Category: analysis and ratings

2021 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Fantasy golf power rankings for the 2021 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, with PGA Tour picks and predictions for the winner and best values.

The PGA Tour returns from its Summer Olympics break and brings a star-studded field back to TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee for the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings for the 2021 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

Justin Thomas returns as the defending champion from last summer and Xander Schauffele comes to Memphis fresh off his gold medal win. They’re ranked No. 13 and No. 3, respectively, in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. World No. 1 Jon Rahm is the most notable absence from the 66-man field.

An alternate field is at Tahoe Mountain Club in Truckee, California this week for the Barracuda Championship. This is the second-to-last week before the start of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

2021 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational: Fantasy Golf Top 20

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. ET.

20. Will Zalatoris (+4900)

Remains one of the best on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Approach with 0.88 per round for the 2020-21 season despite some recent struggles. He withdrew from the British Open due to injury but has had two weeks off to get back to form.

19. Harris English (+3900)

Followed up a win at the Travelers Championship with a T-46 result at the British Open. Has leaned perhaps a little too heavily on his putting this season, but he has averaged 0.93 total strokes gained on the field per round over 20 career rounds at TPC Southwind.

18. Webb Simpson (+3400)

Tied for 12th in this event last year following a runner-up finish in 2019. He was third in the field in SG: Putting per round in 2019.

17. Joaquin Niemann (+3900)

Tied for 10th while representing Chile at the Tokyo Olympics. His play around the greens could hold him back in Memphis, but his putting has bailed him out often this season.

16. Corey Conners (+3900)

Surprisingly struggled with his irons at this venue last year but still finished T-30 with 0.75 SG: Off-the-Tee per round. He’s averaging 0.74 SG: Approach this season and just needs to be average on and around the greens.

15. Viktor Hovland (+2400)

Debuted at TPC Southwind with a T-59 finish at plus-3 last year. He’s a year more experienced on the PGA Tour and up to No. 4 in the Golfweek rankings but it was his putting performance last year that’s a real cause for concern in his return.

14. Hideki Matsuyama (+2400)

The 2021 Masters champion is coming off a disappointing T-4 finish in his native Japan. He has averaged 1.03 strokes gained per round over eight rounds at this venue.

13. Patrick Cantlay (+2400)

Third on Tour this season with 1.97 total strokes gained on the field per round and is third among qualified golfers in SG: Around-the-Green per round.

12. Bryson DeChambeau (+2400)

Forced to withdraw from the Olympics due to a positive COVID-19 test. He has 14 career rounds at TPC Southwind but his short game has been his greatest weakness this season and will be put to the test at this venue.

11. Matt Fitzpatrick (+2400)

Tied for sixth here last year while sharing the field lead with 2.50 SG: Putting per round. He struggled on approach last year but has been much improved in that area this season. Leads this field with 2.78 strokes gained per round at TPC Southwind.

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10. Scottie Scheffler (+2400)

Has made five straight cuts internationally, including a T-8 at the British Open. Tied for 15th last year even amid a dreadful putting performance with 0.77 strokes lost per round on the greens.

9. Rory McIlroy (+1900)

Lost in the playoff for a T-4 finish in Tokyo last week. Tied for 47th in this event last year but for fourth in 2019 despite losing 0.66 strokes per round on approach.

8. Jordan Spieth (+1400)

Two runner-up finishes in his last four events, including the British Open. Hasn’t missed a cut since the Farmers Insurance Open in January, his only MC through 15 events this year.

7. Louis Oosthuizen (+1900)

No. 2 in the Golfweek rankings after securing a top-three finish in each of the final three majors of 2021. He added his third runner-up finish of the year at the 3M Open before the Olympic break.

6. Xander Schauffele (+1200)

The Olympic gold medalist tied for sixth in this event last year with a field-best 1.57 SG: Around-the-Green per round. Looking for his first professional win since the 2019 Sentry Tournament of Champions.

5. Justin Thomas (+1600)

The defending champ at TPC Southwind tied for 22nd at the Olympics following a lackluster T-40 showing in the British Open. He’s seventh among qualified golfers in SG: Approach this season with 0.44 SG: Around-the-Green as well.

4. Daniel Berger (+1900)

Part of a four-way tie for second in this event last year with 1.26 SG: Approach per round. He’s looking for his second win of the season with recent T-7 and T-8 finishes at the US Open and British Open, respectively. Won the St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in 2016 and 2017.

3. Dustin Johnson (+1700)

Won the final St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in 2018 for his second win at this venue before the tournament was elevated to WGC status. Missed the cut at the 3M Open following a strong T-8 showing at the British Open.

2. Brooks Koepka (+1100)

Fifth in this field with 2.17 strokes gained on the field per round at TPC Southwind, including a T-2 finish last year. Led last year’s field with 2.11 SG: Approach per round.

1. Collin Morikawa (+1100)

The British Open champ just missed out on a bronze medal last week. He returns to the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational off of a T-20 finish last year, but his PGA Tour-best 1.30 SG: Approach per round this season suggests he’s well-suited to the venue.

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2021 British Open Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Fantasy golf power rankings for the 2021 British Open, with PGA Tour odds, picks and predictions.

The 149th British Open takes place this week at Royal St. George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent, England. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 British Open, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

The British Open returns to the PGA Tour schedule after the 2020 tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s the 15th time The Open is being held at Royal St. George’s with the most recent being in 2011. The course measures a little over 7,200 yards and plays to a par of 70.

Jon Rahm, sitting atop the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings, is the betting favorite for the final major of 2021 after winning the US Open in La Jolla, California.

Also see:

2021 British Open: Fantasy Golf Top 20

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. ET.

20. Viktor Hovland (+3000)

Has two PGA Tour victories, but the biggest win of his career was just a few weeks ago at the European Tour’s BMW International Open against a very strong field. He’s fifth among qualified golfers with 1.93 total strokes gained on the field per round for the 2020-21 season.

19. Will Zalatoris (+6600)

Though he has cooled off of late, he’s still sixth among qualified golfers with 0.81 Stokes Gained: Approach per round for the season. We’re getting higher than usual odds following his rare missed cut at the US Open, but he bounced back with a T-26 at the abrdn Scottish Open last week.

18. Matt Fitzpatrick (+3300)

Lost in a playoff in last week’s Scottish Open in his follow-up to a T-55 finish at the US Open. He made the cut in each of the last four majors and finished T-20 in the 2019 British Open.

17. Tyrrell Hatton (+3000)

Was seemingly well poised to make a run at the Claret Jug last year before the season was suspended and the tournament canceled. He has four international wins since 2019 and six career wins on the European Tour.

