By Eric Cohen

I’m getting tired of finishing second. It’s happening all too often

these days.

No, I’m not talking about in our picks standings below in this

column. But two weeks in a row, my picks / financial investments

have been tied for the lead late on Sunday only to finish runner

up. Certain players know how to finish and others don’t. Both

Matthew Wolff and Xander Schauffele are awesome and will

continue to do very well on tour…but stop doing what I do towards

the end of a small cash game with my friends…coming up short.

Either way my lead in this column is rather safe for the time being

but the goal is to do better…liking picking winners! Haven’t done

that in a while…

All that changes this week at the ZOZO Championship, relocated

this year to Sherwood CC outside of Los Angeles instead of its

usual home, Japan.

This 78 player, no-cut event is played on a course measuring

under 7,100 yards with five Par 5’s. With a boatload of superstars

in the field, including Tiger Woods, not only the defending

champion of the event but a master on this course, low scores

should not be a problem.

My strategy this week is divided…two long hitters and two shorter

but straighter hitters, three of whom cashed significant win tickets

for me in 2020. Though Tiger might make some noise, his lack of

current form is enough for me to pass on picking him this week.

Once again the rules for our challenge:

Each week, Harry, Parlay Kid, Producer Michael and I will get a

simulated $200 to bet…$100 on golfers to win that week’s

tournament and another $100 to be spread amongst top-5, top-

10, top-20, and other prop bets. We’ll track the progress to see

who does the best and whether we can produce positive ROIs.

Here are this week’s plays for the ZOZO Championship:

(Odds courtesy of Draft Kings Sportsbook)

Eric:

Last Week’s Results: Even

Total ROI: +$1822.50 (through 16 weeks)

$40 to WIN: Jon Rahm (+1000)

$30 to WIN: Patrick Reed (+2500)

$20 to WIN: Webb Simpson (+1800)

$10 to WIN: Adam Scott (+5000)

$50 on Top-10: Patrick Reed (+225)

$50 on Top-10: Adam Scott (+400)

Michael (Best Bet Corner Producer)

Last Week’s Results: -$200

Total ROI: -$59.25 (through 11 weeks)

$25 to WIN: Xander Schauffele (+1100)

$25 to WIN: Justin Thomas (+1200)

$25 to WIN: Webb Simpson (+1800)

$25 to WIN: Collin Morikawa (+2000)

$50 on Top-10: Webb Simpson (+175)

$50 on Winning Margin: 2 Strokes (+400)

Parlay Kid

Last Week’s Results: -$70

Total ROI: -$71.25 (through 15 weeks)

$25 to WIN: Webb Simpson (+1800)

$25 to WIN: Daniel Berger (+3000)

$25 to WIN: Matthew Wolff (+3300)

$25 to WIN: Brendon Todd (+10000)

$25 on Top-10: Billy Horschel (+500)

$25 on 1 st Round Leader: Justin Thomas (+1800)

$25 on 1 st Round Leader: Patrick Cantlay (+3300)

$25 on 1 st Round Leader: Tony Finau (+3300)

Harry

Last Week’s Results: -$200

Total ROI: -$1494 (through 16 weeks)

$40 to WIN: Justin Thomas (+1200)

$30 to WIN: Rory McIlroy (+1200)

$20 to WIN: Kevin Streelman (+11000)

$10 to WIN: Tiger Woods (+3300)

$70 on Top-20: Tiger Woods (+100)

$20 on Top-30: Shugo Imahira (+300)

$5 on 1 st Round Leader: Matthew Wolff (+3300)

$5 on Playoff: 4 Man (+5000)

Find more of Eric’s sports opinions and predictions on Twitter at

@CohensCornerAZ.