Mickelson, Gogel share Furyk & Friends lead

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Let’s turn back to the clock for a moment. Remember when Danny Willett owned a one-shot lead over Max Homa as the duo stepped onto the 18th tee in the final round of the Fortinet Championship? Of course you do. It was only 10 days ago. But were you monitoring PointsBet’s app or website for live outright odds for both? If you weren’t, Homa was +300 after they matched pars on the par-4 17th hole. He had been as long as +400 before converting the 4 to retain position one back, but the par-5 finishing hole was the easiest on the course all week. No doubt you, like me, figured that Homa was going to need to hole out for eagle at the last just to have a chance for a playoff. Of course, Homa did hole out, but it was for birdie. It’s not necessary to rehash how Willett was unable to swerve away from the fire because that’s not the point of this exercise. Homa’s odds to win throughout that saga still didn’t exceed +300 at PointsBet. Setting aside the business savvy of the algorithm or executive decision not to be at greater risk – remember that Justin Thomas was +25000 to win early in his back nine of the PGA Championship – the moral of this matter is that even when it seems that victory is certain (for the guy who eventually doesn’t win), the board did not allow the chance to swing for a deeper fence in the face of said certainty. Unless you’re battling for prize money entering a finale, your Top 10 and/or Top 20 are poised to pay and you’ve hit on at least one tie in a 2-ball that projects to propel you into the mix, consider just sticking with your early pick if he’s still in the hunt. No, your odds aren’t as strong as a coin flip, but the grass won’t necessarily be greener on the other side. Like the Fortinet at Silverado Resort and Spa’s North Course, the Sanderson Farms Championship also is contested on a gettable stock par 72, but this one likely will require 20-under or lower to prevail. Have fun! Register for PGA TOUR Pick ‘Em Live here and monitor Rob’s and Glass’ progress as Influencers. For a broader explanation of the format and FAQs, click here. TOURNAMENT TO WIN Rob … Sam Stevens (+12500) We live in a different world than the one that yielded six consecutive breakthroughs at Country Club of Jackson through Sebastián Muñoz in 2019, but the construct of this field begs to open with a non-winner. If you’ve read me long enough, you know that I’ve poured a lot of faith into pedigree, and the rookie is bursting with that. It’s not easy to be targeted to play collegiately at Oklahoma State University, but that’s where he refined his game as he was coming of age. As an upperclassmen, his teammates included Viktor Hovland, Matthew Wolff, Kristoffer Ventura and fellow rookie Austin Eckroat among the notables. Stevens turned in a solid rookie season on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022 before securing his first PGA TOUR card at the Finals a month ago. He finished third on the KFT in greens hit, 11th in scoring average and ninth in the all-around. Glass … Hayden Buckley (+12500) For those of you new to our game, welcome aboard. This is your second reminder after the first one at Fortinet that there’s no reason to open with chalk. The ability to change your winner all weekend allows us to dream pre-tournament and hope our longshots work out. Buckley is Mississippi-raised, played his first professional event here and hit the top 10 last season (T4) at 20-under. The fairways and GIR machine just needs some cooperation from his putter, and I’m all set! Until I’m not. TOP 10 Glass … Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+400) The days of loading a long shot and trying to catch the window are gone for me. I’m defaulting to the more conservative side so as not to get caught locked out on the weekend. I was disappointed that Captain Immelman didn’t play his fellow countryman more last week. Bezuidenhout didn’t lose and he was holing everything he looked at on Champion Bermuda greens. He’s loosened up and he makes cuts for fun, plus he has a rep on Bermuda. Rob … Sahith Theegala (+240) Given that he’s atop my Power Rankings, I’ll take this “risk” all day long. I know that we’re gambling here, but like Glass, I’m so gun-shy about being shut out from having the ability to revise the pick that I’ll trade some peace of mind to reduce the possibility of being inconvenienced at 2 a.m. Arizona time. TOP 20 Rob … Emiliano Grillo (+170) Playing this more conservatively than usual because of the inconsistency of when the bet will unlock, if it does at all. A reversal in putting has guided him back into the mix among probables to contend. He chased the pair of co-runner-up finishes in July with a T19 at the BMW Championship, and then opened this season with a T25 at Silverado. Already seasoned at CC of Jackson with three paydays in as many appearances as well. He’s No. 7 in my Power Rankings, so I considered him for the Top 10 (at +380), but again, I’d rather set and forget at shorter odds than roll the dice for just a few more coins. Glass … Philip Knowles (+900) Let’s gamble! Top five in fairways and birdies last season on the KFT while sitting 18th in putting. Fantastic close to KFT season included a T2, T10 and T17 in his final four events. Now that he’s got the first one out of the way, it’s time to swing it and make some birdies. ROUND 1 LEADER Glass … J.T. Poston (+3300) Six appearances here with five rounds in the 60s to begin, including a 64 in 2020 and a 66 in 2021. He’s off No. 10 in the fourth group of the day, so I’ll have plenty of time to rearrange if necessary. Super on Bermuda and three of his last four opening rounds on TOUR are 66, 64 and 65 plus his 62 to open and WIN the John Deere Classic in July. We’ll see if he delivers this time! Rob … J.T. Poston (+3300) Robby see, Robby do. Keeping it simple and throwing my dart at the guy who opened his T2-Win blast over the summer with 62s. He kept it floored for most of the rest of the way, so he’s still feelin’ it. As Glass alluded to, Poston goes off 10 at 7:33 a.m. local time. The nines at CC of Jackson essentially are equal in their level of difficulty, or relative ease as it were. However, Poston’s R1 scoring average in six trips is a sporty 67.67, so it doesn’t matter to him. NOTE: While Glass and Rob typically stick with their selections as detailed in Pick ‘Em Preview, they are allowed the right to make changes at any time. Responsible sports betting starts with a game plan. Set a budget. Keep it social. Play with friends. Learn the game and know the odds. Play with trusted, licensed operators. CLICK HERE to learn more at HaveAGamePlan.org.

