Power Rankings: Fantasy golf advice for THE NORTHERN TRUST

The 12th edition of the FedExCup Playoffs tees off with THE NORTHERN TRUST at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey. It’s the fourth time that the 27-hole facility due north of New York City has hosted the tournament, most of any in the FedExCup era. A composite course utilizing all three nines on the A.W. Tillinghast original serves as the backdrop. It’s a par 35-36–71 with three par 5s and features slightly different routing than what qualifiers in 2008, 2010 and 2014 experienced. Scroll beneath the ranking for more on the track, what it rewards and other nuggets. POWER RANKINGS: THE NORTHERN TRUST RANK PLAYER COMMENT The defending champion hasn’t pegged it at Ridgewood since a T9 in 2010, but that matters not. He’s been a machine all season, evident as the top seed to open the FedExCup Playoffs. Answered his win at Firestone with a T6 at Bellerive where his putting was average. Can’t win ’em all, but he wins a lot. No. 2 on TOUR in the all-around and the FedExCup standings. If there’s a negative, it’s that he’s curious as to why he doesn’t perform better in non-majors. The PGA champion put on a clinic at Bellerive, but he’ll have to downshift a bit at Ridgewood. Couldn’t ask for a better reinforcement of confidence than a personal-best 62 on Sunday at Sedgefield where he’s been a persistent threat. Currently America’s version of Justin Rose. He has a major, two World Golf Championships and a gold medal, but the 38-year-old is still without a FedExCup trophy. He’s never been in better form. T15 (2010) and T30 (2014) at Ridgewood. Three wins in as many countries in his last eight starts in which he’s also finished second twice and T6 (in his last at the PGA Championship). Ridgewood fits his profile splendidly. First appearance in the event since 2013 and just his second trip to Ridgewood (T12, 2010). Ranked second in birdies-or-better percentage with the putter en route to solo second at Bellerive. The pacesetter in strokes gained: putting also sits fourth in birdies-or-better percentage after hitting GIR. T5 (2010) and T2 (2014) with a scoring average of 68.375 in last eight rounds at Ridgewood. Rested after a T4 at Bellerive where he authored as balanced an attack as any throughout his brief career. He’s scattered eight top fives in 2018, four of which in his last seven starts. Not only ranked second in strokes gained: putting at Bellerive but got stronger as the tournament progressed. Inside the top 25 on TOUR in both GIR and proximity. T22 at Ridgewood in 2014. Entrenched in the hearts of locals as the 2016 winner of this tournament (at Bethpage) and successful reprise as Captain America at Liberty National in the 2017 Presidents Cup. T9 here in 2014. You heard it in his voice after he secured victory at Sedgefield. He can’t wait to get the Playoffs started. Given his early-year frustration, his soles aren’t touching the ground right now. The Spaniard should relish the requirements at Ridgewood. His tee-to-green game has been phenomenal and his putting is improving rapidly. Peaking at the perfect time. Continues to fulfill his massive potential as he learns the rotation of courses. Opens as the 14-seed and ranks seventh in both the all-around and strokes gained: tee-to-green. With top 20s in six consecutive starts upon arrival, including three majors, a pair of top 25s at Ridgewood (2010, 2014) and bentgrass greens on which to putt this week, he’s an automatic. The 38-year-old Aussie earned last week off with a solo third at Bellerive. It begot some breathing room as he begins the Playoffs seeded 73rd. Top 15s in the last two editions at Ridgewood. Arguably the most flexible talent with only one victory. The quick study lets courses come to him and exploits the weak spots with his scoring ability. Ranks 13th in the all-around. Making his Playoffs debut at 23rd in the FedExCup standings. The Brit has made it look easy too often. Ranks third in both total driving and the all-around; also fifth in par-5 scoring. Still not contending – a T11 at the Wyndham is his second-best effort of 2018 – but he continues to percolate. Ranked second in proximity to the hole at Sedgefield. Placed T30 here in 2014. Essentially slump-proof, so anticipate a rebound after going T31-MC at Firestone and Bellerive. Steady T7-T12-T22 record at Ridgewood obscures his career roller coaster amid that consistency. Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Bryson DeChambeau, Alex Noren, Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland will be among the notables reviewed in Tuesday’s Fantasy Insider. With the cooperation of Mother Nature, Ridgewood Country Club is poised to present a proper platform to showcase the 2017-18 qualifiers for the FedExCup Playoffs. Seasonable and dry conditions are expected throughout with daytimes highs in the low to mid-80s and light breezes. FedExCup points for all entrants are carried into the Playoffs, but points earned in the Playoffs are quadrupled. The top 100 in the updated ranking will advance to next week’s Dell Technologies Championship. So, with jobs already secure for 2018-19, those outside the bubble have everything to gain. Ridgewood is the kind of test that will reward those who can balance aggression with patience, a combo that typically rewards experience. The course tips at 7,385 yards and boasts a stern trio of par 5s, but overall, the composite course plays into the grips of ball-strikers and shot-shapers who also know how to convert on their scoring opportunities. When it last hosted THE NORTHERN TRUST in 2014, Ridgewood yielded middle-of-the-pack percentages in fairways hit (63.99), greens in regulation (64.80) and par-breaker conversion rate after hitting GIR (29.11). Scoring averages also have reflected the diplomatic layout. After debuting at 71.406 in 2008, it decreased incrementally to 70.977 in 2010 and 70.809 in 2014. En route to his victory here during a primarily dry tournament in 2014, Hunter Mahan led the field in greens hit (58), but he was one of only two who posted a top 10 who also finished inside the top 10 in GIR. Seven of the 12 who finished inside the top 10 on the leaderboard ranked inside the top 10 in strokes gained: putting. Mahan slotted 15th. Patrick Reed (T9) was worst of the dozen and he was still a lofty 26th. Mahan’s 14-under 270 was the lowest of the first three winners at Ridgewood. This goes to show how familiarity translates into lower scoring. Bentgrass greens are average in size and will run upward of a comfortable 12-and-a-feet on the Stimpmeter. That leaves the primary defense around the edges where rough as high as four inches is waiting. A secondary defense, at least for some, and in line with the value of experience, is that 51 of the 120 in the field (as of Monday) competed in THE NORTHERN TRUST four years ago. Rickie Fowler (partial tear in right oblique; 17th in the FedExCup standings), Rory McIlroy (rest; 21st) and Henrik Stenson (left elbow; 50th) also pegged it here in 2014, but each is sitting this edition out. Patrick Rodgers (wedding in Italy; 93rd) and Bud Cauley (continued recovery from multiple injuries suffered in an automobile crash on June 1; 122nd) also are not in play. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton reviews and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings (THE NORTHERN TRUST) TUESDAY*: Power Rankings (FedExCup Playoffs), Sleepers, Facebook Live, Fantasy Insider WEDNESDAY: One & Done THURSDAY: Champions One & Done * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.

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