Fantasy Golf Power Rankings for the 2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind.

Nine of the top 10 golfers in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings are part of the 78-man field at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, this week for the 2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. We’ve looked at the best bets to win, and below is my Top 30 fantasy golf power rankings for the 2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind.

Also see:

2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational: Fantasy Golf Top 30

Jul 19, 2020; Dublin, Ohio, USA; Sergio Garcia plays his shot from the fifth tee during the final round of The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club. (Photo Credit: Aaron Doster – USA TODAY Sports)

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, July 27 at 5 p.m. ET.

30. Sergio Garcia (+7000)

Garcia is coming off back-to-back T-32 finishes in similar strengths of fields at the Travelers Championship and the Memorial Tournament. He’s second on Tour in the 2019-20 season in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green.

29. Paul Casey (+6600)

Casey is coming off consecutive missed cuts, but he has performed well in two trips to TPC Southwind with an average of 1.10 total strokes gained per round across eight rounds, according to Data Golf.

28. Michael Thompson (+12500)

Thompson cruised through a much weaker field at last week’s 3M Open en route to his first PGA Tour win since the 2013 Honda Classic. He’ll need to be a little sharper off-the-tee and around the greens against the stiffer competition this week.

27. Shane Lowry (+12500)

The reigning Champion Golfer of the Year has missed three of five cuts since play resumed, but his lone other PGA Tour victory was at the 2015 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. He didn’t play this event last year.

26. Jordan Spieth (+4500)

Spieth is a much better fantasy selection than he is for bettors. The no-cut nature of WGC events allows him a full 72 holes of scoring opportunities and doesn’t penalize him nearly as badly for his blow-up holes. He can take his risks here.

Jul 18, 2020; Dublin, Ohio, USA; Billy Horschel plays his shot from the fairway on the ninth hole during the third round of The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club. (Photo Credit: Aaron Doster – USA TODAY Sports)

25. Billy Horschel (+4500)

Horschel tied for ninth in this event last year, and he posted the same result at the WGC-Mexico Championship earlier this year. He’s averaging 0.79 SG: Tee-to-Green in 2020.

24. Corey Conners (+10000)

Conners held his own in the difficult conditions of the Memorial and finished T-22 for his fourth made cut in five events since play resumed. He tied for 27th last year in his first WGC event.

23. Marc Leishman (+7000)

Leishman finished alone in third at this event last year at minus-12 while averaging 1.63 SG: Approach per round. He tied for 40th at the Memorial for his best finish since the restart.

22. Dustin Johnson (+3300)

Johnson withdrew from the weak field at the 3M Open following an opening-round 78. It came on the heels of his 80-80 start and missed cut at the Memorial, but he is just a month removed from his Travelers Championship victory.

21. Abraham Ancer (+5000)

Ancer is in the top 25 of the Tour in SG: Approach; SG: Tee-to-Green; and Par 4 Performance. He tied for fourth at the WGC-HSBC Champions last fall and tied for 12th in the WGC-Mexico Championship this spring.

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20. Tommy Fleetwood (+3300)

Fleetwood returned from his prolonged layoff to miss the cut last week as one of the top betting favorites. He was oddly poor with the irons and lost 0.87 strokes per round on approach.

19. Hideki Matsuyama (+3300)

Matsuyama typically excels among these stronger fields, but he missed the cut at both the RBC Heritage and the Memorial. He has two career WGC victories and a T-6 at this year’s Mexico Championship.

18. Jason Day (+3300)

Day has shown some of his best form in several years with a T-7 at the Workday Charity Open and a T-4 at the Memorial. He’ll try to transition to a course with which he’s less familiar than Muirfield Village GC.

17. Tony Finau (+3300)

It was disappointing to see Finau struggle late in Round 4 against a weak field at the 3M Open. He was eighth at the Memorial in a field stronger than this week and is consistently getting top results, even without victory.

Jul 23, 2020; Blaine, Minnesota, USA; Brooks Koepka walks with his caddie Ricky Elliott on the 9th hole during the first round of the 3M Open golf tournament at TPC Twin Cities. (Photo Credit: David Berding – USA TODAY Sports)

16. Brooks Koepka (+3300)

What to do with Brooks? He has two missed cuts and a T-62 in his last three events and was outperformed by brother Chase last week. Still, the PGA Championship is next week. He may repeat at both events despite entering this week outside the FedExCup Playoff picture.

