Tway wins first PGA Tour title in playoff

There are 23 rookies enduring (embracing?) the learning curve on the PGA TOUR this season, but gamers aren’t exempt from a similar experience. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO launched for the 2015 PLAYERS, which means that it’s beginning its third full season this fall. It also means that it’s that time of year when new gamers are learning the ropes. The most common question right now is how to select players. Not that those gamers are aware, but the better question is when to select your players. If you’re navigating the platform at FantasyGolf.PGATOUR.com on Mondays and not familiar with where to go, you’re going to need to be aware of the process of turning over tournaments. You can choose golfers as far in advance as you’d like on the “My Roster” page. Simply click on “SELECT TOURNAMENT” in the upper right. When you do, three events populate a pop-up. (When you click on “More>>,” a slide-out of the entire season appears.) However, the actual field for every tournament isn’t loaded until sometime on Tuesdays. So, if you beat it, you run the risk of inserting a golfer who either didn’t commit or who committed but has since withdrawn. If this happens to you, you should receive an alert indicating that one or more of your golfers is not scheduled to compete. I tweet all field changes after the published field is released. You do not need to register for Twitter to read my public tweets. As the PGA TOUR travels north to South Korea for THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, set a reminder that the tournament is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 18. That’s 4 p.m. on the West Coast and 1 p.m. in Hawaii. Adjust accordingly. Despite my multiple notices last week, not to mention all of the other resources at your fingertips to indicate tee times, there were still gamers who either forgot about the location of the CIMB Classic or failed to read for top-of-mind awareness. It’s not as damaging in the One & Done, but if you’re chasing Segment and season-long prizes in the Roster game, it could cost you. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO My roster for THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES (in alphabetical order): Paul Casey Jason Day Tony Finau Russell Henley Marc Leishman Justin Thomas You’ll find my starters in Expert Picks. Others to consider for each category (in alphabetical order): Scoring: Brian Harman; Anirban Lahiri; Luke List; Pat Perez; Patrick Reed; Xander Schauffele; Ollie Schniederjans; Cameron Smith Driving: n/a Approach: n/a Short: n/a Power Rankings Wild Card Patrick Reed … After four straight trips to the CIMB Classic, he was a surprising DNP last week even though he’s logged only one top 25, so it’s refreshing to see him back in action on Jeju Island. His love for travel is documented, but inconsistent ball-striking kept him from populating the Power Rankings. That said, his short game is so good that it barely matters. You may recall persistent attention to a regression in his greenside game early in 2017. It was reflective in his results. Well, it’s important to update that he went from ranking 178th in scrambling at the conclusion of THE PLAYERS to finishing the season 41st. The improvement was directly proportional to an uptick in overall form. Since scrambling is of value at Nine Bridges, he should remain on his current trajectory. Draws Adam Scott … Forgive his fizzling finish to the 2016-17 season as it coincided with the birth of his second child. All that means is that he’s slipped through the side door and into this week’s field. That presents opportunity in DFS. Starting anew in South Korea, the Aussie is determined to reconnect with the kind of electric ball-striking that yielded consecutive victories early in 2016. Lucas Glover … He possesses one of the lowest ball flights in the field and he’s one of the best ball-strikers of his generation. That combination alone makes him an easy fit at Nine Bridges. The bonus is his form upon arrival. A T7 in Malaysia was his second top 15 in his last three starts. Simply no need to overthink him in any format. Plug him in with confidence. Ian Poulter … Low ball flight, a course that won’t overwhelm him and more than enough inspiring form for months is all the reason DFSers need to buy. Byeong Hun An (DFS) Chad Campbell (all) Graham DeLaet (DFS) Brian Harman (DFS) Robert Streb (DFS) Nick Taylor (DFS) Fades Charl Schwartzel … Relatively speaking, of course. Because he makes most cuts, he’s usually insurance in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, but with no cut and no ShotLink this week, the focus is on overall production. That’s where we lose him. His last top 10 anywhere was a co-runner-up in Memphis in mid-June. Thomas Pieters … If not for a third-round 77 at TPC Kuala Lumpur, he’d have performed above his projection. As it was, he finished a