Pettersson will use his one-time top-50 career money list exemption. He was fairly decent just two years ago, but fell hard and fast last season, making only 5-of-22 cuts. Until he shows us something, steer clear.
Pettersson's first-half of the season was quite a disappointment, with only one top-10 during the first six months, but he picked it up near the end of the season and he ended up comfortably inside the top-125 once again. Pettersson is getting harder to peg though as he usually has a spurt or two during the season, but how long that spurt is and how much he accomplishes during that time seems to change every year. With that said, the upside is still there and he's worth consideration in salary cap leagues. In draft leagues he could go as high at the 6th round.
Pettersson is only one year removed from a season in which he earned over $3.5 million. That fact alone is enough to merit a selection in salary cap leagues. In draft leagues he should go in the 50-60 range, but he could go earlier based on his 2012 numbers.
A surprise top-20 entrant on the money list last season, Pettersson did last year what he does often - got hot for small stretches. His first run came at the beginning of April when he finished runner-up at the Shell Houston Open and followed that two weeks later with a win at the RBC Heritage. As is his custom, a slump followed, but by August he was back in a groove. A tie for third at the PGA Championship was followed by a tie for fourth the following week at the Wyndham Championship, and a top-20 finish on the money list was in sight. Although his results last season weren't typical, that erratic pattern is what you can expect from Pettersson. The problem is his highs aren't always as high as they were last year, while the lows are about the same every year. As such, Pettersson probably isn't a good salary cap pick this season. In draft leagues, he should go late second round or early third round.
Pettersson lacked the high-end punch last year we're accustomed to, but he still managed to put together some decent numbers in 2011, collecting five Top-10s and nine Top-25 finishes. Not exactly what we've come to expect with Pettersson, but at least he didn't fall entirely off the map. At his best, Pettersson had a four-year stretch from 2005-2008 in which he made about $2 million each season. If that's the best he can do, then he's probably not worth the pick. Besides, a lot of Pettersson's earnings over the last decade have come during the fall season when most fantasy leagues are done for the year.
Like Stuart Appleby, Pettersson's play dropped off the cliff in 2009 only to return in 2010. Pettersson's drop was slightly more of a surprise, though, as before 2009 he earned at least $2 million in three consecutive seasons. Although 2010 wasn't a complete return to form, it was enough to lead us to believe that Pettersson still has plenty left in the tank. Pettersson usually ranks as one of the best putters on the PGA TOUR, but his rankings in the other core categories leave plenty to be desired.
This is a big year for Pettersson after winning in 2008. He will have to improve in every facet of his game in 2010 to improve his position on the money list. We have concerns this can happen and have him placed at the 125-140 range on the money list.
After a slow start to the 2008 season, Pettersson really turn it up a notch over the last five months. He finished in the top-10 at the US Open and won the Wyndham Championship in August. Pettersson has proven to be a legitimate player over the last few years and should be considered at this number.
Pettersson is a great player to have on your fantasy team. Not only is he a good player getting better each year, but he plays almost every week. When you play that often you are bound to have those weeks where most everything goes your way. Pettersson didn't have a perfect week last year, but he had six good weeks where he finished in the top-10. With so many opportunities to break through, expect Pettersson to have a handful of top-10s again, and possibly a win.
Pettersson is one of the few players on tour who turned fall-season success into regular-season success the following year. It's not often a player has all of his success in the fall and then backs it up the next year during the heart of the season. It didn't even take long, either, as Pettersson made his first 13 cuts, winning the 13th at the Memorial. Perhaps the most impressive part of Pettersson's 2006 was that he spread out his success. He played well early, middle and late in the season. That's a good sign heading into 2007.
Here's a player who took full advantage of the fall season. Pettersson was a total non-factor during the regular season. His best finish was 15th at the International, which was his only top-10 through August. Then September rolled around and Pettersson started playing well. Over the season's last three months, he missed no cuts, won once, finished runner-up and had another top-5. This is the perfect example of trying to determine whether a player simply figures out his game or if the weaker fields played more into his success. Obviously, he played well during that stretch, you can't win on tour without playing well, but how will this translate? Pettersson was a good player overseas before he had any success here, so his struggles might have just been an adjustment period. He's certainly not likely to do as well during the 2006 regular season as he did during the 2005 fall season, but he will have better success early this year.
Pettersson started well with a runner-up finish at the Buick Invitational, but he couldn't do much more after that. Only one Top Ten finish in 25 tries.
