Emergency 9: Fantasy advice for the Genesis Open

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There’s been some confusion over the bonus points in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO for golfers who have lost in playoffs this season. This emerged as a narrative following Billy Horschel’s victory over Jason Day at the AT&T Byron Nelson on Sunday. Bonus points for all golfers who qualify for a playoff are calculated based on the winner’s haul. So, both Horschel and Day banked 50 bonus points last week. This is different than the One & Done in which actual FedExCup points are measured. It can sometimes take a day or even two for the fantasy platform to reflect bonuses, but everything across all three games is almost always updated by the time each turns over every Tuesday. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO My roster for the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational (in alphabetical order): Jason Dufner Zach Johnson Kevin Kisner Marc Leishman Pat Perez Jordan Spieth You’ll find my starters in Expert Picks. Others to consider for each category (in alphabetical order): Scoring: Blayne Barber; Bud Cauley; Tony Finau; Adam Hadwin; Charley Hoffman; Sung Kang; Chris Kirk; Danny Lee; Phil Mickelson; Jon Rahm; Brandt Snedeker; Chris Stroud Driving: Paul Casey; Tony Finau; Lucas Glover; Emiliano Grillo; Adam Hadwin; Billy Horschel; William McGirt; Jon Rahm; Chris Stroud Approach: Blayne Barber; Paul Casey; Lucas Glover; Chris Kirk; Jon Rahm; Webb Simpson Short: Blayne Barber; Adam Hadwin; Sung Kang; Chris Kirk; Phil Mickelson; Brandt Snedeker Power Rankings Wild Card Phil Mickelson … It’s hard to believe that it’s been nine years since he overpowered Colonial en route to victory. He didn’t defend his title in 2009 because it coincided with his wife’s breast cancer diagnosis. Lefty did return in 2010 and missed the cut. This week’s appearance is his first since. He’s as reliable as ever, striding in with 14 consecutive cuts made, but round-to-round inconsistency continues to get the better of him. The course won’t look much different than when he last teed it up, so invest with confidence in this his 15th appearance in the tournament. Draws Charley Hoffman … A rather easy endorsement for the 40-year-old. He’s 8-for-8 at Colonial with three top 20s since 2012. While he’s never broken par in a final round, his overall scoring average here is 69.29 (in 31 rounds). Consistent run of form of late includes a T5 in New Orleans where he teamed with Nick Watney. Hoffman ranks 42nd in strokes gained: tee-to-green and 31st in birdie-or-better percentage. Webb Simpson … The 31-year-old continues to engage in a tug of war with his equity in our world. He’s doing right by full-season gamers, but the hit-and-miss act wears thin with DFSers and others in weekly formats. For all of the reasons to support and discourage you in any given week, I’ll hang my visor on the fact that he’s comfortable at Colonial. Last year’s consistent T3 was his first top 10 since the anchoring ban went into effect, but the course rewards precision on approach more than putting. He ranks ninth in proximity to the hole and 20th in strokes gained: tee-to-green. Danny Lee … Fulfilled last week’s expectation with a T5. (He finished T18 at last year’s AT&T Byron Nelson.) For the week, he ranked T2 in greens hit and ninth in proximity. Our hopes remain high given his perfect record in four tries at Colonial that includes top 25s in the last two editions and an overall scoring average of 68.81. Lucas Glover … Course history buffs will be deterred. Let them. He hasn’t finished better than T40 in his last seven tries at Colonial, but the 37-year-old has been a gem almost all season. Sits third on TOUR in ball-striking and 13th in adjusted scoring. Nick Taylor … Purring along with top 10s in his last two starts and top 25s in each of his last four individual competitions, so he’s poised to record a personal best at Colonial where he’s 2-for-3 with a T27 in 2015 and a T47 in 2016. Tony Finau … Split the fairway with last week’s projection (T13) and it’s time to lace another one down the middle. Perfect in both prior trips to Colonial with a T19 in 2015 topping to two. Ranks fourth in strokes gained: off-the-tee, greens in regulation and strokes gained: tee-to-green. Paul Casey … Among the throng that rarely lets us down. I write and say that a lot, but it can never be overemphasized in our world. Top 25s in each of his last four starts and six in his last seven. Boasting a ridiculous combination of ranking 10th in greens in regulation and