QB Rodgers on GB moves: ‘Trust the process’QB Rodgers on GB moves: ‘Trust the process’
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says he needs “to trust the process” when it comes to the team’s personnel decisions.
Day: April 17, 2018
Filly Heavenly Prize elected to Racing Hall of FameFilly Heavenly Prize elected to Racing Hall of Fame
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Eclipse Award-winning filly Heavenly Prize has been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
Fantasy Insider: Valero Texas Open fantasy adviceFantasy Insider: Valero Texas Open fantasy advice
As golfers all over the world continue their pursuit of exemptions into THE PLAYERS and the last three majors, those with shreds of PGA TOUR status are just happy that the second half of the season is here. Beginning with this week’s Valero Texas Open, all of the remaining opens through the Wyndham Championship will host the maximum 156 golfers. Both the Barbasol Championship and Barracuda Championship are additional events that reserve space for 132, but both fields always dip deep into the overall pecking order. So, most of the guys with as little as conditional status (Category 31 in the Priority Ranking) can expect upwards of 11 starts over the next four months. J.T. Poston (107th in the FedExCup standings) and Trey Mullinax (125th) headline this category, so they’ll remain motivated to play as often as possible. However, because none in their category is fully exempt, any can play as much as he wants on the Web.com Tour and chase a 2018-19 PGA TOUR card through that circuit. It’s a critical decision because golfers cannot combine FedExCup points or PGA TOUR earnings with Web.com Tour earnings to qualify even for the Web.com Tour Finals. Without a head start on either tour, it makes sense picking one path from here on out. The timing of that decision also is important right now since the North Mississippi Classic launches the months-long sprint to the Finals. The Web.com Tour has only two dark weeks until then. For those committed to the Valero, long hitters who hits greens in regulation should emerge as the common thread among contenders. This plays right into our hands as PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO gamers. Since distance off the tee is most valuable among the variety of attributes for fantasy scoring, go ahead and lean heavily on this skill set. Course history also carries weight at TPC San Antonio, so you shouldn’t have any issue in compiling a short list of candidates who check both boxes and for whom you won’t be worried about reserving starts in Segment 3. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO My roster for the Valero Texas Open (in alphabetical order): Kevin Chappell Charley Hoffman Billy Horschel Matt Kuchar Luke List Brendan Steele You’ll find my starters in Expert Picks. Others to consider for each category (in alphabetical order): Scoring: Chesson Hadley; Zach Johnson; Luke List; Ryan Palmer; Pat Perez; Xander Schauffele Driving: Keegan Bradley; Martin Laird; Ryan Palmer; Pat Perez; Kevin Streelman Approach: Keegan Bradley; Chesson Hadley; Zach Johnson; Chris Kirk; Martin Lair; Nate Lashley; Ryan Palmer; Scott Piercy; Kevin Streelman Short: Chesson Hadley; Beau Hossler; Martin Laird; Pat Perez; Shawn Stefani; Daniel Summerhays Power Rankings Wild Card Jimmy Walker … The 2015 winner also has another three top 15s in the tournament, including a T13 last year, so he’s managed just fine amid any distractions of it being a home game. More impressively, he continues to work his way back from his health concerns with a 6-for-8 slate in 2018 that included a pair of top 20s. Put it all together and he’ll blend well in any roster. Draws Adam Scott … The winner of the inaugural edition at TPC San Antonio hasn’t appeared since finishing T23 in his title defense in 2011, but the higher value in ball-striking projects to present him as if he never left. Currently 21st on TOUR in greens hit and fifth in strokes gained: tee-to-green. Also recently connected top 20s at PGA National and Copperhead. Xander Schauffele … Going back to his win at the TOUR Championship, he’s gone 12 consecutive (stroke-play) starts with a score or par or better in an opening round. Slots eighth in first-round scoring average, so he’s unlocked the combination to merge patience with aggression. To wit, since missing the cut in his debut at TPC San Antonio last year, he’s missed only three cuts. Probably best known for his putting, he ranks a seriously impressive eighth in distance of all drives, so there are numerous angles from which the 2016-17 Rookie of the Year can attack and excel. Zach Johnson … Strides in having survived 13 consecutive cuts thanks to a balanced skill set that’s avoided his known pitfall of sketchy putting. Ranks third in proximity to the hole and inside the top 30 in par-3, par-4 and par-5 scoring averages. The winner of the last two editions of the tournament at LaCantera (2008, 2009) is 3-for-5 at TPC San Antonio with top 20s in 2014 and 2015. Kevin