Emergency 9: Fantasy golf advice from Round 1 of the Wells Fargo Championship

SAN DIEGO – Tiger Woods WILL break the record of 82 PGA TOUR wins he holds with Sam Snead. It is not if, but when. That is a fact I am willing to put out there. It is an assumption for sure – and when you assume you often find it can make an “assâ€� out of “uâ€� and “meâ€� – but it is one we are going to run with anyway. Woods hits the Farmers Insurance Open this week for his first start in 2020, coming off a win at The ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP in Japan last October. While he has since played in his own Hero World Challenge (4th) and was part of the victorious U.S. Presidents Cup team as a playing captain in December, his trip to Torrey Pines represents his first chance to claim the all-time win record alone. When he played in Japan, Woods was given very little chance of winning in the lead up. Despite his incredible win at the Masters last April to get to 81, he was coming off knee surgery and had not really contended since Augusta. But Woods proved you can never count out a champion and earned No. 82 to join Snead at the top in impressive fashion. So now the question becomes: When will 83 happen? Woods himself says it is not a focus. “I really don’t think about it because I have to think about all the things I need to do to win the golf tournament,â€� Woods said. “There’s so many different shots I have to play and strategy and thinking my way around the golf course that I’m more consumed with.â€� Related: Preview: Tiger at Torrey Pines | Inside Tiger’s stunning loss at Torrey Pines in 1992 | Tiger eying No. 83 But expectations – as always – are high. Some of us are anticipating it as soon as a few days from now. Torrey Pines is, of course, the place Woods has eight career wins from seven Farmers Insurance Open titles and the 2008 U.S. Open. Others expect it could come later. A quick anonymous survey across the players at Torrey Pines gave us a multitude of answers, but ALL said it would happen this season. One multiple-time TOUR winner said, “it is likely wherever he tees it up. He’s always a chance.â€� Another believes if he plays at the World Golf Championships – Mexico Championship, he will find his way to victory there. “He is the game’s greatest thinker. So he can figure out the altitude and plot his way around. If he chooses to play there, by then he will be well warmed in to 2020.â€� What about THE PLAYERS Championship for a third time? “TPC Sawgrass for a third time, the home of the TOUR… I think that would be almost a Hollywood script for the people who run the TOUR,â€� a third player posed. Another thinks Woods might do an incredible double by winning the World Golf Championships – Dell Technologies Match Play before defending at Augusta National. “One on one, he can kill anyone if he wants to. And no one knows Augusta better.â€� Those who read our Expert Picks each week for fantasy golf already know I have slated Woods to win here at Torrey Pines. But here is a look at where some leading golf pundits believe Woods’ record-breaking moment will happen. Nick Faldo (Six-time major winner and CBS analyst) – the Masters “His last three victories were on golf courses when he has got minimal rough and pine trees left and right. So we have got to give him another shot of going back to Augusta (and winning), but I don’t know how he can recreate the emotion again of what it meant to win his 15th with his children there and coming back after 11 years.â€� Mike McAllister (Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM) – Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. “Of all the courses he’ll play in 2020, Bay Hill has given him the most success with eight wins. I think he has a ninth win in him, and the schedule sets up well for it to be No. 83. It would be extra-special to set the new record at Arnie’s place.â€� Bob Harig (ESPN) – the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide “As great of a story as it would be for Tiger to break that record at his own tournament, the Genesis Invitational at Riviera, it just seems too soon. There’s a transition period he will again go through this spring to build his game back to the level it was at the end of 2019, and while it’s more than likely he will contend several times, it would be more than fitting for him to do it at the Memorial, Jack Nicklaus’ annual tournament where victory No. 73 came in 2012. He’s won five times at Muirfield Village, so a sixth makes plenty of sense.â€� Jim Nantz (CBS) – The Genesis Invitational “The hardest thing in the world to do in sport in terms of trying to predict who’s going to win is trying to forecast a golf champion. Although Tiger in his prime was always the surest bet he could ever come up with. I’m always looking for context and he is signed up to play The Genesis Invitational at Riviera, where of course his foundation is tied to the running and the management of the event. Yes, he’s never won at Riviera, but I think that would be the coolest story … if he won at the site where he first competed as a 16-year-old high school kid in 1992.â€� Daniel Rapaport (Golf Digest) – Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard “I’ll say Bay Hill. Torrey hasn’t been too kind to him in recent years, and we know his history at Riviera. Mexico is definitely a possibility, but I think he gets it done in his home state at a course he’s dominated.