Winner’s Bag: Patrick Cantlay, ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD

THE OVERVIEW NAPA, Calif. — This week’s Safeway Open not only is the 2017-18 season opener, it’s the start of the eight-tournament fall stretch that sets the tone for the rest of the season. Consider last year’s winner at Silverado, Brendan Steele. After taking the first-week lead in the FedExCup standings, he maintained a top-10 spot for the first 23 weeks of last season and never fell below 16th in points, the position he was in entering the FedExCup Playoffs (he eventually finished 33rd). His win helped set him up to play in all the majors and the three World Golf Championships in 2017. “It set up my whole year,â€� said Steele, who made the cut in his next 12 events after winning at Silverado. “I was able to play all four majors and three WGCs this calendar year, one way or another because of that win. “That’s seven events that you’d have to work hard to get into; it totally changes your year. You get to play all the big-boy events. And in effect, it gives you a three-year exemption on TOUR, because I’m exempt until the end of 2019. And I got a little bit of wine; it’s definitely a fun place to win. It’s nice for me, being from California, too.â€� Now consider what happened at last year’s CIMB Classic at TPC Kuala Lumpur, with Justin Thomas shooting 23 under par to edge Hideki Matsuyama by three shots. Although no one knew it then, the victory touched off a five-win season for Thomas — a season in which he would win the PGA Championship for his first major, and be voted the PGA TOUR Player of the Year. Matsuyama wouldn’t have a bad year, either, winning three times. What’s more, of the top five finishers at the CIMB (Thomas, Matsuyama, Derek Fathauer, Anirban Lahiri and Marc Leishman), four wound up playing in last week’s Presidents Cup at Liberty National. That’s where Matsuyama, incidentally, flipped the switch on Thomas, beating him 3 and 1 in a wildly entertaining singles match that saw the winner make (or was conceded) eight birdies and an eagle. Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes, who won The RSM Classic to start the 2016-17 season, came within a whisker of making the International Team. Emiliano Grillo, who won the Safeway to open the 2015-16 season, did make the International Team. Kevin Kisner, who won The RSM Classic that fall, was a rookie on the U.S. Team, where he won 3 points with partner Phil Mickelson, went 2-0-2 overall, and generally looked like he was having the time of his life. Want to know who’s going to be playing in golf’s most exclusive late-season events? Look at who’s playing well in the PGA TOUR’s early-season events. Of the top six players in the fall the last three seasons, 17 of 18 ended the regular season in the FedExCup top 30, setting up a deep Playoffs run. Now consider Pat Perez. A year ago, he was coming off a shoulder injury, his career in flux at age 41. His sponsor dropped him. He had 15 events in which to earn enough money to keep his TOUR card via a major-medical exemption. Then, just three events in, he won the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. Lo and behold, Perez played his way all the way to the TOUR Championship at East Lake, meaning he will get into the majors and the World Golf Championships in 2017-18. “I didn’t even know if I was going to even have a job this time last year,â€� Perez said. “Coming back, I was only going to have 15 starts; who knew how I was going to do? The whole thing, how it’s all gone for me this year, has been unbelievable.â€� Simply put, keep an eye on who wins these fall tournaments over the next eight weeks. From the Napa Valley to Asia, Las Vegas to Georgia, and Mississippi to Mexico, they’re going places. THREE PLAYERS TO PONDER Eleven of his 42 career wins have come in his native California. Time to make it an even dozen. Making his return to the PGA TOUR after a mandatory two-year military commitment in Korea. Won here in 2014. Celebrated amateur player at Stanford making his pro debut after going unbeaten at the recent Walker Cup. THE FLYOVER A closer look at one of the PGA TOUR’s easiest closing holes, the 575-yard par-5 18th at Silverado’s North Course. Last year, the stroke average was 4.734, ranking it as the eighth easiest 18th hole on TOUR (and the second easiest at Silverado behind the par-5 fifth). It’s one of two par-5s in Silverado’s closing three-hole stretch, allowing players to make big moves later. THE LANDING ZONE The eighth hole at Silverado is the shortest par 4 on the course, at a scorecard length of 360 yards. In two of the four rounds last year, it played to under 335 yards. With a slight dogleg left, players are unable to drive the green; Jon Rahm had the longest drive last year at 301 yards in the third round. While it may be short, the hole is actually one of the tougher ones on the course, ranking fifth toughest with a stroke average of 4.021. Check out the scattershot chart of all tee shots struck last year at the eighth. WEATHER CHECK Rain hampered the playing schedule last year, but this week there should be no issues. According to meteorologist Willis Young, no rain is expected at Silverado. The dry atmosphere and light winds will lead to chilly mornings, but the afternoon temperatures could reach 90. For the latest weather news from Napa, California, check out PGATOUR.COM’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK If there’s a negative of being here, it’s my wife’s not here with me. Seems like it’s one of those destinations you want to have family, specifically your spouse with you. But that’s OK. I’m here to work, so what a cool place. ODDS AND ENDS 1. PRESIDENT CUPPERS. Captain’s picks Phil Mickelson (U.S.) and Emiliano Grillo (International) are the only two players in the field who played last week at Liberty National. Mickelson went 2-0-1 while Grillo went 0-2-0. Grillo won the Safeway in 2015, while Mickelson is making his third start in this event; he tied for seventh a year ago. 2. WEB.COM TOUR GRADS. Nearly a third of the field consists of players from last week’s Web.com Tour Finals, including Sam Saunders, who shot a 59 last week at Atlantic Beach on his way to tie for second. 3. ROOKIES. Several members of the 2017-18 rookie class are also in the field, including California natives Brandon Harkins and Beau Hossler.