16. Collin Morikawa (+3300)

The winner of the 2020 PGA Championship tied for eighth in his defense, and for fourth at the 2021 US Open. He leads all golfers by a sizable margin in SG: Approach per round. The only knock is that the California native has never played in a British Open.

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15. Justin Rose (+5000)

Has played rather sporadically while battling a couple of injuries in 2021, but he still has three top-10 finishes through 11 international events, including a seventh-place showing at the Masters. He’s just 133rd in sand save percentage but is better used to his native pot bunkers.

14. Tommy Fleetwood (+4000)

Once ranked as high as ninth in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), he has tumbled to 35th entering this week but showed much better form in a T-26 finish at the Scottish Open last week. His iron play is well-suited to the rolling fairways of links courses.

13. Lee Westwood (+5000)

The veteran’s 58 career rounds played in the British Open are tied for the second-most in this year’s field, and he has averaged 1.66 strokes gained on the field per round in the tournament. The 48-year-old missed the cut at St. George’s in both 2011 and 2003 but has played great golf in 2021 with two runner-up finishes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship.

12. Scottie Scheffler (+4500)

Tied for 12th at the Scottish Open in a rare European Tour appearance ahead of his first British Open. He finished T-8 or better in three of his last five majors.

11. Jordan Spieth (+1800)

Three top-10 finishes and six straight made cuts since returning to the winner’s circle at the Valero Texas Open. His last major win was at the 2017 Open Championship. He’s 12th on the PGA Tour in par 4 efficiency from the key distance of 400-450 yards.

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10. Bryson DeChambeau (+3000)

His usual advantage off the tee won’t carry as much weight at Royal St. George’s, but it’s a good opportunity for his underrated putting and short game to shine at inflated odds.

9. Justin Thomas (+1800)

Seventh among qualified golfers in SG: Approach and sixth in total strokes gained on the field per round. Tied for 11th at the 2019 British Open for a career-best finish in the tournament.

8. Webb Simpson (+6000)

Tied for first on Tour through 57 measured rounds in par 4 efficiency from the key distance of 400-450 yards and leads all golfers in scrambling and sand save percentage. Enters the week 19th in the Golfweek rankings and is a tremendous value bet at these odds.

7. Louis Oosthuizen (+2800)

The 38-year-old is playing the best golf of his career with back-to-back runner-up finishes at the PGA Championship and the US Open. His lone career win on the PGA Tour was at the 2010 British Open. His putter is a greater advantage at the shorter major venues.

6. Patrick Cantlay (+2800)

Meets a lot of the same criteria as Simpson this week but at half the odds with two victories on the 2020-21 PGA Tour season. He’s second in scrambling and T-1 in par 4 efficiency: 400-450 yards. He tied for 12th at the 2018 Open Championship.

5. Dustin Johnson (+2000)

Back to No. 1 in the OWGR despite not playing on either side of the Atlantic last week. Not typically considered as a big threat for the British Open, but he has three career top-10 finishes, including a T-2 at Royal St. George’s in 2011.

4. Xander Schauffele (+1600)

Tied for second at the 2018 British Open but finished just T-41 in 2019. He’s second to Rahm in total strokes gained on the field per round this season, but he has been experimenting with his putting style of late.

3. Jon Rahm (+750)

The only real argument to be made against the betting favorite and top-ranked player in the Golfweek rankings is that no one has gone back-to-back at the US Open and British Open since Tom Watson in 1982. The courses and conditions aren’t comparable, but there isn’t an international venue that has seemed to have much defense against Rahm.

2. Brooks Koepka (+1400)

Leads all golfers with an aggregate score of minus-84 in majors since 2016, but he’s on record as saying Royal St. George’s isn’t his “favorite venue” on the British Open rotation. He has three top-10 finishes in his last four appearances at the British Open, and he finished in the top five of the last two majors this year.

1. Rory McIlroy (+1800)

The 2014 Open champion previously tied for 25th at Royal St. George’s in the 2011 British Open. He returned to form this year with victory at the Wells Fargo Championship, and he tied for seventh at the US Open. The shorter venue should allow him to play more conservatively off the tee and avoid some recent trouble he has had.

Get some action on the 2021 British Open by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Golfweek:

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.

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2021 John Deere Classic Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Fantasy golf power rankings for the 2021 John Deere Classic, with PGA Tour odds, picks and predictions.

The John Deere Classic returns to the PGA Tour schedule in 2021 after last year’s event was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A rather weak field is at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, for the final event ahead of The Open Championship. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 John Deere Classic, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

Brian Harman and Daniel Berger headline the field as the eighth- and ninth-ranked golfers, respectively, in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. Dylan Frittelli is back as the reigning champion of the John Deere Classic from 2019.

TPC Deere Run is a par 71 playing to 7,268 yards. All but two of the last 11 champions of the John Deere Classic finished 20-under par or better.

Also see: John Deere Classic odds, picks and predictions

2021 John Deere Classic: Fantasy Golf Top 20

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday at 10:20 a.m. ET.

20. Sebastian Munoz (+6000)

Tied for 37th in 2019 after a missed cut in his first appearance at TPC Deere Run in 2017. He had a season-best finish of T-3 at the Charles Schwab Challenge before three straight missed cuts against stronger fields, but he rebounded with a T-67 last week.

19. Denny McCarthy (+10000)

Missed the cut in four of his last six events but had a couple of strong showings early this year including a T-3 at The Honda Classic. One of the top putters in this field with 0.53 Strokes Gained: Putting per round on the 2020-21 season.

18. Sepp Straka (+6600)

Collected his second top-10 finish of 2021 at the Travelers Championship before missing the cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. He was fifth in the field among those who made the cut at the Travelers in SG: Approach.

17. Doug Ghim (+6600)

Back up to 217th in the Official World Golf Ranking with three made cuts in his last four events including a T-14 finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Twenty-ninth on Tour in driving accuracy and averaging 0.87 SG: Tee-to-Green through 60 measured rounds this season.

16. Dylan Frittelli (+8000)

The 2019 champion of the John Deere Classic missed the cut in 10 of his 15 events this year with his lone top-10 finish being a T-9 in the WGC-Match Play. He has made just one appearance at TPC Deere Run but his 3.27 strokes gained on the field per round lead this year’s contingent.

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15. Beau Hossler (+6600)

Has been riding a hot putter to three straight top-25 finishes. He was fifth in the field among those who made the cut with 1.48 SG: Putting at TPC Deere Run in 2019.

14. Seamus Power (+3300)

Made the cut in each of the last three runnings of the John Deere Classic and has averaged 0.51 strokes gained on the field per round over his 12 rounds at this venue. He has made seven straight cuts on the PGA Tour with two top-10 finishes in that stretch.

13. Hank Lebioda (+4500)

Tied for fourth at last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic with 1.52 SG: Putting per round. That’s the strongest part of his game and it’s often the difference at TPC Deere Run.