forgettable T44, his fifth result outside the top 40 in five starts. Perhaps this is who he is, though, a mammoth talent who will emerge enough to rattle mainstream cages long-term while at the same time disappoint weekly gamers. As we continue to digest his profile, we’re benefited in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO because we’re not going to exhaust all three of his starts in Segment 1. For that reason and with no cut at Nine Bridges, park this contrarian on your bench. Daniel Berger … He was a surprising non-factor in his third spin through the FedExCup Playoffs, so there’s reason to approach him with caution. The wunderkind can be a frustrating own if you’re not in for the long haul. However, he sets up just like Pieters. Consider stowing him on your bench based on cachet alone. Gary Woodland … If ShotLink was in use at Nine Bridges, he’d battle for a spot on your roster. This isn’t to say that there isn’t merit to chase the leaderboard finish (and bonus points that go with it), but for as solid as he’s been since the birth of his child, he’s still without a top-15 finish in seven straight starts. Co-led the field in greens hit at TPC Kuala Lumpur but settled for a T28. Branden Grace Emiliano Grillo Adam Hadwin J.B. Holmes Charles Howell III Kevin Na Seung-Yul Noh Jhonattan Vegas Notables WDs Patrick Cantlay … It’s not nonsense to draw a parallel between his selective scheduling and the drip-drip of news released of Tiger Woods’ recovery from back surgeries. Both are so compelling in their respective contexts. Cantlay has been nothing short of fantastic as he’s ascended rapidly through the ranks. His ownership percentages in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO should rival some of the game’s most popular and decorated talents this season. Jason Dufner … Given the angle that projects success at Nine Bridges, he’d have been a likely contender as a tee-to-green force. Opened his season finishing fifth-from-last in the 78-man CIMB Classic. Mackenzie Hughes … What a difference a year and a victory makes. He was a fresh-faced rookie at this time in 2016, so he didn’t qualify for either stop in Asia. (No current rookies are eligible for THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES.) A month later, he prevailed at The RSM Classic and secured fully exempt status through 2018-19. It’s good to have options. Russell Knox … Remains in a funk. His T63 at the CIMB Classic extended his drought without a top 25 to seven consecutive starts. In the process, he’s drifted outside the top 60 in the Official World Golf Ranking, so the grind is on to qualify for all of the majors and World Golf Championships in 2018. He’s currently eligible for none. Ernie Els … Celebrates his 48th birthday on Tuesday, Oct. 17. Burning a career earnings exemption this season, but his fantasy value is all but gone. Power Rankings Recap – CIMB Classic Power Ranking Golfer Result 1 Justin Thomas T17 2 Brendan Steele T13 3 Paul Casey T7 4 Hideki Matsuyama T5 5 Kevin Na T44 6 Xander Schauffele T3 7 Scott Piercy T63 8 Rafa Cabrera Bello T10 9 Chez Reavie T17 10 James Hahn T28 11 Ian Poulter T58 12 Gary Woodland T28 13 Charl Schwartzel T48 14 Keegan Bradley 2nd 15 Thomas Pieters T44 Wild Card Bud Cauley 67th Sleepers Recap – CIMB Classic Golfer Result Gavin Kyle Green T61 Charles Howell III T51 Sung Kang T3 Cameron Smith T5 Richy Werenski T63 Birthdays among active golfers on the PGA TOUR October 17… Ernie Els (48) October 18 … none October 19 … Louis Oosthuizen (35) October 20 … none October 21 … none October 22 … none October 23 … none  

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PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO It’s impossible to know how much the weather forecast, specifically as it concerns the wind, influences fantasy decisions in this game. Because you start four and can bench only two, in any given week, you can’t avoid the concern over what projects to be a lopsided draw. You can only mitigate it. If you plan accordingly, at worst you’re in the same boat as others who take similar action. Thursday’s wind at the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational was expected to favor the early wave. Hot and windy conditions are then supposed to take over and extend into the weekend. Whether that weather shall be or if it’ll actually have an impact on scoring will be determined soon enough, but our only alternative is not to play. And that’s no fun at all. The top-10 most-owned at Colonial Country Club are split evenly in the draw, although only Jon Rahm is in the early-late among the top four. Sure enough, he opened with 4-under 66 in his tournament debut to sit one stroke off the clubhouse lead. Kevin Kisner (early-late) and Colonial member Ryan Palmer (late-early) slot outside the top 10. At 14th and 11th, respectively, they’re still well-represented, but they are surprises nonetheless, even though fewer