Stars shining during FedEx Cup playoffs

Because the Ryder Cup is not an official PGA TOUR event, PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf has the week off. The fantasy game will resume for next week’s Sanderson Farms Championship for which more enhancements are planned. However, before we look forward, let’s look back for a moment. RELATED: Power Rankings | PGATOUR.COM Expert Picks The 2021-22 season-opening Fortinet Championship launched the latest iteration of PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf. As expected, fantasy scoring was way down as compared to the previous version, and leaderboard finish was a strong contributor to gamer performance. JJ’sFoursome led all gamers with 315 points. That includes 101 end-of-tournament bonus points for having Max Homa (50, winner), Maverick McNealy (30, 2nd), Marc Leishman (12, T4) and Hideki Matsuyama (9, T6) rostered as starters in the final round. ChicoV1 was the runner-up with 312 points (with 111 end-of-tournament bonus points). The Golf Dons took the bronze with 305 points (with 97 end-of-tournament bonus points). The data of the podium finishers of the first completed event begs the following question: What is the balance between actual scores, end-of-round bonus points and end-of-tournament bonus points for being a high performer? (Those are the categories for fantasy scoring.) If you separate binarily between end-of-tournament bonus points and all points that are not end-of-tournament bonus points, then JJ’sFoursome scored about 32 percent of its points with end-of-tournament bonus points, which, of course, are based on leaderboard finish. ChicoV1’s split was about 35.5 percent, while The Golf Dons’ cut was about 31.8 percent. So, approximately one-third of the totals for the top-three finishers weren’t determined until the conclusion of the tournament. And that’s in an event at which the 36-hole cut landed at 3-under 141 and Homa prevailed at 19-under 269. For the week, the field averaged 71.038, or 0.962 strokes under par. As compared to all courses during the 2020-21 PGA TOUR season, the Fortinet field would have slotted just inside the top half of the easier courses and in between par-70 TPC Southwind (-0.954) and par-72 Nicklaus Tournament Course (-1.051). (Silverado averaged 70.212 last year, but last week’s average was the second-lowest of the last five editions.) Because the FedExCup points structure is static, the percentage of end-of-tournament bonus points on a harder course will increase. However, aside from maybe Memorial Park that will host the Houston Open in November – the par 70 averaged 1.025 strokes over par in its debut last fall – our takeaway from Silverado should be relatively consistent until we get into the premier events in 2022, the first of which is the Farmers Insurance Open in the last week of January. One of the slicker functions of the new platform is the ease to search for any gamer. If you executed this step for me (@RobBoltonGolf), you’d have laughed at, er, found that I totaled – totaled – 81 points at Silverado, of which 11 were end-of-tournament bonus points (about 13.5 percent) representing the only two of my six who made the cut, Will Zalatoris (6, T11) and Harold Varner III (5, T16). Because it’s golf, no matter your skill level and even if you, like I, prevailed in your fantasy league in 2020-21, you’re gonna have weeks like that. Personally, because I wanted to see how the fantasy game supported or punished, I tested the possibilities of momentum of Korn Ferry Tour graduates Stephan Jaeger and Taylor Moore, both of whom missed the cut and cost me in the vicinity of 45 points overall, if I’m projecting scoring conservatively. The moral of the matter is that there are going to be gamers who connect with the likes of Homa, McNealy and Mito Pereira (who finished third for ChicoV1), but the likelihood of them doing the same at the Sanderson Farms Championship or even again in Segment 1 is low. At the same time, because you can’t score bonus points unless your charges make the cut, shelving an aggressive philosophy is advised in favor of more reliable talent. If we can agree that we’ll develop vision in this game for targeting “safe” investments with the potential for firepower, then we’re going to be OK with accepting the sudden impact of guys like McNealy, Pereira and others who might feel, at least right now, like they overperformed. That approach should then yield nice surprises for ourselves. As you continue to familiarize yourself with the interface, new experiences will be added next week. Beginning with the Sanderson Farms Championship, you will be able to review the entire roster of any other gamer, including the bench. You’ll also be able to use the tool to compare rosters. Both of these functions have been planned since the decision was made to introduce a new format, but they weren’t guaranteed to be available for the season opener. So it goes in the world of the PGA TOUR that took only one week off. Also, live just today is the addition of “PGA TOUR Experts” to the top of the public leagues. Until it was added to this grouping, it appeared only as the featured league. You’ll note that “pga experts” also is a public league and with more members (as of Tuesday), but that’s not the same league in which those of us