12. Zach Johnson (+4000)

His 62 rounds played at TPC Deere Run are the most in this field by a comfortable margin and he has averaged 1.55 strokes gained per round. He tied for 25th at the Travelers Championship two weeks ago.

11. Aaron Wise (+4000)

Averaging 0.97 SG: Tee-to-Green and 0.42 SG: Approach per round for the season. Has two top-10 finishes in his last five events.

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10. Si Woo Kim (+3300)

Will be focused on the John Deere Classic this week after withdrawing from The Open Championship in favor of the Olympics. He’ll be trying to get his game in top form for Tokyo.

9. Chez Reavie (+6000)

Twenty-eight career rounds played at TPC Deere Run with 0.16 strokes gained on the field per round. His putting has been disastrous this season, but he’s fourth on Tour in driving accuracy.

8. Cameron Davis (+3000)

Last week’s champ was near the top of the field in both SG: Around-the-Green and SG: Tee-to-Green. He does the bulk of his scoring on par 5s but will have one less opportunity this week at the shorter Deere Run.

7. Alex Noren (+2800)

Picked up his first top-10 finish of 2021 with a T-4 showing last week in a stronger field than this. He was strong across the board while averaging 1.70 SG: Tee-to-Green, 0.67 SG: Off-the-Tee and 0.64 SG: Around-the-Green.

6. Kevin Streelman (+2200)

Didn’t play this event in 2019 but tied for seventh in 2018 with a field-best 1.19 SG: Around-the-Green per round. He had four straight top-20 finishes before missing the cut at the Travelers Championship.

5. Kevin Na (+4500)

Leads all qualified golfers with 0.63 SG: Around-the-Green through 58 measured rounds this season. He’s also 36th in driving accuracy and is looking for his second win of 2021.

4. Russell Henley (+1800)

The 2019 runner-up is 46th on Tour in driving accuracy and tied for 14th in par 4 efficiency from this week’s key distance of 400-450 yards. He was in top form in the US Open and should finish better against the weaker field.

3. Daniel Berger (+1000)

This week’s betting favorite is the second-best player in the field by the Golfweek rankings. He has made five straight cuts and is coming off of a T-7 at the US Open but is likely to be looking ahead to The Open.

2. Brian Harman (+1400)

The 2014 champion of the John Deere Classic has averaged 1.08 strokes gained on the field over 24 career rounds at TPC Deere Run. He returns as the top-ranked player in the field.

1. Sungjae Im (+1600)

Tied for eighth last week while ranking in the top five of the field among those who made the cut in SG: Around-the-Green and SG: Tee-to-Green.

Like Kim, he won’t be participating in The Open while focusing on medaling at The Olympics in order to avoid military service in South Korea.

Get some action on the 2021 John Deere Classic by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Golfweek:

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.

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2021 Travelers Championship Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Fantasy golf power rankings for the 2021 Travelers Championship, with PGA Tour odds, picks and predictions.

A strong PGA Tour field makes its way to TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, for this week’s Travelers Championship. On the heels of Jon Rahm’s victory at the 2021 US Open. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 Travelers Championship, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

The field is surprisingly strong considering the cross-country travel from Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California. Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and defending Travelers champion Dustin Johnson are the biggest names making the trip and are the top-three betting favorites this week.

TPC River Highlands, a long-time PGA Tour venue, measures a conservative 6,841 yards and plays to a par of 70. The course puts an emphasis on accuracy off the tee but low scores should be expected with Johnson winning by a single stroke at 19-under par in 2020.

Also see: Travelers Championship odds, predictions and picks

2021 Travelers Championship: Fantasy Golf Top 20

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Monday at 7 p.m. ET.

20. Ryan Moore (+12500)

The course history pick of the week, Moore has 46 career rounds played at TPC River Highlands with an average of 1.69 strokes gained on the field per round. He has never won the Travelers but was a runner-up in 2011 and 2006. He more recently tied for 15th in 2019 before a missed cut last year.

19. Kevin Na (+5500)

The winner of the Sony Open in Hawaii has a top finish of T-11 at the WGC-Workday Championship in 13 events since and is coming off a missed cut at the US Open. He has still been strong in the short game and is 35th on Tour in driving accuracy.

18. Cameron Tringale (+8000)

Tied for third at the Valspar Championship which was played at the highly comparable Copperhead. Averaged 1.58 SG: Tee-to-Green that week and has three top-10 finishes in 2021.

17. Brendon Todd (+7500)

The most accurate driver on Tour this season will benefit from the shorter venue this week. He missed the cut in the difficult US Open conditions, but he’s just four weeks removed from a T-8 finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

16. Russell Henley (+5500)

Tumbled down the leaderboard in the final round of the US Open to finish T-13, but he averaged 1.63 SG: Tee-to-Green and 1.60 SG: Approach per round for the week. He has averaged 1.18 strokes gained on the field over 14 career rounds at TPC River Highlands.

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15. Sam Burns (+5500)

Won the Valspar Championship and was the runner-up at the AT&T Byron Nelson the next week but withdrew from the PGA Championship due to injury, tied for 50th at the Memorial Tournament, and missed the cut at the US Open. As a result, his odds have ballooned back to where they were prior to his maiden victory, and he’s a great fit for this course.

14. Keegan Bradley (+5000)

Finished alone in second at the Valspar Championship as one of two top-10 placings this year. Followed it up with back-to-back top-20 finishes before a missed cut at the Memorial. Averaging 0.97 strokes gained over 38 career rounds at this venue, including a T-2 finish in 2019.

13. Joaquin Niemann (+3500)

His play around the greens has been his only real weakness this season but it won’t be tested too much at TPC River Highlands. He tied for fifth in his debut at this event in 2019.

12. Bubba Watson (+5400)

The three-time Travelers champ missed the cut in 2020 but is just three years removed from his third win at TPC River Highlands. He stumbled to a T-50 finish at the US Open, but he was strong off the tee all week with 0.52 strokes gained per round.

11. Patrick Reed (+2500)

Tied for 19th at Torrey Pines with strong play on and around the greens. Averaging 1.07 strokes gained over 30 career rounds at this venue.

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10. Abraham Ancer (+3000)

Finished T-8 in 2019 and T-11 last year at the Travelers. Ranked among the leaders in SG: Tee-to-Green in both appearances. Missed the cut at the US Open but tied for eighth at the PGA Championship and is better suited to the shorter course.

9. Paul Casey (+1800)

Three straight top-10 showings, including a T-7 at the US Open and a sixth-place finish at the European Tour’s Porsche European Open. Has two runner-up finishes in this event since 2015.

