Arnaus wins in Catalunya after dramatic playoff

The grand prize was $1 million for a reason. The game is really, really, really hard. No one in the Perfect Lineup Challenge guessed all four of the top scorers at THE NORTHERN TRUST – Bryson DeChambeau (611 points), Tony Finau (462), Billy Horschel (417) and Cameron Smith (414) – so the grand prize will not be rewarded. No one connected on even three. Fifty-six gamers hit on two. The contest doesn’t end, though. Runner-up prizes are still there for the taking. The gamer who scores the most fantasy points throughout the four events of the FedExCup Playoffs will win a driver. He or she with the second-most points will win a putter. All six of your picks contribute to your total. This week’s Dell Technologies Championship is the last tournament of 2017-18 with a cut, so every gamer in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO is poised to score in all four rounds in the last two. Other than the usual objective to get four to the weekend, the most challenging component in Segment 4 has been rationing starts. This goes for front-runners, too, because quadrupled FedExCup bonuses can make such a big difference in the Playoffs. It’s a race to the finish line regardless of your ranking. Cycle through the chalk freely. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO My roster for the Dell Technologies Championship (in alphabetical order): Jason Day Tony Finau Brooks Koepka Jordan Spieth Adam Scott Justin Thomas You’ll find my starters in Expert Picks. Others to consider for each category (in alphabetical order): Scoring: Bryson DeChambeau; Tommy Fleetwood; Dustin Johnson; Marc Leishman; Phil Mickelson; Ryan Palmer; Jon Rahm; Justin Rose; Cameron Smith; Tiger Woods Driving: Keegan Bradley; Rafa Cabrera Bello; Patrick Cantlay; Paul Casey; Bryson DeChambeau; Tommy Fleetwood; Billy Horschel; Justin Rose; Gary Woodland Approach: Keegan Bradley; Rafa Cabrera Bello; Paul Casey; Joel Dahmen; Bryson DeChambeau; Dustin Johnson; Russell Knox; Kevin Na; Tiger Woods Short: Bryson DeChambeau; Branden Grace; Billy Horschel; Dustin Johnson; Phil Mickelson; Kevin Na; Justin Rose; Webb Simpson; Cameron Smith Power Rankings Wild Card Marc Leishman … Finds himself in a curious position. Since he started his season with a playoff loss at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, the Aussie pretty much has known that he’ll be able to defend his title at next week’s BMW Championship. Currently 24th in points, it will be a reality, but he’s been a lot more miss than hit of late. Top 15s at the Quicken Loans National and the WGC-Bridgestone are his only top 30s of the last three months. Last year’s solo third at TPC Boston ended a three-year drought without a top 45 on the course. Bottom line, we know who he is, so invest in the baseline contribution. Lining him up as a complement in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO is advised. Draws Tiger Woods … Gamers who are paying attention might sound like a redundancy in terms, but there is no longer shock among the loyal contingent when he doesn’t appear in the Power Rankings. He’ll never be just another golfer in the mainstream, but our results-based enterprise requires more for us to think differently. This explains why he continues to epitomize the greatest chasm between reality and fantasy. He has a phenomenal record at TPC Boston what with a win (in 2006), two T2s and a solo third, but this is his first look at the track in five years. Those who aren’t invested likely will think that it’s foolish to label him as a contrarian choice, but that’s exactly how he sets up this week. Webb Simpson … He’s been a machine so he defaults into this grouping, and while he’s a former winner at TPC Boston (2011), this actually is a good week to turn him off and save him for the last two events. At ninth in FedExCup points, he’ll be at Aronimink and East Lake. Charley Hoffman … Some seasons don’t make sense. He’s 18-for-24 with eight top 20s, three of which in majors and one at the WGC-Mexico Championship. He’s also fresh off a T20 at THE NORTHERN TRUST, yet he’s fighting for his Playoffs life at 75th in points thanks in part to the absence of a top 10. He didn’t appear in Sleepers because he’s all but a slam-dunk to advance. Winner at TPC Boston in 2010 with a solo third in 2015 are supportive, but this endorsement attaches entirely to his long-range form. Cameron Smith … Ah, the value of grinding out cuts made. After a dreadful three months, the Aussie connected four paydays over five weeks. Then, in his first start as a 25-year-old, he scaled to register a T3 at THE NORTHERN