Wakimoto stays ahead by 2 at Toto Japan Classic

PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf league championships will be determined at the TOUR Championship in two weeks, but they could be decided at THE NORTHERN TRUST this weekend. With no cuts at the BMW Championship and Playoffs finale, and with front-runners having the power to end-load rosters for a title-clinching stymie, what happens at Liberty National is critical. THE NORTHERN TRUST features the last 36-hole cut of the 2020-21 season. Of the 124 committed, only 65 are promised to have tee times in the third and final rounds. That means that as many as 59 will not. If you’re in pursuit, this is your last chance to be aggressive with an elevated likelihood to capitalize. Unless you connect for victory and the bonus points that go with it, and assuming that that makes a dent in your deficit, you’re going to struggle picking up points with all gamers guaranteed four rounds of contributions in the final two events. Ah, yes, the bonus points. They are quadrupled in reality, which means 200 fantasy points to owners of winners rostered in final rounds. As noted under “End of Tournament Bonus” in Rules, the structure of bonus points for the TOUR Championship will align with the first two events. When formulating your strategy, remember that opening position at East Lake is determined by seed upon arrival. Starting Strokes will give the best seeds placement at the top of the leaderboard before the first tee ball is aloft. Current league leaders likely will be saving starts for the highest seeds and those with a good track record at East Lake, but the latter projects to pack a stronger punch for the guys deeper in the standings. When the current structure was introduce in 2019, six golfers from outside the top 10 at the beginning of the TOUR Championship were among 11 who recorded a top 10 in the tournament. Rory McIlroy prevailed as the 5-seed. The runner-up was Xander Schauffele, who was seeded eighth. The same split occurred last year when an apples-to-apples comparison can be made because the conclusion of the reduction to tripled FedExCup points determined the opening seeds at East Lake. Although top-seeded Dustin Johnson won and the 3-seed, Justin Thomas, tied for second, six of the final top 10 opened outside the top 10. This may be obvious but it’s too important to omit: What you don’t want is to be left with a sixpack of guys outside, say, the top 15. Continue to manage accordingly by saving starts for guys you know you’re going to want at the TOUR Championship. Remember that you can use the tool on the platform to plug those guys in now if you choose. As for the BMW Championship, it’s the wild card of the trio because Caves Valley will be a new test despite previous experience for a handful as amateurs well over a decade ago. Always remember that when greens are unfamiliar, ball-strikers tend to contend. As noted in my Power Rankings for the FedExCup Playoffs, the track is a par 72 that can tip at 7,542 yards. RELATED: Power Rankings | Expert Picks PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf My roster for THE NORTHERN TRUST (in alphabetical order): Patrick Cantlay Paul Casey Dustin Johnson Collin Morikawa Jon Rahm Jordan Spieth You’ll find my starters in Expert Picks. Others to consider for each category (in alphabetical order): Scoring: Bryson DeChambeau; Harris English; Brooks Koepka; Rory McIlroy; Patrick Reed; Xander Schauffele; Scottie Scheffler; Adam Scott; Justin Thomas Driving: Corey Conners; Harris English; Matt Fitzpatrick; Viktor Hovland; Jason Kokrak; Joaquin Niemann; Xander Schauffele; Scottie Scheffler POWER RANKINGS WILD CARD Tony Finau (+5000) … He hasn’t performed well in every Playoffs event since he debuted in 2015, but he’s performed well a lot. His record includes nine top 10s in 20 starts. To say that he’s scuffling upon arrival is fair, but it’s always relative to our elevated expectations given his talent and knack to adapt to the surroundings. So, the sensible thing to do is to give the 23-seed this week to prove that he deserves our attention at Caves Valley because he’ll present as a more intriguing choice for chasers in that ballpark. Front-runners won’t want to trust him with what’s at stake. DRAWS Cameron Smith (+3500) … Not the strongest fit for Liberty National, so he presents as a contrarian for chasers because he rises to the occasion in big events regularly. He’s also proven to be streaky. Keep that in mind when deliberating if he’s worth the reach after a T5 in his last start in Memphis. Matt Fitzpatrick (+6600) … Doubt that I convey that it feels that I go to his well too often but that’s, well, how it feels. When you’re a top-20 machine that makes most cuts, all fantasy formats are going to reward that kind of output. The 26-year-old Englishman still is getting his feet wet in the Playoffs – this is just his second spin – but his combination of splitting fairways and sinking putts works no matter what or where. Jhonattan Vegas (+10000) … He overcame a seriously inconsistent track record at Sedgefield with seriously strong form to finish T15 last week. Including a T16 at the