8. Tony Finau (+3000)

Comes off a rare missed cut in a major at the US Open. He performed well with the putter over two rounds but was a disaster from tee to green with 2.63 strokes lost per round. He’s still averaging 1.67 SG: Tee-to-Green per round for the season and should bounce back at inflated odds.

7. Brian Harman (+2800)

Averaging 1.07 strokes gained per round across 36 career rounds at TPC River Highlands. Looks to follow the mold of Watson as a lefty winner at this venue.

6. Harris English (+3500)

His Sunday 68 tied for the fourth-best round of the day at Torrey Pines. He was ninth among those who made the cut with 2.02 SG: Tee-to-Green per round.

5. Bryson DeChambeau (+1200)

Three straight top-10 finishes in this event but will need to recover from his final-round 77 at the US Open.

4. Scottie Scheffler (+2800)

Tied for seventh last week with a field-best 2.12 SG: Putting per round. He’s also tied for first on Tour in total driving this season.

3. Brooks Koepka (+1600)

Didn’t play this event last year but tied for 57th in 2019 and for 19th in 2018. He was among the leaders in both SG: Off-the-Tee and SG: Tee-to-Green in a T-4 finish last week.

2. Patrick Cantlay (+1800)

Followed his Memorial Tournament win with a T-15 finish at the US Open. He’s third on Tour with 2.01 total strokes gained per round and his 3.02 expected wins, according to Data Golf, are the most by over a full victory. He has two victories this season.

1. Dustin Johnson (+1400)

The reigning champ has begun rounding into form with a T-10 at the Palmetto Championship and a T-19 at the US Open. His victory at the 2020 Travelers snapped a lengthy winless drought and was his first of three of the calendar year en route to winning the FedExCup playoffs.

Get some action on the 2021 Travelers Championship by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Golfweek:

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.

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2021 US Open Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Fantasy golf power rankings for the 2021 US Open, with PGA Tour odds, picks and predictions.

The PGA Tour returns to Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California, for the second time this year, this time for the 121st US Open. Torrey Pines annually hosts the Farmers Insurance Open but this week will hold its first US Open since 2008. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 US Open, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

The third major of 2021 is the fifth of the 2020-21 Tour season. Bryson DeChambeau won his first major at the 2020 US Open in September at Winged Foot Golf Club, and he’ll look to become the first back-to-back US Open champ since rival Brooks Koepka won in 2017 and 2018.

Torrey Pines will play to 7,600-7,800 yards and to a par of 71. Conditions will also be much more difficult than they were for the Farmers Insurance Open in January.

Also see:

2021 US Open: Fantasy Golf Top 20

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Monday at 9:15 p.m. ET.

20. Marc Leishman (+7000)

Won the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open at 15-under par and had runner-up finishes in 2010 and 2014. He returned to the winner’s circle with partner Cameron Smith at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans earlier this year. His 35 rounds played on Torrey Pines South Course are fourth-most in the field.

19. Sungjae Im (+7000)

Put together a solid weekend at the Palmetto Championship to finish T-35 last week. He averaged 1.30 Strokes Gained: Approach and 1.08 SG: Tee-to-Green per round.

18. Abraham Ancer (+6600)

Comes off a missed cut at the Porsche European Open after a strong run on the PGA Tour that included three straight top-10 finishes at the Valspar Championship (5), Wells Fargo Championship (2) and PGA Championship (T-8). His driver and irons are strong, but he needs to be better around the greens.

17. Daniel Berger (+5000)

Tenth on Tour this season with 1.72 total strokes gained on the field per round. He has one win and four other top-10 finishes against just two missed cuts through 12 events in 2021, but he missed the cut at the Masters and tied for 75th at the PGA Championship.

16. Cameron Smith (+5500)

Averaging 0.44 SG: Around-the-Green and 0.62 SG: Putting per round to nicely complement a strong iron game. He’s also 31st on Tour in bogey avoidance and can avoid the high scores that plague US Open scorecards.

Place your legal, online 2021 US Open bets in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA, WV and Washington D.C. at BetMGM. Risk-free first bet! Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

15. Will Zalatoris (+4000)

Twenty-third in bogey avoidance, T-29 in par 4 efficiency from 450-500 yards and third in SG: Approach per round. He tied for sixth at the US Open in the fall and has six top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour since, including both the Masters and PGA Championship.

14. Scottie Scheffler (+4000)

Hasn’t finished outside the top 20 in any of his last four major appearances, including a T-8 at the PGA Championship last month. His third-place finish at the Memorial Tournament was his fifth top 10 through 15 events to begin the 2021 schedule.

13. Patrick Reed (+2800)

Won the Farmers Insurance Open in January; however, the US Open will be played solely on Torrey Pines South Course and the conditions will be much tougher with thicker rough and faster greens. He gained 1.31 strokes per round around the greens in January, but that area of the game will be much tougher, in particular.

12. Patrick Cantlay (+2500)

Defeated Collin Morikawa in a playoff to win the Memorial Tournament after Jon Rahm was forced to withdraw with the 54-hole lead. The US Open has historically been his worst of the four majors, but his short game has been strong on the 2020-21 season with 0.46 SG: Around-the-Green per round.

11. Jordan Spieth (+2000)

The greatest weakness in his resurgent 2021 schedule has been accuracy off the tee. That’s likely to be met with greater consequence at Torrey Pines than at any of the eight courses where he placed in the top 10 this year.

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10. Xander Schauffele (+1800)

Enters the week No. 2 in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings and second in total strokes gained on the field per round for the season. He finished T-6 or better in each of his four career US Open appearances, but he missed the cut at the PGA Championship last month.

9. Justin Thomas (+2000)

He hasn’t finished better than T-13 in any of his last seven events following victory at The Players. He’s second on Tour in SG: Approach and fifth in SG: Tee-to-Green but has limited experience at Torrey Pines.

8. Rory McIlroy (+2000)

Averaging 2.40 strokes gained on the field over nine career rounds on the South Course. He had a disappointing T-49 finish at the PGA Championship but improved to T-18 at the Memorial Tournament with 1.01 SG: Approach per round and a strong putting performance.

7. Viktor Hovland (+2500)

The two-time PGA Tour winner had one of his two 2021 runner-up finishes at the Farmers in January. He’s fourth among qualified golfers in SG: Off-the-Tee, and has finished T-13 and T-12 in two US Open appearances.

6. Collin Morikawa (+2200)

Followed up his 2020 PGA Championship win with a missed cut at the US Open, but has rebounded with strong showings at the first two majors of 2021. He’s first on Tour in both SG: Approach and SG: Tee-to-Green, and tied for first in par 4 efficiency from the key distance of 450-500 yards.

5. Tony Finau (+2500)

Four straight top-10 finishes and nine in his last 13 major appearances. He has gained an average of 2.06 strokes per round on the South Course over 21 rounds.

