Poulter wins Houston Open, gets in Masters

For PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO gamers, it’s wise to approach the next two weeks as one swing thought. The Wells Fargo Championship back at Quail Hollow presents the opportunity to invest in chalk who hit the ball a long way. Next week THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass gives us a rare reprieve from that angle in an event in which most of the world’s best are scheduled to compete. This is because, other than maybe Sergio Garcia, there are no horses on the Pete Dye design. And because of that fact, the objective will be simply to get four into the weekend. Treat any bonus points you collect as exactly that. Looking ahead only to next week now, the Power Rankings for THE PLAYERS will mimic what I wrote for the Masters. Every golfer in the field will be included in some capacity. This means that all Sleepers will appear in the Power Rankings, thus putting that stand-alone staple on hiatus until the AT&T Byron Nelson the following week. The FI will be abridged just as it was for the Masters. This will be the construct for the remaining three majors as well. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO My roster for the Wells Fargo Championship (in alphabetical order): Jason Day Tony Finau Rickie Fowler Rory McIlroy Phil Mickelson Justin Thomas You’ll find my starters in Expert Picks. Others to consider for each category (in alphabetical order): Scoring: Bryson DeChambeau; Tommy Fleetwood; Chesson Hadley; Kevin Kisner; Luke List; Grayson Murray; Alex Noren; Patrick Reed; Tiger Woods Driving: Byeong Hun An; Bryson DeChambeau; Tommy Fleetwood; Emiliano Grillo; Alex Noren; Louis Oosthuizen; Kyle Stanley; Kevin Streelman Approach: Emiliano Grillo; Chesson Hadley; Brian Harman; Andrew Landry; Louis Oosthuizen; Webb Simpson; Kevin Streelman Short: Emiliano Grillo; Chesson Hadley; Brian Harman; Kevin Kisner; Alex Noren; Webb Simpson Power Rankings Wild Card Hideki Matsuyama … This has nothing to do with his fit and everything to do with his fitness. He’s still clawing back into form after suffering discomfort in his left wrist and pad of his thumb in his two-time title defense of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Give him this week to perform alone, and then revisit as a cornerstone in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO for THE PLAYERS. If his previous seasons are any indications, he won’t play much in Segment 3. Draws Brian Harman … He’s the tournament’s defending champion, but PGA champion Justin Thomas truly is the only golfer who has prevailed on Quail Hollow as the field sees it this week. Harman won at pinch-hitting Eagle Point in downstate Wilmington, North Carolina, but he’s been nails everywhere, including at Quail Hollow where he placed T13 in the PGA three months post-victory. With video game-like numbers to support the 31-year-old, it’s merely a coincidence that he’s the defending champion. Tiger Woods … Getting his first look at Quail Hollow since 2012 and there are parts that he won’t recognize. Furthermore, as one who has dominated tracks on which length and par are at a premium, there’s reason to put that reputation up against his evolving profile of today. Contrast that against his co-runner-up finish in what was his debut at similarly challenging Copperhead in March and there’s reason to continue to believe that it doesn’t matter where he plays because he’ll be a factor just as he’s always been. Andrew Landry … It was amusing that I had the right idea about slapping the Sleeper tag on him for the RBC Heritage (where he placed T42), only to watch him to take down the Valero Texas Open the following week. There’s a lesson in there about being more patient, but there’s also proof that the Nappy Factor is alive and well. That performance at TPC San Antonio itself was a reminder that he plays tough courses well. As a result, DFSers should give him a look at Quail Hollow even though he’s a debutant. Alex Noren … His only weakness is relative inexperience at Quail Hollow, but he’s one of the 65 in this week’s field who were here for the PGA Championship last August. So, brush that aside as a non-factor. Checking all of the boxes statistically in his first spin with a PGA TOUR card. Already has three podium finishes in 2018, too. Gary Woodland … Quail Hollow sets up as the kind of test where golfers should not expect to find their games, but it projects to be a slump-buster for this guy. He’s just 3-for-7 since the playoff victory at TPC Scottsdale three months ago, but he struts onto this week’s course with a 7-for-7 