Since the launch of the FedExCup era, the Quicken Loans National has been a staple as a stop in the Mid-Atlantic. It is once again this week. TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm hosts for the second consecutive year. As projected in its return to the PGA TOUR after a comprehensive renovation 10 years prior, it played up to the hype as a tough test. In fact, last year’s scoring average of 71.458 was highest among all par 70s in non-majors last season. Furthermore, only PGA National, annual host of The Honda Classic and where the winds always howl in late February and early March, has scored higher among par 70s in non-majors over each of the last six seasons. Scroll beneath the ranking for details on how TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm sets up, the statistically predictable defending champion and what’s in store beginning in 2019. Still chasing his first victory of the season but he’s logged a pair of seconds among eight top 20s in 14 starts, including in each of his last three. Tied for third at TPC Potomac last year. In a tailspin at the moment, but the leash is longer for heads of the class. Five top 10s in 2018, including a runner-up finish a month ago in Texas. Shared fifth place here last year. In arguably better form than prior to his victory last year. Three top 15s in his last five starts, including a playoff loss at Muirfield Village and a career-best T15 at TPC River Highlands. After going Win-2nd in England and his native Italy, respectively, he placed T25 at Shinnecock Hills. TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm is an ideal site for his tee-to-green mastery. The latest example of how a veteran can find a groove and coast. The 36-year-old sat 133rd in FedExCup points a month ago but has since climbed to 50th on a T13-3rd-T2 burst. Shinnecock Hills put a halt to his surge sparked at the Masters. Prior to his T56 at the U.S. Open, he connected six straight top 25s, three of which for T6 or better. Ten consecutive cuts made upon arrival, including a pair of second-place finishes. Among the best putters on TOUR but also above average in manufacturing scoring opportunities. He gets his first look at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm this week. He’s been strong overall but has lacked consistency. Greens averaging just 5,300 square feet will accentuate his aerial attack. He’s a virtual lock for a 2017-18 TOUR card, so everything in the interim is a bonus. That allows the affable Thai to continue to free-wheel and build on a fantastic 2018. With a T4 at TPC Southwind and a T2 at TPC River Highlands that including a career-low-tying 62 on Sunday, he’s back on the radar. It’s also more evidence of his wife’s inspiration. Although last year’s playoff victim celebrated his 39th birthday on June 20, he continues to hum along just as he always has. He’s 19-for-21 with four top 10s among 12 top 25s this season. Close call at Muirfield Village proved that he’s poised for a breakthrough. It was his sixth top-15 finish worldwide since late January. Ranks 18th on TOUR in strokes gained: tee-to-green. Profiles similarly to the defending champion and ranks T20 in par-5 scoring. Tway also comes in with top 10s in three of his last five starts after dropping hints of something special all season. You know he’s eager to get back out there after settling for second place in his last start at TPC Southwind. Perfect in his last eight with five top 20s baked in. Tenth on TOUR in GIR. Since turning pro, all three of his cuts made in six starts are top 10s. The 19-year-old wasn’t sure he was going to hang off the tee but he’d rank 29th in distance of all drives if eligible. RANK PLAYER COMMENT POWER RANKINGS: QUICKEN LOANS NATIONAL Si Woo Kim, Gary Woodland, Kevin Na and Bill Haas will be among the notables reviewed in Tuesday’s Fantasy Insider. Although there were the customary multiple paths en route to contending at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm a year ago, it made sense that the man who emerged as champion of the Quicken Loans National was and remains one of the PGA TOUR’s preeminent ball-strikers. Kyle Stanley has crafted out his career as a longer-hitting tee-to-green surgeon, a particular skill set that he displayed here last year. He led the field in strokes gained: off-the-tee, green in regulation and strokes gained: tee-to-green. He also finished T20 in distance of all drives, third in fairways hit and sixth in proximity to the hole before surviving one hole of sudden death with Charles Howell III and extinguishing David Lingmerth’s bid for a wire-to-wire title. (Lingmerth placed T5.) In line with the expectation on unfamiliar bentgrass greens, Stanley prevailed despite losing ground to the field of 120 in strokes gained: putting, surrendering 1.1 strokes with his wand over 72 holes of regulation. It’s the kind of formula that might not work as well this time around given that as of Monday afternoon, 71 in this week’s field competed in last year’s edition, including nine of the 12 who finished inside the top 10. The only stretch on the 7,107-yard layout that presents any reasonable chance for momentum exists on holes 12-14. All three averaged under par last year, the only connection between at least two such holes. Both of the par 5s (Nos. 2 and 10) checked up under par, but together they ranked as the most difficult set of par 5s of all par 70s all season. Simply put, there is no letup along the walk. Even though more experience will be logged at TPC Potomac this week, a new book of knowledge will introduced next year as this tournament is moving to the Detroit area. It was announced a month ago that the title sponsor has agreed to a long-term partnership that includes the migration of the event to Quicken Loans’ hometown. For its last spin in the region this week, warm and humid conditions will remind everyone of the season with Independence Day right around the corner. There won’t be much relief for gradually increasing daytime highs into the low 90s, but the absence of wind should result in lower scores than last year’s breezier challenge. 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, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings TUESDAY*: 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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