than 10 percentage points separate Matt Kuchar in sixth (26.4 percent) and Tony Finau in 15th (16.9 percent). Others who aren’t shown below include Paul Casey (13th, 19.4 percent), William McGirt (24th, 5.8 percent), Charley Hoffman (25th, 5.3 percent), Webb Simpson (28th, 4.0 percent) and PLAYERS champion Si Woo Kim (31st, 3.5 percent). In his PGA TOUR debut, long-hitting legend Jamie Sadlowski ranks 62nd with 0.6 percent. NOTE: Rob’s Rating refers to where our Fantasy Insider slotted a golfer in his Power Rankings. Golfers in the Power Rankings and outside the top 10 in most owned. PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO Sticking with the theme introduced at the top, weather will get into the heads of gamers in this format as well. While anyone who changes his or her mind due to the unpredictable in a format in which you don’t modify your lineup during a tournament could be labeled as overreacting, it’s still a narrative for newer gamers who haven’t experienced the process. Jason Dufner crushes the competition in devotion at Colonial even though he’s in the late-early draw. However, skeptics who might say that he won’t be contending when the 36-hole cut falls can’t rule out that possibility for anyone in the field. This is precisely why weather should almost never influence decisions in this format. Sure, one side of the draw might benefit, but that will be learned only in retrospect. If you’re ever even a bit concerned, the fail-safe is to invest in a golfer who you won’t miss. Dufner certainly checks that box, but he’s still a terrific fit. Suffice it to say that all of this is much ado about virtually nothing. That Pat Perez ranks just ahead of Ryan Palmer speaks more to Perez’ extended run of fantastic form than it does a cooling on the Colonial member. With due respect to both, we’re unlikely to miss either, so that they’re a respective 2-3 in ownership percentage is sensible. They help spell notables like Jon Rahm (who’s fifth, anyway), defending champion Jordan Spieth (sixth) and Sergio Garcia (10th). The tournament’s all-time earnings leader, Zach Johnson, slots 12th at 2.6 percent. Other notables outside the top 10 include AT&T Byron Nelson champ Billy Horschel (13th, 2.6 percent), Brandt Snedeker (16th, 1.8 percent), two-time DEAN & DELUCA champion Phil Mickelson (17th, 1.4 percent) and Si Woo Kim (T21, 0.8 percent). PGA TOUR Champions One & Done presented by SERVPRO The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship has a purse of $2.8 million. That’s tied for second-most with the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship (July 13-16). The U.S. Senior Open Championship (June 29-July 2) leads the way at $3.75 million. Since earnings are used to measure performance, even though Bernhard Langer isn’t projected to disappoint us at any time, investing in the smartest opportunity is the first decision all gamers should have made before embarking on a 22-event fantasy season. It’s entirely fact over friction regarding Langer that both the Senior PGA and U.S. Senior Open feature 36-hole cuts, but it’s also convenient support for him at the no-cut SENIOR PLAYERS where his record is strongest. After all, he’s its three-time defending champion on different courses. This is why he’ll be my pick at Caves Valley Golf Club in seven weeks. This is no way begrudges the 14.0 percent of you on board at Trump National Golf Club this week. He opened with 7-under 65 to post the clubhouse lead to validate your faith. But frankly, after what he delivers in the short- and long-term, it’d have been a surprise if he didn’t burst out of the gates. You’re also on board for a run at history as he’d be the first two win all five majors on the PGA TOUR Champions with a victory this week. Notables outside the top 10 in ownership percentages include David Toms (11th, 2.3 percent), Kirk Triplett (T12, 1.9 percent), Gene Sauers (T16, 0.9 percent) and defending champion Rocco Mediate (T23, 0.5 percent).

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NAPLES, Fla. — Patton Kizzire and Brian Harman won the QBE Shootout on Sunday, eagling the par-5 17th and closing with a par for a one-stroke victory over Graeme McDowell and Emiliano Grillo. Kizzire and Harman shot an 11-under 61 in the better-ball final round to finish at 30 under at Tiburon Golf Club. They opened with a 59 in the first-round scramble and had a 66 on Saturday in modified alternate shot. McDowell and Grillo shot 62, making seven straight birdies on Nos. 11-17. The teams of Gary Woodland-Charley Hoffman, Kevin Na-Bryson DeChambeau and Luke List-Charles Howell III tied for third at 28 under. Woodland and Hoffman shot 63, Na and DeChambeau 62, and List and Howell had two back-nine eagles in a 61. Kizzire and Harman each earned $422,500. LPGA Tour player Lexi Thompson and Tony Finau had a 65 to finish seventh at 23 under.  

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