TRUST where he was firing on all cylinders. He’s proven to be streaky in his young career, so have no fear in doubling down at TPC Boston. Louis Oosthuizen … Responded favorably from his 11th-hour withdrawal at the PGA Championship (due to a sore back) with a faded T28 at Ridgewood. With a series of strong results both before it and in all four showings at TPC Boston, he’s built for gamers who need a swing for the fence. Keegan Bradley (all) Rafa Cabrera Bello (all) Tyrrell Hatton (DFS) Zach Johnson (DFS) Ryan Palmer (all) Ian Poulter (DFS) Fades Bubba Watson … Within the construct that he’s played well at multiple sites where he has in the past – three victories on the season ain’t too shabby – there is the lament that he also has failed to deliver when similarly expected. Just two paydays in his last five starts upon arrival, neither of which going for a top 30, and only one top 25 at TPC Boston (T16, 2011) during the FedExCup era. Jimmy Walker … Still scuffling, but that implies the acceptable higher expectation given he started 2018 with residual concern over his illness. At 68th in points, a top 25 ought to be enough to advance, but he’s gone three months without one. Alex Noren … Uncharacteristically struggling as Ryder Cup qualifying also comes to a conclusion, there’s simply no reason to reach right now. Daniel Berger Brian Gay Brian Harman Charles Howell III Kevin Kisner Matt Kuchar Returning to Competition Brandt Snedeker … The annual conversation regarding the beat-up and beleaguered spiked in recent weeks. Therein lies the irony surrounding the winner of the Wyndham Championship who sat out last week’s opener at Ridgewood due to back spasms after missing the Playoffs entirely last year due to the strange injury in his sternum joint. He earned more breathing room this year as he’s 35th in the FedExCup standings, but even if he acknowledges that he’s 100 percent upon arrival at TPC Boston, it’s been six years since he recorded a top 40 on the course. Henrik Stenson … The 42-year-old Swede suffered the injury to his left elbow at a tough time. He always just creeps over the threshold of 15 starts to retain voting and membership privileges, but he needs the Dell Technologies Championship to check that box this season. The T20 in his title defense at Sedgefield was impressive both in result and commitment amid the malady. Then there’s the impact on us at TPC Boston where he prevailed in 2013 and finished second in 2015. He’s finished outside the top 25 in his other three starts, so he’s hardly an automatic, but caution is required as he pushes the elbow. At this point, a Ryder Cup berth would be a bonus. Currently 55th in FedExCup points. Notable WDs Francesco Molinari … After missing the cut at Ridgewood, he slipped five spots to 13th in points. With the surety to advance to the TOUR Championship and with the Ryder Cup immediately thereafter, this is a well-timed break. Rickie Fowler … As suggested in this space last week, the oblique injury is serious. It’s forcing him to take another week off. At 22nd in points, he’s likely safe to qualify for the TOUR Championship, but he’s not a lock. His lead over Luke List at 31st is 191.277 FedExCup points. Eighteenth place at TPC Boston is worth 196 points. A year ago, Henrik Stenson ranked 22nd entering the Dell Technologies Championship and didn’t play. His lead over Billy Horschel (31st) was 206.857 points, and Stenson dropped to only 26th. Power Rankings Recap – THE NORTHERN TRUST Power Ranking  Golfer  Result 1  Dustin Johnson  T11 2  Justin Thomas  T8 3  Brooks Koepka  T8 4  Webb Simpson  T28 5  Justin Rose  MC 6  Francesco Molinari  MC 7  Tiger Woods  T40 8  Jason Day  T20 9  Jon Rahm  MC 10  Jordan Spieth  T25 11  Patrick Reed  T25 12  Brandt Snedeker  DNP 13  Rafa Cabrera Bello  T60 14  Patrick Cantlay  T8 15  Zach Johnson  T40 16  Adam Scott  T5 17  Tony Finau  2nd 18  Tommy Fleetwood  T20 19  Hideki Matsuyama  T15 20  Paul Casey  T60 Wild Card  Gary Woodland  T48 Sleepers Recap – THE NORTHERN TRUST Golfer  Result Tyler Duncan  MC Martin Laird  T73 Danny Lee  T34 Sam Ryder  T28 Harold Varner III  T40 Birthdays among active golfers on the PGA TOUR August 28 … none August 29 … Carl Pettersson (41); Peter Uihlein (29) August 30 … none August 31 … Padraig Harrington (47); Charl Schwartzel (34) September 1 … none September 2 … none September 3 … none

