Day: September 13, 2022

Sleeper Picks: Fortinet ChampionshipSleeper Picks: Fortinet Championship

September 13, 2022September 13, 2022| 12:58

Will Gordon (+400 for a Top 20) … Y’all remember this guy! He’s played membership bingo for four years. After achieving Special Temporary Membership deep into the 2019-20 PGA TOUR season, he was fully exempt via the non-member top 125 conduit in 2020-21. The season didn’t pan out as planned and he lost his card. That led to his rookie season on the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour on which he picked off a victory to open the Finals a month ago. It was among six top 10s overall, including consecutive T5s to conclude the regular season. Now back in the big leagues in the graduate reshuffle category, the 26-year-old also returns to Silverado where he finished T61 in his only appearance in 2020. He finished T8 on the KFT in ball-striking, precisely the skill set required to fulfill this prop and improve on his previous performance. Mark Hubbard (+300 for a Top 20) … He limped to the finish line and missed the cut in the first leg of the FedExCup Playoffs to end his season, but he’s had a month off to rest and recharge. For the five months prior, he was regularly lurking on leaderboards on both the PGA TOUR and the Korn Ferry Tour, totaling nine top 15s, including a 3rd-4th fortnight across the opposite events in July. The 33-year-old also is no stranger to Silverado. His last two paydays (in 2019 and 2021) were top 20s. Exceptionally well-balanced and elevated among others in the field. Michael Gligic … The 32-year-old from Canada connected almost identical records in the last two PGA TOUR seasons, but he’s needed the Korn Ferry Tour Finals to regain fully exempt status both times. Although it’s not the preferred method, it’s nice to convert on the lifeline and its timing is invaluable for his prospects this week. With the series as the nearest object in his rearview mirror – he went 3-for-3 with top fives in the last two stops – he has momentum. Given the option, it’s the obvious choice, but it’s also a bonus, especially since he’s 3-for-3 at Silverado with a T14 two years ago. Scott Harrington … After spending two seasons on the PGA TOUR, the Northwestern product regrouped and regained his card via the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022. Now 41 years of age, he slots as the model of what Silverado rewards – the veteran ball-striker. In fact, he’s 2-for-2 on the par 72 with a T23 in 2019 and a scoring average of 69.50. Finished 11th on the KFT in total driving, 16th in greens hit and T8 in ball-striking. Also popped for a T4 in the first leg of the Finals just four weeks ago. Zac Blair … The veteran of 147 PGA TOUR starts sat out 19 months after having surgery to repair two tears in his right shoulder. Proving that you never can return too late, he paid off the patience by going 5-for-5 in his Korn Ferry Tour rehab this summer. Each went for a top 35, two were top 25s. Boom. Now 32 years of age, he’s making his seventh start at Silverado where two of his four paydays include a T12 in 2014 and a T4 in 2019. He’s equipped with a season’s slate of 24 starts on a Major Medical Extension, so the pressure remains off to perform sooner than later. Just how he likes it. Odds were sourced on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2022. For live odds, visit BetMGM.

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Taylor Lowe swaps pro shop for Fortinet Championship tee timeTaylor Lowe swaps pro shop for Fortinet Championship tee time

