Brooks Koepka ready to play after wrist injury

Since there isn’t a clear-cut favorite or a horse for the course who’s in blistering form entering the Valero Texas Open, the pressure is on front-runners to keep the opposition at bay. For those of you in this position, the concern is quieted if Billy Horschel is still on your board. The veteran of eight appearances hasn’t won the tournament, but he’s earned your better judgment with a pair of third-place finishes, one fourth and a T11 among six cuts made at difficult TPC San Antonio. The key word there is difficult. Only if you’re new to the PGA TOUR are you unaware how much the former FedExCup champion relishes a challenge. It feeds his confidence off the tee where he lets others make mistakes, but he’s even better with his irons. Oh, and he’s currently eighth in Strokes Gained: Putting. As a native of Florida, Horschel is most comfortable on bermudagrass putting surfaces, even if they’re overseeded, which is the case this week. The undulations are equalizers. His experience here could be the dagger. Among all of the non-winners at TPC San Antonio, he best fits the profile of what a champion embodies. If Horschel isn’t on his game, TPC San Antonio will get annoying and quickly. Its length demands driver, but if the big stick isn’t cooperating, it’ll take all of his patience to salvage a round. This is how Greg Norman intended it. The Shark was legendary tee to green, so it’s hardly a surprise that the course that he designed reflects what he did best. If you’re in pursuit and you’re going to assume that you’re going to get stymied by Horschel, you’re in terrific position. Lucas Glover, Jason Kokrak and Ryan Palmer are three strongmen who presents as threats. To select Glover is to invest almost entirely on his form throughout 2018-19. He missed the cut in his only prior trip to TPC San Antonio (in 2015), but two rounds of experience never hurts no matter the result. Kokrak fulfills the converging trends, if mildly. He’s never been more consistently strong over this most recent stretch of time, and he’s 5-for-7 at TPC San Antonio with a pair of top 15s, albeit it’s been four years since the latter. Palmer is an example of what happens when there isn’t synergy with the driver. He’s hung up five top-15s in this tournament, but he’s also finished outside the top 50 thrice, twice for a missed cut. That may seem academic and familiar for most veterans on any track, but we already know him to thrive or dive with the 1-metal. Whereas Horschel is the low risk-high reward, Palmer is the medium risk-medium reward. Rickie Fowler, Tony Finau, Matt Kuchar and Jordan Spieth are wasteful in our format this week. Stick with reliable sites for each. How Spieth performs this week will seriously impact his probability at the Masters despite one of the best modern records at Augusta National. Watch him this week specifically with that in mind. No doubt there’s a contingent that’s been holding its breath for the VTO’s all-time earnings leader, Charley Hoffman, to break out of his funk in time for TPC San Antonio. Because he hasn’t, at least enough, slot him with the same mindset as Palmer. Because the course will beat up a few notables, two-man gamers are advised to reach a bit for your tandem this week. Consider Aaron Baddeley, D.J. Trahan and Sung Kang. FUTURE POSSIBILITIES NOTE: Select golfers committed to the tournament are listed alphabetically. Future tournaments are sorted chronologically and reflect previous success on the courses on which the tournaments will be held in 2018-19. The numerical values in parentheses represent the order of relative confidence of where to use each golfer if multiple sites are listed (e.g. 1 for strongest, 2 for next-strongest and so on). To present weighted confidence in real time, numerical values will not change all season no matter how many tournament remain listed for each golfer. All are pending golfer commitment. Byeong Hun An … Memorial (1) Daniel Berger … Travelers (1) Tony Finau … Valero (5); Memorial (2) Rickie Fowler … Masters (2); Wells Fargo (6); PGA Championship (9); Memorial (5); U.S. Open (10) Brian Harman … Charles Schwab (1); Travelers (5); John Deere (4) Russell Henley … Masters (3) Charley Hoffman … Valero (3); Masters (4); Heritage (7); Charles Schwab (6); Travelers (1) J.B. Holmes … Wells Fargo (5) Billy Horschel … Valero (2); New Orleans (3; defending); Wyndham (6); TOUR Championship (1) Si Woo Kim … Heritage (1) Chris Kirk … Valero (3); Charles Schwab (2) Matt Kuchar … Masters (6); Heritage (2); Charles Schwab (7); Memorial (1); Open Championship (8) Martin Laird … Valero (5); Reno-Tahoe (2) Ryan Moore … Valero (7); Masters (13); Memorial (11); Travelers (6); John Deere (8); Wyndham (2); TOUR Championship (9) Ryan Palmer … Valero (2); Charles Schwab (4) Jordan Spieth … Masters (1); PGA Championship (7); Charles Schwab (5); Memorial (13); U.S. Open (4); Travelers (9); Open Championship (6); TOUR Championship (8) Brendan Steele … Valero (8); Wells Fargo (9); Travelers (4); Reno-Tahoe (3) Kevin Streelman … Valero (9); Heritage (5); Memorial (4); Travelers (7) Jimmy Walker … Valero (2); Byron Nelson (6)

