Brooks: Feud with Bryson is ‘fair game’ this week

Take the week off, gang. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO does not include the Zurich Classic of New Orleans because of the team format. We’ll crank the game back on for next week’s Well Fargo Championship. The condensed version of this weekly column includes the staples that are most relevant. However, Wednesday’s One & Done preview will be as usual because that game never rests. You’ll want to be sure to check it out for advice on strategy, Experts’ picks and Future Possibilities for those in the field at TPC Louisiana. Power Rankings Wild Card Billy Horschel & Scott Piercy … Along with the teams of Jon Rahm/Wesley Bryan and Jason Day/Ryan Ruffels, Horschel and Piercy can be categorized as snubs in the Power Rankings and others considered (listed on that same page). The American duo presents a proper blend of course experience and success – it’s been five years now since Horschel broke through for victory with an emotional release for the ages at TPC Louisiana – with form upon arrival. Quite simply, it’s an insult to label them as a Wild Card. Returning to Competition Brooks Koepka … There are multiple layers of good news here. First, and obviously, it’s great to know that he’s ready to compete again. The 2017 U.S. Open champ has been recovering from a partially torn tendon in his left wrist since early January. When that body part is the reason for time off, gamers are prepared to spring even the most valuable of assets because the sabbatical can last months. That he’s back in play without surgery this week quickly is a coup for full-season owners who have been wringing their hands for an update. Because the Zurich Classic of New Orleans isn’t included in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, we also get a free look at him. This is not unlike how Tiger Woods gave us a peek at the Hero World Challenge in December. So, a good score is a bonus this week, but the goal is the absence of an aggravation to Koepka’s injury. He’s teamed with Marc Turnesa, a fellow resident of Jupiter, Florida. Chris Stroud … Withdrew after an opening 79 at the Valero Texas Open. An explanation wasn’t released. He’s partnered again with 2016 Zurich champ Brian Stuard, and why not. They shared 11th place in this format last year. Power Rankings Recap – Valero Texas Open Power Ranking  Golfer  Result 1  Charley Hoffman  T64 2  Brendan Steele  T30 3  Billy Horschel  T11 4  Pat Perez  MC 5  Kevin Chappell  T30 6  Luke List  MC 7  Ryan Palmer  MC 8  Ryan Moore  7th 9  Chesson Hadley  T20 10  Matt Kuchar  T51 11  Sergio Garcia  MC 12  Si Woo Kim  T45 13  Beau Hossler  T51 14  Brandt Snedeker  15th 15  Abraham Ancer  T58 Wild Card  Jimmy Walker  4th Sleepers Recap – Valero Texas Open Power Ranking  Golfer  Result Chris Kirk  T8 Nate Lashley  MC Joaquin Niemann  6th Daniel Summerhays  T58 Shawn Stefani  MC Birthdays among active golfers on the PGA TOUR April 24 … Jason Bohn (45); Jonas Blixt (34) April 25 … Kyle Thompson (39); Nick Watney (37) April 26 … J.B. Holmes (36) April 27 … none April 28 … none April 29 … Justin Thomas (25) April 30 … none

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Collin Morikawa made nine birdies Friday for a 66 and had a six-shot lead among those who finished the second round at the Workday Charity Open.

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PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Eight times this season, Sam Burns has been atop the leaderboard after every round except the one that mattered. That changed, finally, at the Valspar Championship. RELATED: Leaderboard | Winner’s Bag: Sam Burns, Valspar Championship Burns got some help from Keegan Bradley hitting into the water on the 13th hole, and then the 24-year-old from Louisiana took it from there with two big birdies that led to a 3-under 68 and a three-shot victory Sunday. Burns won for the first time on the PGA TOUR after twice failing to convert 54-hole leads in the Vivint Houston Open last fall and the Genesis Invitational at Riviera in February. The victory moves him into the top 50 in the world, 14th in the FedExCup and all but assures a spot in the U.S. Open, along with his first trip to the Masters next spring. Burns was wiping away tears when he tapped in for a meaningless bogey on the final hole, especially to see his wife, parents and other family members pour onto the green to celebrate the moment with him. “I’ve worked so hard for this moment,” Burns said. “They’ve all sacrificed so much.” He had reason to believe this moment could have come sooner. Burns wasted a good start at the season-opening Safeway Open. He closed with a 2-over 72 to tie for seventh in the Houston Open. He lost a two-shot lead at Riviera, coming up one shot short of a playoff. “Those moments in the past, you really learn a lot,” Burns said. “This week coming down the stretch, I tried to stick to our process.” Bradley and Burns were tied through 36 holes and 54 holes, and they stayed that way through 12 holes on another blistering day at the Copperhead course. That changed with one swing. Bradley came up well short on the par-3 13th and went into the water, leading to double bogey. Burns saved par with an 8-foot putt for a two-shot lead. Burns was three shots ahead through 13 holes on Saturday and he struggled to retain a share of the lead, so he knew what was possible. This time, though, Bradley had no chance. Burns followed with a wedge that stopped next to the hole for a tap-in birdie on the par-5 14th. He put Bradley away with a 7-iron to 18 feet and a birdie putt that brought the most emotion he showed all day, a hard fist slam. He had a four-shot lead with two holes to play, the water and worst hazards behind him. No one else had much of a chance. Max Homa briefly tied for the lead with a birdie on the par-5 opening hole. He didn’t make another birdie the rest of the day, missing several chances around the turn and ending his hopes with a double bogey on the par-3 15th without hitting into the water. He shot 74. Cameron Tringale was lurking but never seriously challenged. He shot 68 and shared third with Viktor Hovland, whose had a 65 but started too far back at the start of the day. Abraham Ancer (69) finished fifth. Burns built a quick two-shot lead on the front nine Sunday. Bradley answered with a pair of birdies, and then made a 15-foot birdie putt from the fringe on No. 9 to take a one-shot lead to the back nine. The final round started to take shape on the par-5 11th, both hitting wild tee shots and good escapes from the trees. Burns won the wedge contest, making a 15-footer for birdie, to tie for the lead. Bradley fell back with his double bogey and never caught up.

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