Dustin Johnson did his best to keep Brooks Koepka honest, getting within four shots, but a costly bogey by DJ coupled with a Koepka birdie widened the gap.
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In my comment beside my lineup in Expert Picks (linked as usual below), I cite this as a position week. I steal the phrase from bowling leagues that establish checkpoints to determine tournament seeding. No, it's not apples-to-apples in that sense, but it feels similar because our standings at the conclusion of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open likely will not change much in the following two weeks. Since there won't be a cut at THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK and the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD, all gamers will score points in every round (assuming no mid-tournament withdrawals and disqualifications as usual) in both of those tournaments. Unless you are on board with the winner(s) or have multiple podium finishers contributing in the final round, where you sit in your little league after this weekend should resemble where you sit two weeks later. RELATED: Power Rankings | Preview the course, storylines | Expert Picks First things first, however. We have much more to lose at TPC Summerlin because it's a traditional event with a 36-hole cut, so continue to be motivated to think big picture and get four to the weekend. Because front-runners will want to be as conservative as possible entering the next fortnight, if you're already trailing by a lot, then this also presents as a perfect time to be aggressive. Lean on long hitters with a reputation of weekly inconsistency. Use course success as a tiebreaker. See, for the first time this season, league leaders and contenders are mapping out how to use three starts on top-shelf talent with the limited-field invitationals lined up and the Masters in November. It still will be valuable to roster the highest finishers, but because of the absence of zeroes at THE CJ CUP and the ZOZO, separation from the pack will be more difficult. That's why positioning right now is key. It can change short-range philosophy. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf My roster for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (in alphabetical order): Patrick Cantlay Bryson DeChambeau Denny McCarthy Webb Simpson Cameron Smith Matthew Wolff You'll find my starters in Expert Picks Others to consider for each category (in alphabetical order): Scoring: Cameron Davis; Chesson Hadley; James Hahn; Charley Hoffman; Luke List; Tyler McCumber; Pat Perez; Scottie Scheffler; Kristoffer Ventura Driving: Paul Casey; Stewart Cink; Charley Hoffman; Sungjae Im; Luke List; Tyler McCumber; Collin Morikawa; Scottie Scheffler; Kristoffer Ventura POWER RANKINGS WILD CARD Francesco Molinari … He picked a heckuva time to relocate from England to California, but there's never a perfect time for that given his profession. His focus has been on his family and settling into the new digs. While he'll be rusty, the good news is that he's not injured. He's rested and he should be mentally recharged to resume a routine. It doesn't hurt that he placed T4 with a walk-off 61 in his only prior appearance at TPC Summerlin in 2016, but temper expectations for at least one start. DRAWS Sungjae Im ... Given his propensity to go low and thrive in shootouts, it's a knock that he didn't crack the Power Rankings, but he's been inconsistent since play resumed in June. It's not out of the realm of possibility that, after he went Win-3rd in the last two weeks before the hiatus to sit No. 1 in the FedExCup, he set it on cruise control all the way to East Lake. Expect a top 25 at TPC Summerlin (where he placed T15 in his debut last year) for all of the usual reasons. Rickie Fowler ... Swing changes have dogged the 31-year-old all year, but if he's going to make noise again, TPC Summerlin is on the short list of tracks where it'd happen. He made only four appearance from 2009-2019, but each resulted in a top 25, the