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This week’s World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba on the PGA TOUR will not only showcase some of the world’s top golf talent, but Jim Kavanaugh, CEO of sponsor WWT, and his team will also this unique opportunity as a platform to promote and educate the importance of “a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that fosters a sense of belonging.” World Wide Technology (WWT) is in its second year as title sponsor of the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba, and the organization has dedicated a tremendous amount of their resources this week to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives that they will share to its hundreds of attending partners, clients, staff and guests. As one of the largest minority-owned companies in the United States, its mission of enforcing diversity, equity and inclusion is rooted in the company’s makeup. “As a global organization, it is critical for WWT to look at the world through a different view,” Kavanaugh said. “As we continue to focus on the landscape of our global business, it is extremely important to understand the different cultures and experiences of all of our employees at WWT. Building DEI into the DNA of our company and our core values supports these efforts, but it requires vigilance. “WWT is an organization that’s growing quickly. As a result, we must be very intentional about ensuring that DEI is embraced at every level of the organization and that we have buy-in from both leadership and employees. A true DEI strategy will aim to ensure that everyone is given equitable access to opportunity.” WWT serves as title sponsor of the Advocates Pro Golf Association (APGA) Player Development Program. Established in 2010, the APGA Tour is a non-profit organization with the mission to prepare African Americans and other minority golfers to compete and win at the highest level of professional golf, both on tour and in the golf industry. As part of WWT’s support, the top five eligible players from the final APGA Tour standings were brought to Mexico for the Monday qualifier, including Trey Valentine, Kamaiu Johnson, Andrew Walker, Ryan Alford and Marcus Byrd. These five players are also playing in Tuesday’s Pro-Am. In addition, former PGA TOUR pro Brad Adamonis earned an exemption into Mayakoba by winning last month’s APGA Tour’s inaugural Ascension Classic at Glen Echo Country Club in St. Louis. Kamaiu Johnson became the first player to win the World Wide Technology Player Development Program bonus pool reward with his victory in the Mastercard APGA Tour Championship at TPC San Antonio in August. He has earned a full exemption on to the PGA TOUR Latinoamerica. Following Tuesday’s Pro-Am, the participants and PGA TOUR pros will be treated to a short panel discussion with two of the APGA Players, Kamaiu Jonson and Andrew Walker, as well as APGA CEO Ken Bentley. The Q&A is hosted by Bob Ferrell, Executive Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Public Sector Strategy at World Wide Technology. Ferrell is a retired Army Lt. General, who joined WWT in 2017 after 38 years of service, culminated by his position at the Pentagon as Chief Information Officer for the Army. On Friday morning, WWT will host a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Panel, hosted by Michael Bush, CEO at Great Place to Work and a global chief executive with over 25 years of experience leading small and mid-sized organizations through transformational growth. The panel will consist of Dan Soto (Chief Compliance Officer, Ally Financial), Tanya Van Court (Founder & CEO, Goalsetter), Erik Moore (Managing Director, Base Ventures), and Chris Womack (President, Chairman & CEO, Georgia Power). “Much of our DEI journey has been led in large part by our workforce and their desire for a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that fosters a sense of belonging,” Kavanaugh emphasized. On the golf course, the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba will feature a marquee field that includes two-time defending champion Viktor Hovland of Norway; reigning Masters Tournament winner and PGA TOUR Player of the Year Scottie Scheffler; two-time major champion Collin Morikawa; last week’s PGA TOUR winner Seamus Power of Ireland; and a significant contingent of top players throughout Latin America. Off the course, WWT executives will be in the community for such events as “Career Discovery Day” for 10th and 11th graders at local K’iin Beh School, participating in a “Career Readiness Workshop” for at least 20 local university students, and they are taking PGA TOUR players to K’iin Beh School, so the children can meet some of golf’s rising stars. The week will be punctuated by a CEO Beachside Chat with Jim Kavanaugh that will include a number of CEO and business leaders, including PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan; Jeff Holzschuh (Chairman, Institutional Securities Group for Morgan Stanley); Joseph Impicciche (CEO, Ascension); Ron Kruszewski (CEO, Stifel Financial Corporation); and Mike Descheneaux (CEO, Silicon Valley Bank). NBC Sports’ Steve Sands will also serve as a moderator for portions of this all-star gathering of global business voices.

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