15. Sungjae Im (+9000)

Im took a rare break while skipping the 3M Open last week. He has struggled mightily since a T-10 at the Charles Schwab Challenge, and the oddsmakers have clearly soured on him.

14. Gary Woodland (+4500)

Woodland has been inconsistent off-the-tee and shaky around the greens of late, but he’s still averaging 0.95 strokes per round on approach. He finished just 55th here a year ago but sets up for better results this time.

13. Patrick Reed (+3300)

Reed, who has eight PGA Tour victories, won his first WGC event at the Mexico Championship in late February. He has been inconsistent since the midseason suspension of play, but he’s coming off a T-10 at the Memorial as he preps for the major season.

12. Viktor Hovland (+2800)

Hovland’s T-48 at Muirfield Village was his worst result since the restart, but he took last week off for his first break. He’ll be playing his first WGC event and ranks T-8 in SG: Approach; and 12th in SG: Tee-to-Green this season.

11. Matthew Fitzpatrick (+3000)

Fitzpatrick tied for fourth last year at minus-11 while gaining 1.26 strokes per round from tee-to-green. His third-place finish at the Memorial was his best PGA Tour result since coming second at the 2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational.

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10. Xander Schauffele (+2200)

Schauffele hasn’t won a full-field PGA Tour event since the 2017 Greenbrier Classic, but he won the 2018 WGC-HSBC Champions and went to a playoff against Rory McIlroy last year in that same event. He tied for 27th in this tournament in 2019.

9. Patrick Cantlay (+2000)

Cantlay hasn’t finished worse than his T-32 at the Memorial since returning to tournament play. He tied for 12th in his first visit to TPC Southwind last year.

8. Daniel Berger (+2800)

Berger missed the cut at the Memorial after winning the Charles Schwab Challenge and finishing T-3 at the RBC Heritage. He’s gaining 1.14 strokes from tee-to-green in 2020.

7. Collin Morikawa (+2800)

Morikawa won last year’s Barracuda Championship as the alternate event to the WGC. He got his second career win at the Workday Charity Open and will play his second WGC event following a T-42 in Mexico.

6. Webb Simpson (+2200)

Simpson was the runner-up in Memphis last year, and he has since picked up two victories at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and RBC Heritage. He’s looking to move past a rare missed cut at the Memorial.

5. Justin Thomas (+1200)

Thomas, fourth in the Golfweek rankings, enters the week third by the betting odds to win in Memphis. He won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in 2018 and tied for 12th at TPC Southwind last year.

Jun 21, 2020; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Tyrrell Hatton reacts on the tenth hole during the final round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament at Harbour Town Golf Links. (Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

4. Tyrrell Hatton (+2200)

Hatton tied for 43rd in this event a year ago while losing 1.37 strokes per round on the greens. Flip forward a year, and he leads the Tour in SG: Putting through 16 measured rounds in the 2019-20 season. Also, he has finished outside the top 20 in just one of his last 10 international events with two victories and two top 5’s.

3. Bryson DeChambeau (+1400)

DeChambeau’s run of four consecutive finishes of T-8 or better, including his victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, was snapped with a missed cut at the Memorial. He has lost 0.08 strokes per round over 10 trips around TPC Southwind, but his results prior to the 2020 midseason break aren’t worth much.

2. Rory McIlroy (+1100)

Since 2014, McIlroy has won three WGC events (including match play), with 11 other top-10s and seven top-5’s, including a fifth-place finish in Mexico in February. He’s second by the betting odds.

1. Jon Rahm (+1000)

Rahm’s the betting favorite following his dominant win over an even stronger field at the Memorial. He was seventh here last year and T-3 in Mexico.

Get some action on the 2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude 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.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Fantasy Golf Power Rankings for the 2020 3M Open

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2020 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities.

The 2020 3M Open will see Matthew Wolff try to defend his 2019 victory at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn., against Tommy FleetwoodDustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and the rest of a rather lackluster field. Fleetwood makes his first appearance since the midseason pause and is the top-ranked player in attendance at No. 17 in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities

Also see: 2020 3M Open odds, predictions, picks and PGA Tour best bets

2020 3M Open: Fantasy Golf Top 30

Oct 26, 2017; Jackson, MS, USA; Derek Ernst chips the ball from a 18th hole bunker during the first round of the Sanderson Farms Championship golf tournament at Country Club of Jackson. (Photo Credit: Spruce Derden – USA TODAY Sports)

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday, July 21 at 6:30 a.m. ET.