last a personal-best T4 with a closing 63 as the kicker. Slot him as a contrarian if your format would categorize him as such. Fractional play in DFS also is encouraged. Will Zalatoris ... My contention is that his missed cut at the Sanderson Farms Championship was a product of his success. He top-10'd into the field at Corales and had planned the week off. Yet, with Special Temporary Membership within reach - a two-way T5 at TPC Summerlin would do it - it's understandable why he'd give it a go. It's important for us to accept that he's learning how much he can bite off before he can't chew anymore. As for this week, not only did he get two invaluable days of rest on the weekend, but he accepted this sponsor exemption two weeks ago, so this has been on his mind since before the T8 at Corales. Jason Kokrak ... Just one top-35 finish in his last five trips, but he's cashed in each. He also arrives having connected four top 20s since the Wyndham Championship. Ideal in all formats. Abraham Ancer ... Gonna leave it up to DFSers to determine if his price tag warrants the plunge. He's just 1-for-4 at TPC Summerlin with a T4 in 2018, but his game remains on the rise, so early-career disappointment should be ignored. Rather, I'm looking at the 29-year-old's consistently strong body of work of the last two years overall. Chesson Hadley ... A Sleeper here last year, but that was like cheating given he had gone for a trio of top 10s at TPC Summerlin before fulfilling the expectation with a T18. He's flashed enough form of late to warrant a similar hope. Stewart Cink Cameron Davis James Hahn Charley Hoffman Charles Howell III Si Woo Kim Joaquin Niemann Pat Perez Scottie Scheffler Brendan Steele Kristoffer Ventura FADES Jason Day ... Just like that, the lights went off. After a T7-T4-T6-T4 surge across five weeks over the summer, the Aussie was a non-factor in three starts. He's not quite in the Sergio Garcia lane of "what haven't you done for me lately," and as good as a putter that Day is, he'll probably keep his eyes open, but only full-season investors should get back on this ride. It's been way too bumpy for way too long. Matt Kuchar ... Now 42 years of age, time is catching up. Just two top 25s since the hiatus and he's a far cry from the kind of consistency that has defined his career. Also just one appearance at TPC Summerlin in the last 10 years, and that resulted in but a T57 in 2018. Scott Piercy ... He's had a rough go of it for months, but he should feel more comfortable here than anywhere else given that it's a home game. The tournament means a lot to him personally, so it'll be an elixir for his soul more than anything. In 14 appearances, he's scattered three missed cuts among four top 10s and another three top 25s, but the absence of something impressive lately is more noticeable. J.T. Poston ... When he's on, he looks so, so good. Certainly, that's a refrain that could apply to every touring professional, but those moments remain too far and few between for the 27-year-old. Now that he's fresh off a solo third at the Sanderson Farms Championship, it's almost automatic to hop off. His record at TPC Summerlin also is a microcosm of his early career trajectory. He's 1-for-4 with a T4 in 2017. Patrick Rodgers ... Failed to deliver on the faith last week (see Power Rankings Recap below), but now it's truly time to resist. Only one top 40 among just two cuts made in six prior trips to TPC Summerlin, and it's been five years now since he finished T13. Jimmy Walker ... It was encouraging that he held the co-lead after one round of the Sanderson Farms Championship, but he didn't break 71 the rest of the way and finished T46. And that was his best finish of eight starts since play resumed. If you're a newer gamer and not aware, the 41-year-old has been battling Lyme disease for a few years. Byeong Hun An Scott Brown Sam Burns Emiliano Grillo Max Homa C.T. Pan Chez Reavie Rory Sabbatini RETURNING TO COMPETITION Danny Lee ... Cited a wrist injury for his exit from the U.S. Open after the third