2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational Preview

The John Deere Classic’s Monday qualifier at Oakwood Country Club ended in a rarity for 2021. No playoff was needed to determine the final spots in the field of this week’s PGA TOUR event. Luke Gannon, 22, was medalist after shooting 63 (-8). He will make his PGA TOUR debut at TPC Deere Run. Gannon has worked a maintenance job for his dad’s church while trying to make ends meet as a professional golfer, per Ryan French’s Monday Q Info account on Twitter. Alex Smalley, Eric Cole, and Rodrigo Lee finished in a 3-way tie for second at 6 under. An elite group that include Brooks Koepka’s younger brother (Chase Koepka), a former TOUR winner (Eric Axley), and a player who successfully Mondayed just two weeks ago (Stephen Stallings Jr.) finished a shot back. Rodrigo Lee will join Gannon in making his PGA TOUR debut. Q&A with Alex Smalley PGATOUR.com spoke with Alex Smalley after he successfully qualified Monday for his fifth career PGA TOUR start. PGATOUR.COM: What did your back-to-back top-5 finishes on the Forme Tour do for your confidence leading into this Monday qualifier? Alex Smalley: I knew I was playing well coming into this week, so I just had to do the same things I’ve been doing. I played in the Rocket Mortgage qualifier last week and missed the playoff by one, so I knew I was close. It was certainly nice to be able to get over the hurdle this week. PGATOUR.COM: How hectic will preparation be this week after you revise the travel and lodging plans? Alex Smalley: Travel and lodging are always difficult when you qualify because most hotels in the area (especially this week) are sold out. Thankfully I was able to find a place. The TOUR gives out courtesy cars for players, so that certainly helps the finances for the week not having to worry about a rental car for seven days. I am currently trying to cancel my return flight to Atlanta that I booked for 6 a.m. Tuesday if I didn’t make it. That is currently the most difficult thing that I’m dealing with right now. PGATOUR.COM: How have your expectations matched your goals since turning professional? Alex Smalley: I’m not sure I had a whole lot of expectations turning pro. I was trying to feel it out the first few months. The thing I did realize pretty quickly is just how competitive all levels of pro golf are. Monday qualifiers, mini-tour events, and Q-School are all crazy competitive, so I’ve had to adjust my expectations after competing in a few of those. Especially for Monday qualifiers, you could go a whole year playing well in those and never make it into an event. Just trying to manage that part of it is difficult, mentally speaking. PGATOUR.COM: What has been the most surprising to you the most about the grind of a professional golfer? Alex Smalley: I think the most shocking thing is how lonely it can all be. Traveling back and forth between events is tough, but doing it alone would be even tougher. I’m lucky that my mom travels with me and caddies for me in the Monday qualifiers and mini-tour events. She actually caddies for me in the Forme events as well. Going back to what I said in the last question, it’s just so competitive. I was 20 under last week at the Forme event in Auburn and finished T3 with four other guys. That’s just crazy. I’ve also played in three-day mini-tour events where the winning score was -24. If you’re not shooting 6 to 8 under every day in some of these events, especially Monday qualifiers, you’re not going to sniff winning. That’s probably been the thing I’ve realized most. Everyone is so hungry and driven to get to the PGA TOUR. Qualifiers Luke Gannon Age: 22 College: Southern Illinois University Turned pro: 2019 PGA TOUR starts: 0 Cuts Made: 0 Notes: Gannon has played in three Korn Ferry Tour events in the 2020-21 season. He finished in the top 20 in two consecutive events on the Adams Pro Tour in June. Gannon helped lead Southern Illinois University to two NCAA Regional appearances in 2016 and 2019. He was ranked the No. 7 junior in Kansas in 2015. Alex Smalley Age: 24 College: Duke University Turned pro: 2019 PGA TOUR starts: 4 Cuts Made: 2 PGA TOUR earnings: $93,000 Twitter: @asmalley_golf Notes: Smalley made the cut at Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship in 2020 (T14) and 2021 (T22). Before Monday, Smalley finished in the top 5 in consecutive starts on the Forme Tour. Smalley was a member of the 2019 U.S. Arnold Palmer Cup team and the Walker Cup team, registering a 3-1-0 record in each event. He also finished one stroke back of the all-time scoring record during the 2016 U.S. Amateur stroke play, winning medalist honors by shooting 65-68. He also competed in the 2017 U.S. Open, missing the cut after rounds of 73 and 74. He won the prestigious Sunnehanna Amateur in 2018 and 2019, the first player to go back-to-back in that event since Rickie Fowler. Eric Cole Age: 33 College: Nova Southeastern University Turned pro: 2009 PGA TOUR starts: 2 Cuts Made: 1 PGA TOUR earnings: $28,000 Notes: Has won more than 50 times on the Minor League Golf Tour. Finished T23 at Final Stage of Korn Ferry Q-School in 2017 to earn temporary status. Cole has made 26 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour in the 2020-21 season, including a third-place finish. His dad, Bobby Cole, won the 1966 British Amateur and won his solo PGA TOUR title in 1977 at the Buick Open. His mother, Laura, is the youngest player to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur at age 16 in 1971. She was the 1973 LPGA Rookie of the Year and finished in the top 10 of 70 LPGA tournaments. Rodrigo Lee Age: 33 Turned pro: 2010 PGA TOUR starts: 0 Cuts made: 0 Notes: The John Deere Classic will be Lee’s first PGA TOUR start. He has recorded a top-10 on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica every year since 2017. He was 2011 Rookie of the Year on the China Tour. Notes Notables who missed qualifying: Stephen Stallings Jr., Eric Axley, Chase Koepka, Robert Garrigus, Tain Lee, Akshay Bhatia, John Augenstein, Hayden Springer, M.J. Daffue, Justin Suh, Dylan Meyer, Ben Crane, Andrew Loupe, and Broc Everett. 