Fantasy golf advice: One & Done, Travelers Championship

Brandt Snedeker shot a 5-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead in the Houston Open, the first domestic PGA Tour event to have fans since the Players Championship on March 12.

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THE PLAYERS Championship returns to TPC Sawgrass after 2020's unprecedented cancellation after the first round due to the emerging coronavirus pandemic. Dustin Johnson - the reigning FedExCup champion and current world No. 1 - leads a field that includes 29 of the top 30 in the current FedExCup standings and 49 of the world's top 50. With no champion crowned last year, Rory McIlroy - who would go on to win the FedExCup for the second time after winning THE PLAYERS in 2019 - will look to defend his title from two years ago. FIELD NOTES: There will be 113 PGA TOUR winners teeing it up at TPC Sawgrass, tied for most of any tournament since the 2000 RBC Heritage... The only golfer not in the top 50 in the world who will not play is Matthew Wolff... Other golfers who were eligible but will not play include Zac Blair, Bud Cauley, and two-time PLAYERS Champion Tiger Woods... Ten past PLAYERS winners are in the field... The field accounts for 24 of the last 25 major titles, excluding only Woods' 2019 Masters victory... Jerry Kelly tees it up after winning the Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS in 2020... Will Zalatoris will make his PLAYERS debut after his marked climb up the Official World Golf Ranking. Zalatoris, who still leads the Korn Ferry Tour Regular Season Points List, is 47th in the OWGR. FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 600 FedExCup points. COURSE: TPC Sawgrass (Stadium), 7,189 yards, par 72. There will be a minimized fan footprint compared to years past due to COVID-19 precautions, but the iconic TOUR venue, which went through some renovations in 2016, will again provide a tough test to the best golfers in the world. This is set to be the first PLAYERS Championship completed since the passing of the course’s famed architect, Pete Dye. STORYLINES: The winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard will earn the final spot in the field if he is not already eligible... Hideki Matsuyama shot a 9-under 63 in the first round of 2020 - tying the tournament record - before cancellation. ... No golfer has won THE PLAYERS in back-to-back years, a streak that will continue in 2021, with no tournament completed in 2020... Since 2000, more than half the winners at TPC Sawgrass have been international, including four of the last six... The TOUR Policy Board amended the eligibility for THE PLAYERS to include the Top 125 Finishers from the 2019-20 FedExCup Points List, which bumped the field from its usual 144 to 154. 72-HOLE RECORD: 264, Greg Norman (1994). 18-HOLE RECORD: 63, Fred Couples (3rd round, 1992), Greg Norman (1st round, 1994), Roberto Castro (1st round, 2013), Martin Kaymer (1st round, 2014); Jason Day (1st round, 2016); Colt Knost (2nd round, 2016); Webb Simpson (2nd round, 2018); Brooks Koepka (4th round, 2018). LAST TIME: Darkness halted the first round in 2020 with a few players still out on the course prior to the event being cancelled that night. Hideki Matsuyama fired a 9-under 63 to tie the tournament record, while Harris English, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, and former PLAYERS Champion Si Woo Kim shot 65. Rory McIlory won the 2019 PLAYERS by one over Jim Furyk. HOW TO FOLLOW (All times ET) Television: Thursday-Friday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 1 p.m.-6 p.m. (NBC) PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m. (Featured Groups), 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (Featured Holes), 6:40 a.m.-8 p.m. (Every Shot Live). Saturday, 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m. (Featured Groups), 12 p.m.-6 p.m. (Featured Holes), 7:50 a.m.-8 p.m. (Every Shot Live). Sunday, 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m. (Featured Groups), 12 p.m.-6 p.m. (Featured Holes), 7:50 a.m.-6 p.m. (Every Shot Live) Radio: Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio). TOURCast: Get shot-by-shot info in real time with shot tracks and video with TOURCast. TOUR Pulse: Get the PGA TOUR app to utilize TOUR Pulse, which provides users the ability to experience a mix of content, such as video highlights, written hole summaries and stat graphics on every player after every hole they complete.

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Our guys take very different directions for the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba, but both have merit because of the construct and quality of the field. Pick your poison. So as not to generate confusion, only their TOURNAMENT picks as presented on the interface at the time they filed are provided below. Like you, they are unaware of which bets will be offered in ROUND 1 and beyond. Register for PGA TOUR Pick ‘Em Live here and monitor Rob’s and Glass’ progress as Influencers. For a broader explanation of the format and FAQs, click here. TOURNAMENT TO WIN Rob … Brendon Todd (+4000) When a favorite wins, I’ve been left behind. This happened (again) last week in Bermuda where had I opened with Seamus Power at +2000 like the majority (I got him at just +185 late on Sunday), I’d have finished inside the top 10 overall. So, perhaps the final piece of this puzzle is to stop reaching because we can and compromise with a pick more likely to convert. The field at Mayakoba is considerably deeper than the one that Power – I’m going for it, you know me – overpowered, so there’s a greater likelihood that a similarly strong week with 3-balls – and 2-balls if offered – won’t require the favorite to fare better. Yet, I’m tickled by the value of this kickback for the 2019 champion of the tournament. He’s added a T8 and a T11 since, and his scoring average in his last dozen rounds around the place is sub-67. So, I’ll start here, but I plan to finish here, too. Glass … Danny Lee (+20000) Saddling up a HORSE FOR COURSE on one of his favorite venues. Recent form suggests 200-1 is just about right, but the light goes on when he lands at Mayakoba. Start on the fringes and work your way back to the chalk as the event moves forward. TOP USA PLAYER Glass … Aaron Wise (+1800) Going a bit more conservative here as I don’t have time all weekend to wait for windows to open or close. Wise has gone close here before and he’s teeing it up for the seventh time. He’s won a shootout before (Trinity Forest) where 23-under was required to win. T6 last time out at Congaree. Should have the flight plan for takeoff. Rob … Brendon Todd (+2500) Sure, I could hedge, but doubling down on my outright is more fun. Despite this mild kickback, 10 other Yanks open with shorter odds. So, because the board is relatively flat, those who win the direct deposit likely will have connected with this prop. Remember, only the outright stays open during competition. If this bet opens, it would be late in the evening and during the overnight hours in North America. TOP 10 Glass … David Lipsky (+1000) Two top 10s in 2022, both on paspalum. One was at Vidanta, a Greg Norman design just like El Camaleón. The other was at Corales. Sweet spot at age 34. Here’s where the gambling begins as we need to be on our toes to catch the window as the event rolls on. If necessary, of course. Rob … Brendon Todd (+400) It’s not customary to bury a link to my Power Rankings this deep on the page on which I’ve endorsed Todd throughout, but it’s most relevant to direct you to it here. Why? Well, he’s No. 8 in it and I’m more likely to stick with this bet than I am Top USA Player if that unlocks. NOTE: While Glass and Rob typically stick with their selections as detailed in Pick ‘Em Preview, they are allowed the right to make changes at any time. Responsible sports betting starts with a game plan. Set a budget. Keep it social. Play with friends. Learn the game and know the odds. Play with trusted, licensed operators. CLICK HERE to learn more at HaveAGamePlan.org.

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