â€� Geoff Shackleford – Genesis Invitational. In a cinematic, storybook career, only two options exist: this week at Torrey Pines and at Riviera where Tiger made his national debut. Torrey opens the debate up 1 after nine on the back of Junior Worlds, the sight of his one-legged U.S. Open win and in front of his adopted son fans. But Riviera? Where he’s never won, where it all started in earnest and now where he is the host? Easy 5&4 win for the 2020 Genesis as the place the Golf Gods will make it happen. Cameron Morfit . – Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. “Although I put him on my fantasy team, I hesitate to say Tiger will pick up No. 83 at the Farmers. The South Course is 7,765 yards, which means it got even longer after already ranking the longest course on the PGA TOUR last season. Also, he’s just getting going in 2020, and I’d like to give him at least a start or two to play his way into form. I’ll say he gets it done at Bay Hill.â€� Steve DiMeglio (USA TODAY) – The Genesis Invitational “Talk about storybook? Tiger Woods will win No. 83 at his own tournament, The Genesis Invitational, on a golf course that has gotten the better of him his entire playing career. Yep, Tiger is going to finally conquer Riviera Country Club, where he played his first PGA TOUR event as a 16-year-old amateur, and in the process, among all the duties he has as tournament host, pass Sam Snead.â€� Sean Martin . – Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. “I see it coming at Bay Hill. Long irons are key there and that’s what he does best.â€� Evin Priest (Australian Associated Press) – Farmers Insurance Open “I really believe it’s going to be this week at Torrey Pines. I watched him test TaylorMade’s new SIM driver on the range and he didn’t miss a tee shot for 30 straight minutes. Every trajectory and every shot shape. It was a masterclass. Combine that with his win at the ZOZO and his performance at the Presidents Cup, and all signs point to him getting a ninth win at Torrey.â€� Helen Ross . – Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. “OK, I know I’m not exactly going out on a limb here given his eight victories at Bay Hill. But he’s rarely out of contention here and — with THE PLAYERS on the horizon — Tiger always seems to be hitting on all cylinders during this stretch.â€� Only time will tell where it will actually come but one thing is for sure: It is going to be fun to watch it all unfold.

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UPDATED THURSDAY, MARCH 10 (11 a.m. ET): After play was delayed one hour at the start of Round 1, play was suspended at 11 a.m. ET due to dangerous weather. Seventy-two players were able to get their rounds started. Will Zalatoris (11 holes), Harold Varner III (11 holes) and Tommy Fleetwood (10 holes) were tied for the lead at 4 under before the horn sounded. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9: PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – PGA TOUR officials are confident they’re prepared for what is shaping up as a potentially tricky stretch of weather at THE PLAYERS Championship. On the eve of the opening round at TPC Sawgrass the extended forecast calls for a high likelihood of thunderstorms over the opening three days. Perhaps more ominously, there could be four different wind directions throughout the tournament. As an ominous precursor, the Stadium Course was evacuated early Wednesday afternoon as storms approached the area. Saturday could prove especially challenging with 20-30 mph sustained winds, and even heavier gusts, expected out of the west/northwest. Thursday brings an 80% chance of storms and winds of 10-18 mph out of the west/southwest. The forecast for Friday sits at 90% chance of storms with an east/southeast wind of 6-12 mph. “Rain and thunderstorms are likely both Thursday and Friday as a frontal boundary drops into northern Florida and stalls,” TOUR meteorologist Wade Stettner said in his forecast Wednesday. “This front is forecast to bring periods of rain with embedded thunderstorms over the two-day period.” Temperatures are also expected to drop significantly on Sunday with a high of just 54 degrees. The wind will switch to a 12-22 mph challenge out of the north/northeast in what, weather depending, would be the final round. “By Saturday morning a strong cold front is forecast to arrive and bring additional thunderstorms,” Stettner’s forecast continued. “This front should clear Ponte Vedra Beach by noon Saturday with dry conditions for the remainder of the weekend. Gusty winds will develop behind the front on Saturday with peak gusts over 30mph at times. Much colder temperatures are forecast this weekend.” In anticipation of the high weekend winds, and the potential for weather delays over the opening two days, officials will pay especially close attention to green speeds and pin locations during the set-up process. With the natural drainage on and around the greens only a few pin locations would be severely affected by rain, but high winds could render some spots unusable. For example, it’s unlikely there would be a hole close to the water at the par-4 fourth and island 17th holes. “We will once again meet this afternoon with the agronomy staff with the latest information at our disposal and obviously adjust our plans accordingly,” Chief Referee Gary Young said. “We are confident we will be as prepared as possible for what lies ahead. We are meticulous in every aspect but it is certainly fair to say Saturday’s winds