Who’ll conquer Bethpage, capture PGA Championship?

Xander Schauffele never had a better round or a more peculiar ending.

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Lucas Herbert (+130 for a Top 20) … The Aussie sits just outside the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking at 52nd. He wasn’t selected for the Presidents Cup but that didn’t prevent him from filing a fine performance last week at TPC Summerlin where he finished T20. It’s his fifth top 20 in his last eight starts worldwide, and it’s the kind of momentum that should ease any strain as he sizes up his first-ever title defense on the PGA TOUR in Bermuda at the end of the month. But first, the TOUR’s best putter of 2021-22 will take the stage in his debut at Narashino. Adam Schenk (+250 for a Top 20) … He’s carved out his PGA TOUR career for what is now a sixth consecutive season with quantity over quality. He’s among the busiest on the board and he rarely follows one top 20 with another, so the 30-year-old is a candidate for a top-30 prop where you can find it because he recorded one in both of the previous editions of the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP at Narashino. Finished T12 with a foursome of sub-70s at TPC Summerlin last week and finished inside the top five in fairways hit, greens in regulation and scrambling. Matt Wallace (+275 for a Top 20) … Like Schenk, a top-30 consideration is smarter given he’s opened the 2022-23 PGA TOUR with two of them in as many starts. The Englishman didn’t qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs last season but he’s fully exempt via the top 125 in Eligibility Points, so he’s off to a nice start via the lifeline. He also finished T4 in his debut at Narashino last year but he’s in the field this week on a sponsor exemption, which often can generate additional inspiration not to squander the bonus. Stephan Jaeger … The 33-year-old from Germany already is paying off his late surge to qualify for his first FedExCup Playoffs and keep his card on the third try. He’s opened 2022-23 with a trio of paydays and now has six straight dating back to the 5th-T13 at the finish line of the regular season. Ranked third in par-3 scoring last season. It’s a confidence-building weapon in his first look at Narashino and its set of five one-shotters. Riki Kawamoto … Asian domination belongs to South Korea right now, but the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP is staged in Japan and it’s poised to showcase its own talent. Among the rising stars is this 22-year-old who turned pro a little over 10 months ago. Two months prior, he prevailed in a tournament on the Japan Golf Tour’s developmental circuit. More recently, he’s scaled to sixth on the JGTO money list with a pair of victories on it since late August, the latter of which just two weeks ago. He leads his peers in distance off the tee and slots sixth in greens in regulation. It’s a timely reward that he’s qualified for the ZOZO, and given the relentlessness of youth nowadays, it’s reasonable to expect him to continue to put on a show in front of the home crowd. Odds were sourced on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. For live odds, visit BetMGM. Responsible sports betting starts with a game plan. Set a budget. Keep it social. Play with friends. Learn the game and know the odds. Play with trusted, licensed operators. Visit haveagameplan.org to learn more.