4. Dustin Johnson (+1400)

No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking but fifth in the Golfweek rankings. Coming off a T-10 finish against a weak field at the Palmetto Championship in which he averaged 1.82 SG: Tee-to-Green per round.

3. Brooks Koepka (+1800)

The two-time US Open champ and four-time major winner missed the cut at the Palmetto Championship due to an awful short game and putting performance. The conditions will be much more fitting to his game this week.

2. Bryson DeChambeau (+1800)

The winner of the 2020 US Open by six strokes is being slighted a bit by the odds this week. He’s No. 1 among qualified golfers in SG: Off-the-Tee and fourth in SG: Tee-to-Green. His added power and distance are best-suited to the US Open conditions.

1. Jon Rahm (+1000)

The No. 1 player in the Golfweek rankings was forced to withdraw from the Memorial with a six-stroke lead after the third round. He eyes his first career major win at a course where he has averaged 2.05 strokes gained per round over 15 career rounds.

Get some action on the 2021 US Open by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Golfweek:

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1364]

2021 Memorial Tournament Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Fantasy golf power rankings for the 2021 Memorial Tournament, with PGA Tour odds, picks and predictions.

A field of 121 golfers is at Muirfield Village Golf Club (MVGC) in Dublin, Ohio, this week for the Memorial Tournament. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 Memorial Tournament, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

The event is being held two weeks before the 2021 US Open but there are still many big names in attendance for Jack Nicklaus’ tournament. Each of the top three players in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings – headlined by defending champion Jon Rahm – are in the field. Webb Simpson (No. 4) and Dustin Johnson (No. 6) are the most notable omissions.

Muirfield Village underwent a dramatic overhaul since hosting the Workday Charity Open and the Memorial in back-to-back weeks last summer. The long-time PGA Tour stop now measures 7,543 yards. The Nicklaus-designed venue puts an emphasis on iron play and the short game.

Also see:

2021 Memorial Tournament: Fantasy Golf Top 20

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday at 11:58 a.m. ET.

20. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+6600)

Up to 39th in the Golfweek rankings with nine straight made cuts to open his 2021 schedule, including six PGA Tour events. He’s fourth among golfers with at least 18 measured rounds played with 0.54 Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green per round.

19. Shane Lowry (+5000)

Six straight made cuts on the PGA Tour with three top-10 finishes in that span, including a T-4 at the PGA Championship. He has 16 career rounds played at Muirfield Village with 0.42 strokes gained on the field per round.

18. Sungjae Im (+5000)

Fourteenth on Tour in driving accuracy, 17th in par 4 efficiency from 450-500 yards and tied for 40th in scrambling. He’s struggling around the greens but has been very sharp with the putter this season.

17. Joaquin Niemann (+4500)

Averaging 1.61 strokes gained per round at MVGC over 14 career rounds played, including a T-31 finish at last year’s Workday Charity Open where he averaged 1.03 SG: Approach into the tricky greens.

16. Matt Fitzpatrick (+3300)

Tied for 27th at the Workday Charity Open and then finished third in tougher conditions the next week. He leaned heavily on his putter in the second event.

Place your legal, online 2021 Memorial Tournament bets in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA and WV at BetMGM. Risk-free first bet! Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

15. Keegan Bradley (+5000)

Ninth on Tour with 0.84 SG: Approach for the season and is averaging 0.31 SG: Around-the-Green per round, as well. He has made nine straight cuts and broke 70 in the first round of seven of those events.

14. Gary Woodland (+4500)

Fourteenth in this field with 40 rounds played at MVGC and has averaged 1.28 strokes gained per round. He tied for fifth at the Workday Charity Open in conditions that are expected to more closely resemble this week than the 2020 Memorial.

13. Hideki Matsuyama (+2200)

The 2021 Masters champ has struggled with the short game this season, but he put it together at Augusta National Golf Club. These greens were redone in the offseason overhaul but remain comparable to those at Augusta.

12. Louis Oosthuizen (+3300)

A co-runner-up at the PGA Championship, Oosthuizen averaged 1.25 SG: Around-the-Green two weeks ago. He has three top-10 finishes in seven stroke-play events this year and is up to 19th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

11. Rory McIlroy (+1600)

Disappointedly followed up his Wells Fargo Championship win with a T-49 finish in his return to Kiawah Island for the PGA Championship. Struggled off-the-tee and on the greens, but still averaged 1.09 SG: Approach per round.

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10. Xander Schauffele (+2000)

Finished in the top 15 of both the 2020 Workday Charity Open and Memorial Tournament. He’s second in the Golfweek rankings and has four top-10 finishes this year, but is coming off a rare missed cut at the PGA Championship in which he was bad around the greens.

9. Corey Conners (+2800)

Up to 14th in the Golfweek rankings with just one missed cut and four top-10 finishes through 13 events this year. He tied for 22nd at last year’s Memorial Tournament with 1.20 SG: Tee-to-Green per round.

8. Tony Finau (+2500)

Tied for eighth at the PGA Championship with his sixth top-10 finish of 2021 where he posted a 1.57 SG: Around-the-Green per round, the best among those who made the cut. He’s also fourth on Tour with 1.79 SG: Tee-to-Green per round for the season.

7. Patrick Cantlay (+2200)

Won the 2019 Memorial Tournament by two strokes at 19-under par, and this week’s conditions are expected to be more similar to the 2019 tournament than those of last year. He’s third on Tour in scrambling.

6. Bryson DeChambeau (+1600)

The 2018 Memorial champion won in a playoff at 15-under par. His added distance off-the-tee won’t be as much of an advantage at this venue, but he’s also second on Tour in SG: Tee-to-Green per round, and his putting can’t be overlooked.

5. Jordan Spieth (+1600)

Finished second last week at the Charles Schwab Challenge with a disappointing Sunday round of 73. He has averaged 1.56 strokes gained per round over 32 career rounds at MVGC.

4. Viktor Hovland (+1800)

Fifth on Tour in SG: Tee-to-Green and tied for 11th in SG: Approach for the season. He finished third at the Workday Charity Open and tied for 48th at the Memorial last summer.

3. Collin Morikawa (+1800)

Morikawa won last year’s Workday Charity Open but followed it up with a T-48 in tougher conditions at the Memorial. Putting cost him in the second event; however, the greens are expected to be softer and slower this year. He’s first on Tour this season in SG: Approach and SG: Tee-to-Green.

2. Justin Thomas (+1600)

Went to a playoff with Morikawa at the Workday last year and tied for 18th at the Memorial. He has 26 career rounds played at MVGC with an average of 1.36 strokes gained on the field per round. He’s second in SG: Approach and sixth among qualified golfers in SG: Tee-to-Green.

