Snedeker playing like old self again at RBC Heritage

COPY HERE The 12th of 24 contributing events for PGA TOUR Champions One & Done presented by SERVPRO is this week’s Principal Charity Classic. It begins on Friday. Scroll for tournament notes, 18 notables and three wild cards from the field of 78 in Des Moines, Iowa. There’s an argument to be made that there are five 3-0 fastballs and one 3-2 changeup in the mix at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. Daniel Berger hasn’t been beaten in two consecutive appearances. He’s a go-to for front-runners but he’s humming along at only 84 mph or so with little movement. If your objective is to play defense, then look no further, but if you’re leading your league and still want to swing for the fences, pivot to … Dustin Johnson, the 2012 champ, who brings the heat just about everywhere and is buzzing beneath the radar of late, but that’s not a compliment. Besides, you’ll want him for a majors or in the FedExCup Playoffs, which brings into play … Billy Horschel, he of four straight top 10s at TPC Southwind since 2013 and recent winner (with Scott Piercy) in New Orleans, but he’s a better fit for chasers because of his higher risk not to contend. For the opposite experience, consider … Phil Mickelson, who shores up the left side of the rubber and remains in pursuit of his first title in Memphis, loves this tournament and the golf course. We hear that a lot from the soon-to-be 48-year-old (on June 16), but he’s backed it up in each of the last five editions of the St. Jude. Regardless of your position, he’s your man. But if you’ve already burned him, it’s time for … Brooks Koepka, the No. 1 in my Power Rankings and for whom I wrote in this space during the week of the Masters, “And who knows, there’s plenty of time for Brooks Koepka to crash the conversation.” That was in response to his extend his time away due to injury for what was another month. And indeed, it’s time to cash in on your patience regardless of your position. That’s quite a staff from which to choose your starter for the FedEx St. Jude Classic, but what if, like me, you’re looking to guess off-speed pitch on the full count? I never mind playing the push, which is to say that I subscribe to J-Wall’s philosophy on Koepka below, but I need to force the action even more. This is why Henrik Stenson gets the spot start. I’ve invested in almost nothing but chalk. I’ve drifted from my once-defiant narrative of playing aggressively. What’s more, I’ve started to hear from readers that I’ve gone soft and become predictable. Who better than the Swedish machine to silence the critics? Two-man gamers should consider Joaquin Niemann, Chez Reavie, Matt Jones, Austin Cook and Ben Crane. FUTURE POSSIBILITIES NOTE: Select golfers committed to the tournament are listed alphabetically. Future tournaments are sorted chronologically and reflect previous success on the courses on which the tournaments will be held in 2017-18. The numerical values in parentheses represent the order of relative confidence of where to use each golfer if multiple sites are listed (e.g. 1 for strongest, 2 for next-strongest and so on). To present weighted confidence in real time, numerical values will not change all season no matter how many tournament remain listed for each golfer. All are pending golfer commitment. Daniel Berger … St. Jude (1; two-time defending); Travelers (2) Kevin Chappell … St. Jude (5); WGC-Bridgestone (2); Dell Technologies (3) Tony Finau … Greenbrier (2); Canadian (4) J.B. Holmes … Greenbrier (5) Billy Horschel … St. Jude (1); TOUR Championship (4) Dustin Johnson … St. Jude (8); U.S. Open (13); Canadian (10); WGC-Bridgestone (14); PGA Championship (9); Dell Technologies (11); TOUR Championship (6) Brooks Koepka … St. Jude (3); U.S. Open (1; defending); Open Championship (4); WGC-Bridgestone (6); PGA Championship (2) Phil Mickelson … St. Jude (1); Open Championship (5) Ryan Palmer … St. Jude (6) Scott Piercy … John Deere (6) Charl Schwartzel … U.S. Open (5); Open Championship (6); WGC-Bridgestone (2) Brandt Snedeker … U.S. Open (5); Travelers (6); Canadian (3); Wyndham (4) Henrik Stenson … Open Championship (6); WGC-Bridgestone (4); PGA Championship (7); Wyndham (8; defending); Dell Technologies (9); TOUR Championship (2) CHAMPIONS ONE & DONE Principal Charity Classic Wakonda Club in Des Moines, Iowa, has served as the host since 2013. It’s a stock par 72 stretching 6,831 yards. Brandt Jobe returns to defend what remains his only title on the PGA TOUR Champions. At 14-under 202, he clipped co-runners-up Scott McCarron and Kevin Sutherland by one stroke. All previous champions at Wakonda are committed to play, including McCarron (2016), Mark Calcavecchia (2015), Tom Pernice, Jr. (2014) and Russ Cochran (2013). The total prize money of $1.75 million ties for lowest of all remaining tournaments this season. The winner will bank $262,500. FUTURE POSSIBILITIES NOTE: Select golfers committed to the tournament are listed alphabetically. Future tournaments are sorted chronologically and reflect previous success on the courses on which the tournaments will be held in 2018. The numerical values in parentheses represent the order of relative confidence of where to use each golfer if multiple sites are listed (e.g. 1 for strongest, 2 for next-strongest and so on). To present weighted confidence in real time, numerical values will not change all season no matter how many tournament remain listed for each golfer. All are pending golfer commitment. Stephen Ames … Principal (8); U.S. Senior Open (6); Boeing (2); Shaw (7) David Frost … U.S. Senior Open (4); 3M (7); Boeing (5); Shaw (8); PURE (1) Fred Funk … Boeing (6); PURE (5) Doug Garwood … SAS (1) Paul Goydos … 3M (1; defending); DICK’S (3); SAS (5) Lee Janzen … U.S. Senior Open (2) Brandt Jobe … Principal (3; defending); U.S. Senior Open (4); SENIOR PLAYERS (1); 3M (5); Boeing (8) Jerry Kelly … Boeing (1; defending); Shaw (5); PURE (2); SAS (4) Bernhard Langer … Usable everywhere. Defending five titles. Tom Lehman … Principal (1); U.S. Senior Open (3); SAS (9) Billy Mayfair … Boeing (2); PURE (1) Scott McCarron … Principal (1); SENIOR PLAYERS (3; defending); Senior Open Championship (10); DICK’S (4; defending); Shaw (5; defending); PURE (8) Tom Pernice, Jr. … Principal (2); Shaw (3); SAS (5) Kenny Perry … 3M (1); DICK’S (10); SAS (2) Gene Sauers … U.S. Senior Open (5); SENIOR PLAYERS (6); Boeing (1) Kevin Sutherland … Usable everywhere. David Toms … Boeing (2); SAS (4) Duffy Waldorf … Principal (6); Shaw (5) WILD CARDS (short list of golfers not included above but on the rise or still building portfolios after recently turning 50): Steve Flesch; Rocco Mediate; Scott Parel

