Fisher, Pepperell, Herbert in tied lead at Portugal Masters

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Since there isn’t a clear-cut favorite or a horse for the course who’s in blistering form entering the Valero Texas Open, the pressure is on front-runners to keep the opposition at bay. For those of you in this position, the concern is quieted if Billy Horschel is still on your board. The veteran of eight appearances hasn’t won the tournament, but he’s earned your better judgment with a pair of third-place finishes, one fourth and a T11 among six cuts made at difficult TPC San Antonio. The key word there is difficult. Only if you’re new to the PGA TOUR are you unaware how much the former FedExCup champion relishes a challenge. It feeds his confidence off the tee where he lets others make mistakes, but he’s even better with his irons. Oh, and he’s currently eighth in Strokes Gained: Putting. As a native of Florida, Horschel is most comfortable on bermudagrass putting surfaces, even if they’re overseeded, which is the case this week. The undulations are equalizers. His experience here could be the dagger. Among all of the non-winners at TPC San Antonio, he best fits the profile of what a champion embodies. If Horschel isn’t on his game, TPC San Antonio will get annoying and quickly. Its length demands driver, but if the big stick isn’t cooperating, it’ll take all of his patience to salvage a round. This is how Greg Norman intended it. The Shark was legendary tee to green, so it’s hardly a surprise that the course that he designed reflects what he did best. If you’re in pursuit and you’re going to assume that you’re going to get stymied by Horschel, you’re in terrific position. Lucas Glover, Jason Kokrak and Ryan Palmer are three strongmen who presents as threats. To select Glover is to invest almost entirely on his form throughout 2018-19. He missed the cut in his only prior trip to TPC San Antonio (in 2015), but two rounds of experience never hurts no matter the result. Kokrak fulfills the converging trends, if mildly. He’s never been more consistently strong over this most recent stretch of time, and he’s 5-for-7 at TPC San Antonio with a pair of top 15s, albeit it’s been four years since the latter. Palmer is an example of what happens when there isn’t synergy with the driver. He’s hung up five top-15s in this tournament, but he’s also finished outside the top 50 thrice, twice for a missed cut. That may seem academic and familiar for most veterans on any track, but we already know him to thrive or dive with the 1-metal. Whereas Horschel is the low risk-high reward, Palmer is the medium risk-medium reward. Rickie Fowler, Tony Finau, Matt Kuchar and Jordan Spieth are wasteful in our format this week. Stick with reliable sites for each. How Spieth performs this week will seriously impact his probability at the Masters despite one of the best modern records at Augusta National. Watch him this week specifically with that in mind. No doubt there’s a contingent that’s been holding its breath for the VTO’s all-time earnings leader, Charley Hoffman, to break out of his funk in time for TPC San Antonio. Because he hasn’t, at least enough, slot him with the same mindset as Palmer. Because the course will beat up a few notables, two-man gamers are advised to reach a bit for your tandem this week. Consider Aaron Baddeley, D.J. Trahan and Sung Kang. FUTURE POSSIBILITIES NOTE: Select golfers committed to the tournament are listed alphabetically. Future tournaments are sorted chronologically and reflect previous success on the courses on which the tournaments will be held in 2018-19. The numerical values in parentheses represent the order of relative confidence of where to use each golfer if multiple sites are listed (e.g. 1 for strongest, 2 for next-strongest and so on). To present weighted confidence in real time, numerical values will not change all season no matter how many tournament remain listed for each golfer. All are pending golfer commitment. Byeong Hun An … Memorial (1) Daniel Berger … Travelers (1) Tony Finau … Valero (5); Memorial (2) Rickie Fowler … Masters (2); Wells Fargo (6); PGA Championship (9); Memorial (5); U.S. Open (10) Brian Harman … Charles Schwab (1); Travelers (5); John Deere (4) Russell Henley … Masters (3) Charley Hoffman … Valero (3); Masters (4); Heritage (7); Charles Schwab (6); Travelers (1) J.B. Holmes … Wells Fargo (5) Billy Horschel … Valero (2); New Orleans (3; defending); Wyndham (6); TOUR Championship (1) Si Woo Kim … Heritage (1) Chris Kirk … Valero (3); Charles Schwab (2) Matt Kuchar … Masters (6); Heritage (2); Charles Schwab (7); Memorial (1); Open Championship (8) Martin Laird … Valero (5); Reno-Tahoe (2) Ryan Moore … Valero (7); Masters (13); Memorial (11); Travelers (6); John Deere (8); Wyndham (2); TOUR Championship (9) Ryan Palmer … Valero (2); Charles Schwab (4) Jordan Spieth … Masters (1); PGA Championship (7); Charles Schwab (5); Memorial (13); U.S. Open (4); Travelers (9); Open Championship (6); TOUR Championship (8) Brendan Steele … Valero (8); Wells Fargo (9); Travelers (4); Reno-Tahoe (3) Kevin Streelman … Valero (9); Heritage (5); Memorial (4); Travelers (7) Jimmy Walker … Valero (2); Byron Nelson (6)

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2017-18 Priority Ranking (as of 11/20/2017) 1. Winner of PGA Championship or U.S. Open prior to 1970 or in the last five seasons and the current season: Jack Burke, Jr. Jason Day Jason Dufner Dow Finsterwald Raymond Floyd Doug Ford Al Geiberger Don January Dustin Johnson Martin Kaymer Brooks Koepka Gene Littler Rory McIlroy Bobby Nichols Jack Nicklaus Gary Player Justin Rose Jordan Spieth Justin Thomas Lee Trevino Jimmy Walker 2. Winner of THE PLAYERS Championship in the last five seasons and the current season: Rickie Fowler Si Woo Kim Tiger Woods 3. Winners of the Masters Tournament in the last five seasons and the current season: Sergio Garcia Adam Scott Bubba Watson 4. Winners of The Open Championship in the last five seasons and the current season: Zach Johnson Phil Mickelson Henrik Stenson 5. Winners of THE TOUR Championship in the last three seasons and the current season: Xander Schauffele 6. Winners of World Golf Championships events in the last three seasons and the current season: Russell Knox Shane Lowry Hideki Matsuyama 6a. Winners of the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Memorial Tournament in the last three seasons and the current season, beginning with the 2015 winners. Matt Every Marc Leishman David Lingmerth William McGirt 7. Leader from the final FedExCup points list in each of the last five seasons: Billy Horschel 8. Leader from the final PGA TOUR money list 2013-2016: 9. Winners of PGA TOUR co-sponsored or approved tournaments, whose victories are considered official, within the last two seasons, or during the current season; winners receive an additional season of exemption for each additional win, up to five seasons: Ryan Armour Aaron Baddeley Daniel Berger Jonas Blixt Wesley Bryan Patrick Cantlay Greg Chalmers Kevin Chappell Austin Cook Bryson DeChambeau Tony Finau Fabián Gómez Branden Grace Cody Gribble Emiliano Grillo Adam Hadwin James Hahn Brian Harman Russell Henley Jim Herman Charley Hoffman Mac Hughes Billy Hurley III Smylie Kaufman Chris Kirk Kevin Kisner Patton Kizzire Matt Kuchar Peter Malnati Graeme McDowell Ryan Moore Grayson Murray Rod Pampling Pat Perez D.A. Points Jon Rahm Patrick Reed Charl Schwartzel Webb Simpson Cameron Smith Brandt Snedeker Kyle Stanley Brendan Steele Chris Stroud Brian Stuard Hudson Swafford Vaughn Taylor Jhonattan Vegas 11a. Players among the top 50 in career earnings as of the end of the preceding season may elect to use a one-time exemption for the next season: Tim Clark Retief Goosen Bo Van Pelt 11b. Players among the Top 25 in career earnings as of the end of the preceding season may elect to use this special one-time exemption for the next season. K.J. Choi Ernie Els 12. Sponsor exemptions (a maximum of eight, which may include amateurs with handicaps of 0 or less), on the following basis: A. Not less than two sponsor invitees shall be PGA TOUR members not otherwise exempt. B. Not less than two of the 2017 Top Finishers of the Web.com Tour, if not all can otherwise be accommodated. NOTE: PGA TOUR members may receive an unlimited number of sponsor invitations. Non-TOUR members may receive a maximum of seven per year. 13. Two international players designated by the Commissioner. 