1. Jon Rahm (+1100)

Survived the difficult conditions last year to win by three strokes at 9-under par. He led the field with 3.87 SG: Tee-to-Green per round. He enters the week atop the Golfweek rankings while looking for his first win of 2021.

Get some action on the 2021 Memorial Tournament by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Golfweek:

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.

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LPGA Bank of Hope odds, lines and special betting promotion

Looking at the betting odds and lines for the LPGA Bank of Hope with a special betting offer from BetMGM Sportsbook.

The LPGA recently announced a multi-year agreement with BetMGM Sportsbook. BetMGM is the tour’s first official betting partner and is ushering in the deal with a special promotion centered around this week’s LPGA Bank of Hope match play. Below, we look at the odds to win the LPGA Bank of Hope.

The match-play tournament is being hosted at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. This is the LPGA’s first stop at the venue, which rose to fame when hosting “The Match: Tiger vs. Phil” in 2018. This is also the LPGA’s first match-play event since the Lorena Ochoa Match Play in 2017. That tournament was won by Sei Young Kim at 1-up over Ariya Jutanugarn.

While the deal between BetMGM and the LPGA is new, MGM Resorts has long supported golf ambassadors Natalie Gulbis, Danielle Kang, Cristie Kerr, Allison Lee, Anna Nordqvist and Michelle Wie West. Kang is the Bank of Hope’s co-favorite, while Gulbis, Lee and Nordqvist are also among those teeing it up this week.

Special LPGA Betting Promotion!

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LPGA Bank of Hope odds to win

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET.

NAME ODDS Bet $100 to X
Danielle Kang +550 $550
Jin Young Ko +550 $550
Inbee Park +900 $900
So Yeon Ryu +1000 $1,000
Amy Olson +1400 $1,400
Moriya Jutanugarn +1400 $1,400
Patty Tavatanakit +1500 $1,500
Ariya Jutanugarn +2000 $2,000
Brittany Altomare +2500 $2,500
Jennifer Kupcho +2500 $2,500

LPGA Bank of Hope odds: Key Day 3 matches

Jin Young Ko -200 (bet $200 to win $100) | Anna Nordqvist +155 (bet $100 to win $155)

Carolina Masson -225 (bet $225 to win $100) | Natalie Gulbis +175 (bet $100 to win $175)

Inbee Park -160 (bet $160 to win $100) | Gaby Lopez +135 (bet $100 to win $135)

Brooke Henderson -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Angela Stanford -110 (bet $110 to win $100)

Danielle Kang -265 (bet $265 to win $100) | Lizette Salas +205 (bet $100 to win $205)

Allison Lee -150 (bet $150 to win $100) | Jenny Shin +120 (bet $100 to win $120)

Patty Tavatanakit -160 (bet $160 to win $100) | Stacy Lewis +130 (bet $100 to win $130)

Austin Ernst +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Amy Olson -145 (bet $145 to win $100)

Minjee Lee +160 (bet $100 to win $160) | Moriya Jutanugarn -200 (bet $200 to win $100)

Jennifer Kupcho -155 (bet $155 to win $100) | Ally Ewing +125 (bet $100 to win $125)

So Yeon Ryu -160 (bet $160 to win $100) | Mirim Lee +135 (bet $100 to win $135)

Hannah Green -155 (bet $155 to win $100) | Mel Reid +125 (bet $100 to win $125)

Golfweek:

Get some action on the 2021 LPGA Bank of Hope by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1364]

2021 Charles Schwab Challenge Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Fantasy golf power rankings for the 2021 Charles Schwab Challenge, with PGA Tour odds, picks and predictions.

The PGA Tour is back in Fort Worth, Texas, this week for the Charles Schwab Challenge. Colonial Country Club, one of the Tour’s longest-standing annual stops, hosts the strong post-major field. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 Charles Schwab Challenge, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

Phil Mickelson, the 2021 PGA Championship winner and a two-time champ at Colonial, is among those looking to overthrow 2020 Charles Schwab winner Daniel Berger. Last year’s tournament featured a major-caliber field as it was the first event upon the Tour’s mid-June restart.

Colonial CC is 7,209 yards and plays to a par of 70. It demands accuracy off the tee and precise iron play as the fairways are well-guarded by tight tree lines.

Also see:

2021 Charles Schwab Challenge: Fantasy Golf Top 20

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday at 2:15 p.m. ET.

20. Brendon Todd (+10000)

Todd has struggled over 15 career rounds at Colonial, including a missed cut last year, but his current form should fit well despite having no finish better than a T-13 through 11 events in 2021. He leads the PGA Tour in driving accuracy, and he’s one of the top putters.

19. Gary Woodland (+5000)

The former US Open winner followed a fifth-place finish at the Wells Fargo Championship with a T-38 at the PGA Championship. He was in contention for much of the tournament until a Sunday round of plus-5, 77. His iron play was a strength last week with 1.53 Strokes Gained: Approach per round and he’ll need that type of performance again at Colonial.

18. Chris Kirk (+5500)

The 2015 champ at Colonial is coming off back-to-back missed cuts at the Valspar Championship and PGA Championship, but he has four top-10 finishes through 11 events this year, including a T-2 at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He leads the Tour in Par 4 Efficiency: 400-450 Yards, and there are seven such holes here.

17. Kevin Na (+6600)

Second in this field among those with a least two appearances in the event with an average of 1.68 strokes gained on the field per round, with over 48 career rounds logged at Colonial. He’s won here before, in 2019, and has a victory this year at the Sony Open in January.

16. Matt Kuchar (+6600)

The runner-up of the 2013 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial has averaged 1.42 strokes gained per round over 44 career rounds played at this venue. The nine-time PGA Tour champ is 19th in driving accuracy and sixth in par 4 efficiency from the key distance of 400-450 yards.

Place your legal, online 2021 Charles Schwab Challenge bets in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA and WV at BetMGM. Risk-free first bet! Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

15. Billy Horschel (+5000)

Four straight made cuts in stroke-play events to go with a victory at the WGC-Match Play. Averaged 1.27 SG: Putting per round in a T-23 finish at the PGA Championship and is 30th in driving accuracy this season.

14. Justin Rose (+3000)

The 2018 champion at Colonial has averaged 1.50 strokes gained per round over 28 rounds there. He tied for third in last year’s stronger field.

13. Scottie Scheffler (+3000)

Tied for eighth last week while recording 0.69 SG: Off-the-Tee per round and a strong putting performance at the Ocean Course. He tied for 55th in his debut at Colonial last year but was excellent with the driver and his irons.

12. Brian Harman (+3500)

Thirty career rounds played at Colonial with an average of 1.25 strokes gained per round. Finished inside the top 35 each of the last seven years with three top-10 results.

11. Joaquin Niemann (+2500)

Twenty-second in par 4 efficiency from the key distance of 400-450 yards this season and eighth in SG: Off-the-Tee. Tied for 32nd in this event last June but his play around the green has improved.

