Power Rankings: Hero World Challenge

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OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – News and notes from Friday’s second round of THE NORTHERN TRUST, the opening event of the FedExCup Playoffs. Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Jhonattan Vegas share the early clubhouse lead at 6-under. VEGAS WORRIED ABOUT HURRICANE Jhonattan Vegas enters the weekend at THE NORTHERN TRUST with a great chance to grab his third PGA TOUR win, but his mind may be elsewhere as Hurricane Harvey makes its way towards his Houston base. Vegas, who successfully defended his RBC Canadian Open title this year, shot a sublime bogey-free 5-under 65 on Friday, moving him to 6 under. But his thoughts were with his wife, his 17-month-old daughter, and his mother who are back in Texas about to bear the brunt of the storm. The National Weather Service expects heavy rain, flooding, strong winds and “life-threateningâ€� storm surges, with the potential to be the worst hurricane to hit the U.S. since Katrina ripped apart the New Orleans area in 2005. “It’s hard. It’s hard not being home, not being able to help with the house and with everything. I think I’m a little bit fortunate that we live up north in The Woodlands, and historically, by the time hurricanes come into Houston, it takes a little longer to get into Houston,â€� Vegas said. “But you never know what could happen. I’m in touch with them the whole day today and hopefully it will be just some precipitation but nothing more than that.â€� Vegas is hoping his performance can be a positive distraction although he is worried TV service could be knocked out in the storm, leaving his family isolated. “We’ve been through many hurricanes, even some tough ones, Ike several years ago was a really tough one through Houston that we had to get out of there,â€� he said. “And so hopefully this one doesn’t look as it’s going to be as big, but it’s always scary. It’s always scary when you have a wife and daughter and mom at home by themselves, so God willing, nothing will happen. “Obviously it’s something that it’s going to be in the back of my mind for the next few days.â€� LITTLE RICKIE HOLDS HIS OWN Glen Oaks was supposed to favor the bombers so there is no surprise to see Dustin Johnson up top but playing partner Rickie Fowler has more than held his own through the opening two rounds at THE NORTHERN TRUST. It’s one thing to get the ball out there with the long boys. It’s another to do it accurately. Fowler is averaging 296 yards off the tee through two rounds, well and truly amongst the top bracket in the field and just two yards short of Johnson’s current average. But perhaps more importantly he’s missed just three fairways in two rounds. He backed up his opening 68 with a 4-under 66 to move to 6 under and a share of the early clubhouse lead. “This (course) is right up DJ’s alley, there’s not many courses that don’t fit him. Long courses, they become somewhat shorter for him, and the shorter courses, can basically take driver and lob-wedge and putter,â€� Fowler said. “I think the biggest thing is it continue to drive it well to give myself a legitimate chance this week and continue to make putts. Stuff that I think I’ve done well all year. “I would say there are some holes, certain carries and stuff like that, that open it up for DJ a little bit but by no means does that mean I can’t go out and beat him.â€� Fowler entered the FedExCup Playoffs as the 5th seed and a win would all but secure he gets through to the TOUR Championship inside the top 5. The top 5 at East Lake are guaranteed to win the FedExCup if they win the TOUR Championship. CASEY IN CONTENTION AGAIN A year ago Paul Casey was hot during the FedExCup Playoffs, chalking up runner up results at the Dell Technologies Championship and the BMW Championship before finishing 4th at the TOUR Championship. Had he won in Atlanta he would have been the FedExCup champion. After opening 69-68 at THE NORTHERN TRUST to be just three back of the clubhouse lead at 3-under the Englishman once again has designs on breaking his PGA TOUR victory drought. His lone victory in the USA was the 2009 Houston Open. “That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Didn’t you get the memo? I’ve had a solid season so far but no question now is the time to really up it,â€� Casey, who entered the Playoffs ranked 18th in the FedExCup said. “This has grown in stature. Now we’re over a decade in. It means a big deal. Guys are putting this down on the list of things they want to accomplish on the golf course. “And my goal this time of year to try and get hot. I did it last year with a couple of second-place finishes. It gave me an opportunity to win the FedExCup when we got to East Lake, and I want to do the same. “Guys are playing good. I’ve got to continue to play my good form.â€� Casey admits he has begun to try to dissect the reasons why he has been ultra-consistent the last three seasons with eight, seven and six top-10 finishes respectively but yet has not won an event. But it’s a delicate balance as he tries not to mess with methods that are clearly giving him multiple chances to salute. “I’ve been looking at it. I’ve been looking at things like strategy on the golf course recently. It’s no question, the game has evolved. Certainly, since I’ve been out on TOUR. But the last few years, it’s really, really changed,â€� he adds. “Johnny (caddy) and I have been looking at strategy recently: Have we been aggressive enough off the tee? We talk about, since you have the shots-gained statistics which has come out and you look at the guys who have not only won this year but won multiple times, how have they played golf, how have they attacked golf courses, are we doing the right thing. “So I think my love for the game and enjoyment we’re getting is certainly the right thing. It’s other little aspects that we’ve got to change and see if we’re doing the right thing that might be the difference between winning and not winning.â€�

