Quick look at the Rocket Mortgage Classic

As I explained in the Fantasy Insider on Tuesday, even if you’ve exhausted one start per each of six golfers during every event of Segment 4, you cannot burn through so many starts as to be left without a full lineup for the TOUR Championship. However, who you save and for when still matters. With THE NORTHERN TRUST leading off the FedExCup Playoffs, the focus drifts outside the top 10 to see who your opposition might be reserving for later. Rickie Fowler (11th), defending champion Patrick Reed (14th) and Jason Day (12th) jump off the screen, although with two majors and a World Golf Championship previously in the Segment, it’s possible that gamers are already out of starts on one or more of those guys. Stay tuned. It’s interesting that Hideki Matsuyama paces the field of 120 with less than 50 percent. While that’s a low leader as compared to most weeks, it could become the norm as gamers scramble to fill rosters the rest of the way. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO NOTE: Rob’s Rating refers to where our Fantasy Insider slotted a golfer in his Power Rankings (“PR”) and other preview material. Golfers in the Power Rankings and outside the top 10 in most owned: Other notables: PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO Well, here we go. With the potential of 8,000 FedExCup points to be collected, this game takes on an entirely different feel during the FedExCup Playoffs. As a result, and assuming all gamers are aware of how performance is measured for the remainder of the season, we’re going to get a terrific sense of who’s left on the board and who’s already been burned. On cue, we’re treated to the sensible timing of sending Jason Day out as the majority pick for THE NORTHERN TRUST. Of all of the faces of the sport, he’s at the top of the list of guys who misfired more often than not during the PGA TOUR Season, so it stands to reason that he’s the most available right now. If you visit this space again during the last three tournaments, get used to seeing Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy outside the top 10. Of the trio, only Spieth presents as a possibility to sneak back inside if not threaten for the top spot at the TOUR Championship. There’s so much to learn about how other gamers plan for the Playoffs. And so much to gain. Other notables:

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Harold Varner Jr., better known to his family and friends as Duece, is the unofficial ticket broker for this week’s World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. And Varner is more than happy to help. After all, that’s one less thing for his son, Harold III, to worry about as he makes his debut in the exclusive global series in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. “I got 20 a day,â€� the second-year PGA TOUR pro says with a smile. “He’ll take care of it.â€� The younger Varner punched his own ticket to play at Firestone Country Club when he won the Australian PGA Championship in December. He closed with a 65 to beat Andrew Dodt by two and former world No. 1 Adam Scott by four. Varner dedicated the win at RACV Royal Pines Resort to his “Day 1s,â€� which is what he calls the people who have been “pulling for me since day oneâ€� of his pro career. Plenty of “Day 1sâ€� will be in his gallery at Firestone this week. Varner, who was born in the same hospital as his favorite athlete, LeBron James, lived in Akron until he was 6 years old. That’s when Varner’s father, a car salesman, moved his brood to Gastonia, N.C., which is about half an hour west of Charlotte, where next week’s PGA Championship will be played. But most of his extended family still resides in Akron. “I really don’t know what it will be like,â€� Varner said when asked about playing in his hometown. “… All (but one of) my aunts and uncles on my mom and dad’s side live in Akron, so it’s great.â€� In fact, one of those aunts, Janet Varner, spent nearly two decades working at Firestone as a cook. Varner’s father, also an avid golfer, got to play there a couple of times before they moved but his son was too young. Still, the elder Varner, who usually shoots between 75 – on a really, really good day,â€� Harold III says, grinning – and 85, got his son Fisher-Price golf clubs when he was 2 years old. It didn’t take the youngster long to gravitate toward the game as he grew older in N.C. “He just dropped me off on the way to work,â€� Varner recalls. “I loved it. There was a lot more opportunity, obviously, down in North Carolina, especially when it comes to golf. You play year around.â€� Varner used to come back to Akron in the summers to visit his grandparents, though. When he was in the Rubber City, he’d often go practice and play at J.E. Good Park, a municipal course designed by Bert Way in 1924, two years after the Englishman created nearby Firestone South, which not coincidentally hosts the Bridgestone Invitational this week. (Robert Trent Jones redesigned the South course in 1960). Varner even played in the Good Park Junior twice. He won it the first time he played, when his age group only played nine holes, but the following summer was somewhat forgettable. “I moved up the next year and I played so bad,â€� Varner said, shaking his head. “I had to be 12, 13, 14 maybe. I was obviously young because I remember the course being so long.â€� Varner, who turned pro in 2012 after earning a marketing degree from East Carolina, has enough length to tackle any course these days, averaging 301.2 yards off the tee to rank 28th on TOUR. He is looking for FedExCup points, though, so this week’s Bridgestone Invitational is much more than a trip down memory lane. Varner ranks 133rd right now and has three weeks to work his way into the top 125 to make the Playoffs and secure his card for next season. He’d also like to play his way into the PGA and have back-to-back “hometownâ€� events. “It’s a great opportunity for me to get the year going back in the right direction,â€� says Varner, who tied for 23rd last week at the RBC Canadian. “Starting to play well, so I’m excited.â€� Not only has Varner been preparing for the Bridgestone Invitational, he also found time to give PGATOUR.COM these 18 things people might not know about him. And he wrote this piece published Tuesday in The Players Tribune. 1. I’m allergic to shellfish. 2. I am a huge NBA fan. 3. I am a huge NFL fan. 4. I am a huge fan of Lebron and any team he plays for (you heard me Cleveland). 5. My girlfriend and I love HGTV. 6. I am a big-time neat freak. 7. My closet is color coordinated. 8. During an off week I love being on the lake to boat and jet ski. 9. I hate the ocean (you can’t see anything down there). 10. I listen to every type of music except techno (give me some words….) 11. I am addicted to working out. 12. I am huge East Carolina University fan (not a fan of UNC or Duke….) 13. My favorite color is purple. 14. I love Gas Town (Gastonia, N.C.) 15. I am a brand-new uncle to my niece. 16. Someday I am going to pound the drum at the Carolina Panthers game. 17. I credit my dad, aka Deuce, for getting me into golf. 18. We Here – that’s my motto.