14. The current PGA Club Professional Champion up to 6 open events (3 must be opposite The Open Championship and World Golf Championships events), in addition to any sponsor selections. The exemption does not apply to open, limited-field events. Omar Uresti 15. PGA Section Champion or Player of the Year of the Section in which the tournament is played. 16. Four low scorers at Open Qualifying which shall normally be held on Monday of tournament week. 17. Past champions of the particular event being contested that week, if cosponsored by the PGA TOUR and the same tournament sponsor, as follows: A. Winners prior to July 28, 1970: unlimited exemptions for such events. B. Winners after Jan. 1, 2000: five seasons of exemptions for such events. 18. Life Members (who have been active members of the PGA TOUR for 15 years and have won at least 20 co-sponsored events). Davis Love III Vijay Singh 19. Top 125 on the previous season’s FedExCup points list. Paul Casey Gary Woodland Louis Oosthuizen Bill Haas Francesco Molinari Chez Reavie Charles Howell III Lucas Glover Kevin Na Keegan Bradley Luke List Anirban Lahiri Ian Poulter Stewart Cink Scott Brown Martin Laird Jamie Lovemark Sung Kang Ollie Schniederjans Rafa Cabrera Bello Sean O’Hair Robert Streb Bud Cauley Kevin Tway Danny Lee Kelly Kraft Graham DeLaet Jason Kokrak Patrick Rodgers Morgan Hoffmann Chad Campbell Kevin Streelman C.T. Pan Whee Kim Harold Varner III Nick Taylor J.B. Holmes Camilo Villegas J.J. Spaun Scott Piercy Michael Kim Scott Stallings Byeong Hun An Martin Flores Luke Donald Richy Werenski Ryan Blaum Geoff Ogilvy Robert Garrigus Seung-Yul Noh Brian Gay Brandon Hagy Steve Stricker Derek Fathauer Tyrone Van Aswegen Harris English Dominic Bozzelli Nick Watney John Huh Blayne Barber Ben Martin Rory Sabbatini J.J. Henry 21. Players who finished greater than or equal to top 125 on the 2016-17 PGA TOUR Official Season FedExCup Points List through the Wyndham Championship as non-members: Thomas Pieters Tommy Fleetwood Tyrrell Hatton Alex Noren Ross Fisher 22. Major Medical Extension: If granted by the Commissioner, if not otherwise eligible, and if needed to fill the field, Special Medical Extension. Ryan Palmer Kevin Stadler John Senden Sangmoon Bae Freddie Jacobson Jon Curran Bob Estes Chris Couch Briny Baird Colt Knost Steve Marino Harrison Frazar Charlie Beljan John Peterson Andrew Loupe 23. Leading Money Winner from the previous season’s Top 25 regular season players using combined money earned on the Official Web.com Tour Regular Season Money List and Web.com Tour Finals Money List. Leading Money Winner from the previous season’s Web.com Tour Finals and Three-Time Winners from previous season Web.com Tour. Chesson Hadley 24. Leading money winner from Web.com Tour medical 25. Top 10 and ties, not otherwise exempt, among professionals from the previous open tournament whose victory has official status are exempt into the next open tournament whose victory has official status. 26. Top Finishers of the Web.com Tour: Finishers 2-25 from the previous season’s Top 25 Web.com Tour Regular season players using combined money earned on the Web.com Tour Regular Season Money List and money earned in the Web.com Tour Finals and the top 25 players and ties on the Web.com Tour Finals Money List at the conclusion of the Finals who are not already exempt. Cejka, Alex Landry, Andrew Uihlein, Peter Duncan, Tyler Harkins, Brandon Silverman, Ben Hossler, Beau Hoge, Tom Piller, Martin Lindheim, Nicholas Randolph, Jonathan Garnett, Brice Wise, Aaron Ancer, Abraham Jaeger, Stephan Gooch, Talor Potter, Jr., Ted Stefani, Shawn Zhang, Xinjun Schenk, Adam Dahmen, Joel Oppenheim, Rob Thompson, Michael Conners, Corey Burgoon, Bronson Tringale, Cameron Tracy, Ethan Power, Seamus Díaz, Roberto Lovelady, Tom Putnam, Andrew Stegmaier, Brett Jones, Matt Merritt, Troy Shindler, Conrad Mitchell, Keith Lashley, Nate Wheatcroft, Steve Saunders, Sam Ryder, Sam Byrd, Jonathan Griffin, Lanto Dou, Zecheng McCarthy, Denny Atkins, Matt Thompson, Kyle Yun, Andrew Collins, Chad Blanks, Kris Claxton, Will MacKenzie, Will Williams, Lee Bertsch, Shane Berganio, Jr., David Sucher, Zack Note: Reordered after the conclusion of The RSM Classic and the Genesis Open; thereafter, Mondays of the Masters, THE PLAYERS Championship, U.S. Open and The Open Championship. 