fifth in scrambling, so it remains fair to wonder why he doesn’t win more often. Currently 18th in adjusted scoring. Making his fifth start at Colonial. The more recent of his pair of top 15s occurred in 2010 (T13). Emiliano Grillo … Second appearance (T55, 2016). Just one missed cut this season, so he’s been a nice complement throughout. Slots T46 in greens hit and 24th in strokes gained: tee-to-green. William McGirt … It’s always curious how a golfer performs the week before he’s poised to defend his first PGA TOUR title. Compartmentalizing can be easier said than done, but the 37-year-old has been enjoying his craft especially lately. It’s clear that he’s in a great place mentally. After a masterful opening 69 at Augusta National (that set the stage for a T22), he placed T3 at Harbour Town with four sub-70s. In his last start, he hung up another T22 at TPC Sawgrass where he opened with 67 that included two eagle-3s on the back nine. His taut tee-to-green has contributed to that success, but it’s also mattered at Colonial where he’s 5-for-6. His best finish is a T21 in 2014. Fades James Hahn … Just like everyone else, I get “feelings” about a certain golfer on a certain track at a certain time. Unlike almost everyone else, I need to quantify said confidence for the purposes of my profession. It’s not as easy as it sounds, choosing to omit a golfer because the data doesn’t support the feeling. This was my dilemma with him last week. He had enough course success to perhaps label him as a flier, but nothing more. At the same time it was hard for me to watch him flourish and finish third given my feeling, it was equally as rewarding that my feeling was accurate. (If that happened more often, we’d make space for clairvoyance, but I still wanted to acknowledge the phenomenon.) Moving along, intellectually we see that third-place finish as his only top 25 in a full-field event in 2017 and an 0-for-3 record at Colonial. Thus his slot in this section as we turn the page. Jason Kokrak … If not for a career-low 62 in the second round of the AT&T Byron Nelson, he wouldn’t have generated the buzz that catches our attention this week. After that brilliant round staked him to a five-shot lead, he coughed it away with a third-round 72 before finishing alone in fourth place. The weekend extended his drought without a red number post-cut to eight consecutive rounds. Just five missed cuts in 17 starts this season, but continue to limit him to full-season formats. Harris English … If he’s going to reconnect with form, it’ll come out of nowhere even more than last year’s runner-up performance was a surprise. During his first five seasons with a PGA TOUR card, he averaged 21.8 cuts made and survived at least 20 in each. This season, he’s just 8-for-17 with two top 25s, neither of which in his last 11 starts. He comes in on an 0-for-3 slide with six consecutive rounds over par. Kyle Stanley … This all depends on how you’re currently faring in your league. Because of poor course history with a scoring average of 71.60 in his last 10 competitive loops of Colonial, overall investment is likely going to fall. This sets him up as a contrarian selection based on a fantastic run of form over the last two months. He tied for fourth in his last start at TPC Sawgrass, a track gamers know requires a full bag. Bill Haas … Course success gives way to recent form, or lack thereof. He’s broken par just once in his last 10 rounds and arrives having missed three consecutive cuts for the first time since 2009! Before you dismiss that as an anomaly, consider that he went into starts at Harbour Town and TPC Sawgrass with similar records as he has at Colonial. Simply put, let him come to you before latching back on. Ryan Moore … Pretty much a repeat notice from last week when he was positioned in this section before missing the cut. Zero top 25s among four cuts made in seven appearances at Colonial. This is also his first trip in four years. Cameron Tringale … This is relative in the context that if he didn’t finish T9 at the AT&T Byron Nelson (despite a closing 72), he’d be a Draw based on a 5-for-6 record at Colonial. The rub is that he’s never landed inside the top 40 in the tournament. Full-season investors will happily ride shotgun, but weekly gamers should lean on more than just the one top-35 finish in his last nine starts upon arrival. Returning to Competition Si Woo Kim … You have hand it to him. He wasn’t resting in the long-term despite ongoing back soreness and still managed to manufacture that brilliant performance at TPC Sawgrass where he was perfect on 57 looks from