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It is that time of the year again. The days are a little shorter, the leaves more colorful, and the temperatures a bit cooler. Mother Nature is looking to bring the golf season to a halt, but adidas Golf has other ideas. To keep players on the course, the brand has launched the new Frostguard Collection to combat brisk fall and winter conditions. In creating the Frostguard Jackets and Vests, adidas designers focused on providing warmth without sacrificing playability. To achieve this, the Frostguard pieces feature down-filled panels on the front and back to insulate the body where it needs it most—in the core areas. To further lock in warmth, these insulated panels use a bonding technique that prevents heat from escaping while also shielding against the season’s harsh winds. Staying warm is one thing, but if a layering piece is too bulky, it can prevent the body from moving freely during the swing. To maintain playability, adidas opted for a thin, lightweight layer of duck down in the panels to provide warmth without bulk. For better mobility during the swing, designers attached the insulated panels to side panels and sleeves made from recycled polyester. These stretchy, water-resistant panels and sleeves allow the body, shoulders, and arms to rotate in an unfettered motion. This helps TOUR players like Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm maintain feel, rhythm, and clubhead speed while staying warm. Hybrid jackets and vests have become one of the biggest trends in golf outerwear over the last few years. Previously reserved for the ski slopes, advances in insulation and fabric technology have turned these puffer-style pieces into cold-weather essentials on the fairways. adidas’ Frostguard stands out from the crowd of puffers for a few reasons. The use of down provides a higher warmth-to-weight ratio than synthetics. Therefore, it is lighter, less bulky, and compresses easier for storage in a golf bag. Also, many hybrid jackets and vests include a single insulated panel on the front of the garment. adidas has taken this a step further by providing insulation on the front and back of the Frostguard pieces for added warmth. From a style standpoint, the stitching on the panels offers an intriguing and elevated look compared to the typical square and rectangular channels. Joining the insulated jackets and vests in the Frostguard Collection is the lighter Quilted Competition Jacket. Xander Schauffele sported this jacket at the Open Championship and it is easy to see why. It offers the perfect blend of style, warmth, and playability. The ¼-zip pullover features a dual knit construction with a single knit polyester in the upper half for enhanced range of motion. On the bottom half, a double knit jersey was used for warmth. The good news is you don’t have to be a TOUR player to slip on the Frostguard Collection. The Insulated Jackets and Vests along with the Quilted Competition Jacket are arriving on retail store shelves now, just in time for the falling temperatures.

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