Rory McIlroy's title defense in tatters after early PLAYERS carnage

Click here to read the full article…

It’s time to lace up. The race is on. While it’s cliché, it’s not wrong to define the latest version of PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO as a marathon, not a sprint. Similar to what golfers themselves experience in pursuit of the FedExCup, the long game applies to gamers. Total fantasy points scored has mirrored overall tournament finish, but the variance between the best and the rest is slight if not nominal. As a result, making cuts is the priority and easily at that. Swallowing even one zero will apply pressure in future events. Because the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open is the second tournament of the season with a 36-hole cut, expect separation in your ranks by the time your standings are tabulated. With that in mind, I’m advising that you remain patient in case you’re the one who is dealt a blow. Even if you’re chasing only Segment prizes, you can’t afford one zero when you consider how many thousands of others who play regularly will be scoring. In that context, league play has never been of more value to retain the most discerning level of fun. Meanwhile, if you already haven’t been paying attention, when ShotLink is utilized as it is at the Shriners, you’re going to learn that golfers who contend are going to score approximately 10-15 percent of their fantasy points via the bonuses for shot levels and rounds. The key word is “bonus.” They can’t be targeted specifically with reasonable expectations. For example, drives over 300 yards and longer aren’t rare, but they award just 1 point per. If you’re going after bonuses, anyway, saving starts on notables in shootouts should yield a handful bogey-free rounds (5 points apiece) and scores of 65 or lower (3 points each). Because of its ease, TPC Summerlin is the kind of fast track on which fantasy scoring projects to land higher than at other par 71s such as Riviera, Copperhead and Quail Hollow. At those sites, you might be inclined not to burn starts on golfers expected to contend if there are other spots in the same Segment at which they can do more damage. Slow and steady wins. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO My roster for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (in alphabetical order): Patrick Cantlay Tony Finau Rickie Fowler Jordan Spieth Kevin Streelman Gary Woodland You’ll find my starters in Expert Picks. Others to consider for each category (in alphabetical order): Scoring: Cameron Champ; Bryson DeChambeau; Beau Hossler; Si Woo Kim; Martin Laird; Ryan Palmer; J.J. Spaun; Aaron Wise Driving: Bronson Burgoon; Bryson DeChambeau; Scott Piercy; Patrick Rodgers; J.J. Spaun; Brendan Steele; Kevin Streelman; Aaron Wise Power Rankings Wild Card Martin Laird … Slots as an extension of the Power Rankings proper this week. He’s connected with his horse-for-a-course profile all year, so it stands to reason that investors won’t wait to latch on at TPC Summerlin when he prevailed in 2009 and owns an overall record of 7-for-9 with a scoring average of 68.25. If last year’s missed cut worries you, remember that there was a governor on scoring due to gusty winds. Draws Kevin Tway … Now that he’s had a week to rest after opening the season with his breakthrough victory at Silverado and sticking with his commitments in Malaysia (T27) and South Korea (T52), our expectations are elevated again. His win didn’t come out of nowhere – he was targeting it for months – so he’s presented no reason why he won’t cash more chips in Vegas where he’s making his fourth start. Joaquin Niemann … Surely there’s a sense that the honeymoon is over for the 19-year-old – no one escapes the learning curve – but he’s still connected eight cuts made over the last four months and he won’t see a host course that he’s played before on TOUR until the Masters, and that’s only if he qualifies. Continue to enjoy his ascent. Brendan Steele … This close to returning to the circle of trust thanks to a strong back half of a T14 in South Korea. The recent freefall in form is uncharacteristic, but TPC Summerlin has been a reliable track for him to shine. He’s 5-for-6 with a pair of top 20s, albeit in 2011 and 2012. Patrick Rodgers … As well as he rolls it, he should be a short-lister in a shootout, but he’s connected for only one cut made at TPC Summerlin (T13, 2015). Instead, his form upon arrival is the impetus for this endorsement. After sitting out the Playoffs to attend a wedding in Europe, which followed a T25 at the Wyndham Championship, he’s gone T25-T14. It’s the first time in three years that he’s strung together a trio of top 25s. Anders Albertson Si Woo Kim Ryan Palmer                                              Nick Watney Fades Kevin Na … I could open every analysis of him with the disclaimer that he’s been my Kryptonite throughout his career. He’s cooperated with his projection in recent months, so we’ll see how he shakes out at the Shriners where he captured his first PGA TOUR title in 2011 and shared runner-up honors three years ago. That T2 is his only