Category: analysis and ratings

2021 AT&T Byron Nelson Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Fantasy golf power rankings for the 2021 AT&T Byron Nelson, with PGA Tour odds, picks and predictions.

A field of 156 is in McKinney, Texas, for the AT&T Byron Nelson. This will be the first-ever PGA Tour event at TPC Craig Ranch as the Byron Nelson is played for the first time since Sung Kang won it in 2019. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 AT&T Byron Nelson, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

Jon Rahm, ranked No. 2 in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings, leads three others from the top 10 in the field this week. This is the final event before next week’s PGA Championship at Kiawah Island in South Carolina.

Rory McIlroy is the betting favorite for the year’s second major after winning the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club last week.

Also see: AT&T Byron Nelson odds, predictions and PGA Tour picks

2021 AT&T Byron Nelson: Fantasy Golf Top 20

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday at 6:30 a.m. ET.

20. Lee Westwood (+8000)

The veteran Englishman has been off since a 63rd-place finish at the RBC Heritage capped a four-event stretch which included missed cuts at The Honda Classic and the Masters. He previously had back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship to climb as high as No. 19 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

19. James Hahn (+12500)

Few in this week’s field have the experience of Hahn at TPC Craig Ranch. He finished as the runner-up at the 2012 Web.com Tour Championship played here. His victory at the 2016 Wells Fargo Championship was at a similarly long course (Quail Hollow Club).

18. Keith Mitchell (+8000)

Mitchell remains a quality value play coming off a T-3 finish at last week’s Wells Fargo Championship. He was second in the field with 1.85 Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee per round and will need to rely on that same part of his game this week.

17. Cameron Champ (+8000)

Sixth on the PGA Tour among qualified golfers and fourth in this field in SG: Off-the-Tee through 32 measured rounds this season. His putting has been awful, but the new venue should help level the field on the greens.

16. Luke List (+7000)

Tied for sixth last week with 1.33 SG: Off-the-Tee and 1.77 SG: Tee-to-Green per round. He tied for 13th at the 2012 Web.com Tour Championship.

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15. Harris English (+6000)

Rose as high as No. 16 in the OWGR earlier this year but has struggled since returning to the mainland after the two events in Hawaii. He tied for 43rd last week with 1.04 SG: Putting but 0.75 strokes lost off-the-tee per round.

14. Sam Burns (+3500)

Returns to play after a week off following his first career PGA Tour victory at the Valspar Championship. It’s another venue that should suit his long irons well.

13. Matt Fitzpatrick (+1800)

Still in search of his first PGA Tour win after a T-4 finish at the RBC Heritage. He has gained an average of 2.13 strokes per round on the average Tour pro over his last 20 rounds, according to Data Golf.

12. Si Woo Kim (+4000)

Looking for his sixth straight made cut since a rough stretch of play following his win at The American Express. He’s eighth on Tour in Par 4 Efficiency: 450-500 Yards and there are five such holes at TPC Craig Ranch.

11. Brooks Koepka (+2000)

Playing his first event since a missed cut at the Masters following knee surgery. The two-time PGA Championship winner is a risky play this week as he tunes his game to Kiawah Island.

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10. Jordan Spieth (+1000)

Hasn’t played since a T-3 finish at the Masters on the heels of his resurgent win at the Valero Texas Open. He seems to always play well in Texas, but he’ll need his driver this week and that has been his greatest weakness this season.

9. Sergio Garcia (+4500)

Still second on Tour among qualified golfers in SG: Off-the-Tee per round. Like Champ, he’ll hope everyone’s lack of familiarity at the venue helps negate his woeful putting.

8. Hideki Matsuyama (+2000)

The 2021 Masters champ will play his first event since donning the green jacket, as he prepares for 2021’s second major. He’ll look to again rely on his excellent iron play.

7. Ryan Palmer (+4000)

Twenty-fourth on Tour in par 4 efficiency from our chosen distance and tied for 11th in Birdie or Better Percentage.

6. Marc Leishman (+3300)

Playing his first solo event since a T-5 finish at Augusta National Golf Club, but he won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans partner event with fellow Aussie Cameron Smith in the interim. He’s averaging 0.44 SG: Approach per round on the season.

5. Will Zalatoris (+2500)

Likely to be one of the most motivated of the top names in the field ahead of the PGA Championship, as he still needs a PGA Tour win in order to qualify for this year’s FedExCup Playoffs despite beginning the week 10th in the Golfweek rankings.

4. Daniel Berger (+1400)

The third-best player in the field by the Golfweek rankings tees it up for the first time since a T-13 finish at the RBC Heritage. One of the leaders in this field with 0.69 SG: Approach per round.

3. Jon Rahm (+700)

The top player in this field by both the Golfweek and OWGR measures following Monday’s withdrawal by Dustin Johnson. He looks to shake off a missed cut last week when he lost 1.36 strokes per round around the green.

2. Bryson DeChambeau (+800)

Barely made the cut last week but finished 68-68 to tie for ninth. He struggled mightily on approach to the green at Quail Hollow Club, but it’s another venue well-suited to his added distance.

1. Scottie Scheffler (+2000)

An excellent value play this week while sharing just the seventh-best odds to win. He’s seventh on Tour in par 4 efficiency and 16th in birdie or better percentage.

Get some action on the 2021 AT&T Byron Nelson 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 Wells Fargo Championship Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship, with PGA Tour power rankings and betting odds.

The PGA Tour returns to Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the first time since 2019 for the Wells Fargo Championship. The 2020 tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

Max Homa is the defending champion from 2019 and looks to become the first-ever back-to-back winner at Quail Hollow. Two-time champ Rory McIlroy and eight of the top-10 golfers in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings will look to stop him.

Justin Thomas has never won the Wells Fargo Championship, but he won the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club.

Also see:

2021 Wells Fargo 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. Stewart Cink (+6600)

The 47-year-old is one of two two-time winners on the 2020-21 PGA Tour season. He won the Safeway Open in the fall to snap an 11-year winless drought and most recently won the RBC Heritage against a much stronger field following an impressive T-12 showing at the Masters.

He has averaged 1.47 strokes gained on the field per round over 38 career rounds at Quail Hollow.

19. Tommy Fleetwood (+5500)

The Englishman is struggling with the driver this season, but his short game has been adequate and he’s still gaining strokes on approach to the green.

18. Jason Day (+4500)

The winner of the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship enters off a missed cut at the Masters. The familiar venue should improve his putting, and he’s still averaging 0.61 SG: Off-the-Tee for the season.

17. Brian Harman (+4500)

His 2017 Wells Fargo Championship title was at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, North Carolina, but he’s a strong fit for this venue, as well. He’s averaging 0.65 SG: Tee-to-Green per round for the 2020-21 season.

16. Abraham Ancer (+4000)

Finished alone in fifth at last week’s Valspar Championship and his odds rose this week against a stronger field. His putter ran hot last week, but he also averaged 0.91 SG: Off-the-Tee per round and will need to replicate that at the lengthy Quail Hollow.

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15. Corey Conners (+3300)

The Canadian has made the cut in six straight strokeplay events and had four top 10s in that stretch before a T-21 finish last week. He’s averaging 0.84 SG: Approach this season, and he was second among those to make the cut with 1.54 SG: Approach at the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship.

14. Sungjae Im (+4000)

Tied for 31st in his debut at Quail Hollow in 2019 with 0.77 SG: Around-the-Green per round. His short game is struggling this season, but he has been excellent off the tee and with his irons.