slate that includes top 25s in his last four appearances, including a T22 at the PGA Championship. Joaquin Niemann … Closed like a boss at TPC San Antonio with a pair of 67s on the weekend to finish sixth. Even better, he ranked eighth in distance of all drives, which was the initial (mild) concern in his professional debut. Real deal. Bryson DeChambeau (all) Lucas Glover (all) Emiliano Grillo (SERVPRO) Luke List (all) Sean O’Hair (DFS) Xander Schauffele (all) Ollie Schniederjans (DFS) Fades Brooks Koepka … As easily as it is to dismiss the missed cut (with Marc Turnesa) in New Orleans and attach to his confidence back inside the ropes, there’s no reason to rush it. My duty as a conservative analyst is to give him the space to prove that the rust is gone. Jason Dufner … It seems like cherry-picking, but stay with me. He’s gone five straight stroke-play starts of individual competition without a top-50 finish. While experience at Quail Hollow has value, he didn’t impress with a T58 at the 2017 PGA Championship, which was his first visit since missing the cut in 2010. Adam Scott … Continues to struggle mightily with his putting. That has dampened otherwise solid performances tee to green. Because the latter should keep him afloat at Quail Hollow, he’s a contrarian investment at best, but the glimmers for more than making the cut are barely visible. Daniel Berger … Like many tweeners, this is relative. He hasn’t been scuffling, but he’s really not impressing, either. Bottom line, the flat trajectory is a reflection of the common reality of the challenge of putting four rounds together. So, he won’t hurt you, but the depth in this field furnishes other options who are more tantalizing at the moment. Martin Kaymer … If his right wrist isn’t giving him any problems, it’s not realized in his results. Since returning to action in Houston, he’s 2-for-4 without a top-45 finish. Sat out the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow due to an injured left shoulder. Bud Cauley Ross Fisher Dylan Frittelli Bill Haas Tyrrell Hatton Beau Hossler Chris Paisley Charl Schwartzel Peter Uihlein Returning to Competition Francesco Molinari … Rested the last two weeks due to discomfort in a shoulder. Currently 117th in the FedExCup standings without a top-15 finish on U.S. soil since … a co-runner-up at the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. We can’t expect the same result, but DFSers should reattach as usual and compete against other DFSers who are concerned about the injury. Adam Hadwin … Back at it after withdrawing from his commitment to the RBC Heritage to attend to a personal matter. He’s been dynamite for most of 2018 with six top 25s, including in each of his last five starts. While labeled as a great putter, his tee-to-green precision is carrying the load this season. Opting to connect that with a track like Quail Hollow is shrewd. Get him back in to your lineup. Notable WDs Camilo Villegas … Still nursing a sore right shoulder. It’s forced him to withdraw after his last three commitments. He’s 171st in FedExCup points. Sangmoon Bae … The 31-year-old hasn’t been the same since resuming his career after honoring his military obligation in South Korea. He’s logged only one top-60 finish among just three cuts made in 13 starts this season. John Senden … Just 1-for-2 with a solo 79th/MDF at Valero in his return. Has 11 starts remaining on his Major Medical Extension. Power Rankings Recap – Zurich Classic of New Orleans Power Ranking Team Result 1 Justin Thomas-Bud Cauley MC 2 Patrick Reed-Patrick Cantlay T7 3 Justin Rose-Henrik Stenson T19 4 Bubba Watson-Matt Kuchar T28 5 Sean O’Hair-Jimmy Walker T25 6 Jordan Spieth-Ryan Palmer MC 7 Steve Stricker-Jerry Kelly MC 8 Cameron Smith-Jonas Blixt MC 9 Emiliano Grillo-Peter Uihlein MC 10 Kevin Kisner-Scott Brown T15 Wild Card Billy Horschel-Scott Piercy Win OTHERS CONSIDERED Team Result Daniel Berger-Gary Woodland MC Jason Dufner-Pat Perez 2nd Rafa Cabrera Bello-Sergio Garcia MC Russell Knox-Martin Laird T7 Louis Oosthuizen-Charl Schwartzel 3rd Sleepers Recap – Zurich Classic of New Orleans Team Result Retief Goosen-Tyrone Van Aswegen T19 Seamus Power-David Hearn T10 J.J. Spaun-Sam Ryder MC Birthdays among active golfers on the PGA TOUR May 1 … Stuart Appleby (47); Chris Couch (45) May 2 … none May 3 … Brooks Koepka (28) May 4 … Rory McIlroy (29) May 5 … Cameron Percy (44) May 6 … none May 7 … none