2020-2021 Monday Qualifier statistics: Last event’s qualifier result (Rocket Mortgage Championship): Connor Arendell (MC), Justin Suh (MC), Daniel Wetterich (MC), and Tain Lee (MC) Total money earned by Monday qualifiers on TOUR this season: $1,002,323 Best finish: M.J. Daffue (T12, Sanderson Farms Championship). Next Monday Qualifier: Barbasol Championship at Boone’s Trace National Golf Club in Richmond, KY (July 12, 2021)

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Whew. And ouch. Sort of. What transpired – or didn’t – at last week’s U.S. Open would have crushed a few gamers in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO if not for the fact that only actual scoring and bonus points were measured. As noted last week and many times before, we can absorb a bad week when ShotLink is turned off so much better than when everything applies. It also didn’t hurt that so many notables failed to survive the cut at Erin Hills. Note that eight of the top 10 in my Power Rankings (see the Recap below) fell short. Plainly, and crudely, the majority of gamers were stung by the mass exodus, but likely experienced little impact in the overall standings and in private leagues. Segment 3 concludes at this week’s Travelers Championship. However, while starts for anyone available to you won’t be an issue, the full array of fantasy scoring is back, so it’s once again critical to get at least four to the weekend and avoid costly goose eggs. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO My roster for the U.S. Open (in alphabetical order): Paul Casey Jason Day Rory McIlroy Brandt Snedeker Brendan Steele Justin Thomas You’ll find my starters in Expert Picks. Others to consider for each category (in alphabetical order): Scoring: Daniel Berger; Tony Finau; Brian Harman; Charley Hoffman; Marc Leishman; David Lingmerth; Patrick Reed; Jordan Spieth Driving: Daniel Berger; Keegan Bradley; Graham DeLaet; Tony Finau; Zach Johnson; Marc Leishman; Kyle Stanley; Kevin Streelman; Bubba Watson Approach: Keegan Bradley; Chad Campbell; Graham DeLaet; Jim Furyk; Zach Johnson; David Lingmerth; Chez Reavie; Webb Simpson; Jordan Spieth; Kyle Stanley Short: Daniel Berger; Graham DeLaet; Harris English; Brian Harman; Marc Leishman; David Lingmerth; Seung-Yul Noh; Chez Reavie; Patrick Reed; Jordan Spieth Power Ranking Wild Card Webb Simpson … TPC River Highlands is in that next tier of reliable sites for us to consider plugging him in, regardless of concerns with his putting. He opened his record with six straight paydays before sitting out the 2014 and 2015 editions. Last year’s return resulted in a T34. Of his 28 trots around the place in competition, he’s signed for only three over-par scores. Twenty-two were in the red. His scoring average is 68.11. Launched his current streak of four consecutive cuts made with a T16 at TPC Sawgrass and a solo fifth at Colonial. Draws Zach Johnson … In ZJ we trust. His numbers on approach have declined since he turned 40 years of age 16 months ago, but TPC River Highlands is still the kind of joint where he’s expected to make the cut at worst. He’s done that in nine of his 11 trips and finished sixth just two years ago, but he’s likely overpriced in DFS because of the slower rollback that usually occurs with talents of his cachet. Now, what is concerning is how he’ll be performing when he shows up at the John Deere Classic in three weeks. If that tournament was this week, he wouldn’t be an automatic in as many fantasy formats as usual in that event. Jim Furyk … If we’re having fun with the common narrative, it’s fair to wonder how he chases a low round, albeit 10-and-a-half months later. His 58 in the finale of last year’s Travelers is a PGA TOUR record, of course, but he might settle for quad-68s this week. As noted too often in this column, it’s been a tough 2017 for the Ryder Cup captain, but TPC River Highlands sets the stage for a continuation of form found at Erin Hills of all places. The stats are irrelevant. Instead, approach him as a potential complement in any format where you can surround him with reliability. Given his penchant to contend, not to mention his feel for the track, it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s in the mix. Kevin Streelman … The 2014 champ hasn’t skipped out on a trip since he was first eligible in 2008. While he’s missed the cut the last two years, he presents well on the strength of top 20s in his last two starts upon arrival. Chez Reavie … Loyal readers know that he’s been on my radar all season, even during the rough four-month patch earlier this year, so it’s rewarding (and reassuring) to see him put it all together in his last two starts. He chased a T4 in Memphis with a T16 at the U.S. Open, easily his best finish in 11 career starts in the majors. Co-leads the PGA TOUR in proximity to the hole and ranks T33 in scrambling. He’s the definition of how