13. Max Homa (+4000)

The 2019 champion did so while leading the field with 2.47 SG: Putting per round. He earned his second PGA Tour win earlier this year and is coming off a T-6 at the Valspar, but he’ll face a much stronger field this week than he did two years ago.

12. Will Zalatoris (+3000)

Ranked 28th in the Official World Golf Ranking, the runner-up at the Masters is in this field on a sponsor’s exemption. He still needs a win to qualify for this season’s FedExCup Playoffs and remains highly motivated.

11. Joaquin Niemann (+3300)

His T-8 finish last week was his third top-10 showing through nine events this year, and he hasn’t missed a cut since The Northern Trust in August. His 1.38 SG: Tee-to-Green will play well here.

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10. Webb Simpson (+2200)

Has never won this event but was a co-runner-up in 2015 and has averaged 1.43 strokes gained per round over 38 rounds at Quail Hollow. He’s first on Tour in scrambling this season and his short game is very strong.

9. Viktor Hovland (+2000)

Made a valiant charge up the leaderboard Sunday with a round of 65 and finished eighth among those who made the cut with 1.23 SG: Approach per round at the Valspar Championship.

8. Rory McIlroy (+1800)

Won this event by four strokes in 2010 and by a record seven in 2015. His 2.76 strokes gained per round at Quail Hollow lead this field.

7. Patrick Reed (+3000)

The 13th-ranked player in the Golfweek rankings comes off a missed cut at the Valspar. He was undone by putting with 1.00 strokes lost per round on the greens, but he averaged 1.01 SG: Tee-to-Green over two rounds.

6. Xander Schauffele (+1800)

Hasn’t played competitively since a disappointing T-3 finish at the Masters. Has poor course history at Quail Hollow, but should be a much better fit with strong irons and solid putting.

5. Tony Finau (+2800)

Fifth among PGA Tour regulars with 0.96 SG: Approach through 38 measured rounds on the season. He’s 10th on Tour and fifth in this field in Birdie or Better Percentage.

4. Patrick Cantlay (+2500)

Missed the cut at both the RBC Heritage and the Masters, but is still ninth among qualified golfers with 1.57 SG: Tee-to-Green per round. Makes his debut at the Wells Fargo Championship; tied for 33rd at the 2017 PGA Championship.

3. Justin Thomas (+1000)

Has an average of 2.28 strokes gained on the field over 14 career rounds at Quail Hollow, including his major victory. He tied for 21st in this event in 2018 and leads the Tour in SG: Approach this season.

2. Bryson DeChambeau (+1400)

The only two-time winner this season other than Cink and leads qualified golfers with 1.21 SG: Off-the-Tee per round. He has just 10 rounds played at Quail Hollow to date and his recently-added distance will play well at the 7,521-yard venue.

1. Jon Rahm (+1000)

Rahm is the Tour leader with 2.28 total strokes gained on the field per round through 35 measured rounds and top-ranked golfer in the Golfweek rankings. He hasn’t played since a T-5 finish at the Masters and enters well-rested.

Get some action on the 2021 Wells Fargo 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 Valspar Championship Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2021 Valspar Championship, with PGA Tour power rankings and betting odds.

The PGA Tour shifts back to Florida for the final time on the 2020-21 schedule for this week’s Valspar Championship. A surprisingly strong but top-heavy field will tee it up at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead course in Palm Harbor, Florida. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 Valspar Championship, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

Three of the top-seven golfers in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings lead those looking to challenge two-time defending champ Paul Casey, who enters the week at No. 25 in the world rankings. Casey last won at Copperhead in 2019. The 2020 tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2021 PGA Championship at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, is just three tournament weeks away following last week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event.

Also see: Valspar Championship odds, predictions and PGA Tour picks

2021 Valspar Championship: Fantasy Golf Top 20

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Monday at 7:34 p.m. ET.

20. Kevin Streelman (+6600)

Thirty-one rounds of competitive experience at Copperhead with an average of 0.46 strokes gained on the field per round. He’s consistently accurate off-the-tee and is averaging 0.44 SG: Approach per round through 46 measured rounds on the season.

19. Kevin Kisner (+8000)

Sixth on Tour in driving accuracy and averaging 0.47 SG: Putting per round. Missed the cut in three of his last four events but had five top-10 finishes in 22 events last year.

18. Chris Kirk (+4000)

Has vaulted from No. 265 in the Official World Golf Ranking at the end of 2020 to No. 62 entering this week. He has four top-10 finishes already this year and is averaging 1.11 SG: Tee-to-Green per round.

17. Russell Henley (+3000)

Ranks 24th on Tour in driving accuracy and is tied for fifth in scrambling. He just missed out on an invitation to the 2021 Masters but tied for ninth at the RBC Heritage the following week.

16. Bubba Watson (+5000)

Ninth in this field among those with at least 10 rounds played at Copperhead with an average of 1.14 strokes gained on the field per round. He has struggled with the putter but has been very strong off-the-tee and with his irons.

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15. Scottie Scheffler (+2800)

The reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year makes his debut at the Valspar Championship after the 2020 tournament was canceled. He’s averaging 0.65 SG: Off-the-Tee for the season and has three top-10 showings in his last seven events.

14. Kevin Na (+5000)

Already a winner this year, Na is greatly discounted with just the 22nd-best odds to win this week. He has played well across 42 career rounds at Copperhead with an average of 0.98 strokes gained on the field per round.

13. Tyrrell Hatton (+2800)

No. 15 in the Golfweek rankings and shares the 10th-best odds to win but missed the cut at plus-8 in his first appearance at this event in 2019. He is a much better golfer now than he was then, but his 1.48 strokes lost per round with the putter in his event debut are cause for concern.

12. Justin Rose (+4000)

Finished alone in seventh at the 2021 Masters and now begins preparations for the PGA Championship after a ninth-place finish in the first major on the 2020 schedule. Many of his stats for 2020-21 are skewed by time missed due to injury, but he’s fourth on Tour in Par 5 Efficiency: 550-600 Yards and needs to score on those holes at Copperhead.

11. Jason Kokrak (+3300)

Tied for second in 2019 following a T-8 finish in 2018. He’s gaining strokes off-the-tee and has been money with the flat stick all season.

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10. Louis Oosthuizen (+3000)

Lost in a playoff last week with playing partner Charl Schwartzel largely due to his opening shot of the playoff finding the water. There’s little water to be found at Copperhead, and he has averaged 1.20 strokes gained per round over 22 career laps.

9. Joaquin Niemann (+3500)

Averaging 1.41 SG: Tee-to-Green through 43 measured rounds this season. He had a lackluster T-37 finish in his event debut in 2019, but he averaged 0.88 SG: Approach and 1.01 SG: Tee-to-Green per round.

8. Viktor Hovland (+2000)

Ranks second in this field at No. 4 in the Golfweek rankings. Has two second-place finishes and two other top-10 showings in nine international events this year with 0.92 SG: Off-the-Tee and 0.77 SG: Approach per round.

7. Abraham Ancer (+2800)

Tied for 16th in his only appearance at the Valspar Championship in 2018 with 1.17 SG: Approach and 2.07 SG: Tee-to-Green per round. He has finished no worse than T-26 in his last six events.

6. Sungjae Im (+2500)

Debuted at the Valspar Championship in 2019 with a T-4 finish and 2.14 SG: Tee-to-Green per round. He has two top-10 placings and just one missed cut through 12 events this year.

