TMI? Lincicome may get six-birdie surprise

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Harold Varner III … All you ever needed to know about his spirit was realized in the wake of a closing 81 at the PGA Championship where he settled for a share of 36th place but admitted enjoying just being on the scene for the experience. In the context of the opportunity lost, it didn’t hurt that his 2019-20 card was locked up months ago. Currently 85th in points, his most recent of eight top 25s this season was a T21 at the Travelers Championship where he ranked seventh strokes gained: putting and fifth in scrambling. Amid a heater en route to a solo sixth at last year’s JDC, he missed on only three of 71 attempts inside 10 feet. Vaughn Taylor … Continues to flourish at 43 years of age. He’s 6-for-6 with three top 20s since the Wells Fargo Championship. Finished fourth three weeks ago at TPC River Highlands where he paced the field in proximity to the hole and ranked second in putting: birdies-or-better. Sits T9 on TOUR in proximity, fifth in strokes gained: putting, fifth in red numbers (49) and T4 in sub-70s (T37). And since his debut at TPC Deere Run in 2004, he’s 8-for-12 with four top 20s. His scoring average in his last eight loops around the track is 68.125. J.T. Poston … Still having trouble finding the handle in final rounds, but the third-year talent out of Western Carolina University puts himself in position often enough that he’s bound to connect at some point. His most recent bit of unfinished business stung him in his last start at the Rocket Mortgage Classic two weeks ago. After sitting alone in second place through 54 holes, he stumbled home in 73 to finish T11. In his two previous appearances at TPC Deere Run, he’s beaten par in each of the first three rounds but closed with 73 both times. One of these days, something he throws against the wall is going to stick and it might as well be a spot where he keeps coming back for more. Dominic Bozzelli … Because he’s navigating just his third season on the PGA TOUR, the 28-year-old can’t be labeled as a horse for a course just yet, but TPC Deere Run is first in line if he reaches the stable. Both of his appearances resulted in top 25s and his scoring average in those eight rounds is 68.00. The only other event at which he’s recorded multiple top 25s (of seven others in all) is the Desert Classic where he has a pair of fifth-place finishes. And why not? The correlation between the two events is a shootout and he can roll it with the best of ’em. Currently ninth on TOUR in strokes gained: putting and 12th in putting: birdies-or better. Dylan Frittelli … The 29-year-old has been feeling the heat all season. While 153rd in the FedExCup and under pressure to secure conditional status as a safety net for next season, there have been rumblings of late that he’s ready to pop. After a T46 in Detroit, he sat T9 entering the final round in Minnesota, only to plummet to another T46 with a Sunday 73 due to a tee-to-green game that abandoned him. Yet, he ranked 13th in strokes gained: tee-to-green for the week and he’s 41st on TOUR in the stat this season. So, he might be close and he has the bonus of being able to tap into the experience of a pair of European Tour victories just two years ago. NOTE: Sleeper is a relative term, so Rob uses unofficial criteria to determine who qualifies. Each of the following usually is determined to be ineligible for this weekly staple: Winners of the tournament on the current host course; winners in the same season; recent major champions; top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking; recent participants of team competitions.

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The Asia Swing culminates in China for the World Golf Championships – HSBC Champions where a cavalcade of stars are ready to do battle. It was here that Justin Rose kicked off his big push towards the FedExCup crown, winning with a final round surge over a faltering Dustin Johnson. Can Brooks Koepka continue his charge after winning last week in Korea or will it be another international star like Rose, or perhaps a rejuvenated Hideki Matsuyama? In the last two seasons the winner of the FedExCup (Justin Thomas and Rose) have won during the Asia Swing so everyone knows the 550 points on offer to the winner could be critical. There are seven Chinese players in the field led by Haotong Li. Perhaps it is time for the PGA TOUR’s first Chinese winner? Li is joined by Yechun Yuan, Xinjun Zhang, Yanwei Liu, Bowen Xiao, Wenchong Liang and Ashun Wu. Seven of the top 10 players in the world headline the field. The Golf Channel will provide live coverage for all four rounds. For the opening two rounds coverage starts at 10 p.m. ET (10 a.m. local time) on Wednesday and Thursday. Weekend play gets underway at 11 p.m. ET (11 a.m. local time). MORE: Tee times Here’s a look at the Featured Groups for the first two rounds (FedExCup ranking in parentheses): Brooks Koepka (3) – Hot off his victory in last week’s CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES in Korea the newly minted World No. 1 is looking to keep the momentum rolling. He was T2 here a year ago. Justin Rose (NR) – The FedExCup champion has three top 10s at this event including last season’s win in Shanghai. Looking to get his title defense in both off to a big start. 
Tommy Fleetwood (NR) – Has been knocking on the door of a PGA TOUR win for some time. Still flying high from his Ryder Cup efforts. Three top-25s previous here, but no top 10s. Tee times: Rd. 1 (9:55 p.m. ET); Rd. 2 (10:50 p.m. ET) Jason Day (21) – Finished strong last week in Korea to be T5 and comes off the back of a T11 here on debut last season. Australian set to take a break for baby No. 3 after this start so wants maximum points. Tony Finau (NR) – Did everything last season except win. An impressive 11 top-10 finishes and a sixth-place finish in the FedExCup. Now it’s time to take it up a notch again. Was T11 here last season. 
Hoatong Li (NR) – Crowd favorite looking to be the first Chinese player to win on the PGA TOUR. Best finish in the event is a T7 three years ago. 
 Tee times: Rd. 1 (10:45 p.m. ET); Rd. 2 (9:30 p.m. ET) Rory McIlroy (NR) – Six times he’s played and his worst return is a tie for 11th two seasons ago. Making his PGA TOUR season debut and expecting to make an immediate splash. 
 Dustin Johnson (NR) – Took a sizable lead after 54 holes last year before a Sunday stumble. Revenge is on his mind in his season debut. Won the event in 2014.
 Francesco Molinari (NR) – A winner here in 2010. Returns this season in the form of his career having claimed multiple worldwide wins last season, including the Open Championship. Tee times: Rd. 1 (10:55 p.m. ET); Rd. 2 (9:40 p.m. ET) Patrick Reed (NR) – The Masters champion is ready to let his clubs do the talking once more. Was T7 here a few years ago and is looking to better that to kick off his season. Jon Rahm (NR) – Spanish sensation ready to kick-start his 2018-19 PGA TOUR season. Finished midfield on debut at the event last year – something that doesn’t sit well with his personal standards.   Alex Noren (57) – Two good rounds mixed in with two not so good ones last week in Korea was still good enough for T18 finish. Noren’s accuracy off the tee and into the greens should spell success here although he’s yet to find a top 10 in five previous starts. Tee times: Rd. 1 (9:45 p.m. ET); Rd. 2 (10:40 p.m. ET)

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