featured in Expert Picks are members. For the record, the only league of which I’m a member is PGA TOUR Experts. This is as good a time as any to inform or remind you that the PGA and the PGA TOUR have been separate entities since 1968. For example, the PGA of America – not the PGA TOUR – is conducting this week’s Ryder Cup. So, every time you see “PGA” attached to something, if it doesn’t have “TOUR” immediately following, it’s not a directly affiliated matter to the PGA TOUR. That goes for everything from sanctioned competitions to Twitter handles of full-time staffers to the PGA TOUR Experts league at PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf. Incidentally, you can jump in and out of public leagues without forfeiting points scored. You can do the same in a private league where a password is required. For private leagues using a customized schedule, the interface is sophisticated enough to retrieve points scored only in the selected events. The last enhancement to share, for now, is one that you won’t experience in real time until last next week. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf will be uploading the field of commitments for the Shriners Children’s Open when it’s determined on Friday, Oct. 1. So, if you’ve selected a golfer for a future tournament and he doesn’t commit, you’ll receive an automatic alert when the field is uploaded, assuming you’ve selected notifications in your Account Settings. This occurred on Mondays or Tuesdays with the last version of the game, so this experience is improved because it’s faster and timely. POWER RANKINGS RECAP – FORTINET CHAMPIONSHIP Power Ranking Golfer Result 1 Jon Rahm MC 2 Kevin Na MC 3 Will Zalatoris T11 4 Webb Simpson T30 5 Harold Varner III T16 6 Stephan Jaeger MC 7 Maverick McNealy 2nd 8 Taylor Moore MC 9 Mito Pereira 3rd 10 Sebastián Muñoz MC 11 Greyson Sigg T30 12 Cameron Tringale T22 13 Hideki Matsuyama T6 14 Brian Stuard MC 15 Aaron Rai MC Wild Card Cameron Champ MC SLEEPERS RECAP – FORTINET CHAMPIONSHIP Golfer Result Kiradech Aphibarnrat MC David Hearn MC Ben Kohles MC Cameron Percy T64 Chad Ramey MC BIRTHDAYS AMONG ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE PGA TOUR September 21 … none September 22 … none September 23 … none September 24 … none September 25 … Adam Long (34) September 26 … Freddie Jacobson (47) September 27 … none Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ years of age or older to wager. CO, IA, IN,MI, NJ, NV,PA, TN, VA or WV only. Excludes Michigan Disassociated Persons. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700 (CO, NV, VA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA & WV), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), Call or Text the Tennessee REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN), or call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN).

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Tiger Woods recorded his 82nd PGA TOUR victory at the 2019 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP — tying Sam Snead’s record for most wins in TOUR history — and he did so with the set makeup he maintained for most of that year, which also included a win at Augusta National. His setup from his successful 2019 shares the same DNA with his gear past and present. Save for prototype versions of the TaylorMade MG2 TW Grind wedges, Woods’ setup was the same as for his spellbinding Masters triumph. Since signing with TaylorMade in 2017, Woods has largely transitioned into the current model of the company’s driver at release. He did so with the M5, outfitting it with the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White shaft — a profile he continues to favor. Interestingly, the TaylorMade M3 5-wood has remained a stalwart in his bag despite being a couple of generations old. This is likely due to it flying a particular number and more recent fairway woods flying too far, thus creating too large a yardage gap between his longer clubs. With this week’s ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP returning to the site of Woods’ historic win, let’s look back at the clubs he used to win two years ago in Japan. Tiger Woods 2019 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP winning WITB: Driver: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade M5 (15 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 70 TX 5-wood: TaylorMade M3 (19 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 80 TX Irons: TaylorMade P7TW (3-PW) Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 Wedges: TaylorMade MG 2 “Tiger MT Grind” (56-12, 60-10 degrees) Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS Grip: Ping PP58 Blackout Golf Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