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The top 100 players in the FedExCup standings will qualify for the Dell Technologies Championship — the second leg of the FedExCup Playoffs. Track the latest movement here: Projected FedExCup standings. • COURSE: TPC Boston, 7,342 yards, par 71. Carved into the New England countryside about midway between Boston and Rhode Island, the original 2002 layout carried Arnold Palmer’s stamp before a thorough remodel just five years later. Gil Hanse and consultant Brad Faxon introduced “chocolate-dropâ€� mounds and grass bunkers to give the course more of a regional feel. The Dell Technologies Championship has been engrained in the Labor Day calendar since 2003, using the holiday to offer up the PGA TOUR’s only scheduled Monday finish. • FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 2,000 points. • CHARITY: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester and MassGeneral Hospital for Children are the tournament’s new primary beneficiaries, selected with a mission of improved health, wellness, and academic achievement. Six other charity partners include The Red Sox Foundation and Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund. • FIELD WATCH: Rory McIlroy, the reigning FedExCup king, defends in Boston against a lineup currently at 97 entrants. Among them: PGA TOUR Season points leader Hideki Matsuyama and new PGA Championship titleholder Justin Thomas. … Masters champion Sergio Garcia jumps into the fray after sitting out the Playoffs opener for the third consecutive year. He began the postseason at No. 22 on the points list, still on track to make the finale at East Lake. … Adam Scott, now a father of two after welcoming a son this week, was a late addition after initial indications he’d sit out the first two events. He entered the Playoffs at No. 66, with little wiggle room to get into the BMW Championship. … Brandt Snedeker and Scott Piercy are qualified for Boston, but have shut down their seasons with injuries. • 72-HOLE RECORD: 262, Vijay Singh (2008), Charley Hoffman (2010), Henrik Stenson (2013). • 18-HOLE RECORD: 61, Vijay Singh (3rd round, 2006), Mike Weir (1st round, 2008). • LAST YEAR: McIlroy made up a six-shot deficit on the final day, firing a 6-under 65 to chase down a faltering Paul Casey for his 20th victory worldwide and first on U.S. soil in nearly 16 months. McIlroy played his first three holes of the week in 4 over, but followed his opening 71 with rounds of 67-66-65 that left him with a two-stroke triumph. He moved in front for good with a 20-foot birdie at TPC Boston’s 12th hole, then left no doubt with a 3-wood approach into the wind at No. 18 that set up a birdie from a bunker. Casey began the day with a three-shot lead, but closed with a 73 in his bid for a first PGA TOUR victory since 2009. Three weeks later, McIlroy won again at East Lake to take the FedExCup. • STORYLINES: While there’s always a shakeup atop the FedExCup standings after the first Playoffs event, Matsuyama’s missed cut at THE NORTHERN TRUST virtually assures a change at No. 1. Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Jhonattan Vegas all were tied for the lead after 36 holes at Glen Oaks Club. … Jon Rahm, down to No. 6 in points after once topping the chart, entered the Playoffs without a top-10 finish on U.S. soil since May. … The FedExCup bubble now moves to the top 70 in points for the BMW Championship. A year ago, Billy Hurley III and David Hearn were among six who extended their seasons after coming to Boston outside the cut line. • SHORT CHIPS: Two of the past four winners at TPC Boston have gone on to win the FedExCup, with McIlroy’s feat preceded by 2013 champion Henrik Stenson. … McIlroy’s triumph also made it seven consecutive winners at TPC Boston who have come from behind on the final day. Just one of the past 10 champions, in fact, have closed out a 54-hole lead. … Phil Mickelson is set to become the first man to make 40 starts in the FedExCup Playoffs. Bubba Watson will join him if he can move into the top 100 in points. … Scott, Patrick Reed, Ryan Moore and Jason Kokrak all posted top-10 finishes at each of last year’s first two Playoff events. That matched the total for the previous three postseasons. • TELEVISION: Friday, 2:30-6:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday, 3-6:30 p.m. (GC). Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (NBC). Monday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (GC), 1:30-6 p.m. (NBC). • PGA TOUR LIVE: Friday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. (featured groups), 3-6:30 p.m. (featured holes). Sunday-Monday, 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (featured holes). • RADIO: Friday-Saturday, noon-7 p.m.; Sunday-Monday, 1-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.COM).