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Here are nine tidbits from the final round of the 118th United States Open that gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., is hosting for the fifth time in history and plays 7,440 yards to a Par-70. National Champion Again Brooks Koepka fired a final round 68 to post 281 to win his second consecutive United States Open. The podium was rounded off by Englishman Tommy Fleetwood (282) and 2016 champion Dustin Johnson (283). There were plenty of questions about the selection and set-up of Erin Hills last year. Koepka couldn’t care less about those questions as he beat that Par-72 windless layout into oblivion. The course with wide fairways and huge greens with four Par-5 holes didn’t resemble a “true” U.S. Open layout or challenge. Koepka’s winning score of 16-under tied the record in relation to par and people grumbled. He returned as the reigning champion this year, hustling to get into form because of a wrist injury suffered late last year, to a course that was the quintessential opposite of the one he defeated, rather easily, last year. The beast that is Shinnecock Hills would test his wrist, mettle and entire bag and he passed again with flying colors. Koepka finished second in driving distance yet just T55 in fairways. He found 49 of 72 GIR, the fourth-best effort of the week. He circled 14 birdies, also the fourth-best effort. His final round in the penultimate group with buddy Dustin Johnson saw him circle five birdies against just one bogey before his safety-first approach on the final green with a two-shot lead. I can hear the gamers screaming “where were you last week in Memphis” as he was the most-selected player in both PGA TOUR games. Given the choice of last week versus this week, I can’t argue with you. Only six previous players have defended their title so winning this week would be some feat at just 28. With Koepka winning on a “new” school course followed by a historical classic, it’s clear he’s worthy of a look regardless of the event. His last 11 majors have included two titles and nothing worse than T21 as he cements his place as one of the young studs on TOUR. Know Thy Enemy These were the top-10 selected golfers, plus one, in the PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf game presented by SERVPRO. Rickie Fowler’s weekend of 84-65 was interesting so hopefully gamers played him on the right day! Based on the above, some might have been stuck, like I was, using him in both rounds. Luckily for me I had Mickelson with him on Saturday and they earned me MINUS FIVE points. Not awesome. PAIN OR GAIN These were the top-10 selected golfers (plus one) in the PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO: Tough week for Johnson’s investors but a podium finish is a little easier to take than a few of the results on the table above. Only one guy can win but it’s evident this THE major to play Johnson. Tommy, Boy! Tommy Fleetwood adds his name to the list of players who have signed for 63 in a major championship. He also adds his name to the list of players that didn’t win while doing so. His eight birdies, after making zero during a 78 in Round 3, were cancelled out by just one bogey. He had an eight-footer on the last to tie the major championship record of 62 set just last summer at Royal Birkdale by Braden Grace. Fleetwood backed up his fourth-place money at Erin Hills last year with solo second Sunday, his best finish in a major. Just Missed, Again Dustin Johnson’s U.S Open history is colorful, pitiful and filled with plenty of “what if” and this edition adds to this novel. He was magnificent over the first 36 holes on the more difficult side of the draw, leading by four at the half-way point. His weekend saw him post 77 in Round 3 and yet began the final round tied for first. His final round of 70, even par, wasn’t good enough to win, force a playoff or even take home second place alone. Yeah, it was a strange week to say the least. Captain America Patrick Reed improved every round and his 68 on Sunday was the best of the bunch. He birdied five of his first seven holes to ignite the grand slam conversation. He ran out of magic as he came home in 37 but his last three finishes in a major are stout. He was T2 at the PGA Championship, picked up his first major at Augusta and solo fourth, his best finish and first top-10 payday at the U.S. Open. Drive for Dough Entering the week Tony Finau (5th) checked in at No. 2 in driving distance and No. 195 in driving accuracy. The first number was a plus but the second surely had to be a hindrance. Nope. He found just enough fairways (T51) and GIR (T12) that led to 17 birdies, the most in the event. Playing with Daniel Berger in the final group after his outstanding 66 Saturday morning, his 72 led to his second consecutive top-10 payday in the majors. This one did not involve a dislocated ankle though! Finau has a top 10 at every major with the exception of the Open Championship. Length travels. Sunday Silence Playing in his first final group in a major Daniel Berger signed for 73 and shared sixth. He’s now cashed at Pinehurst, Oakmont and Shinnecock Hills while just missing at Erin Hills. His worst finish in three Masters is T32. These are clues folks! This experience will be stored away in the memory bank for next time. He’ll be in play for gamers this week at the Travelers Championship as he lost in a playoff to Spieth last year. … Justin Rose was stalking the lead entering the weekend but 73-73 in the final 36 holes knocked him back to T10. That’s four top 10’s in just seven of 13 made cuts for the Englishman in this event. This one stings for gamers as he was one out of the lead on the first tee Sunday. … Jim Furyk began the day T7 and shot 80 to finish T48. Study Hall The final round scoring average was 72.180 (+2.180), the easiest round of the week by almost 1.5 shots. After the uproar on Saturday I don’t think many gamers were surprised to see birdies and lack of others in the final round. … The scoring average for the week was 74.650 as 67 players who made the cut finished worse than par. … There were zero bogey-free rounds recorded for the round and for the week. … LSU rising senior Luis Gagne and Mid Amateur champ Matt Parziale shared the low amateur (T48).

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