Echavarria shoots 64 again to lead Zozo by 2

2019 Wyndham Championship, End of Round 2. Top 10 win probabilities: Byeong Hun An (1, -13, 20.4%) Webb Simpson (T3, -11, 15.2%) Paul Casey (T9, -10, 7.8%) Brice Garnett (2, -12, 7.2%) Sungjae Im (T3, -11, 5.9%) Josh Teater (T3, -11, 3.7%) Mackenzie Hughes (T3, -11, 3.7%) Adam Svensson (T3, -11, 2.9%) Rory Sabbatini (T12, -9, 2.8%) Jordan Spieth (T12, -9, 2.4%) FedExCup Probabilities (notables): (shown is starting rank, name, current position, probability) 123. Munoz (T53): 79% 129. Kizzire (T3): 69% 126. Cook (T39): 38% 122. Perez (MC): 37% 134. Stefani (T19): 33% 125. Noren (T68): 29% 132. Landry (T27): 28% 127. Werenski (T68): 16% 131. Berger (T68): 13% 165. Teater (T3): 11% NOTE: These reports are based off the live predictive model run by @DataGolf. The model provides live “Make Cut�, “Top 20�, “Top 5�, and “Win� probabilities every 5 minutes from the opening tee shot to the final putt of every PGA TOUR event. Briefly, the model takes account of the current form of each golfer as well as the difficulty of their remaining holes, and probabilities are calculated from 20K simulations. To follow live finish probabilities throughout the remainder of Wyndham Championship, or to see how each golfer’s probabilities have evolved from the start of the event to the current time, click here for the model’s home page.

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A year after THE PLAYERS Championship returned to March, it will be possible for your experience as a viewer to match up with the Power Rankings. RELATED: Featured Groups | Pete Dye: The genius who loathed plans | Hotspot: The best moments on No. 17 See, for the first time in PGA TOUR history, every stroke by every golfer in the field will be captured on camera. “Every Shot Liveâ€� includes shot trails, ShotLink measurements and other visuals in a robust presentation. To prep you for that unprecedented offering, all 144 in the field at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass are slotted below. Beneath the final section are the usual details on the course, what it takes to prevail and much more. Enjoy! WILD CARD Collin Morikawa … This is a nod of well-earned respect. He’s the only first-timer listed higher than Sleepers on this page. It’s not only because he’s already carved out a glowing reputation as a phenomenal ball-striker who also happens not have missed a cut in all 20 PGA TOUR starts as a professional, it’s that he’s making his debut fresh off a hard-fought T9 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. Until then, the 23-year-old hadn’t made much noise on tough tracks, although it’s no fault of his own. He just hadn’t played on many. However, on what was the hardest par 72 in a non-major in four years, he ranked fourth in total driving, T4 in greens hit and third in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green. He also paced the field in par-5 scoring. (For more on the challenges that first-timers face, scroll to DEBUTANTS below.) DRAWS With the treatment of a full-field Power Rankings, Draws and Fades are carried over from their usual spots in the weekly Fantasy Insider preview. (The FI will publish on Tuesday in an abridged format.) Draws are golfers worthy of strong consideration to contend. Each presents his own positive attributes to be included. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (# – second appearance) Matthew Fitzpatrick Louis Oosthuizen Sergio Garcia (winner: 2008) Ian Poulter Brandt Snedeker #Abraham Ancer Kevin Kisner Tony Finau Byeong Hun An Shane Lowry Graeme McDowell SLEEPERS Limiting this grouping to the customary five in a full-field Power Rankings is unreasonable, so the smattering consists of 17. (The usual criteria used to rule out Sleepers also is ignored.) Each brings firepower, phenomenal form, course success and course fit without similarly strong support from another of those identifiers. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (* – debutant; # – second appearance) #Joel Dahmen Harris English Sung Kang *Max Homa Danny Lee #Wyndham Clark Brian Harman Branden Grace Jhonattan Vegas Ryan Moore #Corey Conners *Viktor Hovland #Carlos Ortiz #J.T. Poston Emiliano Grillo *K.H. Lee Cameron Tringale TWEENERS For working purposes, golfers included here can’t be attached convincingly to another section. There are household names who deserve respect but either haven’t been performing well of late or haven’t showcased their talent at TPC Sawgrass. Others could go unrecognized walking down a crowded street and have played well consistently this year, but they haven’t checked any box to warrant that the mojo will stay alive on this course at this time. Bottom line, this is where the philosophy of second chances meets those with potential. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (* – debutant; # – second appearance) Rickie Fowler (winner: 2015) Billy Horschel *Scottie Scheffler Kevin Na #Matt Wallace Cameron Smith Paul Casey Bubba Watson Ryan Palmer Tom Hoge Russell Henley Brendon Todd Pat Perez #Adam Long *Lanto Griffin Justin Rose Chez Reavie Brooks Koepka Rafa Cabrera Bello Nick Taylor Keegan Bradley Henrik Stenson (winner: 2009) Adam Hadwin Bud Cauley Russell Knox Zach Johnson #Denny McCarthy Harold Varner III #Sam Ryder Bernd Wiesberger Andrew Landry Jim Furyk Brice Garnett Rory Sabbatini Jason Dufner Retief Goosen FADES In opposition to Draws above, every golfer in this section presents at least one compelling reason why an appearance on a Sunday leaderboard would be unexpected. Form upon arrival, course history, poor fit and known injuries all contribute to their inclusion. Note the absence of a second-time participant in the group. