Show me the money – Smith, Homa land best returns in 2022

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Collin Morikawa has already had an eventful 2021. He won his second major, clinched the Ryder Cup and claimed the European Tour’s season-long points race, the Race to Dubai. He could add another accomplishment before the year is out. Morikawa could become the No. 1 player in the world for the first time. He would supplant Jon Rahm atop the Official World Golf Ranking with a win at this week’s Hero World Challenge. Rahm is not playing this week. Morikawa, 24, would become just the fourth player to reach World No. 1 before turning 25, joining Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth. Morikawa turns 25 on Feb. 6, 2022. The Official World Ranking was founded in 1986. Morikawa has made just 60 starts as a pro in events offering world-ranking points. Tiger Woods was the quickest to reach No. 1, doing so in just 21 pro starts. Jordan Spieth is currently second on the list, needing 77 starts to reach No. 1. Morikawa is currently second in the Official World Golf Ranking, a position he has held for six weeks. Earlier this year, he won the World Golf Championships-Workday Championship at The Concession to join Woods as the only players to win a major and WGC before turning 25. Morikawa claimed his second major at The Open and recently claimed the European Tour’s season finale, the DP World Tour Championship.

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What does this week's Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship have in common with the U.S. Open and the Masters? There are two editions of each during the 2020-21 PGA TOUR season. Like both previously scheduled editions of the majors, the 2020 Corales was bumped to the fall portion of this season due to the pandemic. As a result, it's a stand-alone tournament with 144 golfers chasing 500 FedExCup points for the victory. (The 2021 edition will return to its familiar status as an additional event in early spring.) Scroll past the projected contenders for consideration of the shift to early autumn, relevant tidbits of how the first two champions performed and details of the golf course. RELATED: Inside the Field | Preview the course, storylines POWER RANKINGS: CORALES PUNTACANA RESORT & CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP Henrik Stenson, Will Gordon, Patrick Rodgers and 2018 champion Brice Garnett will be among the notables reviewed in Tuesday's Fantasy Insider. Corales sits on the western coast of the Dominican Republic. Because of its exposure to wind, fairways and greens are expansive across the stock par 72 that stretches 7,666 yards. Although this is hurricane season and exactly on the opposite end of the calendar, the weather will resemble when the first two editions of the tournament were contested in late March. Prevailing winds from a generally easterly direction will be steady but not punishing. Passing showers can't be ruled out but sunshine will dominate and contribute to daytime highs in the upper 80s. Because the test tee to green is relatively benign, it's probable that a putting contest will determine that champion for the third time in as many editions. Brice Garnett paced his field in putts per GIR en route to the inaugural title, as did the 2019 champ, Graeme McDowell. Both also led their respective fields in putting: birdies-or-better. (ShotLink is not utilized for this tournament, Strokes Gained data is not collected.) G-Mac's path to the victory also showcased how wild it can get at Corales. His opening 73 was the highest first round by any winner in all of 2018-19, and he still won outright (by one) at 18-under 270. The secondary objective is the first in execution; that is, to pile up scoring opportunities to set up the par breakers. The Supreme paspalum greens max at 11-and-a-half feet on the Stimpmeter, but undulations everywhere serve as defense. This elevates the ability to hit it close. Of course, more broadly, hitting greens in regulation will ease the pressure off average putters. After debuting with a scoring average of 71.499 in 2018, the 2019 field improved to the tune of 71.074. A considerable chunk of the reason why is found at The Devil's Elbow consisting of the par-4 16th, the par-3 17th and the par-4 18th holes. The first field averaged 0.368 strokes over par for the week, but with some experience logged, the scoring average improved to just 0.103 strokes over par the last time. Garnett played the trio in even par; McDowell scored 1-over. In addition to the full allocation of FedExCup points up for grabs, the winner will earn an exemption into the 2021 Masters. ROB BOLTON'S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM's Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Rookie Watch, Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Fantasy Insider * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM's Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Wednesday.

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