round but the lasting image is of the disgruntled six-putt on the final green. Three days later, he issued an apology. Just 2-for-6 at TPC Summerlin and without a top 40. John Huh ... He had committed to the Safeway Open to launch into 2020-21 but then withdrew before it began. He hasn't teed it up since play resumed in June but an explanation hasn't been released as to why. Has 15 starts on a Major Medical Extension. Jonas Blixt ... Committed to the Korn Ferry Tour's Orange County National Championship presented by Knight 39. It's the finale of the 2020 portion of the KFT schedule and it'd mark his first live action in 14 months. The 36-year-old has dealt with back discomfort for several years. He has 23 starts on a Major Medical Extension on the PGA TOUR, so salary gamers and other season-long formats should be paying close attention to his form early on. Robert Garrigus ... Also in the KFT field, but he was at this point last week as well before withdrawing from the tournament. We last saw him at Corales where heat exhaustion forced him to call it quits in the second round. Doesn't carry much fantasy value in the long-term because he's on Past Champion status. NOTABLE WDs Tony Finau ... Tested positive for COVID-19. Lucas Glover ... As noted in this space last week, there was reason to consider the positive and unquantifiable impact of the loss of his maternal grandmother the previous Friday, but he missed the cut. Ryan Moore ... The problem with his back must be serious enough for him to miss the PGA TOUR event in his own backyard for the first time in 10 years. He hasn't competed since withdrawing from THE NORTHERN TRUST during the second round. POWER RANKINGS RECAP - SANDERSON FARMS CHAMPIONSHIP Power Ranking Golfer Result 1 Scottie Scheffler T37 2 Sungjae Im T28 3 Adam Long MC 4 Sam Burns MC 5 Doc Redman T28 6 Sebastián Muñoz T23 7 Brian Harman T37 8 Xinjun Zhang MC 9 Pat Perez MC 10 Will Zalatoris MC 11 Carlos Ortiz MC 12 Stewart Cink T12 13 Hudson Swafford MC 14 Patrick Rodgers MC 15 Denny McCarthy T6 Wild Card Zach Johnson T23 SLEEPERS RECAP - SANDERSON FARMS CHAMPIONSHIP Golfer Result Bronson Burgoon MC Dylan Frittelli MC Fabián Gómez MC Cameron Percy T59 Davis Riley MC BIRTHDAYS AMONG ACTIVE GOLFERS ON THE PGA TOUR October 6 ... none October 7 ... none October 8 ... none October 9 ... none October 10 ... Charlie Beljan (36) October 11 ... Greg Chalmers (47) October 12 ... none
HOW THEY QUALIFIED Winner – PGA/U.S. Open Championship Jason Dufner Jordan Spieth Justin Thomas Jimmy Walker Winner – THE PLAYERS Championship Si Woo Kim Winner – The Open Championship Zach Johnson Winner – TOUR Championship Xander Schauffele Winner – World Golf Championship Event Russell Knox Winners of the Arnold Palmer Inv. & the Memorial (Last 3 Years) Matt Every Marc Leishman William McGirt Tournament Winner in Past Two Seasons Ryan Armour Aaron Baddeley Daniel Berger Jonas Blixt Wesley Bryan Greg Chalmers Austin Cook Tony Finau Fabián Gómez Cody Gribble Emiliano Grillo James Hahn Brian Harman Russell Henley Jim Herman Mac Hughes Billy Hurley III Smylie Kaufman Chris Kirk Kevin Kisner Patton Kizzire Peter Malnati D.A. Points Webb Simpson Cameron Smith Kyle Stanley Chris Stroud Brian Stuard Hudson Swafford Vaughn Taylor Career Money Exemption K.J. Choi Sponsors Exemptions – Members not otherwise exempt Jerry Kelly Mark Wilson Sponsors Exemptions – Unrestricted Daisuke Kataoka Satoshi Kodaira Yusaku Miyazato Tyler Ota Designated Sponsor Exemption Shugo Imahira Hyung-Sung Kim Tatsuya Kodai PGA Club Professional Champion – 6 Events Omar Uresti PGA Section Champion\Player of the Year Eric Dugas Life Member Vijay Singh Top 125 on Prior Season’s FedExCup Points List Gary Woodland Bill Haas Chez Reavie Charles Howell III Kevin Na Keegan Bradley Luke List Stewart Cink Scott Brown Jamie Lovemark Ollie Schniederjans Sean O’Hair Robert Streb Kevin Tway Danny Lee Kelly Kraft Jason Kokrak Patrick Rodgers Morgan Hoffmann Chad Campbell Whee Kim Harold Varner III J.J. Spaun Scott Piercy Michael Kim Luke Donald Richy