Play our new free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

10. Sungjae Im (+3300)

Tied for 10th last year in just his second appearance at Colonial. Tied for 17th last week with strong play off the tee. He’s 14th in driving accuracy on tour this season.

9. Patrick Reed (+2200)

Eleventh in this field with 1.46 strokes gained per round at Colonial. Tied for seventh in the event last year with an excellent putting performance and also gained 0.76 strokes per round around the greens.

8. Will Zalatoris (+2800)

Picked up a third straight top-10 finish at a major with a T-8 last week. Was second among those to make the cut with 2.04 SG: Approach per round.

7. Abraham Ancer (+2000)

Second on Tour in driving accuracy and fourth in par 4 efficiency from the key distance of 400-450 yards. Finished T-14 last year at Colonial and has improved his play around the putting surfaces.

6. Corey Conners (+2200)

Hasn’t missed a cut since February’s Genesis Invitational and has four top-10 finishes in his last eight stroke-play events. Tenth on Tour in driving accuracy and fifth in SG: Approach.

5. Daniel Berger (+2000)

The defending champ was in the top five of last year’s field that made the cut in both SG: Approach and SG: Tee-to-Green per round. He struggled to a T-75 finish last week but his iron play is much better suited to Colonial.

4. Collin Morikawa (+1400)

Lost in a playoff to Berger last year but is being given a better chance of winning this week by the betting odds. He’s first on Tour in SG: Approach and won the WGC-Workday Championship earlier this year.

3. Tony Finau (+2200)

Sixth in this field in average strokes gained per round at Colonial. Was the runner-up in 2019 and is coming off yet another top-10 major finish last week.

2. Jordan Spieth (+1000)

This week’s betting favorite won here in 2016 with runner-up finishes in 2015 and 2017. He returned to the winner’s circle in April and has six other top-10 finishes this year to move back to 21st in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings.

1. Justin Thomas (+1200)

Debuted at Colonial with a T-10 finish in the strong field last year and was second among those to make the cut with 1.75 SG: Approach per round. Got an early jump on his preparation for this week with a missed cut at the PGA Championship.

Get some action on the 2021 Charles Schwab Challenge by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Golfweek:

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.

[lawrence-newsletter]

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2021 Charles Schwab Challenge Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Fantasy golf power rankings for the 2021 Charles Schwab Challenge, with PGA Tour odds, picks and predictions.

The PGA Tour is back in Fort Worth, Texas, this week for the Charles Schwab Challenge. Colonial Country Club, one of the Tour’s longest-standing annual stops, hosts the strong post-major field. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 Charles Schwab Challenge, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

Phil Mickelson, the 2021 PGA Championship winner and a two-time champ at Colonial, is among those looking to overthrow 2020 Charles Schwab winner Daniel Berger. Last year’s tournament featured a major-caliber field as it was the first event upon the Tour’s mid-June restart.

Colonial CC is 7,209 yards and plays to a par of 70. It demands accuracy off the tee and precise iron play as the fairways are well-guarded by tight tree lines.

Also see:

2021 Charles Schwab Challenge: Fantasy Golf Top 20

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday at 2:15 p.m. ET.

20. Brendon Todd (+10000)

Todd has struggled over 15 career rounds at Colonial, including a missed cut last year, but his current form should fit well despite having no finish better than a T-13 through 11 events in 2021. He leads the PGA Tour in driving accuracy, and he’s one of the top putters.

19. Gary Woodland (+5000)

The former US Open winner followed a fifth-place finish at the Wells Fargo Championship with a T-38 at the PGA Championship. He was in contention for much of the tournament until a Sunday round of plus-5, 77. His iron play was a strength last week with 1.53 Strokes Gained: Approach per round and he’ll need that type of performance again at Colonial.

18. Chris Kirk (+5500)

The 2015 champ at Colonial is coming off back-to-back missed cuts at the Valspar Championship and PGA Championship, but he has four top-10 finishes through 11 events this year, including a T-2 at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He leads the Tour in Par 4 Efficiency: 400-450 Yards, and there are seven such holes here.

17. Kevin Na (+6600)

Second in this field among those with a least two appearances in the event with an average of 1.68 strokes gained on the field per round, with over 48 career rounds logged at Colonial. He’s won here before, in 2019, and has a victory this year at the Sony Open in January.

16. Matt Kuchar (+6600)

The runner-up of the 2013 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial has averaged 1.42 strokes gained per round over 44 career rounds played at this venue. The nine-time PGA Tour champ is 19th in driving accuracy and sixth in par 4 efficiency from the key distance of 400-450 yards.

Place your legal, online 2021 Charles Schwab Challenge bets in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA and WV at BetMGM. Risk-free first bet! Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

15. Billy Horschel (+5000)

Four straight made cuts in stroke-play events to go with a victory at the WGC-Match Play. Averaged 1.27 SG: Putting per round in a T-23 finish at the PGA Championship and is 30th in driving accuracy this season.

14. Justin Rose (+3000)

The 2018 champion at Colonial has averaged 1.50 strokes gained per round over 28 rounds there. He tied for third in last year’s stronger field.

13. Scottie Scheffler (+3000)

Tied for eighth last week while recording 0.69 SG: Off-the-Tee per round and a strong putting performance at the Ocean Course. He tied for 55th in his debut at Colonial last year but was excellent with the driver and his irons.

12. Brian Harman (+3500)

Thirty career rounds played at Colonial with an average of 1.25 strokes gained per round. Finished inside the top 35 each of the last seven years with three top-10 results.

11. Joaquin Niemann (+2500)

Twenty-second in par 4 efficiency from the key distance of 400-450 yards this season and eighth in SG: Off-the-Tee. Tied for 32nd in this event last June but his play around the green has improved.

Play our new free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

10. Sungjae Im (+3300)

Tied for 10th last year in just his second appearance at Colonial. Tied for 17th last week with strong play off the tee. He’s 14th in driving accuracy on tour this season.

9. Patrick Reed (+2200)

Eleventh in this field with 1.46 strokes gained per round at Colonial. Tied for seventh in the event last year with an excellent putting performance and also gained 0.76 strokes per round around the greens.

8. Will Zalatoris (+2800)

Picked up a third straight top-10 finish at a major with a T-8 last week. Was second among those to make the cut with 2.04 SG: Approach per round.

7. Abraham Ancer (+2000)

Second on Tour in driving accuracy and fourth in par 4 efficiency from the key distance of 400-450 yards. Finished T-14 last year at Colonial and has improved his play around the putting surfaces.

6. Corey Conners (+2200)

Hasn’t missed a cut since February’s Genesis Invitational and has four top-10 finishes in his last eight stroke-play events. Tenth on Tour in driving accuracy and fifth in SG: Approach.

