Saigo leads, Korda surges at U.S. Women’s Open

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Segment 3 of PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO hasn’t been as challenging as it seemed in terms of rationing starts despite it consisting of 14 tournaments, including the first two majors and THE PLAYERS. The ebb and flow of personal scheduling aside, our positive experience is an indication of the strong competitive balance among the elite. Anecdotally, I’ve discussed where to exhaust three starts for any golfer far less than even a year ago. This is sure to change in Segment 4 what with the last two majors, the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and four FedExCup Playoffs events among only nine tournaments, but we’ll cross that bridge at The Open Championship in July. This week’s U.S. Open is the 10th event of Segment 3. Of the remaining five, it’s the only stop at which ShotLink is not in use. This means that overall fantasy scoring will be lower as bonus points are multiplied. And that means that you want to focus solely on leaderboard finish. Actual scoring by round will not resonate, but you still need to get four to the finish line. Even if you’re somehow dry on starts for golfers you’d like to play, because overall scoring will be lower, you won’t lose as much ground if you struggle. This reality leaves any noticeable movement to gamers in pursuit who can slingshot by with the proper combination of contenders. In response, front-runners should focus on playing defense. Go for the stymies and leave the good luck to another week. You’re not going to miss most of the guys for whom you have one start remaining. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO My roster for the U.S. Open (in alphabetical order): Jason Day Rickie Fowler Dustin Johnson Rory McIlroy Jon Rahm Justin Rose You’ll find my starters in Expert Picks. Others to consider for each category (in alphabetical order): Scoring: Bryson DeChambeau; Tommy Fleetwood; Marc Leishman; Phil Mickelson; Patrick Reed; Justin Thomas Driving: n/a Approach: n/a Short: n/a Returning to Competition Scott Piercy Walked off TPC Southwind after nine holes of his second round last week. An explanation wasn’t released. It marked the conclusion of a week that started stronger at the U.S. Open sectional qualifier in Memphis. He settled for the position of first alternate, and then gained entry into the major when alternates from four sites filled the remaining vacancies in the field of 156 at Shinnecock Hills. It was just two years ago when he shared runner-up honors at Oakmont, but it’s his only top 50 among two paydays in six appearances. Kevin Stadler It was easy to miss that he returned to competition at last week’s Rust-Oleum Championship on the Web.com Tour outside Chicago. Unlike last year’s abbreviated attempt at a comeback, the 38-year-old not only made the cut but he placed T22. After years sidelined for what was a misdiagnosis of a hand injury, he had surgery for a stress fracture in his palm in 2017. Lo and behold, he’s pain-free and bullish about the future. For a detailed recap of last week’s success, click here. Barring a setback, with 26 starts remaining on his Major Medical Extension on the PGA TOUR, he’s going to be an automatic buy in full-season salary games in 2018-19. Notable WDs None Power Rankings Recap – FedEx St. Jude Classic Power Ranking  Golfer  Result 1  Brooks Koepka  T30 2  Dustin Johnson  Win 3  Phil Mickelson  T12 4  Henrik Stenson  T26 5  Billy Horschel  T51 6  Tony Finau  MC 7  Daniel Berger  MC 8  Luke List  T56 9  Peter Uihlein  T43 10  Charl Schwartzel  72nd 11  Joaquin Niemann  MC 12  Adam Scott  DNP 13  Ben Crane  MC 14  Kiradech Aphibarnrat  MC 15  T.J. Vogel  MC Wild Card  Steve Stricker  T18 Sleepers Recap – FedEx St. Jude Classic Golfer  Result Chad Campbell  T45 James Hahn  T45 Matt Jones  T51 Chez Reavie  T6 Braden Thornberry  T26 Birthdays among active golfers on the PGA TOUR June 12 … none June 13 … Peter Malnati (31) June 14 … none June 15 … Lanto Griffin (30); Ollie Schniederjans (25) June 16 … Phil Mickelson (48) June 17 … David Hearn (39) June 18 … none

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Sometimes, no matter the motivation, you just need to go for it. Suffice it to say that the inaugural edition of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans as a two-man team competition found the target in 2017. The reaction from the 160-man field was overly positive and Kevin Kisner’s eagle on the last hole of regulation to force a playoff gave the new format its first “moment.” Not too shabby. This year’s groundbreaking introduction at TPC Louisiana is walk-up music chosen by each of the 80 teams. It’s optional, but given the love affair that most (all?) golfers have with other sports in which it’s a constant if not an expectation, and with the tournament’s unique exploration to attract talent and fans, any usual respectful greetings and applause sans tuneage on the opening tees might seem out of place this week. Once again, there are fascinating connections among the commitments. I’ve segregated 10 with intrigue. Scroll beneath the ranking for five others considered as well as more on the format and the host course. POWER RANKINGS: ZURICH CLASSIC OTHERS CONSIDERED Daniel Berger & Gary Woodland Jason Dufner & Pat Perez Rafa Cabrera Bello & Sergio Garcia Russell Knox & Martin Laird Louis Oosthuizen & Charl Schwartzel PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO omits the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, so Tuesday’s Fantasy Insider will be presented in an abridged format. In last year’s foray and in less-than-ideal conditions during the last three rounds, Jonas Blixt and Cameron Smith prevailed in a four-hole playoff with Kisner and Scott Brown. Both teams hung up 27-under 261s after two rounds each of alternate shot and best ball. The winners were the only duo in the field without a bogey or worse on their card. They set the bar. Tournament organizers have reversed the alternating order of play this year. Rounds 1 and 3 will be best ball, while alternate shot will be used for Rounds 2 and 4. The low 35 teams and ties at the conclusion of 36 holes will survive the cut. Unlike last year, the secondary (MDF) cut no longer applies. Per standard membership provisions, both winners will receive two-year PGA TOUR exemptions or the customary one-year extension in fully exempt status (not to exceed five years beyond this season) if already exempt through 2019-2020. The winners will also receive berths into THE PLAYERS, PGA Championship and all remaining invitationals this season. They’ll also gain entry into the 2019 Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua. FedExCup points and earnings will be distributed just as ties for any place in the final standings are currently determined. The winners will share first- and second-place values and receive 400 FedExCup points and $1,036,800 apiece. Because of the format, Official World Golf Ranking points are not rewarded. This means that the Zurich Classic of New Orleans essentially is a free play from contributing to one’s divisor. If there was a common thread among the winners and contenders at TPC Louisiana last year, it was variety. All shapes and sizes were represented on the final leaderboard, and that’s exactly what any tournament and every golfer wants. The par-72 stretching 7,425 yards is inviting off the tee. Precision on approach is rewarded properly on greens averaging just 5,225 square feet because they’re segmented with undulations that must be respected. The longest rough is trimmed to two inches. Prepped to run at 12 feet on the Stimpmeter because persistent rainfall often assists in pumping the brakes, the overseeded bermuda greens actually might touch that goal this week. The only reasonable threat for inclement weather is forecast for Thursday’s opening round. Thereafter, drier air will take hold. Daytime highs might not reach 80 degrees and wind is not expected to be a factor throughout. It’s going to be beautiful. In benign conditions, 30 under par cannot be ruled out in this format. All members of the teams that finish inside the top five in the tournament will earn exemptions into next week’s Wells Fargo Championship if not already eligible to compete. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton covers numerous angles in between tournaments. Look for his following contributions this week. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Facebook Live, Fantasy Insider WEDNESDAY: One & Done * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.

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