27. Top Finishers from the Web.com Tour medical: NOTE: This category will be reordered with the above category #26. 28. Players winning three Web.com Tour events in the current season: 29. Minor medical extension: Padraig Harrington Andrew Johnston 30. Twenty-five finishers beyond 125th place on prior season’s FedExCup points list (126-150): Poston, J.T. Wagner, Johnson Hearn, David Blair, Zac Mullinax, Trey Barnes, Ricky Crane, Ben Percy, Cameron Summerhays, Daniel Lamb, Rick Owen, Greg Kjeldsen, Søren Note: Reordered after the conclusion of The RSM Classic and the Genesis Open; thereafter, Mondays of the Masters, THE PLAYERS Championship, U.S. Open and The Open Championship. 31. Nonexempt, major medical/family crisis: NOTE: This category will be reordered with the above category #30. 32. Reorder Categories 33-37 Mahan, Hunter Davis, Brian Cabrera, Ã�ngel Axley, Eric Ernst, Derek Duke, Ken McNeill, George de Jonge, Brendon Herron, Tim Appleby, Stuart Daly, John Rollins, John Note: Categories 33-37 Reordered after the conclusion of The RSM Classic and the Genesis Open; thereafter, Mondays of the Masters, THE PLAYERS Championship, U.S. Open and The Open Championship. 33. Past Champions, Team Tournament Winners and Veteran Members Beyond 150 on the FedExCup Points List: If not otherwise eligible and as needed to fill the field, Past Champion members, Team Tournament Winners and Veteran members beyond 150th place on the previous season’s FedExCup points list in order of their combined official PGA TOUR and Web.com Tour earnings in the previous season. Furyk, Jim Weekley, Boo Gore, Jason Lunde, Bill Molder, Bryce Romero, Andres Pride, Dicky Bohn, Jason Pettersson, Carl Couples, Fred Wilson, Mark Merrick, John Allenby, Robert Yang, Y.E. Wi, Charlie Kelly, Jerry Barlow, Craig Atwal, Arjun Gainey, Tommy Chopra, Daniel Johnson, Richard Mize, Larry Bowditch, Steven Lonard, Peter Trahan, D.J. Hensby, Mark Todd, Brendon McLachlin, Parker Leonard, Justin Bradley, Michael Micheel, Shaun Matteson, Troy Funk, Fred Toms, David Petrovic, Tim Turnesa, Marc Smith, Chris Overton, Jeff Hart, Dudley Kaye, Jonathan Mattiace, Len Gamez, Robert 34. Past Champion Members: If not otherwise eligible and if needed to fill the field, Past Champion members, in order of the total number of cosponsored or approved events won, excluding Team events. If two or more players are tied, the player who is higher on the PGA TOUR Career Money List shall be eligible. 35. Special Temporary Members: If during the course of a PGA TOUR season, a nonmember of the PGA TOUR wins an amount of points (e.g., by playing in PGA TOUR events through sponsor exemptions, Open Qualifying, etc.) equal to the amount won in the preceding season by the 150th finisher on the FedExCup points list, he will be eligible to become a special temporary member for the remainder of the season. 36. Team Tournament Winners: If not otherwise eligible and if needed to fill the field, winners of co-sponsored team championships, in order of the total number of team championship tournaments won. If two or more players are tied based on the number of such tournaments won, the player who is higher on the official PGA TOUR Career Money List shall be eligible. 37. Veteran Members: If not otherwise eligible and if needed to fill the field, Veteran members (players who have made a minimum of 150 cuts during their career), in order of their standing on the PGA TOUR Career Money List.

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