Streelman … Easily could have boxed out for a spot in the Power Rankings, so do not hesitate to employ. He’s perfect in four trips to TPC San Antonio and fresh off a T7 at Harbour Town where no one went lower than his 7-under 135 on the weekend. Sits second in ball-striking, fourth in scrambling and first in bogey avoidance. Aaron Baddeley … Perfect in his last six starts and 6-for-6 at TPC San Antonio with two top fives and another two top 20s. His touch around and on greens is so strong that his inefficiency tee-to-green hasn’t been an obstacle here. A DFSer’s delight. Keegan Bradley (SERVPRO) Bill Haas (SERVPRO) Martin Laird (all) Jamie Lovemark (DFS) Trey Mullinax (all) Grayson Murray (DFS) Chris Paisley (DFS) Scott Piercy (all) Jhonattan Vegas (DFS) Fades Kevin Tway … Tied for third here last year, but he’s gone 21 consecutive starts without a top 25 upon in advance of his return. Perhaps TPC San Antonio is what he needs to turn it around, but use him sparingly if you can’t resist. William McGirt … This is relative. He’s a known horse for courses, and even though he’s 5-for-6 at TPC San Antonio, he still hasn’t hung up a top-30 finish and has yet to break 70 in 22 rounds. He tends to play harder courses better, too, but his below-average distance off the tee is a disadvantage. Danny Lee … For the savvy who believe that the third time is the charm, he’s a contrarian investment, but in the vacuum, he belongs here. Sat a respective T23 and T9 after 54 holes of the Houston Open and RBC Heritage, but finished T64 and T55 with big numbers in the finales. Just 1-for-4 at TPC San Antonio with a T63 in 2012. So, consider this a tip to keep an eye on him if you’re not already. Julian Suri … Authored a T8 at the Houston Open with a balanced approach, so he’s getting comfortable at this level. Still, as a shiny, new toy for DFSers, the gloss can suggest that he’s more valuable than stalwarts with teeth on which you should rely. Dylan Frittelli … The University of Texas product performed below expectations in Houston where he projected to contribute across the board. With no better than a T32 at the RBC Heritage in his last five starts, the end-loaded solo 11th at The Honda Classic appears as an anomaly as he endures the learning curve as a non-member of PGA TOUR competition. Jim Furyk J.B. Holmes Martin Kaymer Russell Knox Jason Kokrak Graeme McDowell Sean O’Hair Shubhankar Sharma Returning to Competition John Peterson … Wisely rationing his last five starts on a Major Medical Extension, he withdrew early from The Honda Classic due to an issue in his neck. So, this marks his first competition since the Waste Management Phoenix Open two-and-a-half months ago. Finished T11 at TPC San Antonio in 2015, but hasn’t cracked a top 35 on the PGA TOUR in over a year. Will Claxton … If you’re new to fantasy in the last few years, the likelihood is high that you’ve never heard of him. The 36-year-old is an Auburn product. After finishing inside the top 125 in the FedExCup standings as a rookie in 2012, he stumbled as a sophomore in 2013. He was then one of the first graduates of the Web.com Tour Finals in 2013. After going 4-for-8 to open 2013-14, he shut it down and had surgery on his left hip and hasn’t competed anywhere since. He’s been armed with 12 starts on a medical extension in the Web.com graduate reshuffle and now takes a step at returning. His commitment to the North Mississippi Classic will count as his first rehab start. Notable WDs Francesco Molinari … Didn’t hesitate to inform his followers on Twitter that he’s resting a sore shoulder and hopes to return to competition at the Wells Fargo Championship on May 3-6. He’s 106th in the FedExCup standings. Luke Donald … One of the inspirations to lifting him to No. 3 in the Power Rankings for the RBC Heritage, despite poor form, was that he’s remained busy. Alas, when he later held his press conference, he admitted that discomfort in his lower back has prevented him from competing more often. The issue, which he estimated to have been ongoing for a “couple of months,” thwarted an appearance at the Houston Open two weeks prior. He missed the cut at Harbour Town by only one stroke, and it stung that he whiffed on a birdie from inside five feet on his 36th hole, but the experience shouldn’t discourage us from considering the Englishman again in that tournament that he’s all but owned in the last decade. Camilo Villegas … Withdrew early from last week’s RBC Heritage as well. The 36-year-old from Colombia is 162nd in the FedExCup standings. The good news is that he and his wife revealed on April 1 that the couple is expecting its first child in several months. Power Rankings Recap – RBC Heritage Power Ranking Golfer Result 1 Brian Harman T23 2 Kevin Kisner T7 3 Luke Donald MC 4 Dustin Johnson T16 5 Matt Kuchar T23 6 Webb Simpson T5 7 Paul Casey MC 8 Cameron Smith T32 9 Charley Hoffman T23 10 Russell Knox T40 11 Marc Leishman MC 12 Adam Hadwin WD 13 Zach Johnson T42 14 Ian Poulter T7 15 William McGirt T70 Wild Card Xander Schauffele T32 Sleepers Recap – RBC Heritage Power Ranking Golfer Result Harris English T32 Chesson Hadley T7 Andrew Landry T42 Steve Marino MC Nick Watney T32 Birthdays among active golfers on the PGA TOUR April 17 … Nick Taylor (30) April 18 … John Peterson (29) April 19 … Matt Jones (38) April 20 … John Senden (47) April 21 … none April 22 … Eric Axley (44) April 23 … none