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - The PGA TOUR and FanDuel Sportsbook agreed today on a multi-year content and marketing relationship designating FanDuel an Official Betting Operator of the PGA TOUR. By joining the TOUR's Official Betting Operator program, FanDuel will have rights in the United States to use PGA TOUR marks, rights to advertise within TOUR media and TOUR partner platforms, plus content and video rights allowing FanDuel to create pre-game and post-game betting programming, as well as distribution of highlights to users who have placed bets. Additionally, the PGA TOUR and FanDuel will collaborate to deliver odds-based content to fans via TOUR Digital Platforms like PGATOUR.COM and the PGA TOUR app. "We have long admired FanDuel's brand, product and marketing strategies as well as the leadership position it has taken since the legalization of sports betting in 2018," said Norb Gambuzza, SVP, Media and Gaming at the PGA TOUR. "We are excited to bring FanDuel into the PGA TOUR's Official Betting Operator program as we continue to engage new fans in this rapidly growing space." FanDuel Sportsbook has seen substantial growth in golf gaming: • Golf has recorded the highest single event handle on FanDuel Sportsbook over nine of the last 12 Sundays. • FanDuel Sportsbook's total golf handle in New Jersey in 2020 already has surpassed the total golf handle from 2019, even without [13] weeks of PGA TOUR competitions during the shutdown. "Golf interest is up on FanDuel, so we are excited to deepen our relationship with the PGA TOUR," said Mike Raffensperger, CMO FanDuel Group. "We will now be able to offer unique gaming experiences on our platform, special TOUR related promotions for our customers and an enhanced content experience across the TOUR's properties to really prove to bettors across the nation that there are More Ways to Win at FanDuel." Following the Supreme Court's decision that overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, the TOUR instituted an integrity program in collaboration with Genius Sports to protect its competitions from betting-related corruption. Later that year, the TOUR announced a global partnership with IMG ARENA to license its official, live scoring data to betting operators all over the world. The PGA TOUR is a Platinum Member of the National Council on Problem Gambling, committed to industry-leading responsible gaming practices

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This year’s qualifier for The Honda Classic was all but finished as darkness set in Monday evening at Banyan Cay Resort and Golf in West Palm Beach, Florida. In true Monday qualifier fashion, 16 players will return to the course Tuesday morning to compete for the fourth and final qualifying spot in this week’s field. Sam Stevens, who competed alongside Viktor Hovland and Matthew Wolff at Oklahoma State, pitched in a high spinner for eagle on the par-5 18th to earn medalist honors at 7-under 65. “I didn’t know exactly what I needed, but I thought 6-under would be good enough,” Stevens said after the round. “(The shot) came off great and looked like it was going to stop close, so it was just icing on the cake when it dropped.” Two-time PGA TOUR winner Fabian Gomez carded a 6-under 66 to qualify. Fellow Argentinian Martin Contini also posted a 66 to capture the third qualifying spot. Inside Tuesday’s 16-for-1 playoff: Chase Seiffert – Finished T3 at the 2021 Honda Classic … has played four PGA TOUR events this year. Jesse Smith – Qualified for 2013 U.S. Open. Maxwell Sear – Qualified for 2022 Farmers Insurance Open. Mickey DeMorat – Qualified for The RSM Classic last fall, finishing T47 … played in 2018 U.S. Open. Ruaidhri Mcgee – Has played majority of professional career on the Challenge Tour … best finish was T2 at the 2015 Challenge de Madrid. J.T. Griffin – Last PGA TOUR start came at the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship … recorded four top-10s on the 