six feet and in, 17 of them from outside three feet. Investing in the short-term requires roster support, so if you’re inclined, surround him with more reliable pieces as he looks to bounce back from missing the cut in his debut at Colonial last year. Notable WDs Charl Schwartzel … Withdrew during the third round of the AT&T Byron Nelson with a wrist injury. Although he didn’t reveal which wrist is hurting, he tweeted the following on Tuesday morning: “Good news on wrist, no major problems. Phisio [sic], Ice and anti inflammatory’s [sic] should make it better.” It’s a bit of déjà vu for the South African. It was just two months ago when he withdrew during the pro-am before the Valspar Championship due to a numb left wrist suffered when he was hit by the golf ball of an amateur partner, but he went on to place sixth in his title defense at Copperhead. Power Rankings Recap — AT&T Byron Nelson Sleepers Recap – AT&T Byron Nelson Birthdays among active golfers on the PGA TOUR May 23 … Steve Flesch (50) May 24 … Bill Haas (35); Mark Hubbard (28) May 25 … Rafa Cabrera Bello (33); Tom Hoge (28) May 26 … Ben Curtis (40) May 27 … none May 28 … Jeff Overton (34) May 29 … Seung-Yul Noh (26)

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What do you get after the chalk at Quail Hollow and the eraser that was TPC Sawgrass? It’s a clean slate, of course. That’s precisely how Trinity Forest in Dallas debuts as host of the AT&T Byron Nelson. As for how that translates into fantasy scoring, go into the tournament with an open mind. The most curious element concerns driving accuracy. With no rough between the native buffalo grass that frames most holes, percentages for fairways hit could be insanely high. Since PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO weighs driving over other components, fantasy scoring should follow suit, at least to a degree. Thus, avoiding zeroes on the weekend will be more important than usual. Lean first on reliable choices to make the cut, and then those who might pin the needle off the tee. With zero competitive course history, fantasy front-runners should be holding their breath. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO My roster for the AT&T Byron Nelson (in alphabetical order): Billy Horschel Beau Hossler Marc Leishman Adam Scott Jordan Spieth Jimmy Walker You’ll find my starters in Expert Picks. Others to consider for each category (in alphabetical order): Scoring: Branden Grace; Martin Laird; Keith Mitchell; Grayson Murray; Ryan Palmer Driving: Charles Howell III; Russell Knox; Martin Laird; Keith Mitchell; Ryan Palmer Approach: Russell Knox; Matt Kuchar; Martin Laird; Ryan Palmer; Scott Piercy; Johnson Wagner Short: Branden Grace; Matt Kuchar; Martin Laird; Daniel Summerhays; Johnson Wagner Power Rankings Wild Card Sergio Garcia … Well, chalk one up for the skeptics of the Nappy Factor. (Understand that it was never advertised as being foolproof.) Certainly, we can’t rule out that the experience of being a first-time father at the age of 38 with a decorated career is greater than, say, a younger up-and-comer in a similar position who is looking to establish himself (e.g. Andrew Landry). So, as the Spaniard makes just his ninth start of the season, he presents as a contrarian piece on a new course that resembles a links-style test. In other words, class is permanent, just not necessarily in the short-term. Draws Joaquin Niemann … The 19-year-old from Chile was the last cut from the Power Rankings, which says something given his nascence. We should never forget his 67-67 finish to place sixth in his play-for-pay debut at the Valero Texas Open. His DFS value will rise incrementally, so invest freely and watch what happens. Kevin Tway … He’s cashed in 13 of 19 starts this season but hasn’t connected for a top 25. That’s hard to do and the drought won’t last. He has the makeup to execute admirably in the wind – a T28 at Corales in March is a season-best-tying finish – he’s T16 on TOUR in par-5 scoring and his DFS value should be reasonable. Grayson Murray (all) Scott Piercy (all) Rory Sabbatini (DFS) Fades Hideki Matsuyama … When a talent of his ilk scuffles, the leash is long. He’s earned that benefit of the doubt. However, since returning from the injury to his wrist, a solo 19th at the Masters is his only notable result. The rub is that that’s hardly “notable” for him. Now coming off a missed cut at THE PLAYERS, just his second MC in 15 months. Brandt Snedeker … Unfortunately, he’s rapidly drifted into the bin populated only by long-term values. The positive spin is that he could be on sale for