The First Look: THE PLAYERS Championship

Bryson DeChambeau shot 68 on Sunday at the Wells Fargo Championship to move into the top 10 after traveling home when he thought he missed the cut and having to fly back early Saturday.

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The new norm. Only if you were born during World War II might you remember the last time the PGA Championship was contested in May. It was on May 31st in 1949 when any round was last held in the month. Save a spot start in February of 1971, the major has been played in June, July or August ever since. The transition gives a new generation the experience to identify with the PGA of America’s flagship event in its new slot on the schedule for the foreseeable future. It was shifted from August to accommodate the FedExCup Playoffs. This Power Rankings includes the entire field of 156 at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course. Scroll beyond the sections for nuggets on the host track, what it likely will require to win and more. WILD CARD Bryson DeChambeau … In due time, he’ll collect on his fair share of leaderboard appearances in the majors, but a T15 in the 2016 U.S. Open remains his only top 20 in 11 starts combined. He’s also gone six starts in advance of this week with only one top 20, that a T20 at THE PLAYERS Championship. CHALLENGERS There are deleted scenes in every feature film. They were worthy of production, but not everything shot makes it into theaters. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (* – former champion; 2016 THE NORTHERN TRUST finish) Webb Simpson (T48) Kevin Kisner (T48) Bubba Watson (T13) Lucas Glover (T70) Eddie Pepperell *Phil Mickelson (T13) Rafa Cabrera Bello Patrick Reed (Win) Matt Wallace Billy Horschel (T13) Justin Harding Henrik Stenson (WD) Tony Finau (12th) Jason Kokrak (T7) Marc Leishman (MC) Jorge Campillo Ryan Palmer (T13) Matthew Fitzpatrick Sung Kang (T18) Ryan Moore (T7) Hao Tong Li SLEEPERS Often the sexiest picks because of rising or even hidden value, each of these guys packs a punch on some level. It wouldn’t surprise keen observers if any made noise. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (^ – debutant; 2016 THE NORTHERN TRUST finish) Pat Perez Thomas Pieters Kyle Stanley (T74) Julian Suri ^Keith Mitchell ^Joel Dahmen Si Woo Kim (MC) Joost Luiten Thorbjørn Olesen Jhonattan Vegas (T22) Mikko Korhonen Emiliano Grillo (T2) ^Erik van Rooyen Chez Reavie (T31) Mike Lorenzo-Vera Shugo Imahira QUESTION MARKS Half of the field of 156 is split into the two subcategories below. Placement is relative to fit, form and other variables. ARROW UP Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (* – former champion; ^ – debutant; 2016 THE NORTHERN TRUST finish) Gary Woodland (T4) Kiradech Aphibarnrat Graeme McDowell (MC) Jordan Spieth (T10) Branden Grace (MC) Steve Stricker (T53) Kevin Na (MC) Tyrrell Hatton Charley Hoffman (T13) *Jason Dufner (T22) Russell Knox (T60) Aaron Wise ^Max Homa Jim Furyk (T41) Daniel Berger (T70) Sungjae Im Troy Merritt (MC) Ross Fisher Richard Sterne Kurt Kitayama ^Jazz Janewattananond Brian Gay ^David Lipsky Brendan Jones ^J.T. Poston ^Tom Lewis *Y.E. Yang *Padraig Harrington ARROW DOWN Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (* – former champion; ^ – debutant; 2016 THE NORTHERN TRUST finish) *Keegan Bradley (T53) Cameron Smith Shane Lowry ^Lucas Bjerregaard Adam Hadwin (T64) Brandt Snedeker (T48) Byeong Hun An J.B. Holmes (T41) Lee Westwood Michael Thompson Joaquin Niemann Ryan Fox ^Corey Conners Luke List (MC) *Martin Kaymer Zach Johnson (T48) Alex Noren Ryan Armour ^Kevin Tway *Jimmy Walker (MC) ^Martin Trainer Adrian Otaegui ^Lucas Herbert Charles Howell III (MC) Danny Lee (MC) Andrew Putnam Patton Kizzire (MC) Beau Hossler Dylan Frittelli ^Cameron Champ ^Abraham Ancer J.J. Spaun Danny Willett Harold Varner III (T60) Brian Harman (T22) Brandon Stone ^Shaun Norris ^Sam Burns ^C.T. Pan Alexander Björk Satoshi Kodaira ^Adam Long ^Bronson Burgoon ^Richy Werenski Chesson Hadley Kelly Kraft Michael Kim (MC) *Shaun Micheel *John Daly *Rich Beem PGA PROFESSIONALS The 11 PGA professionals in the field who have competed in at least one previous PGA Championship are a combined 1-for-30. Only Rob Labritz (T68, 2010) has survived a cut. In the last seven editions of the major, only three have made a cut. Ben Kern’s T42 at Bellerive last year was the best finish by a club professional since Steve Schneiter placed T40 at Baltusrol in 2005. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (% – former PGA TOUR member; # of prior appearances in parentheses) Alex Beach (1) %Jason Caron (0) %Craig Bowden (1) Rod Perry (5) Ben Cook (0) Rob Labritz (5) Marty Jertson (3) Ryan Vermeer (2) Stuart Deane (2) Danny Balin (5) Casey Russell (0) Craig Hocknull (1) Rich Berberian, Jr. (4) John O’Leary (1) Justin Bertsch (0) Brian Mackey (0) Cory Schneider (0) Jeffrey Schmid (0) Andrew Filbert (0) Tyler Hall (0) NOTE: Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Sam Ryder, Charl Schwartzel and Justin Thomas qualified but will not compete. Having hosted the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2009, Bethpage Black isn’t new to major championships. It’s also not a stranger to a strong percentage of PGA TOUR membership as it also served as the backdrop for THE NORTHERN TRUST in 2012 and 2016. As of midday Monday and as noted above throughout the sections, 57 in this week’s field appeared in the latter edition. Bethpage played as a par 71 in its first two spins as the opener of the FedExCup Playoffs (for which it will return in 2021), but it reverts to its familiar par of 70 for the PGA Championship. The seventh hole is reduced to a par 4 measuring 524 yards. That’s down 29 yards since the 2016 edition of THE NORTHERN TRUST. The par-4 12th and 15th holes are 14 and six yards longer, respectively, so the overall yardage of 7,459 reflects a nine-yard decrease. Navigating the 83-year-old test in Farmingdale, New York, requires a blend of a balanced attack, course management and enough muscle off the tee to hang with the big boys who have an advantage. Because the course should set up to yield a winner dipping into double digits under par, distance control and precision on approach are the keys. A taut short game plays a supporting role. Fescue awaits the most wayward of drives, but the primary concern is the three-and-a-half inch rough framing the relatively narrow and at-times angled fairways. Poa annua greens are varied is size and smaller than TOUR average. The only water hazard fronts the green on the par-3 eighth hole. Because the tournament is conducted in the spring – versus in June (U.S. Open) or August (Playoffs) – and because of a mild winter on Long Island, the Black Course is poised to launch the era of the PGA Championship in May as if it’s been scheduled at this time all along. Yes, many trees won’t be in full bloom and apparel will reflect cooler air at this time of year, but the forecast is favorable to spotlight a fair, stern challenge. Daytimes highs won’t escape the 60s and winds might not freshen in earnest until Sunday’s finale. Early-week rain will help set the stage for an early low round, but not much in the form of precipitation is expected during the tournament. 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: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Fantasy Insider WEDNESDAY: One & Done * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesdays.