are a point of focus for us, particularly as we could be finishing up Friday’s round on Saturday, so that affects Friday’s set up as well. “We need to keep in mind we could have a good amount of Friday’s round playing in that Saturday wind,” Young continued, “and they are opposite winds, so we need to find something that works well for both and that’s a challenge.” While in perfect weather officials would prepare and maintain firm and fast greens, the current forecast calls for a gradual decrease from top speed – as the tournament begins Thursday – to as much as an inch or an inch and a half slower speeds by Saturday. That would presumably eliminate the possibility of balls oscillating and even rolling away on the putting surfaces. Officials will take care to make it a gradual change rather than a big overnight shift so players don’t have to make significant adjustments. “Thankfully we’ve got time to make adjustments because we know what’s coming, so that helps in the planning,” Young said. “We have our target speeds for the high winds and we just need to get to that as slowly as possible.” Defending champion Justin Thomas was hoping for the best but also preparing himself for the worst. “I’ve heard horror stories from Tiger and Freddy and some guys about having to hit 5- or 6-iron into 17 on those cold north wind days, and I haven’t experienced that,” Thomas said. “When you get wind and cold temperatures like that, it’s just a different animal, and it’s really just a survival-type thing. “It’s not like I’m going into this week preparing any differently… I don’t get too wrapped up in the draw or what’s the weather going to be like Friday or what’s the wind going to be, because at the end of the day, weather people are wrong all the time.” Adam Scott, the 2004 champion, has experienced tough weather at TPC Sawgrass before. THE PLAYERS the year prior to his victory here, and the tournament the year after it, were played in tricky weather. “It’s a long time ago, but I was around for Davis Love’s win in 2003 when it was horrible, and Fred Funk’s win in 2005, that wasn’t good weather either,” Scott said ahead of his 20th PLAYERS start. “I think we played almost 36 holes on Monday that year because of all the weather delays. When this sort of weather happens the guy who really has his game in shape comes to the top. He can make those adjustments on the fly when he stands on the tee and it is a different wind than the day before, but you just easily pick the shot you need to compensate. Those in control of their swings will be the ones to watch.”

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Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – Tony Romo, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current lead analyst for the NFL ON CBS, will compete on a sponsor exemption for the second consecutive year in the PGA TOUR’s Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship (March 28-31, 2019) in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The 2019 Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship will mark the second time Romo will compete as an individual against PGA TOUR professionals in the same competition. Playing as an amateur, Romo will look to make the cut for the first time in his second official PGA TOUR start. “Golf has been a passion of mine throughout my life, giving me another athletic outlet to hone my skills and compete,â€� said Romo. “The opportunity to compete at the highest levels of golf, the PGA TOUR event, was a dream come true for me. I’m thankful to the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship for inviting me to join them once again this year, and I’m excited at the chance to compete against the best of the best.â€� Since Romo competed in the inaugural Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship in 2018, he won two golf tournaments in the summer of 2018, including the American Century Championship in Nevada. “It was an honor to have Tony Romo to join us for our inaugural year, and we are delighted that he has accepted our offer to play in the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship again this year,â€� said Grupo Puntacana Founder and Chairman Frank Rainieri. “Tony continues to grow and achieve at golf just as he rose to greatness during his football career. It’s going to be exciting to watch him play Corales again.â€� Romo, 38, signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cowboys in 2003 after playing collegiately at Eastern Illinois University. Beginning his career as a holder, Romo became the Cowboys’ starting quarterback during the 2006 season. Serving as the team’s primary starter from 2006 to 2015, he guided the Cowboys to four postseason appearances and was named to the Pro Bowl four times. Romo retired after the 2016 season and immediately was hired by CBS Sports to become the lead analyst for the NFL ON CBS, teaming with Jim Nantz in the broadcast booth. Romo holds several Cowboys team records, including passing touchdowns, passing yards, most games with at least 300 passing yards and games with three or more touchdown passes. The Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship is in its second year on the PGA TOUR schedule, previously having a two-year run as a Web.com Tour event. The event, which was won by Brice Garnett in 2018, offers a $3,000,000 purse, 300 FedExCup points and is broadcast on the Golf Channel.

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