golf has been doing this “walk and talk” thing with players and it’s been pretty well received.

This week at The Genesis, it was Mackenzie Hughes turn to speak and Jim Nantz was locked in. He asked him about the comments he made recently in regard to the state of pro golf.

Mackenzie didn’t hold back, saying “I just think that it’s unfortunate where we are in the game right now, where it seems that it’s all about the money and it’s all about, how much money can I make?” Hughes said. “I think we lost the spirit of the game in the process, and it was just never the reason I played on the PGA Tour.”

Watch the video above for his full commentary.

Shanks Says: He’s right and we’re surprised the PGAT didn’t cut his mic.

A Win For Our Readers

Shots Heard Round The World

Early Lines: Mexico Open

After a few weeks of incredible golf courses and pretty loaded fields, we come back down to earth a little bit at the Mexico Open.

Tony Finau is the highest ranked player in the field and defending champion.

Thing We'd Buy If We Weren't Broke

These are the irons that Hideki plays, aren’t they pretty?

From Srixon: Z-Forged II is a traditional muscle back blade Iron designed in close collaboration with Srixon tour pros. Z-Forged II Irons offer crisp feel, maximum control, and pinpoint workability.

With this purchase, you’re also eligible to receive free Arccos Sensors and a free Arccos Caddie trial.

That’s all folks! See you Wednesday with some Mexico Open Picks.