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TULSA, Okla. – While major equipment switches the week of a major are rare, one is paying off for Webb Simpson at the PGA Championship. Simpson shot 1-under 69 at Southern Hills on Thursday. It was one of the top rounds in a breezy and blustery afternoon at the Oklahoma course. He used a new set of irons, the Titleist T100s, after committing to the new clubs earlier in the week. “Today felt like the golf that I know how to play. It didn’t feel abnormal. I wasn’t surprised. But I’m very thankful to get off to a good start in a really tough condition day,” said Simpson, whose seven PGA TOUR wins include the 2012 U.S. Open and 2018 PLAYERS. It has been a difficult season for Simpson, who entered the week ranked 141st in the FedExCup. He has just two top-25s this season, and none since the calendar turned to 2022. He’s struggled with his iron game, which is traditionally one of his hallmarks. He ranks 84th in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green after sitting inside the top 25 for six consecutive seasons from 2015-20. Simpson finally relented and made the switch to the cavity-back Titleist T100 irons this week after playing forged, muscle-back blades for almost the entirety of his career. The T100s are forged and have the look of a blade at address while utilizing a cavity-back to increase forgiveness. “I’ve had a couple of short stints with non-blades in my career but not many,” said Simpson, who had been using Titleist’s 620 MB irons. “I haven’t been hitting my irons great. Approach to the green is typically a strength for me; this year it’s been a weakness, and I’ve struggled out of the rough. I keep getting told that these the irons I’m playing are better out of the rough, better with distance control, better with mis-hits, and so I guess I was being stubborn but finally listened and I really like them. “They’re not a whole lot different than mine the way they look, but we’ve had good results with them so far.” Simpson’s caddie, Paul Tesori, recommended a potential switch after Simpson missed the cut at the Wells Fargo Championship. They experimented with the new clubs at Simpson’s home club, Quail Hollow in Charlotte, last week. That was after Simpson discovered them in his garage after fearing he may have given them away. “I don’t know if Titleist will like this or not, but if I don’t use a set I give it to a friend,” Simpson said Thursday. “I’m trying to spread the word for Titleist, you know. So I might have given to a friend, but I see them in there, we bring them out, and all the numbers we tested were way better. “So I still wasn’t certain that I was going to put them in this week so I have both. The biggest thing for me is when I look down I want to make sure it looks good, and then after that all I care about is the numbers and how it’s going to perform out of the rough. So far they’ve passed the test.”

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