5. Dustin Johnson (+1100)

Slipped to No. 3 in the Golfweek rankings with just one top-10 finish on the PGA Tour this season, but he’s still the top player in this field after rebounding from his missed cut at the Masters with a T-13 finish at the RBC Heritage. Tied for sixth in this event in 2019.

4. Patrick Reed (+1800)

Missed the cut in 2019 following a T-2 finish in 2018. He’s more accurate than long off-the-tee, and that plays to his favor here. His red-hot putter plays well anywhere.

3. Corey Conners (+1800)

The Canadian is ninth on Tour with 2.17 strokes gained on the average Tour pro over his last 20 rounds. The stretch includes top-10 finishes at The Players Championship (7th), the Masters (T-8) and RBC Heritage (T-4).

2. Paul Casey (+2200)

The two-time winner of this event is just sixth by the betting odds this week. He has slipped a bit of late in recent events, but he won on the European Tour early this year and tied for fifth at The Players.

1. Justin Thomas (+1000)

BetMGM’s betting favorite leads this field with 1.21 SG: Approach per round. He hasn’t been nearly as sharp off-the-tee, but his irons can save him at this shorter 7,340-yard venue.

Get some action on the 2021 Valspar 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 Esten McLaren 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 Masters Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2021 Masters, with PGA Tour power rankings and betting odds.

The biggest golf event of the year is here as the PGA Tour returns to Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, for the Masters Tournament. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 Masters, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

Typically the first major of the PGA Tour season, the 2021 Masters will be the third of six majors played in the 2020-21 season. Dustin Johnson, who’s No. 1 in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings, returns to defend his title from the 2020 Masters in mid-November.

The most notable omission from the field is 2019 champion and five-time Masters winner Tiger Woods. He’s still recovering from surgery as a result of a car accident in late February.

Also see:

2021 Masters: Fantasy golf top 30

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Monday at 6:50 a.m. ET.

30. Tommy Fleetwood (+5000)

His missed cut at The Players Championship was his only MC in 14 international events since the 2020 US Open and it’s sandwiched by a T-10 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a quarterfinal exit from the WGC-Match Play. He made the cut in each of his last three appearances at the Masters with two top-20 finishes.

29. Will Zalatoris (+7000)

The Korn Ferry Tour graduate has skyrocketed from 610th in the Official World Golf Ranking at the end of 2019 to 46th entering this week. He makes his Masters debut, but the decreased number of patrons at ANGC played to the advantage of several debutants in the fall.

28. Corey Conners (+7000)

One of the top ball-strikers on the PGA Tour and he has greatly improved his putting. He tied for 10th at the fall Masters and has two more top-10 finishes early this year.

27. Billy Horschel (+9000)

Won the WGC-Match Play to vault into the top 20 of the OWGR after previously finishing T-2 at the WGC-Workday Championship. He’s gaining an average of 0.60 strokes per round off-the-tee through 35 measured rounds on the season.

26. Tyrrell Hatton (+4000)

Missed the cut at the Masters last year but his 0.96 Strokes Gained: Approach per round on the season suggests he should be a better fit for Augusta National than his course history shows.

25. Hideki Matsuyama (+4000)

The putter has been a big weakness so far this season, but he’s gaining 1.32 strokes per round tee-to-green with 0.42 SG: Around-the-Green per round. He has two top-10 finishes and three other top-20s in his last six trips to Augusta.

24. Joaquin Niemann (+5500)

Had to withdraw from the 2020 Masters due to COVID-19, so he’ll make just his second career appearance this week. He missed the cut last time around in 2018, but he returns as a PGA Tour winner, and he’s 10th on Tour in total strokes gained per round.

23. Max Homa (+9000)

Won February’s Genesis Invitational against a strong field and at a difficult golf course for his second career PGA Tour victory. His iron play has been strong, and he putts well on difficult greens.

22. Scottie Scheffler (+4500)

Tied for ninth on Tour in par 4 efficiency: 450-500 yards for the 2020-21 season. He struggled with the flat stick at the Valero Texas Open, but he was near the field leaders in SG: Off-the-Tee.

21. Matt Fitzpatrick (+4500)

Seventh on Tour in par 4 efficiency from our key distance of 450-500 yards and his 2.56 strokes gained per round on the average Tour pro over his last 20 rounds is best on Tour.

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20. Paul Casey (+4000)

One victory and four other top-10 finishes in seven international events to begin the year. He tied for 38th at the 2020 Masters, tied for 17th at the US Open and was a co-runner-up at the PGA Championship to work his way back inside the top 20 of the OWGR.

19. Lee Westwood (+4000)

Lost a lot of his outright betting value for the Masters while finishing as the solo runner-up at both the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship, but he can still be a strong fantasy pick while in excellent form. He’s putting exceptionally well, and he has 52 rounds of experience on these greens.

18. Viktor Hovland (+3300)

Failed to qualify in time for the originally-scheduled 2020 Masters, so he’ll be making his first appearance since finishing as the low amateur in 2019. He’s seventh on Tour in SG: Tee-to-Green and his putting and short game have improved almost weekly on his rise to No. 14 in the world.

17. Cameron Smith (+4000)

The 27-year-old has two top-5 finishes in his last three appearances at Augusta National. He’s tied for the Tour lead in par 5 scoring on the 2020-21 season.

16. Sungjae Im (+4000)

The 2018-19 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year tied for second in his Masters debut in the fall. He has two top-10 finishes and no missed cuts in 10 events to begin the year.

15. Daniel Berger (+3300)

Makes his first Masters appearance since 2018 with two Tour victories since the beginning of 2020. His strengths are in SG: Approach and on the greens.

14. Webb Simpson (+3500)

Tied for first on Tour in bogey avoidance, is second in scrambling and tied for 10th in par 5 scoring. Has gained an average of 1.20 strokes per round over 30 career rounds at ANGC.

13. Collin Morikawa (+2800)

Finished T-44 in his Masters debut three months after winning the PGA Championship last year. He won the WGC-Workday Championship but tied for 41st two weeks later against most of the same competition at The Players.

11. Sergio Garcia (+5000)

The 41-year-old is second on Tour in SG: Off-the-Tee per round and third in par 5 scoring. He has struggled with the putter this season, but the 2017 Masters champ has had success on these greens before.

11. Rory McIlroy (+1800)

Recently changed swing coaches amid a stretch of play that has seen him slip from No. 4 to 12 in the OWGR since the end of 2020. In the fall, he snuck away with his sixth top-10 finish in his last seven appearances at the Masters after opening with a plus-3, 75.

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10. Patrick Reed (+3000)

Won the Farmers Insurance Open in January but has just one other top-10 finish in five events since. He’s averaging 0.90 SG: Putting per round on the season.

9. Brooks Koepka (+2500)

My favorite pick to win the 2021 Masters largely due to the value in the odds. He’s far from a safe pick following knee surgery in March, but there’s value as a potential contrarian pick.

8. Xander Schauffele (+2200)

Golfweek’s No. 3 golfer in the world has two runner-up finishes and another top 10 through his first seven events of the calendar year. He’s averaging 0.84 SG: Putting and 0.71 SG: Approach per round for the season.

7. Tony Finau (+3000)

Three runner-ups and a fourth-place showing through eight events prior to a missed cut at the Texas Open. Don’t put much stock in last week’s result, as he was likely just fine-tuning his game for Augusta National much like spring training in baseball.

6. Jordan Spieth (+1100)

Started the year with four top-10 results in seven events before winning the Valero Texas Open to snap a 3.5-year winless drought. His 2.90 career strokes gained per round at ANGC are the most of anyone with a minimum of five rounds played.