payday of his last four appearances. However, it’s a home game and he’s missed only one cut in his last 13 starts worldwide, so consider him a contrarian. Matt Kuchar … Given his low, boring ball flight, it would have been intriguing to see how he would have performed in last year’s wind, but even though it’s been nine years since his last appearance, he’s fared well at TPC Summerlin when red numbers were available in boatloads. In his last two trips, he finished second in 2008 and T7 in 2009. What gives, then? Well, a year ago at this time, he was 15th in the Official World Golf Ranking. Today, he’s 38th with only two top 25s in his last nine starts worldwide. The inconsistency and surprisingly pedestrian form can be chalked up to a mild regression across the board. It’s to be expected at age 40. So, while hopes are for an improvement this week, use it as a gauge for what we do with him at The RSM Classic where he’s been a regular in his backyard. Corey Conners … I remain fascinated by the analytical 26-year-old, and he’s coming off a close call at the Sanderson Farms Championship where he did work tee to green and around the targets, but the pressure will remain on to perform every time out due to his conditional status. He’s in the field at TPC Summerlin because of last week’s top 10, but he’ll be fortunate to nab 20 starts this season. For now, consider him only fractionally in DFS. Chesson Hadley … Easy to see a T5 in his debut here in 2013 and last year’s T4 in breezy conditions during a torrid stretch of form, but he’s hung up only one top-40 finish in his last 10 starts (T2, CIMB). For a guy who’s proven to be streaky, that’s not the trend we desire. Jason Dufner … Since The Open Championship, he’s 3-for-8 without a top 40. His appearance at TPC Summerlin is just his second in the last 11 editions (MC, 2016). Chris Kirk Troy Merritt Ollie Schniederjans Peter Uihlein Jhonattan Vegas Returning to Competition Grayson Murray … Walked off the Country Club of Jackson during last week’s second round. An explanation wasn’t released, but he’s been battling back and shoulder discomfort for months. It was his third mid-tournament withdrawal since May. Freddie Jacobson … First PGA TOUR start since May of 2017. Sat out 15 months due to hand surgery, and then went 1-for-3 while rehabbing on the European Tour. Has 18 starts on a Major Medical Extension, so he’s a no-brainer throw-in for deeper salary gamers if you already haven’t nibbled on that line. Notable WDs Andrew Putnam … In his World Golf Championships debut last week, he tied for fourth at Sheshan International. He led the field in greens hit and ranked fifth in par-5 scoring. While obviously impressive, it’s merely an extension of the breakout form that he’s illustrated throughout 2018. Would have been gunning to become the first to win both of the PGA TOUR starts in Nevada in the same calendar year. With wins in Vegas in 1992 and in Reno in 2001, John Cook is the only golfer to prevail in each at least once in any year. Vijay Singh … First time in seven years he’s skipping the Shriners, but the week off will allow him to rest and prep for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. After he won the Toshiba Classic this past March, the 55-year-old World Golf Hall of Famer stated that he was going to throttle back on PGA TOUR action. To wit, he played only six more times to total just 10 starts on the season. His best finish was but a solo 49th at the Masters. Ernie Els … Turned 49 years of age on October 17 and finished T36 at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES the following weekend. He hasn’t recorded a top 25 on the PGA TOUR since a solo fifth at the Quicken Loans National in June 2016. Didn’t make his debut at TPC Summerlin until later that fall. Power Rankings Recap – World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions Power Ranking  Golfer  Result 1  Brooks Koepka  T16 2  Justin Rose  3rd 3  Rory McIlroy  T54 4  Dustin Johnson  T30 5  Francesco Molinari  T43 6  Jason Day  T11 7  Tommy Fleetwood  T7 8  Rafa Cabrera Bello  T14 9  Tony Finau  P2 10  Tyrrell Hatton  T22 11  Ian Poulter  21st 12  Paul Casey  T16 13  Cameron Smith  T54 14  Hideki Matsuyama  T30 15  Matthew Fitzpatrick  T54 16  Adam Scott  T18 17  Eddie Pepperell  DNP 18  Jon Rahm  T22 19  Kyle Stanley  T22 20  Patrick Cantlay  T7 Wild Card  Xander Schauffele  Win Sleepers Recap – World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions Golfer  Result Lucas Bjerregaard  T69 Yuki Inamori  T73 Hao Tong Li  T11 Andrea Pavan  T22 Matt Wallace  T50 Power Rankings Recap – Sanderson Farms Championship Power Ranking  Golfer  Result 1  Lucas Glover  T14 2  Bill Haas  T14 3  Chris Kirk  MC 4  Hunter Mahan  T61 5  Harold Varner III  MC 6  Ryan Armour  T54 7  Nick Taylor  T26 8  Dylan Frittelli  T54 9  Cameron Davis  MC 10  Patrick Rodgers  T14 Birthdays among active golfers on the PGA TOUR October 30 … none October 31 … Mark Wilson (44) November 1 … none November 2 … James Hahn (37); Adam Hadwin (31) November 3 … Kris Blanks (46) November 4 … Kevin Streelman (40) November 5 … Jim Herman (41); Bubba Watson (40)