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AUGUSTA, Ga. — The roars were never louder. Tiger Woods won his fifth Masters on Sunday in dramatic fashion, taking the lead on the 15th hole and sending the patrons at Augusta National into a frenzy as they witnessed one of the game’s greatest players of all time claim his 15th major championship. “It’s overwhelming, just because of what has transpired,” Woods said. “Last year I was lucky to be playing again. At the previous year’s dinner, I was really struggling. I missed a couple of years not playing this great tournament. To now be the champion … 22 years between wins is a long time. It’s unreal to experience this.” Woods had never come from behind to win a major. Until Sunday. It was also Woods’ 81st PGA TOUR victory and his first since winning the TOUR Championship to end last season. Here’s a hole-by-hole look at Woods’ final round. RELATED: Final leaderboard | What’s in Tiger’s bag? | Tales of Tiger’s equipment Tiger hole-by-hole (Round 4) ROUND 4 STATS: 10 of 14 fairways hit, 15 of 18 greens in regulation, 32 putts 18 (465 yards, par 4): Tiger fits his tee shot between the trees, and it leaks just into the second cut. He has a two-shot lead, so he only needs a bogey to win. His second shot knicks a tree limb, though, and falls short and right of the green. He’ll have to get down in three from about 50 yards away. He pitches safely to 10 feet and his par putt just slides by the hole. The stage is clear for Woods, and he taps in for his 15th major championship and fifth Masters title. It’s also his 81st PGA TOUR victory, leaving him one short of Sam Snead’s record. (Overall: 13 under, winner)   17 (440 yards, par 4): Tiger is in complete control. Another tee shot down the middle of the fairway and an approach shot safely onto the green. Woods hit his approach shot to 10 feet, then two-putted for par to take a two-shot lead to the final hole. (Overall: 14 under, solo leader) 16 (170 yards, par 3): Tiger, now the solo leader of the Masters, takes advantage of the traditional Sunday hole location, hitting an 8-rion within 3 feet of the hole. He makes the birdie putt. TWO. SHOT. LEAD. (Overall: 14 under, solo leader) 15 (530 yards, par 5): Tiger’s strong driving continues with another high fade into the fairway. He hit the middle of the green with a 217-yard approach. The two-putt gives Tiger Woods his first solo lead of the week. He’s 13 under, one shot ahead of three players. (Overall: 13 under, solo leader) 14 (440 yards, par 4): A high power-cut finds the fairway, leaving Tiger just 157 yards to the hole. He hits it 15 feet left of the flag, just left of a slope that would have funneled his ball closer to the hole. Woods watches as the slick birdie putt slides by the hole, but he taps in for par to stay in a share of the lead with Xander Schauffele and Francesco Molinari. (Overall: 12 under, tied for the lead) 13 (510 yards, par 5): Tiger is tied for the lead! He slips at impact, but his tee shot still finds the fairway. He’s left with just 161 yards. He misread the wind, but he’ll have a 30-footer for eagle. He two-putts for birdie to reach 12 under and tie Xander Schauffele and Francesco Molinari for the lead. (Overall: 12 under, tied for the lead)  12 (155 yards, par 3): After his par on 11, Tiger is second up on the 12th. They have to wait for the group ahead of them to putt out, though. Woods hits his tee shot safely on the left side of the green after Molinari’s tee shot hits into the bank and rolls into the water. Tony Finau follows Woods into the water. After a lengthy wait while they took their drops, Woods lags his 51-foot birdie putt about 6 feet short of the hole. Woods makes it to tie the lead for the first time this week. There are seven players separated by a shot. (Overall: 11 under, tied for lead) 11 (505 yards, par 4): Tiger blasts driver well right of the trees, but he has a clearing through the trees. He blasts a low draw onto the green from 178 yards, leaving himself a downhill, 30-footer putt. He burns the edge, but two-putts for par. A good recovery. (Overall: 11 under, two shots behind) 10 (495 yards, par 4): Woods starts the second nine alone in second place, just one stroke behind Francesco Molinari. He takes fairway wood off the tee, trying to bend a draw around the corner. Woods leaves his shot out to the right, though, and his ball comes to rest in the pine straw. He’s 213 yards from the hole, but his ball is behind a magnolia tree. Pitching out is his only option. He still has 170 yards remaining for his third shot, which he hits to the back fringe. He two-putts for just his second bogey on the back nine this week, ending a streak of 19 straight bogey-free holes on that half of the golf course. (Overall: 11 under, two shots behind) FRONT 9 STATS: 4 of 7 fairways hit, 8 of 9 greens in regulation, 16 putts 9 (par 4, 460 yards): Tiger’s 288-yard drive is nicely placed, down the right side of the fairway, leaving him a nice angle on the dogleg left hole. From 168 yards, his approach brings a smile – of disgust – as his ball ends up at the back of the green on a front pin. Length of his birdie putt? 70 feet. No worries, as he judges it perfectly, aiming it right toward the fringe and letting it roll down toward the hole. A tap-in par and a sigh of relief. Molinari follows with another critical par to maintain the lead at the turn. (Overall: 12 under, one shot behind) 8 (par 5, 570 yards): His 310-yard drive is drifting right, but crisis averted as it finishes in the second cut with a nice lie. Much better than Molinari, who landed in the bunker. From 258 yards away, Tiger pulls the 5-wood and it comes out hot. “That may be on the next tee box,â€� he jokes as the ball rumbles past the green. From behind the green, near a camera tower, Woods chips back onto the green, leaving him 7 feet for birdie. But before his