5. Jon Rahm (+1100)

There was concern Rahm, Golfweek’s No. 2 golfer, would need to leave the Masters mid-tournament for the birth of his child, but the baby boy was born over the weekend. He tied for seventh at the fall Masters and has five top-10 finishes in seven events since.

4. Patrick Cantlay (+2000)

Fifth on Tour in total strokes gained on the field per round (2.21). He tied for 17th in the fall after a T-9 finish in 2019.

3. Justin Thomas (+1100)

Won The Players Championship for his 12th victory since the beginning of 2017. He still has just one major win (2017 PGA Championship) but is coming off a career-best Masters finish of fourth in the fall.

2. Dustin Johnson (+900)

The No. 1 golfer in the world and defending champion has won once on the European Tour and thrice on the PGA Tour to go with his 2020 FedEx Cup win since the mid-June restart last year. The only concern may be that there hasn’t been a back-to-back Masters champ since Woods in 2001 and 2002.

1. Bryson DeChambeau (+1100)

Leads the Tour in SG: Off-the-Tee and SG: Tee-to-Green and shares the lead in par 5 scoring. He was the pre-tournament betting favorite for the fall Masters and enters this year’s tournament with better value, even after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational and tying for third at The Players.

Get some action on the 2021 Masters 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 Esten McLaren 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 Valero Texas Open Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2021 Valero Texas Open, with PGA Tour power rankings and betting odds.

The 2021 Masters Tournament is just one week away and a quality field of PGA Tour pros either making their final preparations or hoping to secure one of the remaining invitations to Augusta National is at TPC San Antonio for the Valero Texas Open. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 Valero Texas Open, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

Canadian Corey Conners returns to TPC San Antonio to defend his 2019 Valero Texas Open title after the 2020 tournament was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Conners secured himself an invitation to the 2019 Masters with his first PGA Tour victory.

Dustin Johnson, No. 1 in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings, withdrew from this event Monday afternoon ahead of his defense of the Masters. He had been the pre-tournament betting favorite at +650 but Jordan Spieth (+1100) slid into the vacated pole position.

Also see:

2021 Valero Texas Open: Fantasy Golf Top 20

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday at 9:05 a.m. ET.

20. Byeong Hun An (+10000)

Tied for seventh in this event in 2019 despite losing 1.51 strokes per round with the putter. The flat stick has plagued him throughout his career but anything close to a neutral performance would allow for a top finish as the rest of his game suits this venue well.

19. Brendan Steele (+3500)

His T-3 finish at The Honda Classic two weeks ago was his second top-five finish of 2021, and he hasn’t missed a cut in eight events. TPC San Antonio is a similar track to PGA National, and he won here in 2011.

18. Keegan Bradley (+5000)

The former PGA Championship winner hasn’t yet been invited to Augusta National Golf Club for the 2021 Masters after slipping to 129th in the Official World Golf Ranking. He tied for 10th against a strong field at the Arnold Palmer Invitational as part of four straight made cuts.

17. Gary Woodland (+8000)

Missed the cut in three of his last four events following a seemingly promising start to the calendar year with a T-16 finish at The American Express. His putter has abandoned him, but he’s still averaging 0.21 Strokes Gained: Approach per round.

16. Joel Dahmen (+8000)

The winner of last week’s Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship wasn’t given an invitation to the Masters out of the opposite-field event, so he’ll be highly motivated to go back-to-back. This is a considerably stronger field, but the motivation of the biggest names is always in question one week out from Augusta.

Place your legal, online 2021 Valero Texas Open 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. Lanto Griffin (+5000)

One of the top putters on Tour, he comes in with 0.79 SG: Putting and 0.76 SG: Approach per round for the season. He won the Houston Open in Texas in 2019, and he tied for seventh in a stronger field than this at the Farmers Insurance Open in January.

14. Chris Kirk (+4000)

Two top-10 finishes in his first seven events of the calendar year, including a T-8 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in which he gained 1.05 strokes per round around-the-green. He’ll need to lean on that same aspect of his game at TPC San Antonio.

13. Cameron Tringale (+3000)

Only four members of this field have played more rounds here than his 34, and he has averaged 0.59 strokes gained on the field per round. He missed the cut in 2018 but tied for 17th in 2019.

12. Charley Hoffman (+3000)

No one in this field has played more rounds than his 40 at TPC San Antonio, and he has averaged 1.99 strokes gained per round, including a victory in 2016 and a runner-up finish in 2019. He also still needs a Masters invitation.

11. Andrew Putnam (+6600)

Tied for fifth in a weak field at the Puerto Rico Open but followed it up with a far more impressive T-4 showing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. His putter’s red hot and his approach game has been a strength.

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10. Matt Kuchar (+5000)

Comes off a third-place finish at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play to get back inside the top-50 of the OWGR. He’ll make his final preparations for Augusta National at a course where he has averaged 1.30 strokes gained on the field over 32 career rounds.

9. Ryan Palmer (+2800)

Thirty-four career rounds played with an average of 1.14 strokes gained per round. Missed the cut in each of his past two appearances but tied for sixth in 2017.

8. Cameron Davis (+4000)

Gained 1.11 strokes per round on approach in a T-33 finish at The Honda Classic. He struggled around the greens and will need to be better in that area here, but he doesn’t need to worry if he’s not missing the dance floor.

7. Hideki Matsuyama (+1800)

The 33rd-ranked golfer in the Golfweek rankings makes his debut at this event ahead of the Masters. He’s looking to fine-tune his game after a missed cut at The Players and a group stage exit from the match play.

6. Si Woo Kim (+2800)

Has made three straight cuts in this event, including a T-4 finish in 2019 in which he averaged 2.30 SG: Tee-to-Green per round. Won this year’s The American Express with 3.87 SG: Tee-to-Green and 2.63 SG: Approach and can lean on those same strengths.

5. Jordan Spieth (+1100)

Finished second here in 2015 with 2.42 SG: Putting per round. His wedges and putter have been his best tools in his four top-10 finishes in seven events this calendar year and those suit this course well.

4. Abraham Ancer (+2000)

Made the cut here in each of his three appearances but hasn’t cracked the top 40. He comes in with a much better approach game than he had in 2019.

3. Corey Conners (+2000)

The 2019 champ was in the top three among those who made the cut in each of SG: Approach, SG: Off-the-Tee and SG: Tee-to-Green. His putting and short game are much improved to start 2021, and he had back-to-back top-10 finishes before the match play.

2. Scottie Scheffler (+1400)

Last week’s runner-up at Austin Country Club climbed to a career-best No. 22 in the Official World Golf Ranking. It was his third top-10 finish in high-profile events this year and this is the weakest field he has played against in 2021.

1. Tony Finau (+1200)

At No. 8 in the Golfweek rankings, he’s now the top-ranked player in the field following Johnson’s withdrawal. He has three runner-up finishes in 2021 and tied for third here in 2017.

Get some action on the 2021 Valero Texas 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 Esten McLaren 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 Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2021 Corales Puntacana Championship, with PGA Tour power rankings and betting odds.

The PGA Tour returns to Corales Golf Course in the Dominican Republic for the second time in six months for the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship. This is an alternate-field event running opposite the WGC-Match Play. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 Corales Puntacana Championship, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

A weak field of 132 is in attendance as Hudson Swafford (+12500) attempts to defend his September title in the Dominican. Lee Hodges (+4000) is the top golfer from the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings at No. 54.