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It’s a big week on the PGA TOUR with the playing of their flagship event, The PLAYERS Championship. The best players in the world will be in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, to take on TPC Sawgrass, which means some tightly bunched golf odds this week at the BetMGM online sportsbook. Some weeks it makes sense to take a shot on the best player in the field. The problem with that this week is 17 of the top 18 players in the world will be teeing it up. With so many big names to choose from, who is generating the earliest action? World No. 2 Collin Morikawa has golf odds to win of +1400. As of Tuesday morning, those are the second lowest in the field, trailing only world No. 1 Jon Rahm at +1200. Morikawa is pulling in 15.8% of the handle, by far the most in the field, and the second-most tickets (7.7%). Morikawa, who recently celebrated his 25th birthday, is making just his second appearance at the event. He finished in 41st place a year ago. That may seem uninspiring, but two things are going his way when it comes to generating good vibes at TPC Sawgrass. He shot a final-round 66 a year ago, which was tied for the best score on Sunday. And in 2020, when the tournament was canceled after one round due to COVID-19, he shot a four-under-par 68, which was tied for seventh. In less than three full seasons on the PGA TOUR, Morikawa has quickly become one of the game’s best players. He has five TOUR wins, including two majors, as well as a win at the DP World Tour finale last year. In addition, he enters the event in good form, having finished in the top 5 in his last three starts on home soil (The Genesis Invitational, Sentry Tournament of Champions, and The CJ Cup). TPC Sawgrass is a course that will reward players with the best all-around game. The winner likely won’t be the player who simply drives it the best or putts the best. It will be the player who hits the mark across the board, particularly in the approach game. Morikawa has one of the best well-rounded games on TOUR, leading the Strokes Gained: Total metric. Current Handle & Tickets Handle 1. Collin Morikawa – 15.8% 2. Brooks Koepka – 9.4% 3. Patrick Cantlay – 6.3% 4. Scottie Scheffler – 5.9% 5. Xander Schauffele – 5.4% Tickets 1. Brooks Koepka – 8.7% 2. Collin Morikawa – 7.7% 3. Patrick Cantlay – 4.7% 4. Jon Rahm – 3.9% 5. Xander Schauffele – 3.9% In terms of early movement, defending champion Justin Thomas saw his odds go from +1200 to +1400, and Rory McIlroy went from +1600 to +2000. Meanwhile, last week’s winner at The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, Scottie Scheffler, went from +2200 to +2500. The last two years have seen the tournament decided by one shot, so it should be an exciting finish. And there should be some decent scores, as the last 12 editions of the tournament have had the winning total finish at double-digits under par. * Visit BetMGM.com for terms and conditions. 21+ years of age or older to wager. BetMGM available in AZ, CO, DC, IA, IN, LA, MI, MS, NJ, NV, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV, or WY only. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Paid in free bets. Free bets expire in 7 days from issuance. Minimum deposit required. Excludes Michigan Disassociated Persons. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO, DC, LA, NV, WY, VA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-GAMBLER (IN, NJ, PA & WV), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA) or call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), call or text the Tennessee REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN) or call 1-888-777-9696 (MS). Sports betting is void where prohibited. Promotional offers not available in Nevada.

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