keeping his ball in play at TPC River Highlands yields success, so look no further in his price range in DFS. The 35-year-old is perfect in five tries here since 2009 with a pair of top 25s. David Lingmerth … When he’s going good, he’s one of my favorites. It’s just that it occurs so infrequently, but that’s the nature of the beast for the rank and file. Quite simply, gamers can’t get enough of his confidence. The 29-year-old’s best weapon is his putter. It’s the reason why he’s been simmering of late. Strolls in for his third crack at TPC River Highlands with top 25s in four of his last five starts (preceded by a T14 at the two-man event in New Orleans). Seung-Yul Noh … We still don’t know why he called it quits after one round at Colonial, but he returned at TPC Southwind and placed T37. That relieves any doubt entering his sixth appearance at TPC River Highlands where he’s never missed a cut and has averaged 68.90 with a pair of top 20s. Beau Hossler … It was just a matter of time, and sooner than later at that, before he was going to make noise again in PGA TOUR-sanctioned competition. Last week’s runner-up finish on the Web.com Tour in Wichita, Kansas, secured status on that circuit for the remainder of 2017. That opens all kinds of doors, including the competitive freedom to parlay it into something special in his first look of TPC River Highlands. Ranked fourth at the Air Capital Classic in greens in regulation and ninth in scrambling. Both are keys to success this week. Fades Russell Knox … It’s been just under 11 months since he answered the winning putt with a cap throw for the record books. Alas, my confidence was greater two weeks ago in Memphis where he settled for a T37. Yet, it’s his second-best finish in the last five months. So, let the course history buffs among your competition nibble while you look elsewhere for a bite. Daniel Summerhays … Hasn’t recovered from fading to T10 at Muirfield Village to start the month, but that’s also nothing out of the ordinary for the occasional threat. He owns the same reputation at TPC River Highlands where he debuted with a solo 74th in 2011, followed with three missed cuts, and then hung up four red numbers for a T11 last year. Kevin Na … It’s too bad that his humor on social media wasn’t more obvious before I faded him outright for the U.S. Open. When watching him hack away in the fescue, it seemed like a joke, but it would have been irresponsible not to take him seriously in the absence of an obvious cue to express otherwise. Nevertheless, he’s manufactured only one top-30 finish in seven attempts at TPC River Highlands and it’s been 10 years since that. Without a strong run of form entering the week, there’s simply no reason to force him. Ryan Palmer … Given the value of confidence off the tee at Erin Hills last week, it’s an upset that he didn’t factor. Case in point, Tommy Fleetwood finished fourth with essentially the same profile of a guy who does work tee to green. Palmer can sustain form due to the confidence borne from lacing tee ball after tee ball. We’re reminded of this as he grinds through his current trough. He also hasn’t seen TPC River Highlands since 2009 and his only cut made in three starts was way back in his rookie season of 2004. Lucas Glover … Same goes for this guy. In retrospect, his proficiency tee to green should have played at Erin Hills, but he also missed the cut. It was the latest of three substandard efforts since a T6 at THE PLAYERS. With a 1-for-4 slate at TPC River Highlands since 2012, we can leave him alone this week. Byeong Hun An … Really liked his fit at Erin Hills but he missed the cut. Now that he has to throttle back in his debut at TPC River Highlands, it’s time to abstain. Returning to Competition Padraig Harrington … As promised, he’s returning from an injury suffered when an amateur clocked him in the left elbow during a corporate outing two weeks ago. The three-time major champion required stitches. He alerted followers on Twitter on June 16 that he’s “on track to play” the Travelers. TPC River Highlands has been good to him, so there’s an element of bewaring the injured golfer in play. However, even with just one missed cut in seven appearances, gamers don’t need to roll the dice given his recent brush with bad luck. Nicholas Lindheim … Back in action after an illness knocked him out of the FedEx St. Jude Classic after an opening 76. The PGA TOUR rookie is just 7-for-14 with one top 25. He’s 175th in the FedExCup standings. Notable WDs Si Woo Kim … Proven big-stage performer placed T13 at Erin Hills. His early exit from the Travelers is his third such decision of the season (Sony, Byron Nelson) to go with five mid-tournament withdrawals. If only he could stay healthy, he just might be eclipsing the crazy numbers he put up as a rookie in 2015-16. Power Rankings Recap – U.S. Open Sleepers Recap – U.S. Open Birthdays among active golfers on the PGA TOUR June 20 … Charles Howell III (38) June 21 … Matt Kuchar (39); William McGirt (38); Russell Knox (32); Sangmoon Bae (31); Julian Etulain (29) June 22 … Dustin Johnson (33) June 23 … Roberto Castro (32) June 24 … none June 25 … John Rollins (42) June 26 … Colt Knost (32)

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In his first extensive interview since his February car crash, Tiger Woods said his hope is to return to competitive golf, but that he never expects to compete again at the highest level, “and I understand it, and I accept it.”

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