Click here to read the full article…

• COURSE: Quail Hollow Club, 7,600 yards, par 71. Already a player favorite as host of the Wells Fargo Championship, Quail Hollow unveils a new look for its first step into the major spotlight. Tom Fazio’s latest upgrade created three new holes, including a new 524-yard opener made by merging the old first and second holes. Nos. 4 and 5 also are new, made from the previous par-5 fifth hole. There was no need to tinker with the “Green Mile,� already deemed perhaps the toughest closing three holes on the PGA TOUR. George Cobb built the original 1961 layout, with Arnold Palmer and later Fazio tabbed for modifications. Quail Hollow was the Kemper Open’s original venue (1969-79) and later staged the World Seniors Invitational (1980-89), with the Presidents Cup coming in 2021. • FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 600 points. • CHARITY: PGA Reach, formerly the PGA Foundation, has contributed more than $40 million over the past two decades to growth-of-the-game initiatives, ranging from establishment of The First Tee to teaching grants and funding for military veterans, disabled and special-needs golfers. • FIELD WATCH: Jordan Spieth, atop the FedExCup standings and pointing toward a shot at the career Grand Slam, is joined by No.2 Dustin Johnson and defending champion Jimmy Walker to headline one of the year’s deepest fields. … All but two of the top 115 in the world rankings are slated to compete, missing only No.63 Martin Kaymer (shoulder) and No.75 Scott Piercy (unspecified). … Spots remain for the winners of this week’s WGC Bridgestone Invitational and Barracuda Championship, if not already qualified. … The lineup also includes the top 20 finishers from June’s PGA Professional National Championship. • 72-HOLE RECORD: 265, David Toms (2001 at Atlanta AC). • 18-HOLE RECORD: 63, Bruce Crampton (2nd round, 1975 at Firestone CC), Raymond Floyd (1st round, 1982 at Southern Hills), Gary Player (2nd round, 1984 at Shoal Creek), Michael Bradley (1st round, 1993 at Inverness), Vijay Singh (2nd round, 1993 at Inverness), Brad Faxon (4th round, 1995 at Riviera CC), José María Olazábal (3rd round, 2000 at Valhalla), Mark O’Meara (2nd round, 2001 at Atlanta AC), Thomas Bjorn (3rd round, 2005 at Baltusrol), Tiger Woods (2nd round, 2007 at Southern Hills), Steve Stricker (1st round, 2011 at Atlanta AC), Jason Dufner (2nd round, 2013 at Oak Hill), Hiroshi Iwata (2nd round, 2015 at Whistling Straits), Robert Streb (2nd round, 2016 at Baltusrol). • LAST YEAR: Walker stood tall on the PGA Championship’s longest day, enduring a 36-hole finale at Baltusrol to hold off Jason Day’s late charge and complete a wire-to-wire victory for his first major title. Walker shot 68-67 on the final day, playing his final 29 holes without a bogey to stay one stroke clear of Day’s bid for back-to-back Wanamakers. A Day eagle at Baltusrol’s par-5 18th hole made it interesting, though, especially after Walker’s 3-wood from 289 yards came down in greenside rough. The 37-year-old Texan pitched to 30 feet, though, and two-putted from there to emerge triumphant. The win had special meaning for Walker and caddie Andy Sanders, who met at Baltusrol when both were competing in the 2000 U.S. Amateur. Eight years later, Walker turned his bag over to Sanders. • STORYLINES: Spieth, fresh off his adventuresome Open Championship triumph, needs only the PGA Championship to complete the career Grand Slam – and can best Tiger Woods as the youngest to do it if he wins at Quail Hollow. The Texan celebrated his 24th birthday just last week. … Rory McIlroy has been Quail Hollow’s master, using a final-round 62 to win his first PGA TOUR title there in 2010 and shooting 61 on the way to a 2015 victory. He also lost a playoff to Rickie Fowler in 2013. … Johnson, who took three consecutive wins into Augusta back in April, is down to his final chance to win a major in 2017. • SHORT CHIPS: Eight of the past 11 major winners have been first-timers, including Sergio Garcia and Brooks Koepka this year. The exceptions: Spieth (twice) and Zach Johnson at St. Andrews. … Before that, five of the previous six winners already had a major title on their portfolio. … This marks the 60th year in which the PGA Championship has been decided by stroke play, after match play was employed for the first 39 editions. • TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 1-7 p.m. ET (TNT). Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (TNT), 2-7 p.m. (CBS). • PGA TOUR LIVE: None. • RADIO: Thursday-Friday, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-7 p.m. (SiriusXM).

Click here to read the full article…