September 13, 2022September 13, 2022| 1:38

As Taylor Lowe completed his round at Monday’s Fortinet Championship qualifier, the full-time golf professional thought ahead to some impending logistical challenges. Lowe works at Wildhorse Golf Club in the Sacramento region, and he had an estimated 15 or 20 lessons on the books across the next five days. The 30-year-old signed for an 8-under 64 in the qualifier at El Macero CC, then went about rearranging those lessons. Lowe successfully qualified into his first TOUR-sanctioned event, earning one of four available spots in the Fortinet Championship. He was joined at 8 under by Fresno State alum Alex Lee; Aaron Baddeley and Seung-yul Noh survived a 6-for-2 playoff at 7-under 65. As Lowe sat in his car after the qualifier, he reflected on the journey to this point. The beauty of a PGA TOUR Monday qualifier is that it gives players of a variety of backgrounds and circumstances a chance to compete against the world’s best. Often the roster of four qualifiers is comprised of full-time touring pros – a mix of conditional TOUR pros, Korn Ferry Tour members, developmental tour pros and the like. Sometimes Monday qualifying delivers on its everyman premise. This marked such an occasion. Lowe typically plays golf just once or twice a week – his day-to-day responsibilities include doing inventory in the golf shop at Wildhorse GC, giving lessons, working in the shop and making the schedule. The California native was an avid junior golfer but suffered injuries in his late teens, and college golf took a backseat. He graduated from Sonoma State, where he played one semester as a walk-on but did not qualify for a tournament. “If you look it up online, you won’t see my picture on the roster or anything,” Lowe said. “I was hacking it up, but I got to practice with the team. I was on the team; I could’ve qualified to play in the events, but I never played well enough to do that.” Lowe didn’t play competitive golf between the ages of 21 and 26. He spent time selling wine, then began working in the cart barn at El Macero – of all places – at age 23. He pulled out carts, picked the range, then worked his way into the shop and gave occasional lessons. Then his high school buddy Charlie Klein’s family purchased Wildhorse GC, and he “cruised over there.” How does Lowe explain his game ascending from college golf benchwarmer to TOUR event qualifier? He credits acclaimed golf instructor and social media presence George Gankas. “I just watched George Gankas on Instagram; I’m not kidding,” Lowe said. “Growing up, taking some golf lessons here and there, I was swinging a certain way. And then I watched some videos of George Gankas on Instagram like five years ago and started playing a lot better.” Easy as that. Lowe channeled his local knowledge at El Macero CC to the tune of seven birdies and an eagle, against a single bogey. This came after successfully advancing through last week’s pre-qualifier, where he carded 3-under 69 at Yolo Fliers Club to earn a tee time Monday. He carried his own bag Monday, and he’s not yet sure of his caddie plans for the week. But he’ll figure it out, just as he’ll figure out his teaching schedule. The membership of Wildhorse GC is behind him. “My phone is vibrating a bunch right now,” he said appreciatively. “They’re all congratulating me.” From there, it was off for a well-deserved celebratory IPA, and two days of preparation into his PGA TOUR debut. “If you’re playing good, you know you can do it,” Lowe said. “You definitely visualize and all that stuff … but I’m still in shock. It’s definitely surreal for sure.” Here’s a capsule look at the four qualifiers for this week’s Fortinet Championship … Taylor Lowe (64) Age: 30 Hometown: Davis, California Alma mater: Sonoma State PGA TOUR starts: 0 Notes: Full-time golf professional at nearby Wildhorse GC … Graduated from Sonoma State in 2014 with a degree in business administration and management … Spent nearly three years at El Macero CC in guest services and as an assistant golf professional before moving to Wildhorse GC in 2017 … Cites Jordan Spieth and Kevin Kisner as pros he admires … Drink of choice is a “double or triple IPA.” Alex Lee (64) Age: 25 Hometown: San Francisco, California Alma mater: Fresno State PGA TOUR starts: 0 Notes: Made nine birdies Monday against one bogey … Held conditional Korn Ferry Tour status in 2022, making two starts … Graduated from Fresno State in 2019 with a communications degree; garnered All-Mountain West Conference honors in 2018 and 2019 … Attended 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach as a fan, following Fresno State alum Nick Watney. Aaron Baddeley (65, advanced through 6-for-2 playoff) Age: 41 Hometown: Lebanon, New Hampshire (raised in Australia) Alma mater: N/A PGA TOUR starts: 476 Cuts made: 282 Best PGA TOUR finish: Win (2006 RBC Heritage; 2007 WM Phoenix Open; 2011 Genesis Invitational; 2016 Barbasol Championship) Notes: Made seven birdies Monday and kept a clean card … Holds TOUR Past Champion status after failing to improve status via Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Earned fully exempt 2023 Korn Ferry Tour status via “floor of five” category in Finals … Long renowned as one of the game’s premier putters … Recently began working with putting coach John Graham, who also works with Justin Thomas … Split time between the PGA TOUR (13 starts) and Korn Ferry Tour (11 starts) last season. Seung-yul Noh (65, advanced through 6-for-2 playoff) Age: 31 Hometown: Gangwon-do, South Korea Alma mater: Korea University PGA TOUR starts: 208 Cuts made: 123 Best PGA TOUR finish: Win (2014 Zurich Classic of New Orleans) Notes: Made two eagles and five birdies Monday against two bogeys … Holds TOUR Past Champion status after failing to improve status via Korn Ferry Tour Finals … Made 13 cuts in 22 TOUR starts last season. Best finish was T30 at Butterfield Bermuda Championship … Fulfilled mandatory two-year military obligation in South Korea between 2017 and 2019.

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