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The Wyndham Championship isn’t part of the FedExCup Playoffs, but playoffs are as much about who survives and advances as who doesn’t. So, for many at Sedgefield Country Club this week, their personal playoffs begin now. A field of 156 is assembled in Greensboro, North Carolina, for the conclusion of the PGA TOUR’s regular season. Scroll past the projected contenders for a review of what’s at stake, how Sedgefield is expected to test and more. RELATED: How the field qualified | The First Look POWER RANKINGS: WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP Rickie Fowler, Tommy Fleetwood, Lucas Glover, Francesco Molinari, Barracuda Championship winner Erik van Rooyen and defending champion Jim Herman will be among the notables reviewed in Tuesday’s Fantasy Insider. The Wyndham Championship has served as the anchor of the PGA TOUR regular season throughout the FedExCup era and Sedgefield CC has hosted since 2008. Because statuses for golfers will be subject to change at its conclusion, the gathering in Greensboro presents a little like the last day of high school. Some guys never will see each other again, for even a reunion must be earned. For most, it’ll preface a rebirth that results in a run at the FedExCup during the three-event Playoffs on deck, the Korn Ferry Tour Finals that’s contested concurrently, or perhaps a spot in the second stage of qualifying school to regain status on the KFT in 2022. Churn is the norm in the constant of the meritocracy. Leading the qualifiers for the Playoffs is the Comcast Business TOUR TOP 10. Of the 25 mathematically within reach to be rewarded, four are in the field at Sedgefield – Louis Oosthuizen (eighth in FedExCup points), Jason Kokrak (12th), Hideki Matsuyama (14th) and Patrick Reed (22nd). Of them, only Oosthuizen can stretch to No. 1. He cannot finish lower than 10th. Another impactful bubble hovers over Bo Hoag at 125th in points. From Sepp Straka at 105th through Rafael Campos at 151st, only Charles Howell III (137th) isn’t committed at Sedgefield. (CH3 is fully exempt through the 2021-22 season, so he forfeits only the chance to qualify for the 2021 Playoffs). Sedgefield is a stock par 70 measuring 7,131 yards. With no significant changes and with customarily favorable scoring conditions, it’ll play as the racetrack with which the entrants are familiar. Last year’s scoring average of 68.779 aligned with its recent history. Bermuda greens are ready to touch 12 feet on the Stimpmeter, but the daily threat for rain and increased chance of storms deeper into the tournament could impact that. The two-and-a-half-inch primary rough will be consistent. Wind will not be a factor, so every bit of the daytime highs in the low 90s will be felt before a relative cooling on Sunday. En route to the title last year, Jim Herman showcased the textbook formula for success in a shootout. He led the field in greens hit (63 of 72) and finished third in Strokes Gained: Putting, connecting on 14 tries outside 10 feet, tied for most in the field. He went 10-for-21 from 10-20 feet and ranked second in average distance of putts holed. Because the Wyndham Championship is the final stop before the Playoffs, all top 10s at Sedgefield will be eligible for entry into the Fortinet Championship on Sept. 16-19. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers; Fantasy Insider SUNDAY: Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Rookie Watch * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesday.

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