30. Kristoffer Ventura (+8000)

Ventura tied for 21st at the Rocket Mortgage Classic amid a strong stretch of play on the Korn Ferry Tour which included a T-8 finish at the TPC San Antonio Challenge at the Canyons. He should be able to earn a quality finish in a soft field this week.

29. Charley Hoffman (+7000)

Hoffman picked up a T-7 at the Workday Charity Open but didn’t play in the Memorial Tournament. He missed the cut in this event last year but lost a woeful 1.71 strokes per round putting, according to Data Golf.

28. Chase Seiffert (+10000)

Seiffert was off last week following his breakout fourth-place finish at the Workday Charity Open. He relied heavily on his putter in that performance but also managed to gain 0.92 strokes per round on approach.

27. Derek Ernst (+30000)

Like Ventura, Ernst is on a heater on the KFT and looks to take the next step in a soft field on the PGA Tour. He tied for fifth at the TPC San Antonio Championship at the Oaks following a T-12 at the Canyons. He won the Wells Fargo Championship in 2013 but made the cut in just three PGA Tour events since the beginning of 2019.

26. Emiliano Grillo (+10000)

Grillo’s struggles with the flat stick won’t be as much of a concern at TPC Twin Cities with a much stronger emphasis on the driver and approach game. He tied for third on a similar course for the Puerto Rico Open in February.

Feb 27, 2020; Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., USA; Roger Sloan lets go of his grip in the 16th tee box during the first round of the 2020 Honda Classic golf tournament at PGA National (Champion). (Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay – USA TODAY Sports)

25. Roger Sloan (+20000)

Sloan finished T-15 here last year while gaining 1.22 strokes per round tee-to-green. He tied for 27th at the Workday Charity Open for his best result since play resumed.

24. Wyndham Clark (+9000)

Clark tied for fifth last year while leading the field in Driving Distance at 327.9 yards and gaining 1.33 strokes tee-to-green. His missed cut at the Memorial last week doesn’t carry much weight with easier conditions and a weakened field on hand this week.

23. Charles Howell III (+9000)

Howell tied for 23rd in 2019 in a neutral putting performance. He has two missed cuts since play resumed with a T-49 at the Charles Schwab Challenge and a T-48 last week.

22. Matthias Schwab (+8000)

Schwab missed the cut last week in his first PGA Tour event since the WGC-Mexico Championship. He previously tied for 21st at the European Tour’s Qatar Masters and can certainly compete in fields like these.

21. Ryan Armour (+8000)

Armour is 47th on Tour this season in Birdie or Better Percentage. He finished T-6 at the Travelers Championship and T-4 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic before a missed cut at the Workday.

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20. Brian Harman (+5000)

Harman is tied for the 14th-best odds to win this event despite entering off of three straight missed cuts. He tied for seventh last year with just 0.85 SG: Putting per round.

19. Carlos Ortiz (+6600)

Ortiz finished T-5 in 2019 with 2.32 SG: Tee-to-Green and 1.29 SG: Approach per round. He has made the cut in three of five events since play returned.

18. Rafa Cabrera Bello (+7000)

Cabrera Bello has just two made cuts in five events since the midseason suspension was lifted. He has slipped all the way to 139th in the Golfweek rankings but will benefit from the weaker competition.

17. Dylan Frittelli (+6600)

Frittelli’s best result since play returned was a T-8 at the RBC Heritage. He missed his next two cuts but tied for 22nd last week. He’s tied for 34th on Tour this season in Par 5 Performance and will be able to take advantage of the easier holes here.

16. Harris English (+3300)

English is the second-best player in attendance by the Golfweek rankings at No. 19 in the world. He finished T-17 at the RBC Heritage and T-13 last week.

Jul 4, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Sepp Straka tees off on the 2nd during the third round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament at Detroit Golf Club. (Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

15. Sepp Straka (+6600)

Straka finished 61st at plus-11 last week, but he had done no worse than 10-under in his previous three events in which he made the cut. He can go low over four rounds and should easily make the cut in this field.

14. Max Homa (+6600)

Homa missed the weekend in each of his last three events, but he gained 1.28 strokes around the greens and 1.63 strokes tee-to-green at the 2019 3M Open before withdrawing during the third round.