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (* – debutant) Danny Willett Jimmy Walker Charley Hoffman Jordan Spieth Phil Mickelson (winner: 2007) Charles Howell III Keith Mitchell Patrick Rodgers Jason Kokrak Nick Watney Si Woo Kim (winner: 2017) Matt Jones *Joaquin Niemann Lucas Glover Francesco Molinari Kevin Streelman Mackenzie Hughes Troy Merritt Scott Brown Brian Stuard Kyle Stanley C.T. Pan Martin Laird Kiradech Aphibarnrat Aaron Baddeley Scott Stallings Scott Piercy Luke List Chesson Hadley Matt Every Patton Kizzire Ryan Armour Brian Gay Vaughn Taylor J.B. Holmes Michael Thompson Peter Malnati J.J. Spaun Kevin Tway Chris Stroud Jim Herman SOPHOMORES (not ranked above) The 18 qualifiers making their second start at TPC Sawgrass will be competing to join 2017 champion Si Woo Kim as the only to prevail in the first return trip. The seven who didn’t appear above are slotted here. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence Talor Gooch Cameron Champ Mark Hubbard Andrew Putnam Tyler Duncan Aaron Wise Bronson Burgoon DEBUTANTS (not ranked above) After Jerry Pate (1982) and Hal Sutton (1983) won the first two editions of THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass, only Craig Perks (2002) has joined the club of champions who were making their debuts on the course. Of the 22 in last year’s field, four finished inside the top 25. As this phenomenon is concerned, that’s a bonanza, but there’s a rub. Eddie Pepperell, who finished T3 for the only top 10 among the newcomers, failed to qualify this year. Seven of the 19 first-timers appeared above. The remaining dozen are listed here. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence Christiaan Bezuidenhout Erik van Rooyen Sebastián Muñoz Matthew Wolff Victor Perez Nate Lashley Dylan Frittelli Adam Schenk Sam Burns Sepp Straka Jazz Janewattananond Roger Sloan Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood, Jonas Blixt, Kelly Kraft and Shugo Imahira qualified, but each is sitting out for various reasons. The 39th edition of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is the first without Pete Dye. The co-designer left us two months ago, but he was around for the tournament’s shift back to March. After a dozen editions contested in the first half of May, THE PLAYERS reclaimed its once-traditional slot on the calendar last year, but it’s as if the lion forgot to sharpen its teeth. In variable wind and conditions that deteriorated into cool air with spotty rain showers, Rory McIlroy prevailed at 16-under 272 on the stock par 72. That matched the second-lowest winning score when the event was held in May (2007-2018). Reinvention is the through line for maturity, and the best golfers in the world didn’t need much time to adapt in the era after the comprehensive renovation in advance of the 2017 edition. After the upgrades debuted at well above one stroke over par, the last two years yielded scoring averages within one-tenth of one stroke of each other despite the tournament’s two-month move in between. Last year’s fell at just 71.513. Expect a similar average again this week. No matter how any field fared, Dye took joy in the resiliency of the property in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, that he and his late wife, Alice, brought to life together 40 years ago. It’s always been a track that has rewarded guts and grit with persistent reminders that the cost of failing to execute can be multiplied. Annually it ranks among the easiest on which to bag an eagle, but the risk for some rewards can result in irreversible damage. And all of that says nothing of the unforgiving par-3 17th hole. The value of “golf shot” is so great around the Stadium Course that score isn’t so much a measurement of strokes played as it is survival graded. There’s a reason why ball-strikers prevail, experience matters and no one ever has successfully defended a title. In fact, of the last 10 defending champions, only one (Webb Simpson, T16, 2019) has recorded a top-55 finish. TifEagle bermuda greens are ready to run as long as 13 feet on the Stimpmeter. With primary rough reaching two-and-a-half inches, bunters and newcomers alike are advised to find the shortest grass off the tee. All grass is overseeded. Seasonable weather is expected throughout the week. Daytime highs will approach 80 degrees. Winds will be moderate and steady, while the threat of rain probably isn’t worth the mention. The only modifications that might be noticeable for returning participants were made around the green on the par-4 10th hole where the bunker extends closer to the putting surface and the area on the back right isn’t as penal. However, the overall yardage of the Stadium Course remains the same at 7,189 yards. Certainly, the most significant updating impacted the prize fund. It’s increase to a record of $15 million. The champion will earn $2.7 million on top of 600 FedExCup points and a five-year PGA TOUR membership exemption. 