How to Watch the Wyndham Championship, Round 3: Featured Groups, live scores, tee times, TV times

This is one of those rare moments, if not the only, when all you really need to do is remember to submit your picks and lineups. In recent weeks, I’ve written about strategy as Segment 3 of PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO nears its conclusion. This week’s Quicken Loans National is the antepenultimate event of 14 before The Open Championship launches Segment 4. With only A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier and the John Deere Classic remaining before all golfers are reset to three starts, you’re unlikely to miss any of the guys in this week’s field for whom you’d be burning the final start. This is the reality even after I shared last week that last year’s QLN scored the least of the last four tournaments (including the Travelers Championship) of Segment 3. That fact supported the advice to burn any last starts you had at TPC River Highlands. So, if you still have a start for your favorite, it’s a bonus. Burn it now. I’ve also written quite a bit about up-and-comers who demand your attention this summer and beyond. That content remains viewable anytime you want to revisit it. As it did with nine exemptions last weekend, The Open Championship will be adding to its field every week until it’s time for the tournament on July 19-22. Continue to monitor Qualfiers regularly. Weeks like this one are good for the fantasy soul. They simplify and clarify. Just don’t forget to head to the fantasy platform to lock in your decisions! PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO My roster for the Quicken Loans National (in alphabetical order): Rickie Fowler J.B. Holmes Marc Leishman Francesco Molinari Kyle Stanley Tiger Woods You’ll find my starters in Expert Picks. Others to consider for each category (in alphabetical order): Scoring: Byeong Hun An; Kiradech Aphibarnrat; Tom Hoge; Si Woo Kim; Kevin Na; Jimmy Walker Driving: Byeong Hun An; Tyler Duncan; Beau Hossler; J.T. Poston; Kevin Streelman Approach: Stewart Cink; Tom Hoge; Kevin Na; Kevin Streelman; Tiger Woods Short: Kiradech Aphibarnrat; Beau Hossler; Jimmy Walker Power Rankings Wild Card Kevin Na … After flirting with fate and failing at Muirfield Village where he was a Draw before missing the cut – as a refresher, he zigs more often than most when he projects to zag – he deserves another chance at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. Still more effective as a short-game artist, he’s also 46th in strokes gained: tee-to-green and T20 in par-5 scoring. Also placed T22 here last year while leading the field in strokes gained: approach-the-green. Draws Si Woo Kim … When he celebrates his 23rd birthday concurrently with Thursday’s opening round, he’ll be extending the expectation of consistency. It wasn’t the narrative defining his burgeoning career until this season, and it includes ingredients to launch something quite special sooner than later for the two-time PGA TOUR winner. Although he missed the cut here last year, he makes sense on this course because of his knack to connect with a terrific tee-to-green game. Sits 50th on TOUR in the strokes-gained stat dedicated to measuring that. Anirban Lahiri … It’s easy to lean on the laurels of his steady T9 at the Travelers, but he was already trending toward it. It began, surprisingly, with his missed cut at THE PLAYERS. It was at TPC Sawgrass where he reversed a trend of four straight starts surrendering strokes to each field tee to green. Since the PGA TOUR’s flagship event, he’s connected five straight starts while gaining strokes on each field. His strokes gained: tee-to-green at TPC River Highlands measured a season-best 6.79. So, ride him while he’s hot, but understand that the fuel for his surge matters even more at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. Kevin Streelman … In Streelman we trust. He makes most cuts, resides among the best on TOUR tee-to-green and salvaging pars, and he finished T17 here last year. Continue to wear him out in every format. Adam Hadwin (DFS) Billy Horschel (DFS) Fades Gary Woodland … It’s been a tale of two seasons in 2017-18. Since opening with a 7-for-7 run that was punctuated with a playoff victory at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, he’s just 5-for-11 with no better than a T23 (Memorial) since. He’s also getting his first look at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. Bill Haas … Quite simply, even though it’s been awhile since he’s exhibited week-to-week consistency, we don’t need to force him. Yet, it’s an expectation in the 36-year-old that we must continue to possess. Now four months removed from the crash in California, he may only need a fresh start to a season to feel himself again competitively. From that standpoint, he’s on an early watch as a salary bargain entering 2018-19. David Lingmerth … If you’re confused as to why he’d even be included in this section as he occupies 153rd place in the FedExCup