‘Best putting round ever’ lifts Molinari to Bay Hill victory

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PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO It’s impossible to know how much the weather forecast, specifically as it concerns the wind, influences fantasy decisions in this game. Because you start four and can bench only two, in any given week, you can’t avoid the concern over what projects to be a lopsided draw. You can only mitigate it. If you plan accordingly, at worst you’re in the same boat as others who take similar action. Thursday’s wind at the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational was expected to favor the early wave. Hot and windy conditions are then supposed to take over and extend into the weekend. Whether that weather shall be or if it’ll actually have an impact on scoring will be determined soon enough, but our only alternative is not to play. And that’s no fun at all. The top-10 most-owned at Colonial Country Club are split evenly in the draw, although only Jon Rahm is in the early-late among the top four. Sure enough, he opened with 4-under 66 in his tournament debut to sit one stroke off the clubhouse lead. Kevin Kisner (early-late) and Colonial member Ryan Palmer (late-early) slot outside the top 10. At 14th and 11th, respectively, they’re still well-represented, but they are surprises nonetheless, even though fewer than 10 percentage points separate Matt Kuchar in sixth (26.4 percent) and Tony Finau in 15th (16.9 percent). Others who aren’t shown below include Paul Casey (13th, 19.4 percent), William McGirt (24th, 5.8 percent), Charley Hoffman (25th, 5.3 percent), Webb Simpson (28th, 4.0 percent) and PLAYERS champion Si Woo Kim (31st, 3.5 percent). In his PGA TOUR debut, long-hitting legend Jamie Sadlowski ranks 62nd with 0.6 percent. NOTE: Rob’s Rating refers to where our Fantasy Insider slotted a golfer in his Power Rankings. Golfers in the Power Rankings and outside the top 10 in most owned. PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO Sticking with the theme introduced at the top, weather will get into the heads of gamers in this format as well. While anyone who changes his or her mind due to the unpredictable in a format in which you don’t modify your lineup during a tournament could be labeled as overreacting, it’s still a narrative for newer gamers who haven’t experienced the process. Jason Dufner crushes the competition in devotion at Colonial even though he’s in the late-early draw. However, skeptics who might say that he won’t be contending when the 36-hole cut falls can’t rule out that possibility for anyone in the field. This is precisely why weather should almost never influence decisions in this format. Sure, one side of the draw might benefit, but that will be learned only in retrospect. If you’re ever even a bit concerned, the fail-safe is to invest in a golfer who you won’t miss. Dufner certainly checks that box, but he’s still a terrific fit. Suffice it to say that all of this is much ado about virtually nothing. That Pat Perez ranks just ahead of Ryan Palmer speaks more to Perez’ extended run of fantastic form than it does a cooling on the Colonial member. With due respect to both, we’re unlikely to miss either, so that they’re a respective 2-3 in ownership percentage is sensible. They help spell notables like Jon Rahm (who’s fifth, anyway), defending champion Jordan Spieth (sixth) and Sergio Garcia (10th). The tournament’s all-time earnings leader, Zach Johnson, slots 12th at 2.6 percent. Other notables outside the top 10 include AT&T Byron Nelson champ Billy Horschel (13th, 2.6 percent), Brandt Snedeker (16th, 1.8 percent), two-time DEAN & DELUCA champion Phil Mickelson (17th, 1.4 percent) and Si Woo Kim (T21, 0.8 percent). PGA TOUR Champions One & Done presented by SERVPRO The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship has a purse of $2.8 million. That’s tied for second-most with the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship (July 13-16). The U.S. Senior Open Championship (June 29-July 2) leads the way at $3.75 million. Since earnings are used to measure performance, even though Bernhard Langer isn’t projected to disappoint us at any time, investing in the smartest opportunity is the first decision all gamers should have made before embarking on a 22-event fantasy season. It’s entirely fact over friction regarding Langer that both the Senior PGA and U.S. Senior Open feature 36-hole cuts, but it’s also convenient support for him at the no-cut SENIOR PLAYERS where his record is strongest. After all, he’s its three-time defending champion on different courses. This is why he’ll be my pick at Caves Valley Golf Club in seven weeks. This is no way begrudges the 14.0 percent of you on board at Trump National Golf Club this week. He opened with 7-under 65 to post the clubhouse lead to validate your faith. But frankly, after what he delivers in the short- and long-term, it’d have been a surprise if he didn’t burst out of the gates. You’re also on board for a run at history as he’d be the first two win all five majors on the PGA TOUR Champions with a victory this week. Notables outside the top 10 in ownership percentages include David Toms (11th, 2.3 percent), Kirk Triplett (T12, 1.9 percent), Gene Sauers (T16, 0.9 percent) and defending champion Rocco Mediate (T23, 0.5 percent).

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