The winner of this event is not guaranteed an invitation to the 2021 Masters Tournament, which will take place in two weeks at Augusta National Golf Club.

Also see:

2021 Corales Puntacana Championship: Fantasy Golf Top 20

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday at 10:14 a.m. ET.

20. Kelly Kraft (+10000)

Second in this field with an average of 1.41 strokes gained on the field over 12 career rounds played at Corales Golf Course. He finished third here in 2018, T-5 in 2019 and T-14 in September.

19. Joel Dahmen (+4000)

Didn’t play here in the fall so returns for the first time since a T-12 finish in 2019. His play off-the-tee is well suited to the long, 7,670-yard venue.

18. Bronson Burgoon (+8000)

Has made the cut in five straight events, all with stronger fields than this. He struggled over the weekend at The Honda Classic, but he has been showing consistent form in his first two rounds.

17. Chase Seiffert (+5000)

Returned to play after a couple of weeks off following a T-15 finish in an alternate field at the Puerto Rico Open to tie for third at The Honda Classic last week. He averaged 2.15 Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and 1.97 SG: Approach for the week.

16. Lee Hodges (+4000)

The top golfer in the Golfweek rankings is coming off a T-14 finish at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Chitimacha Louisiana Open, and he was T-13 at the Puerto Rico Open against a comparable field. He won on the Korn Ferry Tour last year and can take the leap in an alternate event.

Place your legal, online 2021 Corales Puntacana Championship 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. Tyler McCumber (+5000)

His 1.58 strokes gained on the field per round at Corales Golf Course lead this field. He tied for 19th in 2018 and was the runner-up in September.

14. Brice Garnett (+3300)

Tied for 25th last week and tied for fifth at the Puerto Rico Open to bracket a missed cut in the significantly stronger field of The Players Championship. His 0.58 SG: Off-the-Tee per round last week will play well here.

13. Luke List (+2500)

Putting has always been a detriment to his game, but his 0.62 SG: Off-the-Tee through 33 measured rounds on the 2020-21 PGA Tour season are well-suited for this course. He tied for eighth in September.

12. Lucas Herbert (+5000)

The European Tour star tied for 46th in the soft field of The Honda Classic last week but is well-positioned to move up the leaderboard this week. He won the Euro Tour’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic against much stiffer competition a little over a year ago.

11. Thomas Pieters (+2000)

His 1.03 SG: Tee-to-Green per round ranks near the top of this field. He tied for 15th at the Puerto Rico Open and more recently finished 13th in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters on the Euro circuit.

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10. Sam Ryder (+4000)

Tied for eighth last week for his second top-10 finish in eight events this year. He also has three missed cuts, but each of those was in a significantly stronger field than this. He averaged 1.98 SG: Tee-to-Green per round last week.

9. Nate Lashley (+4000)

Lashley has been struggling off-the-tee, but he’s strong around the greens. He has made five straight cuts, including a T-5 finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

8. Taylor Pendrith (+3300)

Pendrith was second on the Korn Ferry Tour’s points list at the end of 2020, behind only PGA Tour graduate (and star) Will Zalatoris. His 1.33 SG: Off-the-Tee per round through four measured rounds would lead the Tour if he had enough rounds played to qualify.

7. Brandon Hagy (+4000)

Finished second last week while ranking third among those to make the cut with 1.27 SG: Off-the-Tee per round. He missed the cut here in the fall but his recent form should be trusted.

6. Will Gordon (+3500)

Second in the field last week with 1.31 SG: Off-the-Tee per round. Also missed the cut here last year but had a third-place showing at the 2020 Travelers Championship against a much stronger field.

5. Patrick Rodgers (+3300)

Usually a strong putter but has been struggling with the flat stick of late. He missed the cut last week, though he has a top finish this year of T-12 in a strong field at The Genesis Invitational. He tied for 11th in this event in the fall.

4. Charles Howell III (+2200)

One of the most experienced PGA Tour pros in this field, but he has played just two rounds at Corales Golf Course with a missed cut in the fall. He tied for ninth at The Players with 1.38 SG: Off-the-Tee per round.

3. Thomas Detry (+2200)

The Belgian tied for ninth at the Qatar Masters his last time out for his second top-10 finish on the Euro Tour this year. He tied for 33rd in the Dominican Republic in September.

2. Charley Hoffman (+1600)

Has made four straight cuts with two top-10 finishes at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Arnold Palmer Invitational. Tied for 14th in the fall and is in excellent ball-striking form.

1. Emiliano Grillo (+1600)

Playing this event for the third time following a T-21 finish in the fall and a T-50 showing in 2018. He missed the cut at The Players but tied for 11th in Puerto Rico and had four top-10 finishes in 25 PGA Tour events last year.

Get some action on the 2021 Corales Puntacana 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 Esten McLaren 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 WGC Match Play Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2021 WGC Match Play, with PGA Tour power rankings and betting odds.

After being canceled last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play returns to Austin Country Club in Austin, Texas, this week. Sixty-four golfers will tee off for the first of three round-robin matches Wednesday morning. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 WGC Match Play, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

Following the conclusion of the round-robin stage Friday, the 16 group-of-four winners will advance to the weekend’s knockout stage. The Round of 16 will be played Saturday morning, the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon, the semifinals Sunday morning and the final and third-place matches played Sunday afternoon.

An alternate field of 132 is in the Dominican Republic this week for the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship. The 2021 Masters Tournament is just two weeks away.

Also see:

2021 WGC Match Play: Fantasy Golf Top 16

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. ET.

16. Russell Henley (+8000)

Playing in the WGC-Match Play event for the first time since 2018 but enters tied for second on the PGA Tour in Bogey Avoidance and third in Par 4 Efficiency: 350-400 Yards. He still needs a victory to earn an invitation to Augusta National in two weeks, and motivation is key in handicapping this event each year.

15. Jordan Spieth (+2500)

His three top-3 finishes through six events this year are already more than he had in 20 events in 2020. He has played this event all four years it has been in Austin but hasn’t advanced past the group stage since 2016.

14. Tyrrell Hatton (+2800)

Tied for 13th on Tour this season in Par 4 Efficiency for our key distance. He’s averaging 1.46 Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and 0.96 SG: Approach per round through 39 measured rounds on the season.

13. Webb Simpson (+3500)

Has historically struggled in match play but should be motivated to improve his form ahead of the Masters. He’s 20th on Tour in Birdie or Better Percentage and tied for second in Bogey Avoidance.

12. Joaquin Niemann (+5000)

Sixth on Tour in Birdie or Better Percentage, 21st in Bogey Avoidance and 12th in Par 4 Efficiency: 350-400 Yards. He led the field at last week’s Honda Classic with 1.40 SG: Off-the-Tee per round in a T-25 finish.

11. Rory McIlroy (+2000)

Won the 2015 Match Play at TPC Harding Park and finished fourth in Austin in 2016. He lost in the Round of 16 in 2019. He has had difficulties this year stringing together four solid rounds but can be as good as anyone for one day.

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

10. Viktor Hovland (+3300)

Hovland’s seemingly-carefree attitude should be well-suited for the match-play format. His ball-striking and play off-the-tee are well-suited to the venue as he makes his debut as a two-time PGA Tour champ.

9. Tony Finau (+2800)

Didn’t make it to the Round of 16 in either of his first two appearances at Austin Country Club. He’s coming off a missed cut at The Players Championship but already has three runner-up finishes in seven events this year.