Olympics, he’s recorded six top 20s in his last eight starts worldwide. His tee-to-green strength should do damage at each of the first two stops of the Playoffs. Tyrrell Hatton (+5000) … Despite testing positive for COVID-19 in late April, no complaints about 2021. He opened it with a victory in Abu Dhabi, got married in May and he’s on the inside track to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup. Yet, at 63rd in the FedExCup, it feels unfinished. He’s performed well enough in recent non-majors to deserve our confidence, but limit to DFS. Corey Conners Russell Henley Billy Horschel Jason Kokrak Joaquin Niemann Odds sourced on Wednesday, August 18 at 5 a.m. ET. For live odds visit betmgm. FADES Hideki Matsuyama (+3300) … We forget how much of a workhorse he’s been for us over the years, and then we’re reminded of his vulnerability at the Olympics in his native Japan. He opens his eighth FedExCup Playoffs as the 14-seed, so he’s a virtual lock to advance to the TOUR Championship for, you guessed it, the eighth time. That’s crazy reliability and value, but he’s yet to record a top 10 in THE NORTHERN TRUST regardless of site. In his only previous trip to Liberty National in 2019, he finished T30. Of course that’s not terrible, but it’s a tip to holster him until Caves Valley when his long and strong, tee-to-green game can shine. Sam Burns (+6600) … He’s headed for stardom, not to mention his first TOUR Championship as the opening 10-seed, but he makes sense only in DFS situations, not in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf where familiarity in the Playoffs is of value. Si Woo Kim (+8000) … The course horse at Sedgefield was among the playoff victims on Sunday. It also was his first top-35 finish in official competition in two months. He’s gone nine consecutive starts in the Playoffs without a top 25. Sergio Garcia (+8000) … He should dissect Liberty National but he’s failed to break par in his last four rounds on the course. Sure, that dates back to the third round in 2013, but that’s still the reality. So, like with Smith above, the Spaniard can be a shrewd play if you’re in pursuit, but Garcia’s angle is his fit. His form isn’t that bad, either, however. Lee Westwood (+15000) … He hasn’t made much noise since the consecutive runner-up finishes in Florida several months ago, so the more curious matter is if he renews his PGA TOUR membership in 2021-22. The two-time winner paid his dues this season because of the six majors and 50 tournaments. With a normal schedule restored and at age 48, it’s reasonable to assume that this was a one-time return. Remember this wrinkle if you’re in a keeper league. Stewart Cink Lucas Glover Branden Grace Charley Hoffman Marc Leishman Phil Mickelson Ryan Palmer Cameron Tringale Gary Woodland RETURNING TO COMPETITION Garrick Higgo … Opening his Playoffs debut seeded 104th. He withdrew before the final round of the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational due to an illness. In the interim, he officially qualified as a rookie on the PGA TOUR. Danny Lee … Committed to the Albertsons Boise Open presented by Chevron to open the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. He finished 183rd in the FedExCup but didn’t play after withdrawing during the John Deere Classic, citing an injured back. He later learned that he had a fractured rib. It prevented him from competing in The Open Championship. Seung-Yul Noh … Also in the field in Boise, and he’s also been nursing a rib injury since it forced him out of the Wells Fargo Championship during its second round. No matter what happens at the KFT Finals, the 30-year-old will have 16 starts via a Major Medical Extension to open the 2021-22 PGA TOUR season. NOTABLE WDs Louis Oosthuizen … The 8-seed is resting a sore neck for the second consecutive week. POWER RANKINGS RECAP – Wyndham Championship Power Ranking Golfer Result 1 Webb Simpson T7 2 Sungjae Im T24 3 Jason Kokrak MC 4 Hideki Matsuyama MC 5 Louis Oosthuizen DNP 6 Patrick Reed DNP 7 Brian Harman MC 8 Russell Henley T7 9 Si Woo Kim P2 10 Seamus Power T60 11 Kevin Kisner Win 12 Brandt Snedeker MC 13 Will Zalatoris T29 14 Rory Sabbatini T10 15 Robert MacIntyre T65 Wild Card Rickie Fowler MC SLEEPERS RECAP – Wyndham Championship Golfer (BetMGM prop) Result Austin Cook (Top 20) MC Ryan Moore (Top 10) MC Cameron Percy (Top 20) T37 Scott Piercy (Top 10) T15 Camilo Villegas (Top 20) T46 BIRTHDAYS AMONG ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE PGA TOUR August 17 … none August 18 … Cameron Smith (28) August 19 … Jhonattan Vegas (37) August 20 … Zac Blair (31) August 21 … J.J. Spaun (31) August 22 … none August 23 … none Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ years of age or older to wager. CO, IA, IN,MI, NJ, NV,PA, TN, VA or WV only. Excludes Michigan Disassociated Persons. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700 (CO, NV, VA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA & WV), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), Call or Text the Tennessee REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN), or call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN).

