How to Watch: Presidents Cup, Sunday

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Here are nine tidbits from the opening round of the OHL Classic at Mayakoba that gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. Patt-on the Back: Kudos to the in-form Patton Kizzire for torching El Camaleon this morning with 9-under-par, 62. After collecting T10 and T4 the last two weeks, I’m not surprised that he posted 10 birdies today. The only blemish on his card was a bogey at his last hole, No. 18, which saw him miss tying the course record. His lead is two entering the second round with fierce winds scheduled to blow tomorrow and throughout the weekend. The afternoon wave saw veteran Vaughn Taylor post 64, the best of the bunch. Gamers remember his last victory on TOUR came at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. If the wind blows, he might not be bothered. In three events this season he’s sandwiched T10 between a pair of missed cuts so I’m still trying to find a compass reading here. There is an old saying that form is temporary but class is permanent. I’m not here to argue but I will point out that absolutisms in fantasy golf don’t always pan out. Rickie Fowler’s opening round is making the argument against my point. He carded 65 Thursday morning and sits T3 in his first tournament since the TOUR Championship. Four players selected in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO were chosen by over 40 percent of the participants this week. Gamers who started Pat Perez (67) and Rickie Fowler (66), the top two selections, are having their expectations met. Chesson Hadley and Charley Hoffman were the third and fourth most-selected players and they ended the day T73. Everyone likes to saddle up a course horse but be careful not to get bucked off. Here are the five players with the lowest score in relation to par the last five seasons and their position after round one. Another wonderful angle in the world of fantasy golf is the much debated “Nappy Factor”. I’ve heard the argument suggesting jumping on guys who are expecting their first. I’ve heard it’s also smart to pile on right after the baby is born. SO MANY RULES. Here’s what I do know: Martin Piller’s wife is expecting in May and he’s T5 (66). Mac Hughes not only welcomed a baby but also changed his name from Mackenzie yet he’s T73 (E). Does this also effect “Nappy Factor”? Stay tuned. Only a handful of gamers had the foresight to roster Keith Mitchell (66) in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO. I hope both of you started him! The rest of you will learn this is his fifth TOUR start. His T11 at the Valspar Championship last year probably slipped your mind.  This is his first round in the 60’s in four tournaments in the new season. The Class of 2011 has been highly celebrated but I’m not sure how many fantasy gamers will recall that Patrick Rodgers is a part of that group. After 11 wins at Stanford (tied with Tiger Woods for most at the time) he hasn’t joined the others, yet. If grinding tee-to-green in the wind is going to be a key this weekend I’ll be interested to see how his ball-striking translates. His opening round 67 (T11) ties his lowest score of the new season. As my astute colleague Rob Bolton pointed out last week, Harris English is struggling. English set the tournament scoring record here in 2014 but that mojo didn’t appear on Thursday. His 75 saw him check in at T120 in a field of 132. Weekly and season-long investors should be concerned as he has missed four cuts in a row. Pending a very low one tomorrow that streak is going to reach five. Speaking of struggling, Ryan Blaum withdrew due to illness (virus) after posting 77 so adjust accordingly. 

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HAMBURG, Germany — Bryson DeChambeau reeled off four birdies in the last seven holes to shoot a 4-under 68 and remain top of the leaderboard after the second round of the European Open on Friday. The 24-year-old American, who led overnight, finished with a 10-under total of 134. He is one stroke ahead of Richard McEvoy of England (65) and Matthias Schwab (67) of Austria. Masters champion Patrick Reed (66) shared the fourth spot on 136 with Romain Wattel of France (69) and David Drysdale of Scotland (67). “I’m absolutely satisfied,” DeChambeau said. “The wind made playing pretty tough out there and I was fortunate enough to hit it in the right spots, miss it in the right spots, get a couple of lucky breaks and take advantage of them when I needed to. “It wasn’t my best form … it was a little frustrating off the tee today. I thought I’d worked something out yesterday, and it worked a little bit, but I’ve got to go back to the range and work a little harder.” Reed benefited from an improved display on the greens. “It was a lot better compared to yesterday,” said the American golfer. “I felt like I could go into attack mode, and attack some flags, and my putter’s working. When my putter gets going I’m able to make birdies.”

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