5. Daniel Berger (+2000)

The defending champ was in the top five of last year’s field that made the cut in both SG: Approach and SG: Tee-to-Green per round. He struggled to a T-75 finish last week but his iron play is much better suited to Colonial.

4. Collin Morikawa (+1400)

Lost in a playoff to Berger last year but is being given a better chance of winning this week by the betting odds. He’s first on Tour in SG: Approach and won the WGC-Workday Championship earlier this year.

3. Tony Finau (+2200)

Sixth in this field in average strokes gained per round at Colonial. Was the runner-up in 2019 and is coming off yet another top-10 major finish last week.

2. Jordan Spieth (+1000)

This week’s betting favorite won here in 2016 with runner-up finishes in 2015 and 2017. He returned to the winner’s circle in April and has six other top-10 finishes this year to move back to 21st in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings.

1. Justin Thomas (+1200)

Debuted at Colonial with a T-10 finish in the strong field last year and was second among those to make the cut with 1.75 SG: Approach per round. Got an early jump on his preparation for this week with a missed cut at the PGA Championship.

Get some action on the 2021 Charles Schwab Challenge by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Golfweek:

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1364]

2021 PGA Championship Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Fantasy golf power rankings for the 2021 PGA Championship, with PGA Tour odds, picks and predictions.

The second major of 2021 is here as the PGA Tour returns to the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 PGA Championship, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

Collin Morikawa is the defending PGA Championship winner but Rory McIlroy is the reigning champ at Kiawah Island. He won by eight strokes at 13-under par at the Ocean Course in the 2012 PGA Championship. They’re No. 24 and 15, respectively, in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings.

The 7,876-yard Ocean Course rewards the Tour’s longest hitters, but there’s an even greater emphasis on play around the greens and on approach.

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2021 PGA Championship: Fantasy Golf Top 20

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Monday at 6:15 p.m. ET.

20. Patrick Reed (+3300)

Won the Farmers Insurance Open in late January and has three other top-10 finishes this year, including a T-8 at the Masters. Averaging 0.24 Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green this season and has been hot with the putter.

19. Matt Fitzpatrick (+6000)

Four top-10 finishes through seven PGA Tour events this year before missing the cut at last week’s AT&T Byron Nelson. Putting very well but also gaining strokes in all other key areas and is eighth in par 4 efficiency: 450-500 yards.

18. Joaquin Niemann (+6600)

No. 9 in the Golfweek world rankings but shares just the 27th-best odds to win this streak as a strong value. He averages 0.55 SG: Off-the-Tee per round.

17. Cameron Smith (+4000)

Fifteenth on Tour in bogey avoidance. Averaging 0.46 SG: Around-the-Green and 0.34 SG: Approach per round. Fourth on Tour in sand save percentage.

16. Daniel Berger (+2500)

Struggling with the short game but averaging 0.73 SG: Approach and 0.59 SG: Off-the-Tee per round. He’s sixth in bogey avoidance and tied for third at the Byron Nelson while ranking third among those to make the cut with 1.09 SG: Off-the-Tee per round.

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15. Will Zalatoris (+5000)

Led last week’s field with 2.37 SG: Approach per round but finished T-17 amid a poor putting performance. Tied for sixth in the 2020 US Open and was the runner-up at April’s Masters.

14. Tyrrell Hatton (+5000)

Fourth on Tour in SG: Approach with 0.92 per round and 10th in sand save percentage. Hasn’t played since a T-39 finish at the RBC Heritage after withdrawing from the Valspar Championship due to a positive COVID-19 test.

13. Xander Schauffele (+2000)

The top-ranked player in the Golfweek rankings shares just the seventh-best odds to win. He finished in the top 10 in each of his last three majors, including a T-3 at this year’s Masters.

12. Webb Simpson (+4000)

Withdrew from the Wells Fargo Championship just before his tee time while citing a neck injury. Two weeks off should serve him well for another try at a second career major. He leads the Tour in bogey avoidance and is averaging 1.25 SG: Tee-to-Green per round.

11. Tony Finau (+3300)

His T-10 finish at the 2021 Masters was his ninth career top-10 finish in a major through 19 appearances. He’s seventh on Tour in SG: Approach and will benefit from the wide fairways of the Ocean Course.

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10. Collin Morikawa (+3000)

The defending PGA Championship winner enters sixth in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) with a win and two other top-10 finishes this year. He’s just T-125 in driving distance this season and will struggle if the weather makes the course play any longer than it is.

9. Brooks Koepka (+3300)

Played the AT&T Byron Nelson for his first event since a missed cut at the Masters. He missed the cut but his surgically repaired knee didn’t seem to be an issue, and he was third in the field in SG: Around-the-Green over 36 holes.

8. Dustin Johnson (+1800)

Still No. 1 in the OWGR, the 2020 Masters champ won the European Tour’s Saudi International earlier this year but has just one top-10 finish through eight PGA Tour events. He missed the cut at this year’s Masters and most recently withdrew from the Byron Nelson due to knee discomfort.

7. Viktor Hovland (+2000)

Among the Tour leaders in SG: Approach, SG: Off-the-Tee and SG: Tee-to-Green, Hovland has also vastly improved his putting but still struggles with the short game. Enters off of back-to-back third-place finishes at the Valspar Championship and Wells Fargo Championship with excellent weekend scores.

6. Jon Rahm (+1400)

Tied for 34th at the Byron Nelson following a missed cut at the Wells Fargo in his first events since a T-5 at the Masters. He does his best work in the biggest tournaments and is fourth on Tour in total strokes gained per round.

5. Patrick Cantlay (+4000)

The only player on Tour averaging better than 0.50 SG: Around-the-Green and Off-the-Tee per round. Also 28th in sand save percentage and seventh in bogey avoidance.

4. Justin Thomas (+1400)

Second on Tour in SG: Approach and total strokes gained per round. He’s tied for 53rd in driving distance and has a disadvantage compared to the other top favorites.

3. Bryson DeChambeau (+1600)

Leads the Tour with an average driving distance of 322.0 yards and is No. 1 in SG: Off-the-Tee per round. His putting and short game are underrated and he’ll be able to try some unique angles with the open fairways.

2. Rory McIlroy (+1100)

The defending champion of the Ocean Course was among the favorites by the futures odds since they were posted last summer. He won here by eight strokes in 2012 amid difficult weather conditions and ranks second on Tour this season in driving distance. His sand play and short game were sharp in winning the Wells Fargo Championship.

1. Jordan Spieth (+1400)

The feel-good story of the 2020-21 PGA Tour season will try again to complete the career grand slam this week. He has a victory and six other top-10 finishes through 10 events this year. The open fairways will save him from his usual trouble off the tee.

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