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On so many fronts it was an overdue celebration when 1,300 people jammed into a Dallas banquet hall on April 23, 1968, to pay tribute to Byron Nelson. After all, Lord Byron had pretty much retired 22 years earlier – as an in-his-prime 34-year-old, by the way. Oh, he played the occasional tournament here and there, just 50 of them from 1947-66, but on that night in 1968 when they feted him, it had been 17 years since Nelson had recorded the last of his 52 PGA TOUR wins. Yet the banquet hall was overflowing with Hollywood names (Bob Hope) to TV sports personalities (Chris Schenkel) to the best players in the game (Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Billy Casper, Sam Snead, Ken Venturi). What brought them there wasn’t his .229 winning percentage between 1935-46 (51 wins in 223 starts), nor the 11 straight victories during his 18-win record-setting season in 1945. Instead, admirers came to pay tribute to the first golfer to have a PGA TOUR tournament named after him. THE IMPACT OF BYRON NELSON During what would’ve been AT&T Byron Nelson week, PGATOUR.COM is celebrating the tournament’s legendary namesake and his impact on golf with a series of stories. • His impact on my life and career, by Tom Watson • His impact on the modern golf swing Stories to come include his charitable impact in conjunction with the Salesmanship Club; and his impact on the PGA TOUR’s record book. The 1968 Byron Nelson Golf Classic at Preston Trail Golf Club was worthy of a celebration, or so organizers felt, and apparently every name of note in the game agreed, because they were all there. The most impressive guest being 55-year-old Ben Hogan, who may not have shared the warmest relationship with his colleague from the Glen Garden CC caddie barn in Fort Worth, but he surely occupied a seat that afforded him the most unique view of Nelson’s life. “Byron isn’t the richest man in the world,� Hogan told that sell-out crowd. “But I think his life has been fulfilled and that’s the reason he’s so humbled by this turnout tonight.� Hogan’s words resonated profoundly. But more than that, they seemed to set a tone that would echo for decades thereafter, because winner after winner after winner of the tournament named for Byron Nelson embraced his opportunity to share the stage with one of the game’s greatest legends. All of them shared a common denominator – they were blown away by the humility, grace, and faith that defined the Lord Byron. “He sat there on the deck (of the clubhouse) near the scoring area every round of every year,� said 2007 winner Scott Verplank. “But the thing was, Byron didn’t sit there because he wanted to be seen, he sat there because he wanted to see you.� In the mid-1980s, a talented golfer out of Zimbabwe, Nick Price, had established himself as a world-class pro with an uncanny ball-striking touch that matched his impeccable demeanor, but he was one in search of that ability to finish things off. Only one PGA TOUR win was on Price’s resume and everyone knew the talent was there for far more. “One year (at the Nelson) in the third round I drove it great, hit it beautifully, but I was in the third-to-last group and I just couldn’t buy a putt,� said Price. “I went right to the putting green after my round and around this time Byron (who was announcing for ABC) came down from the tower and came right over to see me. “He asked if he could talk to me and I had huge respect for him as a gentleman, so we went downstairs to the locker room where they had an indoor pool, a nice quiet place, and we just talked for about 75 minutes. “It wasn’t him telling me what to do, it was just him explaining the game, making you feel so at ease. This meant the absolute world to me, that he was putting his feelings out there.� In 1991, Price won the Nelson, his second PGA TOUR triumph. It had been 179 starts since his breakthrough win at the World Series of Golf in 1983, and he was consumed by joy. Price was also touched by the gentle smile offered by Lord Byron, who leaned into him at the trophy celebration and in his iconic soft voice said: “Now, you’ve figured it out.� Let the record show that Nelson was right – Price would win 13 times in his next 76 PGA TOUR starts, including three major championships during a stretch when he was the No. 1 player in the world. “Absolutely no doubt that he helped me,� said Price. “He was amazing. All these years later, thinking of him brings a tear to my eye.� Price is not alone. For while in our world we spend countless hours debating who is better than whom and whose resume is the best, there is one discussion that has already been decided: Byron Nelson is the finest gentleman the game of golf has ever known. The voices of those who feel blessed to have won Nelson’s tournament echo that sentiment. Ben Crenshaw (1983) “He lived a great life.