standings, it’s because he led each of the first three rounds in last year’s QLN before backpedaling to finish T5. He’s managed only two top 25s on the PGA TOUR since, including at last week’s Travelers, but his role is as a flier for DFSers, and fractionally at that. Ryan Palmer Patrick Rodgers Returning to Competition None. Notable WDs Ben Martin … His missed cut at the Travelers was the fifth in his last six starts. He’s gone 14 straight without a top 25 but hangs on at 125th in the FedExCup standings. This decision saves course history buffs who may have been holding their breath since he finished T5 at TPC Potomac last year. Mac Hughes … It doesn’t seem like all that long ago that he was checking off all of the boxes, personally and professionally. Yet, he’s 200th in the FedExCup standings with only six cuts made in 22 starts, none of which going for a top 40. No matter what happens the rest of this summer, the 27-year-old will get another season with fully exempt status for winning The RSM Classic late in 2016. And because it’ll be his contract year, he might be worth the plunge in deep salary formats. Vaughn Taylor … Finished T61 at last year’s QLN. Currently 97th in the FedExCup standings and an impressive 43rd in adjusted scoring. Nate Lashley … This is his second consecutive early withdrawal. He hasn’t used social media to explain why. The rookie hasn’t played since finishing T37 in Memphis. At 151st in the FedExCup standings, he’s in the no-man’s land of being safe to qualify for the Web.com Tour Finals but outside the bubble for conditional status as a last resort for 2018-19. Hunter Mahan … Since opening the season with a pair of top 20s, he’s just 7-for-14 with no better than a T35 (Corales). Still, don’t count out the veteran to make noise down the stretch. While he’s not angling at that at the moment, it wouldn’t be that surprising given his career achievements. He sits 161st in FedExCup points. Power Rankings Recap – Travelers Championship Power Ranking  Golfer  Result 1  Daniel Berger  T67 2  Patrick Reed  MC 3  Justin Thomas  T56 4  Webb Simpson  MC 5  Charley Hoffman  T15 6  Marc Leishman  MC 7  Brendan Steele  MC 8  Ryan Moore  MC 9  Xander Schauffele  MC 10  Paul Casey  T2 11  Bryson DeChambeau  T9 12  Jordan Spieth  T42 13  Rory McIlroy  T12 14  Brooks Koepka  T19 15  Jason Day  T12 Wild Card  Bubba Watson  Win Sleepers Recap – Travelers Championship Golfer  Result Aaron Baddeley  MC Beau Hossler  T2 Dylan Meyer  MC Patrick Rodgers  T26 Vaughn Taylor  T47 Birthdays among active golfers on the PGA TOUR June 26 … Colt Knost (33) June 27 … none June 28 … Si Woo Kim (23) June 29 … Mark Hensby (46); Anirban Lahiri (31); Trey Mullinax (26) June 30 … Patrick Rodgers (26) July 1 … none July 2 … Brett Stegmaier (35)

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Gamers, time to put down the Eggnog and Champagne and get back to business! The PGA TOUR kicks off the 2020 segment of the schedule with a winner’s-only field on the newly refined Plantation Course at Kapalua in spectacular Maui this week. The winners of the new season will join the other victors from 2019 to comprise the field of 34. On the line is a prize pool of $6.7 million, with $1.34 million (500 FedExCup points) and a really cool trophy going to the first champion of 2020. The Plantation Course (Par 73, 7,518) was regrassed from corner to corner with new Celebration Bermudagrass with the exception of the greens (TifEagle Bermudagrass). Almost every green was reconfigured (expanded or shrunk), with slopes softened or rebuilt completely. The addition of new hole locations will provide a new twist and should slightly influence scoring. New tee boxes will also add or reduce yardage and enforce strategic decisions around shifted and newly-added bunkers. Repeat customers to Kapalua will have to recalibrate their yardage books and green maps but new challenges rarely bother multiple-time winners on TOUR. They’ll remember how handle the elevation changes, side-hill lies and the shots required when dealing with gusting winds and the new folks will have to adjust quickly. The field of 34 will all get four cracks at the newness this week, as this is a no-cut event. RELATED: Power Rankings | Expert Picks Recent Winners 2019: Xander Schauffele (-23, 269) Fourth winner of the last five picked up the trophy in just his second try on the Plantation Course. Schauffele, as he’s wont to do, won his third, limited field title as he closed with course-record tying 62 (31-31) to defeat 54-hole leader Gary Woodland by a shot. Trailing by five, he threw caution to the wind (there wasn’t any on Sunday) after an opening bogey and circled eight birdies and two eagles in an epic performance. He became the fifth consecutive winner in the top three in bogey avoidance and fourth consecutive winner in the top TWO in Putting: Birdie-or-Better Percentage. Notables: Woodland led by three after 36 and 54 holes and tied Justin Thomas for most birdies with 25 in his first trip since 2014. … Thomas, the 2017 champ, closed with 65 but was five behind in solo third. … 2018 champ Dustin Johnson was the only player in the top 10 to have a round OVER par (74, Round 2) yet still cashed T4. … Rory McIlroy (not entered) was the best first-timer last year as he also cashed T4. 