How data and technology help players work smarter, not harder

Alex Noren (+275 for a Top 20) … Golf fans in the United States can be spoiled by international talent, specifically among the contingent that pulls double duty on the DP WORLD Tour. For every household name from Europe, there are many more who have tried once and haven’t returned. It’s even more challenging without picking off a PGA TOUR victory at some point, but the Swede has cracked the code. Now in his fifth consecutive season on this circuit, he’s all but desisted from jetting to his home continent for playing opportunities. It’s in part due to drifting outside the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking as the 2019-20 season began, but he’s also connected with consistently strong form. In a phrase, less is more. The 39-year-old now is creeping up on the top 50 once more (at 56th) thanks most recently five top 20s in his last 10 starts. He’s also cashed twice in three tries at Muirfield Village with a personal-best T13 last year. Lanto Griffin (+500 for a Top 20) … When you associate his surname to these parts, he’s not the Griffin who rushes to mind. In fact, he’d have to prevail probably in at least three consecutive editions of the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday to begin to share even a fraction of a breath with the default reference to Archie Griffin. The former running back at Ohio State remains the only two-time winner of the Heisman Trophy (1974, 1975). But hey, Lanto didn’t pick that fight, and he’d be elated with even one title at Muirfield Village where he’s making his third straight appearance. He’s gathered momentum of late with a four-bagger that was sparked by a T15 in Mexico and a T6 in the testing conditions at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. His skill set of improved play closer to the cup is in direct correlation to this week’s challenge. Pat Perez (+400 for a Top 20) … At 104th in the FedExCup, the 46-year-old is poised to qualify for the Playoffs for the 14th time in 15 opportunities. The only time he’s missed is when he sat out the last two-thirds of the 2015-16 season to recover from surgery on his left shoulder. He set up his latest chance with consecutive top 10s on the West Coast Swing where he’s always done damage, but he’s missed only two of 10 cuts since. Now he’s fresh off a stretch-best T12 at Colonial where he led the field in total distance of putts converted. Since 2008, he’s 10-for-10 with four top 25s at Muirfield Village. Stretching for a top 20 now is aggressive, so consider a complementary consideration for a top 40. C.T. Pan (+333 for a Top 20) … Although it can stretch beyond 7,500 yards, Muirfield Village is equal opportunity for all performers. One does not need to send it off the tee to contend, or even prevail, but the 30-year-old holds his own with the driver despite ranging to just 5’6”. He hasn’t sniffed the leaderboard in three prior appearances, but he hasn’t slammed his trunk – sorry, it’s 2022 – depressed the button on the key fob to lower the liftgate, either. Now, he’d have his hands full with the monster pair of par 4s to close out a final round for victory, but reduce your expectation for a top 40, anyway. Since finishing ninth at Riviera three months ago, he’s 8-for-9 with four top 40s and three others for which he was exactly one shot too many to finish inside that bubble. Danny Willett (+650 for a Top 20) … His membership exemption for winning the 2016 Masters expires in just two months, and he’s currently 155th in the FedExCup, so we’re going to learn, as will he, what the 34-year-old Englishman is made of with the clock ticking. Muirfield Village is positioned to help as he’s perfect in three trips with a scoring average of exactly 72 (that includes an 82 among the 12 rounds). He’s not quite simmering upon arrival but he’s cashed in eight of his last 10 starts worldwide, including a T12 at the Masters and a T16 at the British Masters that he hosted four weeks ago. Odds were sourced on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. For live odds, visit BetMGM.

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Gary Woodland left the rest of the field behind after sinking five consecutive birdies on the back nine, shooting a 67 for a three-shot lead Friday at the Tournament of Champions.

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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Cameron Champ’s booming drives have made him quite the curiosity during his short time on the PGA TOUR. The rest of his improved game has turned him into a contender this week at the Country Club of Jackson. Champ shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday to take the first-round lead Thursday in the Sanderson Farms Championship. Cameron Tringale was a stroke back, and Rory Sabbatini, D.J. Trahan, Andres Romero, Chad Ramey and Robert Streb followed at 67. There were still 12 players on the course when play was suspended because of darkness. Seth Reeves was at 5 under through 16 holes. Champ’s drives sliced through the wet, windy and unseasonably cool conditions without much of a problem. On the par-4 18th, he blasted a 347-yard drive and hit his approach to 4 feet to set up his fifth back-nine birdie. The 23-year-old earned his PGA TOUR card on the Web.com Tour last season. Even more impressive about that 347-yard drive? He wasn’t really going for distance because of the weather conditions. “Today I was just trying to hit the fairways,” Champ said. “The rough out here is pretty thick.” Champ played in college at Texas A&M and said the windy conditions in that area of the country have given him plenty of practice for dealing with what he experienced on Thursday. He kept most of his drives in the fairway, which allowed him to have a solid day with his short game and putting. “It’s great that you can hit it far, but if other parts of your game aren’t good you’re not going to be able to play the game,” Champ said. “That’s just kind of the way I look at it now.” The slender 6-foot, 175-pound Champ doesn’t look like he’d be one of the TOUR’s biggest hitters, but he’s consistently among the leaders in that category. He averaged 328 yards per drive on his way to a tie for 25th at the Safeway Open this month, which is the only other event the rookie has played this season. The 31-year-old Tringale made the cut at the Safeway Open three weeks ago and had another good performance during Thursday’s first round. It’s an encouraging start to the season for someone who made just seven of 26 cuts last year. Tringale said better drives have allowed him to be more competitive. “It’s definitely nice to have a good opening round like this in this tournament and just something to build off,” Tringale said. “I’ll take all the positives I can and replay the good shots in my head tonight. “Hopefully I can have a few more days like it.” The soggy conditions in Jackson are expected to give way to much better weather during the final three rounds.

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