attempt, Molinari rolls in on his own birdie. Tiger matches him to stay within reach. (Overall: 12 under, one shot behind) 7 (par 4, 450 yards): The winds start to gust as Tiger steps up to the tee, so he backs off to reset. It’s a wise move, as his drive travels 296 yards and split the fairway. With 146 to the pin, Tiger’s approach is perfect – above the pin, with the ball rolling back and just missing the hole on the right side. It’ll be an easy 2-foot birdie, and with Molinari off the green and short of the right bunker, this could be a pivotal hole. When Molinari misses his 11-foot par save, it’s the first time in 50 holes he’s suffered a bogey (the second longest streak in Masters history) and the first time in 20 attempts all week he’s failed to successfully scramble. Tiger then taps in for birdie and the two-shot swing. (Overall: 11 under, one shot behind) 6 (par 3, 180 yards): Tiger gets a much-needed spark with a terrific tee shot that hits short of the pin and stays on the shelf, giving him a look at birdie from 11 feet. But his putt dies off to the right, and after he taps in for birdie, he stares at the hole and the lost opportunity. With Molinari successfully scrambling again for par, the potential two-shot swing turns into a par push. (Overall: 10 under, three shots behind) 5 (par 4, 495 yards): In each of the first three rounds, Tiger’s drive at this renovated hole found the left-side bunker, setting up bogey each day. This time, it’s a little victory, as his 278-yard drive stays in the fairway this time while both of his playing partners scatter the gallery on the right. Tiger leans on his approach from 219 yards but his ball stays right, finding the green but on the other side of the ridge from the pin, 39 feet away. It’s a difficult birdie putt, and Tiger’s ball finishes 11 feet away past the pin. His par save slides by on the left, and he suffers his fourth bogey of the week at this hole. Meanwhile, Molinari successfully scrambles for the 18th time this week to extend his lead to three shots. (Overall: 10 under, three shots behind) 4 (par 3, 240 yards): His tee shot is on-line but is a club short and ends up rolling off the front of the green, with the pin in the back 31 yards away. Tiger’s chip leaves him 10 feet short of the pin, and his par putt clips the right side. The bogey gives back the shot he gained on the previous hole and halts the momentum. (Overall: 11 under, two shots behind) 3 (par 4, 350 yards): Like Molinari, Tiger opts for a long iron off the tee to take the bunkers out of play. His downhill wedge shot from 126 yards draws cheers, as it stops pin-high left, 8 feet away. He’s the only one of his group to find the green in regulation, and it pays off, as he buries the tricky fast birdie putt to move within one shot of Molinari’s lead. “It’ll be an interesting chess match to see who blinks first,â€� says CBS’ Peter Kostis of Tiger vs. Molinari. (Overall: 12 under, one shot behind) 2 (par 5, 575 yards): Tiger’s first use of driver on the day doesn’t go well, as his 245-yard tee shot sails into the pine straw on the left side under the trees. Perhaps a bit fortunate, he’s got an uphill opening to punch out into the fairway, leaving him 217 yards for this third. He asks for it to get up “a littleâ€� but it’s about a yard short of optimal. The ball bounces onto the green, but he’s left with a 59-foot birdie putt. His lengthy attempt offers a wide berth around the left side of the hole, and he rolls in the 6-footer to save par. With Molinari and Finau missing their birdie attempts, Tiger must feel like he got away with one after the poor drive. (Overall: 11 under, two shots behind) 1 (par 4, 445 yards): Tiger tees off last in his group, and not surprisingly draws the biggest cheers. With 3-wood again off the tee – he wants to avoid the bunkers on the right – his 277-yard drive ends up on the left side of the fairway. His second finishes 27 feet on the front part of the green, but his aggressive birdie attempt slides by on the left side. A stress-free par start. (Overall: 11 under, two shots behind) Tiger pre-round notes A few fun facts entering Sunday’s final round: Woods enters his round at 11 under. Each time he’s been 11 under or better through 54 holes at Augusta National, he’s won (2005/-11, 2002/-11, 2001/-12, 1997/-15) His 205 score (11 under) marks his best opening 54-hole total since 2005 (74-66-65—205), his last of four Masters wins. Seeks his fifth Masters title and 15th major championship victory while chasing Jack Nicklaus’ record in both (Masters/6, Majors/18). A win Sunday would be his 81st on the PGA TOUR, one shy of Sam Snead’s all-time record. At No. 12 in the Official World Golf Ranking, he’s the highest-ranked former champion in the field At 43 years, 3 months, 14 days on Sunday, would become the second-oldest winner: Jack Nicklaus/1986 (46 years, 2 months, 23 days) Would become the seventh player in his 40s to win the Masters (Jack Nicklaus/46/1986, Ben Crenshaw/43/1995, Gary Player/42/1978, Sam Snead/41/1954, Mark O’Meara/41/1998, Ben Hogan/40/1953) Ranks T2 in Greens in Regulation with 43/54 behind Thorbjorn Olesen (45/54). Best finish in five starts this season came in last start – T5/WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.  

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