� You felt blessed to have one tie-in to Nelson, but Crenshaw had two. Like Byron, he was a Texan and he was also connected to famed golf instructor Harvey Penick. “That’s how I met Byron, when I was 17, through Harvey. From there on, whenever I met Byron, he would always say, ‘Please tell Harvey I said hello.’ � Well established in his career by 1983, Crenshaw had played nicely at the Nelson – a second, two fifths, a T-12 – but never a win. But in his 10th try, Crenshaw prevailed, his final-round 66 allowing him to overcome a three-stroke deficit and leapfrog Lanny Wadkins, Hal Sutton and Tom Purtzer. The audience with the tournament host was the highlight. “Byron wasn’t shy, but he was so giving of himself, so dedicated to his wife and his faith,� Crenshaw said. “But he never thrust it at you, he quietly offered it, in a graceful manner.� Nick Price (1991) “I don’t think they came any better than him.� Seven-and-a-half years removed from his only PGA TOUR win, Price finally brought his ball-striking genius to the finish line – and against a stellar lineup, too. His closing 66 was one better than Craig Stadler and other marquee names followed closely – Raymond Floyd, Corey Pavin, Hal Sutton, Scott Simpson, Lanny Wadkins, and Tom Kite. But nearly 30 years later, what touches Price are memories of Nelson’s ability to see a bigger picture than the insular world in which most golfers operated. Anyone who knew the difference between a bogey and a birdie understood Price could ball-strike it like few others, but Nelson had different parameters. “I was proud that Byron respected how I conducted myself on the golf course,� Price said. “That was important to him. He told you that being a golfer wasn’t just hitting the ball and putting down a score. It was the way you treated people, the empathy you had for people, it was all-encompassing.� Billy Ray Brown (1992) “He was about family and faith and that always influenced me.� So many layers of flavor from this win leave a sweet taste in Brown’s mouth. The fact that he’s a proud native of Texas, which arguably has produced the grandest list of golf champions. The fact that it came during what was his most successful PGA TOUR season. The fact that he prevailed in a one-hole playoff against a heralded trio – Ben Crenshaw, Raymond Floyd and Bruce Lietzke – and was so warmly embraced by them. “I was very good friends with Raymond,� Brown said. “And Ben and Bruce (native Texans) told me how special this win was going to be.� Euphoric, all of that, but very tiring, too, given that rain had shortened the tournament to 54 holes and the four players had to sit around for four hours late Sunday to conduct the playoff. (Brown made birdie at the par-3 17th.) The winner simply didn’t think it could get any better, until it came for the trophy presentation and Mr. Nelson eased into the picture. Brown felt the man’s presence, but what made an impact on him was Charles Brown’s reaction: “My father was in awe. When he first saw Mr. Nelson (at the tournament) he said, ‘That’s the man right there.’ � A prized possession of Brown’s is a picture he has of himself; his father, Charles; and Nelson. Billy Ray Brown quickly came to appreciate the Nelson legacy that his father was so enamored with. “To have my name on his trophy, it’s front and center in my house,� said Brown. “In my opinion, knowing the single-mindedness that young golfers have, I look at Byron and know that his priorities were in line and that golf was down the list a little.� John Cook (1998) “He recognized that you weren’t a golf professional, you were a professional golfer.� When you’re mentored by a former U.S. Open champion, as Cook was by Ken Venturi, you’re blessed. But when your mentor’s mentor is Byron Nelson, “well, that took it to a whole new level,� said Cook, who won 11 times on the PGA TOUR and was a mainstay at Nelson’s tournament. On those times when Cook sat and talked with Nelson, he was thrilled to hear validation for all that Venturi had instructed. “From the time I was 14, I soaked in everything Mr. Venuri told me,� Cook said. “To have Mr. Nelson tell me things that he had told Venturi years earlier was such a gift.� But Nelson did more than offer feedback on the golf swing; he showed how a life of dignity and faith should be lived. “You always got nice notes from him and you saw in him how much character he had and how to treat people with respect,� said Cook. Trailing Fred Couples by four entering Sunday’s final round, Cook posted a sterling 65 and in his 14th trip to the Nelson, the walk up those clubhouse steps to sign his card and shake the host’s hands was finally a victorious one. “When Mr. Nelson got up to greet me, I got all choked up,� said Cook. “It was really special.