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If the pressure isn’t palpable with only two weeks of action remaining until the field for the FedExCup Playoffs is determined, then the Barracuda Championship delivers a simplified version of the objective: Score the most points! Modified Stableford scoring is used for the 10th consecutive edition of the additional event near Lake Tahoe. Old Greenwood at Tahoe Mountain Club in Truckee, California, returns as host for the second straight year. For snapshot of the course, how it tested in its debut and other details, continue reading beneath the ranking of projected contenders and others to consider. RELATED: The First Look POWER RANKINGS: BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP OTHERS TO CONSIDER • Brandon Hagy … Sends it silly distances, so the thinner air at Old Greenwood will have him converting measurements greater than most, but he fared just fine en route to a T12 last year. Recently finished T6 in Detroit and T18 in the Quad Cities. • Aaron Wise … Finished eighth here last year, which doesn’t hurt, but it’s his consistently stronger form upon arrival that supports this endorsement. He’s connected six cuts made with a pair of T9s and a T17 (PGA Championship) in the last three months. • Ryan Armour … The 45-year-old isn’t riding off into the sunset just yet. With a T5 at the Barbasol and a T6 at the 3M, he’s risen 26 spots to 117th in the FedExCup. Remains stealthily solid off the tee (third in accuracy), on approach (T16 in proximity) and on the greens (36th in Strokes Gained: Putting). The PGA TOUR finds the most exotic and envious locations to conduct its tournaments, but it’s almost cruel to host a competition of this magnitude with the picturesque backdrop of the pines, firs, cedars and other flora of Tahoe National Forest. Then again, who would expect anything different? Worst case for those who miss the cut, they’re already in a natural retreat. Old Greenwood is a par 71 with a trio of par 5s, but only one is found in the last two-thirds of the walk that extends to 7,425 yards. The 551-yard 12th hole is the last reasonable shot at eagle and five points as rewarded by the Modified Stableford format. In fact, only two of the holes on the inward side are among the seven easiest on the course, so capitalizing on Nos. 1-9 is Plan A. At least it would seem. Of 20 par breakers en route to his breakthrough victory last year, Richy Werenski converted both eagles and six of his birdies on the way in. He also squared seven bogeys (minus-1 point per) but held on for a one-point victory with 39 points. It’s the lowest aggregate since the scoring system was introduced to the Barracuda Championship in 2012. The par-5 second hole tips at 631 yards and played a fraction harder than the par-4 eighth hole capable of stretching just 357 yards. At an altitude of 6,000 feet, it’s comfortably drivable for most, evidenced by seven eagles a year ago. (No. 2 yielded only four eagles.) The par-4 11th and 16th holes list at just 345 yards and 396 yards, respectively, thus multiplying the chances throughout the tournament to think 2 off the tee. Greens average a relatively cozy 5,300 square feet but bogeys and worse aren’t as penal as birdies and better are beneficial, so an aggressive mindset is preferred, albeit with two hands on the wheel at all times and a little daylight between the bottom of the accelerator and the floorboard. ShotLink is not maintained for the tournament. The bent-Poa annua blend of grass on the greens will present a true roll amid perfect weather conditions all week, but speed is governed to 11-and-a-half on the Stimpmeter. This is in part due to the undulations on the Jack Nicklaus Signature surfaces but also winds that could gust to 25 mph. Breezes will be sustained at 10-20 mph. The 75 in the field who gave Old Greenwood a go in its debut will experience a pair of notable modifications. First, due to an enlarged tee box on the par-4 13th hole, it’s now 35 yards longer at 522 yards. The other impact is widespread throughout the property. After standing three-and-a-half inches last year, the primary rough now scales to only two inches. This is primary due to a challenging winter. The champion will receive 300 FedExCup points and a two-year membership exemption through 2022-23 (or an additional year up to five if already exempt through that season), as well as exemptions into the 2022 editions of the Sentry Tournament of Champions, THE PLAYERS Championship and the PGA Championship, but the most important task at hand is merely qualifying for the Playoffs. In truth, that is Plan A. 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: Power Rankings (WGC-St. Jude) TUESDAY*: Power Rankings (Barracuda), Sleepers (WGC-St. Jude), Fantasy Insider SUNDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesday.

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