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour. Rick Lamb – Won the Korn Ferry Tour’s 2016 LECOM Health Challenge in a playoff over C.T. Pan, Dominic Bozzelli and Rhein Gibson. David Lingmerth – 2015 Memorial Tournament champion … has made over $9 million on the PGA TOUR … qualified for 2021 Butterfield Bermuda Championship and finished T57. M.J. Maguire – Finished No. 5 on 2020-21 PGA TOUR Latinoamerica money list … 2022 Korn Ferry Tour member. Justin Doeden – Solo PGA TOUR start came at the 2020 Puerto Rico Open … won 2020 Classic at The Club at Weston Hills (LOCALiQ series). D.J. Trahan – Two-time PGA TOUR winner. Turk Pettit – Won 2021 Birck Boilermaker Classic on PGA TOUR Canada … finished T39 at The Panama Championship earlier this month … won 2021 NCAA Division I men’s golf individual title at Grayhawk GC. Brian Richey – Recorded two top-10 finishes on the 2019 Korn Ferry Tour … Florida resident. Anders Albertson – Won Korn Ferry Tour’s Memorial Health Championship presented by LRS in 2018 … played 2018-19 PGA TOUR season … best finish was T5 at Sanderson Farms Championship. Andy Svoboda – Three-time Korn Ferry Tour winner. Ben Griffin – Has three top-10 finishes on the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour … recorded back-to-back second-place finishes at the 2022 Astara Golf Championship presented by Mastercard and LECOM Suncoast Classic. THE HONDA CLASSIC QUALIFIERS Sam Stevens (7-under 65) • Age: 25 • Turned pro: 2018 • PGA TOUR starts: 0 • Notes: Will make his first PGA TOUR start at The Honda Classic … earned 2022 Korn Ferry Tour membership via Q-School … has made two of three cuts to begin the Korn Ferry Tour season … finished T35 at last week’s LECOM Suncoast Classic … competed on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica in 2019 and 2020-21, recording five top-10 finishes … won the 2021 Holcim Colombia Classic presented by Volvo … finished No. 2 on the 2020-21 PGA TOUR Latinoamerica Order of Merit … finished T23 at the 2018 Mackenzie Investments Open presented by Jaguar Laval, his first career PGA TOUR-sanctioned event … played collegiately at Oklahoma State University for four seasons (2014-18), where he was a teammate of Matthew Wolff and Viktor Hovland … was a member of the Cowboys’ 2018 NCAA Championship-winning team (did not see action in stroke play or match play) … competed at the 2016 NCAA Championships as a sophomore … won the 2015 Kansas Amateur Championship and finished runner-up in 2013, 2014 and 2018 … became a third-generation winner of the Kansas Amateur, as his father Charlie won in 2010 and his grandfather Johnny won in 1960 and 1961 … stands No. 649 on the Official World Golf Ranking. Fabián Gómez (6-under 66) • Age: 43 • Turned pro: 2002 • PGA TOUR starts: 162 • Cuts made: 80 Notes: Gómez will make his second TOUR start of the season at The Honda Classic … first start resulted in missed cut at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship … failed to retain his PGA TOUR card following 15 missed cuts in 24 starts during the 2020-21 season … currently holds Past Champion status on the PGA TOUR … has made five starts on the Korn Ferry Tour this year … two-time PGA TOUR winner (2015 FedEx St. Jude Classic; 2016 Sony Open in Hawaii) … has earned nearly $7 million on the PGA TOUR … represented Argentina at the 2013 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics … grew up playing same course, Chaco Golf Club, as Jose Coceres and Emiliano Grillo … hosts the Fabian Gomez Classic at Chaco GC in September to benefit charity in Argentina … stands No. 674 on the Official World Golf Ranking. Martin Contini (6-under 66) Age: 27 Turned pro: 2019 PGA TOUR starts: 0 Notes: Will make his PGA TOUR debut at The Honda Classic … has played five events on the Korn Ferry Tour this year … recorded ninth-place finish at The Panama Championship on Korn Ferry Tour … has made 11 career PGA TOUR Latinoamerica starts, highlighted by a T34 at the 115 VISA Argentine Open presented by Macro in 2021 … won the 2017 Argentine Amateur Championship, defeating Andres Gallegos, 3 and 2. 2021-22 Monday qualifier statistics Top-25s: Grant Hirschman (T17, Sanderson Farms Championship); Patrick Flavin (T17, Butterfield Bermuda Championship) Best finish: Grant Hirschman (T17, Sanderson Farms Championship); Patrick Flavin (T17, Butterfield Bermuda Championship) Most times qualified: Kyle Wilshire (2), Ben Silverman (2) Last event’s qualifier results (WM Phoenix Open): Ben Silverman (MC), Etienne Papineau (MC), Jeffrey Kang (MC)

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