2018: Dustin Johnson (-24, 268) The bomber continued his dominance on Maui as he boat-raced the field in gusty conditions by eight shots to win for the second time (2013). He closed 66-65 (-13) and that would have been good enough for T7. Became the fourth consecutive winner to lead the field Strokes-Gained: Tee-to-Green and third consecutive winner to lead the field in Par-4 scoring. His 23 birdies were the most of anyone entered for this week’s event. Notables: Jon Rahm was second alone on debut (-16). … Rickie Fowler picked up his third consecutive top-six paycheck with T4. … Johnson, Rahm and Fowler were the only three players INSIDE the top 14 returning this year. … Only five rounds above par in the top 20 players even with gusty winds all four rounds. 2017: Justin Thomas (-22, 270) A trio of 67s set the 54-hole lead by two and Thomas won by three to pick up another win in the Pacific. Leading the field in ball-striking, Strokes-Gained: Tee-to-Green and Par-4 scoring, Thomas made it look easy as he won for the second time that season after he picked up the title, again, at the now defunct CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur. Thomas circled 25 birdies to just three bogeys. Notables: Johnson couldn’t find anything better than 69 over four rounds but still picked up T6. … Patrick Reed, read more below, had the T-low round of the week with 65 and also T6. … Jim Herman cashed T12 on debut. Key stat leaders Top golfers in each statistic on the 2019-20 PGA TOUR are listed only if they are scheduled to compete this week.  * –  previous top 10 finish here @ – first-time event Strokes-Gained: Tee -to-Green  2 *Justin Thomas  5 Patrick Cantlay  6 *Paul Casey  8 *Dustin Johnson  9 @Corey Conners 10 *Jon Rahm 11 *Xander Schauffele 16 *Gary Woodland 23 @Joaquin Niemann 29 Chez Reavie 30 *Matt Kuchar Strokes-Gained: Putting  4  *Graeme McDowell 13 *Rickie Fowler 20 *Kevin Kisner 26 Patrick Cantlay 36 *Jon Rahm 40 @Nate Lashley 41 *Matt Kuchar 44 *Patrick Reed 46 *Xander Schauffele 50 @JT Poston Par-4 Scoring  3 *Justin Thomas  3 *Jon Rahm  3 Patrick Cantlay  8 @Nate Lashley  8 @Joaquin Niemann  8 *Patrick Reed  8 *Rickie Fowler  8 *Xander Schauffele  8 Ryan Palmer  8 Chez Reavie 23 *Gary Woodland 23 Dylan Fritteli 23 *Kevin Kisner 23 *Paul Casey 23 *Matt Kuchar Pineapple Express Dustin Johnson: The only multiple winner in the field, Kapalua has been Johnson’s personal playground as he’s cashed seven top-10 paychecks from nine starts. His scoring average of 69.03 includes only ONE round above par from 35 chances. Top six in four of his last six visits, which includes both wins. Patrick Reed: After T16 in his first visit, Reed rebounded with a playoff win in 2015, solo second in 2016 and T6 in 2017 before stubbing his toe (T26) in his return last year. Of his 20 rounds, six are 67 or better, including a pair of 65s. Jon Rahm: He’s 29 under in the last two years and it’s not surprising he’s a quick study. His worst round is 71 and best is 66. Rickie Fowler: The knock on Fowler is that he doesn’t win enough but this will be his fourth visit to Maui. Each trip has produced a better result, as T6 in 2013 was followed by solo fifth in 2016 and capped with T4 in 2018. His stroke average in 11 rounds is a stout 69.18. Digging Deeper Matt Kuchar: After ripping off four straight top-10 finishes in the early part of the decade, Kuchar’s last two trips in 2015 and last year have cashed T17 and T19, respectively. Paul Casey: His first visit in 2010 saw 15 under go for T10. His return last year cashed T16 with four rounds of par or better. Patrick Cantlay: Looking to become the fifth winner in the last six to pick up the check on his second try. All four rounds last year were under-par but none broke 70. Kevin Kisner: Eight rounds of red but the last six are all in the 70s. He’s cashed solo ninth and T17 in two trips since 2016. Wait, What? Cameron Champ: T11 on debut last year with rounds of 71, 67 and 68. Now, about that 74 in Round 2…

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MELBOURNE, Australia. – Notes and observations from the third round of the ISPS Handa Melbourne World Cup of Golf where teams played the Fourball format and team Belgium set up a handy five shot lead. LEADING LIGHTS Thomas Pieters brings plenty of fire. It appears Thomas Detry brings the ice. The youthful team from Belgium have combined expertly to take the ISPS Handa Melbourne World Cup of Golf by the scruff of the neck. A 9-under 63 on Saturday has pushed the pair to 19-under and a five-shot advantage heading to Sunday’s final Foursomes session. Pieters, 26, has three European Tour victories to his name and plays with an aggressive tone. Detry, 25, has what appears to be a more measured approach to his golf, much in the vein of your Justin Rose type characters. The steadiness of Detry has allowed Pieters to wind up when it matters and it has worked a treat. “It’s always nice when you know your partner’s playing some great golf, it gives you a lot of confidence and you can play some pretty free golf,â€� Detry explained. “I tend to be pretty relaxed … and I guess not much went wrong, but he seems to be a very enjoyable partner.