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: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Fantasy Insider * – 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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In many ways, Riley is your typical boy. Spunky. Spontaneous. Ready for anything, like catching lizards and frogs or jumping on the trampoline. So, when the 18-month-old started being a little “fussy,” his mom, Taylor Raney, says she thought he was just having one of his “moments.” And the bruises? Well, what kid doesn’t fall down or bump into something? When Riley started running a fever of 103 degrees, though, Taylor took him to a doctor who prescribed antibiotics for an ear infection. When the symptoms persisted five days later, she went to another physician, who thankfully decided to run some blood work. “I knew that 78,000 white blood cells was not normal,” recalls Taylor, who was studying to be a nurse. Within a day, Riley had been admitted to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. He had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood cancer. Riley’s grandmother, Kim Raney, remembers six doctors walking into the room to deliver the news. “I thought my heart was going to hit the ground,” says Kim, who has worked at FedEx for 33 years. “ … And then that doctor smiled at his mama and … I’m here to tell you that you will see your son’s children.” Not that the next two-and-a-half years were easy. Riley had infusions of chemotherapy at St. Jude. He also took a cocktail of drug by mouth. “We had a pharmacy on our counter basically,” Taylor recalls. There were setbacks, too; infections and fevers that sent him back to the hospital. The family nearly spent one Christmas there. But Riley is now a cancer survivor, over a year removed from his last chemotherapy treatment that brought the nurses and doctors into his room at St. Jude to sing to him and throw confetti into the air. They all signed a “No More Chemo” poster, too. On Wednesday morning during the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Riley will be the focus of another celebration, one that marks the 10th anniversary of the Purple Eagle Program. FedEx started the program to honor a St. Jude patient who is also the child or relative of one of the more than 600,000 employees of the global express transportation company. Riley is this year’s honoree, and his name has been placed under the pilot’s window on a Cessna Caravan turbojet just like the ones that FedEx uses to fly packages to smaller towns in the United States, Canada, Europe and Latin America. The plane, which was transported wingless through Memphis on I-240 and reassembled on the grounds of TPC Southwind is on display where the first event in the FedExCup Playoffs is being contested this week. All nine previous Purple Eagle recipients will be on hand as the rambunctious Riley, who enters kindergarten this year, unveils his logo. Taylor said the recognition almost validates the struggles her family of five endured. She and her husband Brennan have an older son, Brantley, who has Crohn’s disease, while the youngest, Finley, was just three weeks old when Riley was diagnosed. “I feel like that it’s extremely awesome for the company to do something like this,” Taylor said. “Not only are you honoring someone from St. Jude that’s been through a lot, but you’re also honoring your own employee who has made a huge career with you guys. I think that says a lot about your company.” The Purple Eagle program is the brainchild of Bill West Jr., the vice president of supplemental aircraft operations at FedEx Express and a 38-year employee of the company. He’d seen the delivery trucks on display at the tournament each year, and he thought having one of FedEx’s smaller delivery planes would be even more impactful. “Then the idea took root, I guess, as a way to further connect with the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and bring more awareness to the life-saving work that it does,” West said. “… And the dedication event is now 10 years strong, as we’re calling it. “And with all the 10 honorees returning for this anniversary event, it is just miraculous.” Riley is in remission now, and his family can take heart in the knowledge that about 90% of the children with ALL are cured, according to the St. Jude website. But some of the past Purple Eagle honorees, like 23-year-old Allie Allen, whose plane was dedicated in 2014, are still battling. She was 14 when she started having focal seizures. Allie said it was like she “spaced out” for a minute. She could hear and see everything, but she just couldn’t react. An EEG revealed seizure activity on the right side of her brain, and MRI showed a tumor the size of a golf ball. Doctors thought it was benign due to the circular shape, so the eighth-grader went with her dance team to a national competition, which they won. She returned to the reality of an eight-hour surgery and the news that the tumor was cancerous. She had 33 rounds of brain radiation at St. Jude before returning to high school. Three months later, she got another bad scan. “This time my whole brain lit up and there were only certain spots that were operable,” Allie said. Doctors told her she would not survive the assault and suggested she do the things on her bucket list while they considered treatment options. So, Allie and her family went to Disney World. When she returned and had another scan, her brain was completely clean. She