Featured Groups: Valero Texas OpenFeatured Groups: Valero Texas Open
The Texas Hill Country and TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks) take center stage this week for the Valero Texas Open, where Kevin Chappell will defend a PGA TOUR title for the first time. The Valero is the third of five tournaments in the Lone Star State, with Texans like Jimmy Walker, Jhonattan Vegas and Sergio Garcia (a part-time resident of Austin) garnering much of the attention. A Chilean, former No. 1-ranked amateur Joaquin Niemann, will be in the news as well. The Valero marks his professional debut. Si Woo Kim, who will defend his title at THE PLAYERS Championship next month, comes in hot after a playoff loss at the RBC Heritage last week. But Garcia, who co-designed TPC San Antonio with Greg Norman, will get most of the attention. He hasn’t played the Valero since its first year at AT&T Oaks, in 2010, and is coming off a wild Masters defense that included a record 13 at the 15th hole. Players stay at the J.W. Marriott, which features such an elaborate water slide, the Valero has a reputation as one of the most family-friendly stops on TOUR. The AT&T Oaks Course is a 7,435-yard, par-72 that rewards exceptionally solid tee-to-green players, and those, like Chappell, who thrive on hard courses. PGA TOUR LIVE Thursday-Friday broadcasts will begin at 8:15 a.m. ET, and end at 6:30 p.m. The Twitter window will be from 8:15 a.m. to approximately 9:15 a.m. Thursday and Friday. We will move to Featured Holes Coverage at 3:30 p.m. Featured Holes consist of the 13th, which at 241 yards is the longest par-3 on the course, and which features a view of downtown San Antonio from the tee; and the par-4 17th, which presents players with the widest fairway on the course and at 347 yards will tempt many to try and drive the green. Here are the Featured Groups: (Note: All times Eastern; FedExCup ranking in parentheses.) MORE: PGA TOUR LIVE | Tee times THURSDAY Pat Perez (17), Xander Schauffele (44), Kevin Chappell (52) After winning the CIMB Classic to open this season, Perez is trying to bounce back from a missed cut at the Masters in his last start. Still, he’s not far off; he was in contention at the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship until a final-round 75 (T20). Reigning Rookie of the Year Schauffele is coming off a T32 at the RBC Heritage and hasn’t had a top-10 finish since the Genesis Open in February. Meanwhile, defending champion Chappell is coming off two straight missed cuts and a forgettable WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, where he didn’t make it out of his pod. TPC San Antonio, though, is his happy place. Tee time: 8:40 a.m. off 10. Jhonattan Vegas (85), Jimmy Walker (117), Adam Scott (113) Vegas got off to a nice start in 2018 with a T7 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and a T11 at the CareerBuilder Challenge, but he’s cooled off since. Last start: T38 at the Masters. Walker, meanwhile, is enjoying a bit of a bounce-back after having to write off most of 2017 as he recovered from Lyme disease. He finished T20 at the Masters, and was T28 at the Valspar Championship before that. Scott is coming off a T32 at the Masters, but at 113th in the FedExCup he’s clearly struggling. One likely culprit: He’s 194th in strokes gained: putting (-.595). Tee time: 8:50 a.m. off 10. FRIDAY Charley Hoffman (81), Zach Johnson (60), Matt Kuchar (54) Hoffman is the all-time career money leader at TPC San Antonio’s AT&T Oaks course, with a victory in 2016, T2 in 2011, and T3 in 2013. He also has four more top-15 finishes, and has made the cut eight times in eight chances. Johnson, 42, has seen glimpses of his old self in making 11 cuts in 11 starts this season, but is still chasing the form that made him a 12-time PGA TOUR winner and potentially a Hall of Famer. The ever-steady Kuchar has three top-15 finishes at the Valero; he also has two top-10s and two top-30s in his last four PGA TOUR starts.  Tee time: 8:40 a.m. off 10 Billy Horschel (110), Si Woo Kim (26), Sergio Garcia (83) A four-time TOUR winner and the 2014 FedExCup champ, Horschel is starting to heat up after his T5 finish at the RBC Heritage. He also has a solid record at the Valero: top-five finishes in 2016, ’15 and ’13. Kim, a playoff loser at the RBC, came just a roll of the ball from picking up his third TOUR win last weekend and is rounding into top form just in time for his title defense at THE PLAYERS at TPC Sawgrass next month. And Garcia should be ready to roll in San Antonio after his missed cut at the Masters left him with more time off than he’d anticipated.  Tee time: 8:50 a.m. off 10.
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