8. Daniel Berger (+3000)

The No. 7 golfer in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings has a very winnable group with Harris English (No. 22), Brendon Todd (50) and Erik van Rooyen (108) filling it out. He tied for ninth at The Players while ranking fourth among those to make the cut with 2.31 SG: Tee-to-Green per round.

7. Xander Schauffele (+2500)

Third in the Golfweek rankings but shares just the seventh-best odds to win this week. His 1-2 PGA Tour playoff record is concerning come Sunday, but he’s the class of his group and should advance to the weekend.

6. Patrick Cantlay (+2800)

Didn’t make it out of the group stage in two visits to Austin CC but his play makes him a strong fit for the course. He’s fourth in Par 4 Efficiency and Bogey Avoidance, and 11th in Birdie or Better Percentage.

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5. Dustin Johnson (+1400)

Won this event in 2017 and enters as the No. 1 golfer in the world, but there should be concerns over his motivation as he looks to defend his green jacket in two weeks. Playing a max of seven rounds in five days doesn’t seem like his ideal tune-up scenario for Augusta National.

4. Jon Rahm (+1400)

Tied for ninth at The Players for his fourth top-10 result in six events this year. He’s the event’s No. 3 seed but shares the best odds while sitting second in the Golfweek rankings.

3. Collin Morikawa (+2200)

Won the WGC-Workday Championship last month and will look to beat most of the same competition again in a different format. His 1.19 SG: Approach per round will play well with Austin CC’s small greens.

2. Justin Thomas (+1400)

Took last week off following his Players Championship victory. He finished fourth in 2018 but didn’t make it past the group stage in three other trips to Austin for this event.

1. Bryson DeChambeau (+1400)

The PGA Tour leader in SG: Off-the-Tee can intimidate most playing partners with his added distance. He had a couple of tune-ups for this event while in the final Sunday pairing at both the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship.

Get some action on the 2021 WGC Match Play 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 Esten McLaren 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 Honda Classic Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2021 Honda Classic, with PGA Tour power rankings and betting odds.

The PGA Tour’s Florida Swing wraps up with this week’s Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Sungjae Im is back to defend his 2020 title. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 Honda Classic, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

The event features a rather lackluster field following Justin Thomas’ victory at The Players Championship. The WGC-Match Play runs next week in Austin, Texas, and the 2021 Masters Tournament is just three weeks away.

Daniel Berger is the top golfer in attendance at No. 9 in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. He lives in the West Palm Beach area and is this week’s betting favorite

Also see:

2021 Honda Classic: Fantasy Golf Top 30

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday at 1:10 a.m. ET.

30. Wyndham Clark (+5000)

Tied for 11th in this event last year while gaining 1.15 strokes per round with the putter. He was seventh in 2019 while ranking second in the field in SG: Putting and has a clear penchant for these greens, but the putter has been a weakness this season.

29. Denny McCarthy (+12500)

Missed the cut in each of his three appearances in this event to date. He has performed well on the greens at this venue and was above average on approach last week at TPC Sawgrass.

28. Will Gordon (+10000)

Debuts at PGA National on a streak of three straight made cuts. He had a T-3 finish at last year’s Travelers Championship against a considerably stronger field.

27. Nick Taylor (+10000)

The two-time PGA Tour winner tied for 48th in the strong field last week. He also safely made the cut at comparable courses in both The Genesis Invitational and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

26. Adam Hadwin (+6600)

Rebounded from a missed cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational to tie for 29th in a stronger field last week. His short game has been very sharp, but he’s regularly losing strokes on approach.

25. Brandon Wu (+5000)

The winner of the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour Championship will play just his second PGA Tour event of 2021. He tied for seventh in the Puerto Rico Open but will be facing a more top-heavy field this week.

24. Brendan Steele (+4500)

Has made seven straight cuts to begin 2021 but missed the cut in seven of 20 events last year. He tied for fourth at last year’s Honda Classic with 2.24 SG: Tee-to-Green per round.

23. Shane Lowry (+2800)

The reigning Open Champion had a surprising eighth-place finish last week and ranked fifth among those who made the cut in SG: Around-the-Green. He averaged 0.75 SG: Around-the-Green in a T-21 finish last year.

22. Harold Varner III (+8000)

Made the cut each of the last four years in this event and had a career-best T-42 finish in 2020. Putting has been a weakness for him at PGA National, but it has been slightly improved this year.

21. Michael Thompson (+8000)

The 2013 champion returned to the PGA Tour winner’s circle last summer at the 3M Open and tied for fifth at this year’s American Express. The renewed confidence should get him back in contention.

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20. Richy Werenski (+9000)

Tied for fourth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational but missed the cut last week while losing 2.02 strokes per round on the greens. He won last year’s Barracuda Championship in a field not much weaker than this.

19. Martin Kaymer (+6600)

The former No. 1 golfer in the Official World Golf Ranking needs a victory for an invitation to the 2021 Masters. He’ll play his first non-major PGA Tour event since the Barracuda Championship, but he has four top-10 finishes in his last 10 European Tour events.

18. J.T. Poston (+6600)

Averaging 0.93 SG: Putting per round through 39 measured rounds this season but is losing strokes in every other key area. He has played this event three times without a missed cut.

17. Matthew NeSmith (+8000)

One of the best players in last year’s field in both SG: Tee-to-Green and SG: Approach, but lost 0.73 strokes with the flat stick per round en route to a T-38 finish. He played well at both the The Genesis Invitational and Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

16. Mackenzie Hughes (+6600)

Last year’s runner-up excelled on and around the greens. He was playing well late last summer and into the fall but has missed the cut in two of six events to begin 2021.

15. Kevin Streelman (+6600)

Finished 13th at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am for his best result of 2021. He missed the cut last week with poor play on and around the greens, but those are generally neutral areas of his game, and he can rely on his irons here.

14. Doug Ghim (+5000)

Ghim played extremely well through 54 holes each of the last two weeks, but he fell apart in the final round of both the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship. The experience and a weaker field should play in his favor this week.

13. Lee Westwood (+2000)

The 47-year-old has flown up the world rankings with back-to-back runner-up finishes. He has played well at PGA National over his career with 1.97 strokes gained on the field per round, but it’s tough to tell how motivated he’ll be for a lesser event with the Masters in sight.

12. Byeong Hun An (+6600)

Third in this field with 2.14 strokes gained on the field per round over 12 career rounds at PGA National. He has two top-5 finishes here in the last three years but the putter is still a glaring weakness.

11. Alex Noren (+6600)

Finished alone in third in 2018 but missed the cut in 2019 with polar opposite putting performances. The putter has been a strength this season except for last week.

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10. Keegan Bradley (+4000)

Three missed cuts in his last four appearances at this event but should be able to contend against a weak field. He lost strokes off the tee in a T-29 finish last week but that area of his game won’t be tested as much at this venue.

9. Talor Gooch (+4000)

Tied for fifth last week with strokes lost off the tee but with 1.69 SG: Approach per round. He’ll make his fourth straight appearance at this event with a top finish of T-20 in 2019.

8. Chris Kirk (+4000)

Struggled with the putter last week but was otherwise strong in a T-48 finish against much stiffer competition. Missed the cut in each of his last two appearances at PGA National but is in top form early this year with two top-10 finishes in six events.

7. Cameron Tringale (+3500)

Thirteenth in this field with 34 career rounds played at PGA National. He enters the week at No. 22 in the Golfweek rankings and is one of the top players in attendance by that measure.

