Rory McIlroy Reveals Heart Issue

The 2022 FedExCup Playoffs open with the last tournament of the season with a cut, so it could transpire as the last truly volatile experience. With all golfers promised 72 holes and with fields shrinking in the last two weeks, those will require a higher likelihood of correct guesses and at the most optimal of times. For now, it’s standard operating procedure at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. As the fellas below emphasize, the expectation is that opening short odds will win. If they’re right, riding your horse from the first tee to the finish line has merit. It also means that the five who cash likely will have connected with the R1 leader, Top 10, Top 20 and/or ties in 2-balls, which should be offered with cooperating weather. The wildcards, as we’ve witnessed at times, is whether Low6 posts bets for R2 and/or R3 leaders. Unlike catching Tom Kim at +12500 to win the Wyndham Championship, this week’s approach very much is about teamwork. So, if you never have stuck with your outright for an extended period of time, let him play at TPC Southwind, at least as long as he’s eligible. 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 Glass … Scottie Scheffler (+1500) The premise of this game suggests taking a long shot and adjust accordingly as the event rolls on. Scheffler didn’t mess around last year as he sat 13-under through 54 holes and was lurking for the final round. Right, the final round counts as well, but I’m not leaning on an outsider this week as big names (and big favorites) have won this event recently. Angles on bermuda, tough courses and big events are all covered this week. Rob … Patrick Cantlay (+1600) Yeah, I’m with Glass, but I already was going to size up a stud for this tournament, so maybe I should’ve said that Glass has the right idea! Indeed, the FedExCup Playoffs have a way of bringing out the best in the best. If Cantlay wins, it’d give him three consecutive victories in the Playoffs, albeit with the disclaimer that he wasn’t low aggregate in the TOUR Championship last year. (Speaking of which, factoring in Starting Strokes in this space in two weeks will be a hoot!) A win at TPC Southwind also would give him his first individual title since he captured the FedExCup, but he’s been close multiple times recently. The brilliance of his form has been as consistent as anyone’s; he’s just short on a break. By the way, don’t expect a first-time winner. It’s happened only once in the Playoffs, and it was way back in 2008 when Camilo Villegas broke through at the BMW Championship. TOP 10 Glass … Emiliano Grillo (+1000) The “outsiders” to crack the top 10 here recently have been first-timers Sam Burns (P2, 2021), Will Zalatoris (T8, 2021) and Chez Reavie (T6, 2020). The angle this week is finding someone who is hot and can handle a field of this depth. The Argentine rolls in with a T2 in two of his last three starts and will take his first crack at TPC Southwind like Burns and Zalatoris. Just hit all the fairways and greens! Rob … Russell Henley (+460) Another close call at Sedgefield validated his comfort and form overall, so it’s just a matter of getting a fair price. I targeted the vicinity of his kickback because it’s right around where I consider pivoting after R1 and R2 most weeks, at least when I cop the open window. His fantastic tee-to-green game alone oughta retain his position in this prop, but small greens allow average-to-bad putters a puncher’s chance. TOP 20 Rob … Taylor Pendrith (+270) Since these are free coins, I’ll take ‘em. OK, so they’re not free, but the rookie is performing like it’s a promotion to play. I get that the depth of this field is greater than each of his last four starts, but he rallied for top 15s in all, so, he has momentum. And if you need evidence of his class against the best, cue up the T16 at Torrey Pines and the T13 at TPC Sawgrass earlier this year. Perhaps best of all, he’s healthy, and because he took the four-month sabbatical to recover from the fractured rib, he’s still arguably fresher than everyone else right now. Glass … Max McGreevy (+2000) From the frying pan and into the fire after his T5 last week at Wyndham. I like a flier when boiling-hot. The boom or bust here is worth a watch because sometimes the brain frees up and all hell breaks loose. Knowing that the top 70 in the FedExCup is the next angle, he’ll need better than a top 20. Go for it, dude! Disclaimer: If it doesn’t, time to set the alarm for the window bright and early Saturday morning! Use the rules to your advantage, folks! ROUND 1 LEADER Glass … Matthew NeSmith (+11000) History tells us that the last three FRLs here in a limited OWGR field have posted 62 – Jon Rahm (2019), Brooks Koepka (2020) and Harris English (2021). That sample size suggests quality this week. It’s also worth pointing out that they posted such quaint totals in fields of only 78 players or less. With DOUBLE the field we have DOUBLE the chances, right? I’ll let the math folks figure that out, but I’m leaning on a bermuda, ball-striking longshot early to nip ahead. NeSmith opened with 65 on small greens at TPC River Highlands and got off to a hot start with 66 last week. The best part is that he’s goes off first Thursday morning and I have PLENTY of room to navigate throughout the day. Rob … Kurt Kitayama (+11000) Welp, I called it in last week’s Pick ‘Em Preview. I focused only on the early starters going off No. 1 at Sedgefield, but I didn’t go early enough. My pick, Mark Hubbard, went out in the ninth threesome and shot 70, while the coins for R1 Leader already were reserved for investors of John Huh in the opening threesome. So, yeah, I want a prop for merely having the correct half of the correct half of the draw. While I hold my breath for that, the par 35s at TPC Southwind are basically equal in their challenge, but Nos. 1-3 offer a springboard for everyone who can hit the ground running. We’re going to see a few birdie-birdie-birdie openers on the front, so that half of the draw again is my target range. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to jump on Kitayama in R1. He connected as the FRL at The Honda Classic and the Mexico Open at Vidanta, both with 64s. In his last three starts, he’s opened with 66, 68 and 67, respectively, so he hasn’t relented on his pattern of flooring with the light turns green. 