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Are you ready for eagles and birdies again? Of course you are. So are the 49 golfers who have made their way from the U.S. Open on Long Island up to TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, for this week’s Travelers Championship. If the RBC Heritage is the hammock after the intensity of the Masters, the Travelers is the 5 p.m. whistle on a Friday following the season’s second major. TPC River Highlands is open for business and taking orders. Scroll beneath the ranking for more on last year’s unforgettable finish, the track, what’s needed to perform well and other information to prepare you for this week’s 156-man competition. POWER RANKINGS: 2018 TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP RANK PLAYER COMMENT Checked up at T6 after sharing the 54-hole lead at Shinnecock Hills, but co-led the field in par-4 scoring. In two spins at TPC River Highlands, he’s gone T5-P2 with a scoring average of 67.13. He’s scored 9-under 271 in each of the last two editions to finish a respective T11 and T5. He’s been just as consistently strong over the last three months with a win among seven top 10s. Never a concern statistically and honoring his objective to generate consistency this season. His T25 at the U.S. Open was his 15th consecutive top 25 in official individual competition. Quietly T10 at the U.S. Open. That tags onto a T20 at the Masters and his win at THE PLAYERS among other notable results this season. He’s 8-for-8 at the Travelers with three top 15s. Predictable endorsement here with three top 10s in last five appearances (scoring average = 67.75), but he’s also coming off a T20 at the U.S. Open, his fifth top 25 in the last six majors. Perfect in seven trips with his breakthrough victory in 2012 among four top 20s. Ranks 14th on TOUR in birdies-or-better percentage. One month removed from solo second at Trinity Forest. Even when he’s not simmering, his record here is too glossy to ignore. Since debuting in 2011, he’s 6-for-7 with a T5 (2014), another five top 25s and a scoring average of 68.08. Rested after a T13 at Memorial, one of five top 20s in his last 10 starts. Two-time co-runner-up at the Travelers with another three top 10s and yet another two top 20s in 10 appearances. Rapidly becoming a threat on the biggest stages thanks to a T6 at the U.S. Open and a T2 at THE PLAYERS last month. T14 at the Travelers last year after a T5 at the U.S. Open. Since his P2 as a debutant in 2015, he’s added a T17 (2016) and a T5 (2017). His scoring average in those 12 rounds is 67.25. The top-20 machine finished T16 at Shinnecock Hills. Held his own for a T25 at Shinnecock Hills, his latest impressive result of the last four months-plus. Memorial title three weeks ago headlines five top fives. Third start at TPC River Highlands. TPC River Highlands is the kind of spot where he can find his game … and some confidence. Went wire-to-wire in what was his first appearance last year. Currently second on TOUR in GIR. Closed out his debut here last year with a field-low-tying 64 to place T17. Ranked second in strokes gained: tee-to-green for the week. Inconsistency in 2018 lowered him to this spot, however. It’s natural to expect an emotional letdown, but don’t expect a massive drop in performance. Steady since returning from injury and still relatively fresh. Placed T9 in last visit here in 2016. A frustrating and compelling talent all season despite two victories. Still best on TOUR in strokes gained: putting but outside the top 140 in eight splits in proximity to the hole from 75-275 yards. Patrick Cantlay, Brandt Snedeker and Zach Johnson will appear in Tuesday’s Fantasy Insider with former winners Bubba Watson (2010, 2015), Kevin Streelman (2014) and Russell Knox (2016). It’s the first anniversary of Jordan Spieth’s hole-out that secured victory at the Travelers Championship, but no matter how many years pass, it was arguably the most exciting moment of the 2016-17 season and an indelible memory for generations. How the defending champion got to that point – he took down Daniel Berger in the only hole needed in sudden death – was as Spiethian as it gets. Spieth completed the tournament ranked outside the top 35 in distance off all drives (T38), fairways hit (T41), greens in regulation (T42) and par-5 scoring (T69). Typically, proficiency in at least one of those last three stats contributes to victory. Furthermore, it looks like a typo that he still managed to lead the field in strokes gained: tee-to-green, but it’s true. Because Spieth connected for birdie on 21 of 49 attempts to break par with his putter, he was the pacesetter in birdies-or-better percentage, one of just 11 winners last season who led their field in that scoring metric. (He added a zero-putt birdie on the par-5 sixth hole in the third round and led the field with 22 par breakers.) Berger checked the boxes of prerequisites for success at TPC River Highlands. He finished T3 in GIR, sixth in proximity (Spieth was T38) and fourth in scrambling (Spieth was T19). With bentgrass greens averaging just 5,000 square feet and running upward of 12 feet on the Stimpmeter, and with a perennial premium on hitting targets defended by four-inch rough on approach, Berger’s performance is the preferred method. The stock par 70 tipping at just 6,841 yards can also brag that its par 5s (Nos. 6 and 13) are not pushovers. Collectively, they ranked as the eight-hardest set of par 5s of 50 last season. It’s the second straight year they’ve been among the top-10 most difficult. Overall, the course averaged 70.199. TPC River Highlands will usher in summer with seasonable conditions. Sunshine will be the story until the 36-hole cut falls. When the weekend arrives, clouds will move in ahead of a reasonable threat for rain on Sunday. Wind could be a factor later as well. Daytime high will oscillate around 80 degrees. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton reviews and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Facebook Live, Fantasy Insider WEDNESDAY: One & Done THURSDAY: Champions One & Done * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.

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