6. Adam Scott (+2500)

The 2016 champion didn’t play here last year following a missed cut in 2019. He’s another veteran who’s a risk this week with higher-profile events on the upcoming schedule.

5. Cameron Davis (+5000)

Tied for eighth last year despite gaining just 0.01 strokes per round with the putter. He finished third in a field stronger than this at The American Express in late January.

4. Russell Henley (+2800)

The 2014 champion of PGA National tied for eighth last year in his best finish since the victory. He’s gaining 0.96 strokes per round on approach this season, but he struggled with the irons last week.

3. Joaquin Niemann (+1800)

Tied for 29th last week with a better-than-usual putting performance. He’ll make just his third appearance in this event off a missed cut last year, but his game figures to translate well with an emphasis on iron play.

2. Sungjae Im (+1200)

The defending champ will be facing a slightly weaker field this year. He proved his worth for his first PGA Tour win with a final round of 66 to match the best score of the day.

1. Daniel Berger (+1000)

Returns to PGA National off a T-4 finish last year and with two PGA Tour victories since. He tied for ninth last week with 2.31 SG: Tee-to-Green per round.

Get some action on the 2021 Honda 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:

Follow Esten McLaren 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 Players Championship Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2021 Players Championship, with PGA Tour power rankings and betting odds.

A star-studded PGA Tour field is in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, this week for The Players Championship. TPC Sawgrass once again plays host to the Tour’s unofficial fifth major. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 Players Championship, with PGA Tour picks and predictions.

Brooks Koepka withdrew Sunday afternoon due to a knee injury. He’s this week’s most notable omission as Rory McIlroy tries to defend his 2019 Players Championship title. Just two of the top-40 golfers in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings aren’t in attendance.

Last year’s tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic after just one round.

Also see: 2021 Players Championship odds, predictions and PGA Tour picks

2021 Players Championship: Fantasy Golf Top 30

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Monday at 7:10 p.m. ET.

30. Abraham Ancer (+7000)

Tied for 12th in his debut at this event in 2019 while gaining 2.02 strokes per round from tee-to-green. He’s an excellent fit for this course but his 2021 form has been largely unimpressive.

29. Jordan Spieth (+2800)

Continues to move back up the world rankings with a T-4 finish last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. It was his third top-5 finish in five events this year, but it required a Saturday ace and a hole-out from a bunker.

28. Louis Oosthuizen (+5500)

A risky fantasy play or bet this week following a Thursday morning withdrawal last week, Oosthuizen was a co-runner-up here in 2017 and is putting extremely well early in 2021.

27. Lee Westwood (+9000)

Last week’s runner-up was third in the field with 1.57 Strokes Gained: Approach and led the field with 3.30 SG: Tee-to-Green at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Those same facets of his game will translate well to TPC Sawgrass.

26. Will Zalatoris (+7000)

The Korn Ferry Tour graduate is up to No. 46 in the Official World Golf Ranking. He has four top-20 finishes and no missed cuts in six events this year.

25. Harris English (+9000)

Ignore his poor course history of 0.61 strokes lost to the field per round at TPC Sawgrass and make English a contrarian pick. His game is above average across the board, and he has 21 rounds played at this venue.

24. Jason Kokrak (+7000)

Tied for eighth last week despite losing 0.46 strokes per round on the greens. He’s a Bermudagrass expert and should bounce back quickly with the flat stick.

23. Scottie Scheffler (+4000)

Missed the cut in his first two events of 2021 on the mainland but since has two top-10 finishes, including a fifth-place showing against an elite field at the WGC-Workday Championship.

22. Sungjae Im (+5000)

Struggled with the short game last week but gained 1.90 strokes per round with his putter. He can lean on the flat stick once again while remaining on the same surface.

21. Jason Day (+4500)

Finished T-31 at Bay Hill last week and will again be playing an event he has won before. He hasn’t truly been in contention this season, but he has made three straight cuts and is staying healthy after long battling injuries.

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20. Joaquin Niemann (+5500)

Posted back-to-back runner-up finishes in Hawaii to start 2021 and safely made the cut in two events on the mainland. He qualified for this event for the first time last year but only got to play one round. His iron play should translate well.

19. Matthew Fitzpatrick (+4500)

Three straight finishes of T-11 or better to start his 2021 PGA Tour schedule following mixed results in two European Tour events. His T-41 finish in 2019 was his best finish in four appearances in this event.

18. Paul Casey (+5000)

The veteran Englishman returned to play following a two-week break to tie for 10th last week. He was sharp with the irons while gaining 1.26 strokes per round on approach to the green.

17. Patrick Reed (+4000)

Has oddly struggled at TPC Sawgrass over his career but seems a natural fit for the course. He has a strong short game and is an accurate driver. He bested many of this week’s top contenders to win the Farmers Insurance Open in late January.

16. Hideki Matsuyama (+4000)

Held the first-round lead last year when play was called off. He’s coming off top-20 showings at the WGC-Workday Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational and is starting to find a better putting stroke.

15. Cameron Smith (+6600)

Shares the PGA Tour lead in par 5 scoring average with Bryson DeChambeau at 4.38. He’ll need to do his scoring there with just two of 10 par 4s at TPC Sawgrass playing below par in 2019.

14. Tommy Fleetwood (+4000)

Finished inside the top 10 in back-to-back years in 2018 and 2019 in this event. He tied for 10th last week at Bay Hill despite a Sunday round of plus-5, 77.

13. Daniel Berger (+4000)

Tied for 35th in a strong field at the WGC event in his follow-up to winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He has gained 1.07 strokes on the field per round over 19 laps of TPC Sawgrass.

12. Tyrrell Hatton (+4000)

Hatton was a combined 11-under par Friday and Saturday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, but he was 5-over both Thursday and Sunday. His putter betrayed him, but it has been a strength in the 2020-21 season.

11. Tony Finau (+2500)

Those playing fantasy golf don’t need Finau to win, and he has been as consistent as anyone on Tour in securing top finishes. He has gained 3.03 strokes per round on the average Tour pro over his last 20 rounds, according to Data Golf.

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10. Patrick Cantlay (+2200)

Returns to play after withdrawing from the WGC-Workday Championship due to illness. There shouldn’t be any lingering concerns for Golfweek’s fourth-ranked golfer.

9. Collin Morikawa (+2200)

Took last week off following his victory at the WGC event. Will make his official debut in this event, but unfamiliarity with courses hasn’t been a concern.

8. Viktor Hovland (+2500)

Like Morikawa, he has played only one competitive round at TPC Sawgrass but has also been immune to first-time jitters at many of the Tour’s biggest events. He was 11-over par last weekend after opening with a 69-68.

7. Rory McIlroy (+1400)

Continues to struggle in crunch time and finished just 3-under par at Bay Hill after opening with a minus-6, 66. He still tied for 10th and remains a better fantasy pick than a bet.

6. Bryson DeChambeau (+1400)

Added distance isn’t expected to carry the same advantage at the shorter and more intricate TPC Sawgrass. If he has a weakness, it continues to be his iron play.

5. Justin Thomas (+2000)

Tied for third here in 2016 but finished just T-35 in 2019. He’s averaging 1.13 SG: Approach per round this season, but he’s one of the riskier selections in this top tier with shaky history at TPC Sawgrass.

4. Xander Schauffele (+2000)

Golfweek’s top-ranked golfer was a co-runner-up in 2018 but missed the cut in 2019. Like Finau, he has struggled to close, but he has two T-2 finishes in five events this year.