Werenski Ryan Blaum Robert Garrigus Brian Gay Tyrone Van Aswegen Harris English Dominic Bozzelli John Huh Blayne Barber Ben Martin Rory Sabbatini J.J. Henry Major Medical Extension Ryan Palmer Sangmoon Bae Jon Curran Colt Knost John Peterson Top Finishers from Web.com Tour Prior Season (reordered) Alex Cejka Andrew Landry Peter Uihlein Tyler Duncan Brandon Harkins Ben Silverman Beau Hossler Tom Hoge Martin Piller Nicholas Lindheim Jonathan Randolph Brice Garnett Aaron Wise Abraham Ancer Stephan Jaeger Talor Gooch Ted Potter, Jr. Xinjun Zhang Adam Schenk Joel Dahmen Rob Oppenheim Michael Thompson Corey Conners Bronson Burgoon Cameron Tringale Ethan Tracy Seamus Power Roberto DÃaz Tom Lovelady Andrew Putnam Brett Stegmaier Matt Jones Troy Merritt Conrad Shindler Keith Mitchell Nate Lashley Steve Wheatcroft Sam Saunders Sam Ryder Jonathan Byrd Lanto Griffin
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Justin Thomas won the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational on Sunday by three shots for his third win of the PGA TOUR season. Thomas also moved to No. 1 in the world for the first time since June 2018. Thomas dueled defending champion Brooks Koepka down the final holes, sealing the World Golf Championship victory on the par-5 16th. Thomas, who still leads the FedExCup standings, took the lead for good with his second straight birdie, while Koepka bogeyed the hole. Koepka pulled within a stroke with a 39-footer for birdie on No. 17. But Koepka put his tee shot into the water along the 18th fairway on his way to double bogey, allowing Thomas to finish up an easy par putt for what wound up a three-stroke victory. RELATED: Final leaderboard Thomas closed with a 5-under 66 to finish at 13-under 267 and won for the 13th time in his PGA TOUR career. At 27, he became the third-youngest player since 1960 to reach 13 PGA TOUR wins, trailing only Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. This was the fifth time Thomas rallied to win, and he matched his biggest comeback after starting the day four strokes back of third-round leader Brendon Todd. Thomas has three wins this season, two since the start of the year. The last time Thomas was world No. 1, he spent four weeks at the top of the ranking. He will supplant Jon Rahm, who became No. 1 after winning at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide two weeks ago. Koepka will go to TPC Harding Park in San Francisco looking to defend his PGA championship title. He finished with a 69 and tied for second with Phil Mickelson (67), Daniel Berger (65) and Tom Lewis (66). Thomas started Sunday with Jim “Bones” Mackay on his bag playing in the same group with Mickelson for the first time since Mickelson split with his longtime caddie. Thomas made up the deficit with four birdies on the front nine and just missed another birdie chance on No. 8. His 20-footer on No. 9 tied Todd at 12 under. Todd, whose putting had carried him through the first three rounds, three-putted for bogey from 23 feet on the par-3 eighth, leaving Thomas alone atop the leaderboard. Thomas put his second on the par-4 12th into a greenside bunker near the back edge and chopped it out to the rough. He chipped out from an awkward stance to salvage bogey. That created a five-way tie at 11 under with Koepka, Berger, Lewis and Todd. Koepka took the lead to himself on the par-4 13th. He hit his approach from 133 yards to 10 feet of the pin, and Koepka sunk the putt for his third birdie of the round to go to 12 under. After hitting his tee shot 321 yards to the rough 51 yards short of the hole on No. 15, Thomas hit to 6 feet for a birdie, tying Koepka at 12 under with three to play. Thomas found the rough far right of the cart path on the par-5 16th, then hit his third from the left rough 65 yards to 3 feet for his second straight birdie. Koepka, in the group behind Thomas, tried to answer 42 yards from the hole. His shot landed close to the hole only to keep rolling to the back of the green. Koepka wound up two-putting from 8 feet for bogey.