� Loren Roberts (1999) “After that win, Byron would send me notes just to say, ‘nice playing,’ or something like that. I keep them in my desk at home. Those things are always going to matter to me.� Roberts trailed Tiger Woods by four through 36 holes, but shot 62-68 on the weekend, then beat Steve Pate in a playoff. At 43, it was the sixth of his eight career wins, but most memorable was a scene that played out at the trophy presentation. “My father (Hugh, who was 83) came to some of my other tournaments, but this was the only time he saw me win,� said Roberts. “He was a postman in Memphis, a very reserved man, but what I always think about is how nervous he was around Mr. Nelson. He just couldn’t get couldn’t a word out.� The picture of Roberts, his father and Nelson is a special memento. But Roberts’ prized possession is something given to players who attended services for Nelson when he died in September 2006. “It was a cross he had carved out of a deer’s antler,� said Roberts. “I was just so impressed. It’s my most special keepsake.� Ted Purdy (2005) “There was an amazing aura to him. He was obviously very strong in his faith and it was like God poured through him when you talked to him. With this unique time on earth, we need him more than ever.� At a time in his career when Purdy was playing nicely, the inability to close the door haunted him. For that reason, few observers gave him serious thought when he started the fourth round two shots off the lead and in the third-to-last group. “But it was amazing; I played flawless golf that day,� said Purdy, who hit all 18 greens, shot 5-under 65, and was offered the chance to sit with Nelson while he waited to see if anyone in the final two groups could pull even or surpass his 15-under 265 total. (They did not, and Purdy recorded his only PGA TOUR win.) “It was one of the highlights to my life, to sit there and talk with Mr. Nelson and his wife, Peggy. At one point, I’ll never forget him saying, ‘Ted, you didn’t have a bogey today.’ I thanked him for noting that, then he said, ‘I don’t think I ever played a round without making at least one bogey.’ “I smiled and remember thinking that I’m pretty sure Byron Nelson played quite a few rounds without making a bogey, but that was his humility, he was trying to make you feel good.� Nelson succeeded, because Purdy confirms he never felt better about his golf and never as proud as he did while sitting next to Nelson. Scott Verplank (2007) “Just the finest gentleman I ever met. How blessed was I that he befriended me?� Perhaps no one can speak to the essence of Nelson’s humility and love of the PGA TOUR more than Scott Verplank. His story would be considered a fantasy-writer’s product, only it’s true. Upon hearing that this young man from W.T. White High School in Dallas was playing impressive golf, Nelson extended an invitation to come hit balls at Preston Trail. A few swings into the session, Verplank was asked to stop by the head professional, who explained to Nelson that the club’s age limit had been violated. Imagine, reprimanding Byron Nelson. Not too many years later, Verplank was back on the range in front of Nelson, this time as a competitor in the man’s tournament. A dream come true, for this tournament years earlier had ignited Verplank’s passion in the game. RELATED: Talk of the TOUR Golf Podcast: Scott Verplank “I worked the tournament (as a standard-bearer), carrying a sign for Bobby Clampett and Jodie Mudd when I was 12 or 13,� said Verplank. “My mother (Betty) was a scorer.� In future years, Verplank would attend the tournament and walk all 18 holes watching Tom Watson, knowing Watson was mentored by Nelson. Saturday of the Nelson was a happening. “The Salesmanship Club always pushed the envelope and did a great job. Crowds were enormous. It was Phoenix before Phoenix,� said Verplank. For 20 years, Verplank was a staple at his hometown tournament. He had struggled early on, but eventually got comfortable at the TPC Four Seasons Resort – a playoff loss in 2001 and a trio of top-six finishes. Then in 2007, eight months after Lord Byron’s death, Verplank won the Nelson in his 21st try. “Fitting, I guess, in a way, that I would win that year,� said Verplank, who embraced Nelson’s wife, Peggy, in an emotional scene. “It was meant to be,� Verplank told her and Peggy Nelson agreed. “Byron,� she told him, “wanted you to win.� In that case, Nelson got what he wanted. But only after he had given everything he had to give.

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