says her doctors still can’t explain it. Her neurologist came to see her, crying, because it’s such a miracle that happened, Allie says. “Have you ever been to St. Jude before,” asks Allie who hopes to work in fundraising for the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities that support St. Jude. “I like to call it the Disney World of hospitals because it’s such a different atmosphere. It’s honestly amazing. They have this thing called the Alphabet Wall and it’s the ABCs of cancer that each patient writes their own letter, and my letter was letter for miracle. “It’s still up there.” But when Allie was 15, she was diagnosed with another brain tumor. Surgery followed, along with another 33 rounds of full brain and spine radiation. She lost her ability to walk and eat for a time. Doctors told her she probably wouldn’t be alive for her high school graduation. “I just graduated college,” says the Ole Miss alum proudly. “So, it truly is a miracle that I’m still here today and I’m getting married in December, too. I’m hitting all these big milestones that nobody ever thought I would be alive for.” Her fiancée is Parker Fleming, and as luck would have it, he happens to work in the IT department at FedEx. Allie still has a small tumor in her brain, as well as a cyst right next to it. There has been minimal growth for the past five or six years, though, and the doctors at St. Jude are in what she calls a “watch and waiting process.” She still has digestive issues from where the radiation burned through her stomach and suffers from alopecia that has nothing to do with the cancer. While treating Allie, the doctors at St. Jude have identified five new types of brain cancer. She is one of seven people in the world with hers, which they call a high grade neuroepithelial tumor MN1. There is no treatment yet, but the phenomenal St. Jude researchers are working to find one just as they follow Riley’s progress every year. Allie remembers feeling like a princess the day her plane was dedicated. Her father, who is a pilot at FedEx, was the one who got to tell her she was going to be a Purple Eagle honoree. “I was so excited,” she says. “… I love going every year and meeting all the new patients who are blessed to have their name on a plane as well, but also the fact that all of us are still alive is amazing.” Riley’s grandmother, the woman he calls Maw-Maw, started working at FedEx in the mail room, then moved to accounts receivable and later worked as a courier for 25 years. She now works as a dispatcher for FedEx’s massive fleet of delivery trucks. Kim was still learning the ropes of her most recent position when Riley got sick. She got the news he was headed to St. Jude at 10 p.m. on a Friday. One of her co-workers told her he’d cover her shift the next day. Her supervisor told her to go and be with her family and take as long as she needed. “I couldn’t have done it without my co-workers – that’s a fact,” says Kim, who, along with her husband, Dale, took care of Riley’s brothers while he was in the hospital. One of those co-workers encouraged Kim to submit an application for the Purple Eagle program. Her granddaughter, Maya, who has sickle cell disease, was the 2018 recipient. So, Kim filled out the form but promptly forgot about it until West came to a meeting to give her the news. “I just sat there because it went straight over my head,” Kim says. “I mean, everybody was looking at me, like how can you not be jumping up and down. … And I looked at my coworker and I said, did he just say, Riley? She said, Kim, yes, he did, and everybody started laughing.” Like her daughter-in-law, Kim was overwhelmed by the caring people at St. Jude, as well as its positive atmosphere. She said the first time she went to the hospital “it was like, oh my God. I felt like I was at home. I can’t explain it, … “You almost felt guilty from all the kindness,” Kim says, thinking about the homemade masks and blankets, even the food vouchers for the family which was never billed for Riley’s treatment. “You’re just kind of like, what can I do to pay y’all back?” The way Kim sees it, FedEx and St. Jude is a match made in heaven. “These are two of the world-renowned names,” she says. “People from all over the world come to St. Jude. But then what people don’t realize — and I’ve learned this from being a courier and being in dispatch now with trucks — people don’t realize what FedEx does for the world. “From medical supplies all over the world, the trucks that we take all over the United States for relief from hurricanes, tornadoes or fires, the truckloads of medical supplies that we send and the airplanes that we charter to fly stuff all over the world. “St. Jude and FedEx — that can’t be a better partnership.” West is thrilled to see how the Purple Eagle program has endured. He loves getting to know the recipients, and one of his favorite memories is of the first honoree, McKaylee. She had a rare and malignant brain tumor and wasn’t expected to live past 5 but she’s now 15 years old. Fredrick Smith, the founder of FedEx, was among those in attendance at the dedication that year. “She jumped up in his arms and said, ‘Thank you for my airplane,’” West remembers. That just about says it all, doesn’t it? FedEx Purple Eagle recipients For more infomation on FedEx Purple Eagle recipients click here.

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