full-season salary gamers in 2018-19 because he’s fully exempt through next season, but that this narrative has emerged at all is the overlying concern. Aaron Wise … This isn’t a knock inasmuch as it’s a “let’s see that again.” His co-runner-up finish at Quail Hollow two weeks ago cemented his card for next season, but it’s his only top 10 as a rookie in 17 starts. It also was his first top 30 in eight starts. There are larger question marks on the board at Trinity Forest, including the course itself, but the 21-year-old presents as a complementary option at best and not universally by format. Harris English Bill Haas J.B. Holmes Anirban Lahiri Kevin Na Returning to Competition Steve Marino … Walked off Quail Hollow during his second round of the Wells Fargo Championship. An explanation wasn’t released. He’s 1-for-3 with a T68 at the Valero Texas Open in his return to the PGA TOUR. Still has seven starts remaining on his Major Medical Extension, but hasn’t sustained the same form with which he resumed competition on the Web.com Tour earlier this year. David Berganio, Jr. … Due to ongoing issues with his back, the 49-year-old hasn’t pegged it on the PGA TOUR since 2009, but he still has seven starts to burn via a medical extension in the reshuffle category. He’s 0-for-2 on the Web.com Tour in 2018. Arguably best known among long-time observers as the playoff victim to Phil Mickelson in the 2002 CareerBuilder Challenge. Bob Estes … Withdrew after just one round of the Wells Fargo Championship due to allergies, which is nothing new to the 52-year-old. He’s scheduled to compete in this week’s Regions Tradition on the PGA TOUR Champions. Thanks to a new provision affecting the 50-and-older crowd, he won’t be losing a start on his Major Medical Extension on the PGA TOUR even though he’d have cracked the field at the AT&T Byron Nelson on merit because the Regions Tradition is a major. So, he’ll still have three starts on the medical when he reappears on the main circuit. Notable WDs Chesson Hadley … Collected his eighth six-figure paycheck of the season with a T11 at THE PLAYERS and sits 17th in the FedExCup standings. He’s a gold mine, not to mention a terrific example of grit and self-belief. Brice Garnett … He was due for rest. His breakthrough victory at Corales yielded an exemption into THE PLAYERS, which was his fifth consecutive start. Everything henceforth is gravy for full-season investors. Congratulations. Chez Reavie … It’s been over three months now since he recorded a top 25 on his own ball, but an electric start to the season has him positioned at 23rd in FedExCup points, so he can afford to be choosy. Steve Stricker … Acknowledged on the weekend at THE PLAYERS (where he finished T23) that he’d be a last-minute decision to stick with this commitment or return to the PGA TOUR Champions for the Regions Tradition – the first of five majors on that circuit. At second in Schwab Cup earnings, you can understand his motivation, but his tug of war between tours is going to be an ongoing “nice problem to have.” Trey Mullinax … You know we’re in the heart of the season when a golfer with conditional status opts out of any tournament. That means that playing time is no longer a concern. At 71st in the FedExCup standings, regaining fully exempt status for next season isn’t, either. Whee Kim … After a strong fall to secure his job for 2018-19, he’s banked only 25 FedExCup points in his last 14 starts, making it all but impossible to endorse in any format when he does lace it up. Power Rankings Recap – THE PLAYERS Championship Power Ranking Golfer Result 1 Jason Day T5 2 Justin Thomas T11 3 Rickie Fowler MC 4 Rory McIlroy MC 5 Henrik Stenson T23 6 Zach Johnson T75/MDF 7 Patrick Reed T41 8 Webb Simpson Win 9 Justin Rose T23 10 Ian Poulter T11 11 Francesco Molinari MC 12 Dustin Johnson T17 13 Kyle Stanley MC 14 Jordan Spieth T41 15 Louis Oosthuizen MC 16 Sergio Garcia 70th 17 Chesson Hadley T11 18 Adam Hadwin T57 19 Jon Rahm T63 20 Hideki Matsuyama MC Wild Card Phil Mickelson MC Sleepers Recap – THE PLAYERS Championship Golfer Result Branden Grace T46 Russell Henley MC Chris Kirk T46 Russell Knox MC Luke List MC Grayson Murray T30 Rory Sabbatini T30 Cameron Smith MC Steve Stricker T23 Birthdays among active golfers on the PGA TOUR May 15 … none May 16 … Bo Van Pelt (43); Derek Ernst (28) May 17 … Jason Gore (44); Søren Kjeldsen (43); Hunter Mahan (36); Andrew Yun (27) May 18 … none May 19 … K.J. Choi (48) May 20 … Branden Grace (30) May 21 … Stewart Cink (45); Gary Woodland (34); John Huh (28)

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