â€� The first hole on Saturday was a perfect example. Pieters hit a wild tee shot trying to bite off some extra distance and basically left it to his teammate from there. Detry was unflappable and made an important par on his own. “At the beginning of the week, I said we never say sorry when you play as a team,â€� Pieters said. “We’re both trying our hardest and everybody’s going to hit bad golf shots.â€� Tomorrow is a different beast. The Foursomes, or alternate shot, means the fire and ice really have to mix well. On Friday they were one of only four teams to shoot under par in the format. And it is the volatility that has the chasing pack still feeling like they’ve got life. But the leaders don’t intend to play defense. “The strategy, we are going to play out there and be aggressive,â€� Detry said. “We might as well win by 12.â€� NOTABLES AUSTRALIA: Local hopes of a sixth World Cup title are still alive after Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith combined to shoot a 7-under 65 on Saturday to move to 13 under and into a tie for fifth. But they will need something impressive in Sunday’s Foursomes as they sit an ominous six shots back of the lead. Given they shot a 4-over 76 in Friday’s alternate shot session it will take some turnaround to mount some pressure on Belgium. “It’s going to be really important for us to get off to a good start, really get ourselves in it, give them something to think about, because if we’re not a few under through five or six holes, they can sort of cruise,â€� Leishman said. “It would be good if we could get the crowd into it. If we get the fanatics roaring, and friends and family, a lot of people supporting us, that would be great and they might notice. We’ve enjoyed that so far this week and it would be nice if we could make tomorrow our best day.â€� The Australian pair are also cognizant of International Presidents Cup team captain Ernie Els impending arrival and want to leave a lasting impression ahead of the 2019 biennial competition that will also be held in Melbourne. MEXICO: Abraham Ancer’s love affair with Australia continues after he and partner Roberto Diaz posted a 7-under 65 to move to 14 under and a tie for second place. Ancer, who won last week’s Australian Open in Sydney, is looking to create a new wave of excitement in golf for his home nation. Mexico has never won the World Cup of Golf and their best finish was a T7 way back in 1953. “A win would be awesome not only for us, but for our country as well,â€� Ancer says. “It would be something incredible and it would be obviously a dream come true winning such a big tournament for our country.â€� KOREA: Former PLAYERS Champion Si Woo Kim buried a final hole birdie to ensure Korea moved into a share of second place with a round to play. Along with Byeong An the pair are looking to bring the country its first World Cup title. They acknowledge the five-shot deficit will be tough to overcome but given the Foursomes format can be volatile have certainly not given up hope. “You never know what’s going to happen,â€� An said. “We definitely need our best golf and it’s not going to be easy but lifting the trophy definitely will be a bonus in the career, that’s for sure.â€� An confirmed a win would be not be enough to earn them exemptions from mandatory military service in Korea. “This wouldn’t count. But the title and money would still be nice,â€� he grinned. USA: It has not been the week Matt Kuchar and Kyle Stanley were looking for after a 6-under 66 was still not enough to give them any hope of procuring a 25th title for the USA. They sit well back at five under overall in a tie for 21st amongst the 28 teams. ENGLAND: Ian Poulter and Tyrrell Hatton shot a 5-under 67 to move to 13 under and into a tie for fifth. Sitting six shots back it will take a big effort to claim their first World Cup since 2004 and third overall. ITALY: A 6-under 66 from Andrea Pavan and Renato Paratore moved the Italians to second place but they were far from happy with their efforts. Sitting seven under on the round through 13 holes they came to the par-5 14th looking to put further pressure on Belgium near the top of the leaderboard. But instead they inexplicably walked away with a double bogey as both players lost their way. Birdies on the 16th and 17th holes reestablished their place as the nearest chasers until another bogey on the final hole left them five back. “Belgium are playing well obviously, so I feel like it’s going to be tough, but in golf you never know, especially in foursomes,â€� Pavan said.  SHOT OF THE DAY

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