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POTOMAC, Md. — Tiger Woods used a new putter and got the same middling results Thursday in the Quicken Loans National. Woods battled back from a double bogey with five straight birdie chances from 8 feet or closer. He made only two of them and had to settle for an even-par 70, leaving him seven shots out of the lead in the opening round on the TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. Andrew Landry set the pace on a difficult, but rain-softened course with a 7-under 63. J.J. Spaun matched him in the afternoon, playing in the group behind Woods without hardly anyone noticing that he played bogey-free while running off five birdies in a seven-hole stretch. Landry, who won the Texas Open in April for his first PGA TOUR title, also had a new putter in the bag. All the attention was on Woods, who had hoped a mallet-style putter might help him shake out of a putting slump. It didn’t. “I shot about the score I should have shot today,” Woods said. He never made a putt outside 10 feet, and the final stretch in the afternoon appeared to be a wasted chance to salvage a score under par. Woods also kept his round from getting worse with two big par saves to start the back nine, including an up-and-down from 147 yards on No. 11 after driving it into the trees. “This is a course that’s going to get tougher as the week goes on,” Woods said. It was plenty tough for him in his first competition on the TPC Potomac, and his first time playing the tournament since 2015. This also is the last edition, and the field is among the weakest on the PGA TOUR this year. Rickie Fowler is the only player in the top 10 in the world, and he also rallied for a 70. Even when he kept it in the short grass off the tee, Woods didn’t have a reasonable birdie chance until No. 5, and he missed from 10 feet. And then he ran into trouble on the par-4 sixth, starting with a tee shot he pulled left that caromed off a tree and landed in a the mown path that leads from the tee to the fairway. Woods tried to hit a 3-wood to the green and it came up short and into the hazard. He had to drop it in more rough, came up just short of the green and wound up making a 4-foot putt to escape with double bogey. Going with an iron off the tee at the par-5 10th, he pulled that into the hazard but at least was able to chop it back to the fairway, rip fairway metal around the green and chip it close to save par. On the next hole, he blasted a tee shot well right, over the gallery, and had to pitch out back into play again. He said the 6-foot par putt gave him momentum, and he was never under much stress the rest of the day. He just didn’t make anything. Woods missed from 10 feet and 6 feet on his next two holes. He made his first birdie on No. 14 with a 3-foot putt, only to badly miss from 7 feet on the next hole. “I didn’t really have anything going through the middle part of the round,” Woods said. “I hit some poor tee shots and didn’t really give myself a chance. I have to do a better job of getting more chances.” He had no beef with the putter, saying he rolled it well and hit plenty of good putts that didn’t fall. “Most of the good scores were shot in the morning,” Woods said. “Hopefully, I can go out there and do it myself.” The course was the fourth-toughest on the PGA TOUR last year, trailing only three majors, though it was soft enough and the wind was mild so that low scores were available. Kyle Stanley won at 7-under 273 last year. Landry and Spaun shared the lead at 7 under after one round. “I expect that if we don’t get any rain the next few days, the course is going to firm up, greens get firm, get a little bit quicker, but it’s not going to be like last year,” Billy Horschel said after his 64. “So you’re going to have to go out with the mindset that it’s a little bit different course, you can’t be as conservative, you’ve got to still try and make birdies.” Andrew Putnam also was at 64 while playing in the afternoon. Beau Hossler and Abraham Ancer were another shot behind. Woods has been at least six shots behind — and no better than a tie for 29th — after the opening round of his last six tournaments dating to the Masters.

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