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.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. – Magnolia Lane. Amen Corner. Butler Cabin. “Hello, friends.â€� The Season of Championships continues with the year’s first major. This week’s Masters has a field of 87 players from 22 countries, with six amateurs and 17 first-timers at Augusta National. A couple of guys named Nicklaus and Player will get it all started with their ceremonial first tee shots Thursday morning. THE FLYOVER Don’t be surprised if the 18th green utilizes a new hole location this week. Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said the recent rebuild of that green has “recaptured some areas on the back part of the green that had been lost to encroachment. … The back right, I think, is going to give us an opportunity for a really good hole location. There’s plenty of room back there, but it kind of looks like it’s almost tucked, almost in the bunker, when you’re in the fairway.â€� Ridley said he received some positive feedback during Tuesday’s Champions dinner. Of course, before reaching the green, players must first find the fairway on this uphill dogleg right hole protected by two fairway bunkers on the left. Two more bunkers guard the green. LANDING ZONE Statistically, the hardest hole at Augusta National is the 495-yard par-4 10th. Since 1942 when the Masters began calculating stroke averages per hole, the 10th has played at 0.31 strokes over par. But it’s not the longest par 4 on the course – the 505-yard 11th has played to a cumulative average of 0.30 strokes over par. And in recent years, the 11th has been more difficult than the 10th. The last time the 10th was the most difficult hole was in 2001; since then, the 11th has ranked as the most difficult 11 times, including last year when it played to a stroke average of 4.400 (compared to the 10th’s 4.082, which was its lowest average in tournament history). Here’s a look at the 11th, which starts Amen Corner. WEATHER CHECK From the Masters official forecast: “Thursday’s first round will feature partly cloudy skies, while clouds increase later in the day. Easterly winds at 6-12 mph in the morning, turn southeast at 10-15 mph during the afternoon with gusts up to 20 mph possible late day. A warm front lifts into the area on Friday, bringing a chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms. The front hangs just to the north on Saturday, keeping isolated showers in the forecast. The main cold front associated with this system is expected to approach Sunday afternoon, bringing increasing chances for showers and thunderstorms. After a breezy Friday with gusts of 15-20 mph possible, winds settle down for Saturday, and then pick back up ahead of the front on Sunday when the strongest winds of the week are expected.â€� For the latest weather news from Augusta, Georgia, check out PGATOUR.COM’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK This event, is so different, and is so unique. It’s pure golf. You know, it’s just player and caddie out there playing. We’re prepping together and there’s no other distractions inside the ropes. BY THE NUMBERS (AMEN CORNER EDITION) 3.63 – Jon Rahm’s stroke average at the par-4 11th in eight career rounds. That’s the lowest of any player in the field. 2.96 – Hideki Matsuyama’s stroke average at the par-3 12th in 26 career rounds. That’s the lowest of any player in the field with 25-plus rounds at Augusta National. 4.24 – Phil Mickelson’s stroke average at the par-5 13th in 98 career rounds. That’s the lowest of any player with a minimum of 25 rounds at Augusta National. In case you’re wondering, Tiger Woods’ stroke average at that hole in 82 career rounds is 4.39. SCATTERSHOTS Need a fast start: If you’re not in the top 10 after Thursday’s first round, you can probably forget about winning a green jacket. Since 2006, every winner has been T-10 or better after 18 holes. The last player who wasn’t? Tiger Woods, who opened with a 74 in 2005, which had him sitting T-33 on Thursday night. Woods rallied the next day, shooting 66 and was solo third headed into the weekend. “Obviously you’ve got to get off to a good start in a major and at least build some confidence and kind of get it rolling,â€� said Brooks Koepka, winner of three of the last seven majors but still searching for his first Masters victory. Mickelson’s 100th: On Friday, Phil Mickelson will play his 100th round at Augusta National. “I didn’t even know that until you brought it up,â€� he said when asked about it on Tuesday. “I’ve been fortunate to play a lot of rounds here, and I cherish and love every one of them, even the practice rounds.â€� Challenging prep work. With two inches of rain falling on Augusta National since the start of this week, the course has played softer and the greens have been slower during practice rounds. But with Augusta National’s sub-air system, and no rain expected until Friday, the course conditions could be completely different for Thursday’s first round. That means the players will need to lean on previous experience than on this week’s prep work. “Gotta pull on a lot of history,â€� said Brandt Snedeker. “… Kind of a little tough to get fully prepared.â€� Softer conditions=more contenders. Jordan Spieth said that softer conditions at Augusta National might widen the number of players who could win the tournament. “I think there’s less strategy when it’s softer,â€� he said. Spieth won in soft conditions in 2015, but he’s also contended in firm conditions in 2014, his first Masters start when he tied for second. “I think either way, you just have to step up and play some really good golf,â€� he said. FedExCup leaders: All 30 players who qualified for last year’s TOUR Championship are in this week’s field. In addition, 24 of the top 30 players in the current standings will tee off Thursday, including Corey Conners, who moved from 64th to 13th in the standings after winning the Valero Texas Open. Just two players have won the Masters after winning the PGA TOUR’s event the previous week – Sandy Lyle in 1998 and Phil Mickelson in 2006.

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