Sleepers: The Greenbrier Classic

PGATOUR.COM fantasy columnist Rob Bolton lists his five against-the-grain selections for this week’s event at the Old White TPC. Scott Brown … Back in action after a three-week break that supplanted seven straight weeks of competition. He hit that road trip running with a playoff loss teaming with Kevin Kisner in New Orleans. Brown doesn’t fit a specific profile other than he’s simply proven to be dangerous often enough to warrant attention. This isn’t to say that he slips into slumps; rather, he sustains a comfortable level before spiking without notice. Labeling him as a proven flier wouldn’t be wrong. When he finished T2 at Riviera in February, he led the field in strokes gained: putting, and when he placed T12 at Colonial in late May, he ranked T3 in greens hit, first in proximity and second in strokes gained: tee-to-green. Simply a pro’s pro. Robert Garrigus … If last week’s performance is the warm-up act, then this week’s appearance could be the main event. Mired in a slump for months (0-for-7 upon arrival at the Quicken Loans National) and constantly battling demons on the greens, the 39-year-old recorded a season-best split in strokes gained: putting at 6.200, best in the field at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. He also set the pace with a birdies-or-better percentage of 40.0, his second-highest clip of 2016-17. He knows what he needs to do now: hit more greens in regulation, which is his strength, anyway. Currently 33rd on TOUR in GIR. Grayson Murray … The baseline goal for any rookie is to retain his card. With an entire season that’s nothing but a learning curve both inside and outside the ropes, the mere accomplishment of keeping one’s job is a mammoth achievement. After making quick work of one year on the Web.com Tour and pacing the Finals in earnings to earn exempt status from the reshuffle category this season, the 23-year-old took some time to find his footing on the PGA TOUR despite a pair of early top 15s. However, he struts into The Greenbrier Classic having survived 10 consecutive cuts and positioned 113th in the FedExCup standings. He ranks 46th in birdie-or-better percentage, but more impressive is his improvement from 4-8 feet. During his streak, he’s up nearly six percentage points and slots a season-best T44 in the stat. Tyrone Van Aswegen … No golfer puts four rounds together regularly, but the absence of it entirely is the ironic constant among rank-and-filers. When expectations need to remain high to sustain a livelihood at this level, any spark can be monumental, not to mention lucrative. The 35-year-old from South Africa has only three top 10s in 101 PGA TOUR starts, but he’s figured out how to remain a fixture on the circuit since 2014. Currently 117th in the FedExCup standings, he’s coming off a T26 at the Quicken Loans National where he ranked second in strokes gained: approach-the-green and T10 in converting his chances into par breakers. It was his best result in individual competition in five months. Chris Stroud … You have to hand it to him. He’s a man of conviction. Rather than attempt to moonlight on the Web.com Tour, he’s toiled away on the PGA TOUR with conditional status this season. This is just his 14th start but he’s 158th in the FedExCup standings and a lock to secure a berth in the Web.com Tour Finals at worst. With that as a safety net (and notch above Veteran Membership that he secured last season), the Texan can take aim at The Old White TPC where he’s recorded two top 10s in five trips. Yes, the rebuild is new to all, but comfort can transcend. Statistically uninspiring until you zero in on the fact that half of his six cuts made this season yielded a top 15.

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