3. Webb Simpson (+2200)

The 2018 Players champion followed it up with a T-16 finish in 2019. He’s fourth on Tour in driving accuracy, T-9 in par 5 scoring and third in bogey avoidance.

2. Dustin Johnson (+1100)

No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking, The Players has been one of the few marquee tournaments to evade Johnson’s trophy case. He has averaged 1.04 strokes gained per round over 39 rounds played here and should be motivated.

1. Jon Rahm (+1400)

Has a top finish of T-12 in 2019 in three appearances at this event but won last year’s Memorial Tournament at the comparable Muirfield Village Golf Club. His putter has been his lone weakness this season.

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2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational Fantasy Golf Power Rankings

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational, with PGA Tour power rankings and betting odds.

The PGA Tour pays its annual homage to one of modern golf’s forefathers with this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge near Orlando, Fla. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings and odds for the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational.

A field of 123 descends on Bay Hill this week. Viktor Hovland is the top player in the field at No. 4 in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. Rory McIlroy (No. 9), Bryson DeChambeau (No. 11), Will Zalatoris (No. 12) and defending-champion Tyrrell Hatton (No. 13) are also among the week’s betting favorites.

Xander Schauffele, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm, ranked No. 1-3 in the Golfweek rankings, respectively, can be expected to return to competition for next week’s Players Championship.

Also see:

2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational: Fantasy Golf Top 30

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday at 7:25 a.m. ET.

30. Shane Lowry (+12500)

The long-reigning Open Championship winner tied for 48th at last week’s WGC-Workday Championship in his 2021 PGA Tour debut. He missed the cut in each of his three appearances in this event dating back to 2015.

29. Zach Johnson (+10000)

No one in the field has played more tournament rounds at Bay Hill than Johnson’s 66. He has averaged 1.38 strokes gained on the field per round.

28. Henrik Stenson (+10000)

Only seven players in this field average more strokes gained per round than Stenson’s 2.00 over 44 career rounds here. This will be his first PGA Tour event since a T-23 finish at The RSM Classic in the fall swing.

27. Kevin Na (+4000)

Tied for 11th last week at The Concession Golf Club with 1.42 SG: Around-the-Green per round. Doesn’t have a top-10 result in this event since 2015.

26. Si Woo Kim (+10000)

Missed the cut here each of the last three years but comes into the 2021 event with a win already this season and an average of 0.26 SG: Off-the-Tee per round.

25. Harris English (+4000)

Finished 66th in last week’s 72-man field following back-to-back missed cuts at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and Farmers Insurance Open. Tied for ninth here last year and excelled on and around the greens.

24. Max Homa (+4000)

The winner of The Genesis Invitational tied for 22nd in last week’s elite field. He’s 33rd on Tour in Birdie or Better Percentage.

23. Louis Oosthuizen (+3300)

Tied for sixth last week for his best finish in three events this year. He tied for ninth here in 2015 but hasn’t won anywhere in the world since the 2018 South African Open.

22. Jason Day (+3300)

Started 2021 with back-to-back missed cuts but tied for seventh at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and for 18th last week. He’s averaging 0.50 SG: Off-the-Tee and 0.81 SG: Tee-to-Green per round.

21. Alex Noren (+8000)

Tied for 12th in a similar field at The Genesis Invitational. He gained 0.91 strokes per round on approach that week but also had one of his better performances of the season with the driver.

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20. Corey Conners (+8000)

Missed the cut each of the last two years here due to poor putting performances. He’s gaining strokes with the putter this season and is averaging 1.26 SG: Tee-to-Green per round.

19. Sam Burns (+4000)

Tied for 14th on Tour in Par 4 Efficiency: 450-500 Yards and should be one of the few able to score this week on one of Bay Hill’s most common but difficult holes. Made the cut in each of his first three appearances in this event.

18. Billy Horschel (+3500)

Tied for second last week with 1.39 SG: Putting per round on Bermuda greens. Also averaged 1.09 SG: Off-the-Tee last week and will need to lean on those same two strengths.

17. Jordan Spieth (+2800)

Oddly will make his very first appearance at this event. Tied for 15th at The Genesis Invitational following a T-3 in Pebble Beach and a T-4 at the Phoenix Open.

16. Christaan Bezuidenhout (+8000)

Finished T-18 in his debut at this event last year. Last year’s tournament was played in strong winds, and he leaned on his putter with 0.99 SG: Putting per round.

15. Hideki Matsuyama (+2800)

Hasn’t finished in the top 10 here since a T-6 in 2016. Tied for 14th in last week’s loaded field with 1.64 SG: Around-the-Green per round.

14. Will Zalatoris (+4000)

Averaging 1.00 SG: Approach and 1.61 SG: Tee-to-Green per round through 28 measured rounds on his rookie PGA Tour season. Will need to be better with the putter after losing 1.20 strokes per round on the Bermuda greens last week.

13. Tommy Fleetwood (+4000)

Finished T-10 in 2017 and T-3 in 2019 before a missed cut last year. He typically plays his best PGA Tour golf in Florida at this time of the year.

12. Jason Kokrak (+4000)

Won last year’s CJ Cup at a comparable course in Shadow Creek. His putting stroke returned to form with 1.05 SG: Putting last week. Has averaged 1.33 strokes gained on the field over 28 rounds played here.

11. Justin Rose (+6600)

Only three members of the field have more rounds played here than his 50 and his 1.42 strokes gained per round lead that group. He missed the cut last year but has a runner-up finish and two third-place showings since 2011.

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10. Paul Casey (+2500)

Hasn’t played since a T-5 finish at Pebble Beach but already has three top-10 finishes in four international events in 2021, including a victory at the European Tour’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

9. Marc Leishman (+5000)

The 2017 champion was the runner-up last year. He typically putts well on these greens, and he averaged 1.23 SG: Putting last week on Bermudagrass.

8. Sungjae Im (+2200)

Finished third or T-3 each of the last two years in this event. Last year’s tournament was the week after he got his first PGA Tour win at The Honda Classic. Leads the field with 2.99 strokes gained per round at Bay Hill.

7. Viktor Hovland (+1100)

Has already played this event twice with a T-40 finish in 2019 and a T-42 last year. His much-improved short game and putting should boost him into contention this year.

6. Francesco Molinari (+2800)

The 2019 champion withdrew last year due to a back injury. He’s returning to his old form with three top-10 finishes in just four PGA Tour events this calendar year.

5. Patrick Reed (+2000)

Has a top finish in this event of T-7 in 2018. He already has a win in 2021, and he tied for ninth last week with another strong putting performance.

4. Matthew Fitzpatrick (+2200)

Averages 1.31 strokes gained on the field per round over 20 career rounds at Bay Hill. Tied for ninth in poor weather last year and was the runner-up in better weather in 2019.

3. Bryson DeChambeau (+1200)

Leads this field and the PGA Tour with 1.22 SG: Off-the-Tee per round through 22 measured rounds on the season. Runner-up in 2018 and finished fourth last year. He’s fourth on Tour in Birdie or Better Percentage.

2. Tyrrell Hatton (+1800)

Last year’s champ was among the week’s leaders in SG: Approach and SG: Tee-to-Green. He tied for 22nd last week with 1.13 SG: Putting but 1.63 strokes lost around-the-green per round.

1. Rory McIlroy (+850)

Second in this field by the Golfweek rankings and second in SG: Off-the-Tee. Seventh on Tour in BoB percentage. Won this event in 2018 and has three other top-10 finishes in his last four appearances.

Get some action on the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational 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 Esten McLaren 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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