13. Sam Burns (+4500)

Burns’ T-7 here last year was one of his best results of 2019 and he returns with three straight made cuts in tougher fields.

12. Bubba Watson (+3300)

Watson has more than enough distance for this course and should take advantage of the weaker field in a tune-up for the 2020 PGA Championship.

11. Luke List (+4000)

List averaged 1.21 SG: Off-the-Tee and 1.75 SG: Tee-to-Green last week. Normally held back by his putter, he’ll benefit from the easier putting surfaces of TPC Twin Cities.

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10. Brooks Koepka (+1400)

Koepka is running out of time to correct the issues with his driver and short game ahead of the PGA Championship. The fact he’s still playing in a tournament like this just two weeks out is at least a sign he’s trying to fix the problems.

9. Will Gordon (+7000)

Gordon followed up his surprising T-3 result at the Travelers with a missed cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic but returns after two weeks off. His long game is well suited for this course.

8. Doc Redman (+5000)

Redman missed the cut last year with a horrendous performance from tee-to-green, but he returns while averaging 0.76 SG: T2G in 2020. He came out of the break with four straight weekend appearances before a missed cut last week.

7. Erik Van Rooyen (+3300)

Rooyen shares the eighth-best odds to win the tournament. He’s tied for 20th on Tour this season with 0.539 SG: Approach. He’ll face one of the weaker PGA Tour fields he has played against.

Mar 12, 2020; Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., USA; Tommy Fleetwood watches his tees shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the 2020 edition of The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. (Photo Credit: Adam Hagy – USA TODAY Sports)

6. Tommy Fleetwood (+1400)

Fleetwood is the top-ranked golfer in attendance by the Golfweek rankings but will play for the first time since The Players Championship was canceled after the opening round. He’s 10th on Tour while averaging 0.610 SG: Off-the-Tee through 10 measured rounds.

5. Matthew Wolff (+2500)

The defending champ has the sixth-best odds to win. He was the runner-up at the RMC in a similar-caliber field.

4. Paul Casey (+2200)

Casey has had a disappointing return to golf with a T-32 at the Travelers and a missed cut last week. He still enters the week 25th in the Golfweek rankings as the fourth-best golfer in the field.

3. Dustin Johnson (+900)

Johnson, the winner of the Travelers Championship, missed the cut at plus-16 last week while losing 3.12 SG: Putting per round. He enters as the betting favorite following his weekend of rest.

2. Lucas Glover (+3300)

Glover has been one of the best and most consistent golfers since play resumed. His T-38 finish last week was his worst result in five events. He’s 26th in SG: Approach and 36th in Birdie or Better Percentage on Tour this season.

1. Tony Finau (+1200)

Finau suffered a Sunday collapse with a final round of 78 last week to finish in eighth place. The weaker field and softer conditions will allow for a quality bounce-back performance.

Get some action on the 2020 3M 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.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Fantasy Golf Power Rankings for the 2020 Memorial Tournament

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2020 Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

[jwplayer zJvj1mJd]

Tiger Woods returns to play at this week’s Memorial Tournament – which begins Thursday – at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. This will be the second straight event held at the Jack Nicklaus course, following Collin Morikawa‘s playoff win over Justin Thomas last week in the Workday Charity Open. Below, we rank the top-30 fantasy golf picks for the 2020 Memorial Tournament.

Tiger will be joined in the 133-man field by Rory McIlroy and nine of the top-10 golfers in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. Woods enters the week ranked 25th and will tee it up for the first time since The Genesis Invitational in mid-February.

Also see:

2020 Memorial Tournament: Fantasy Golf Top 30

Jun 28, 2020; Cromwell, Conn.; Rory McIlroy at the Travelers Championship. (Photo Credit: Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports)

Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

30. Paul Casey

Casey skipped the last two events following a T-32 at the Travelers Championship in his return to competitive golf. He has played 22 career rounds at Muirfield Village and has gained an average of 0.80 strokes per round, according to Data Golf.

29. Sungjae Im

Im still sits 14th in the Golfweek rankings despite finishing no better than T-53 in three events since a missed cut at the RBC Heritage. He uncharacteristically lost 0.56 strokes per round on approach last week, but should quickly rebound.

28. Ian Poulter

Poulter had a dominant putting performance last week while gaining 2.22 strokes per round with the flat stick. The greens will be firmer and faster this week, but the veteran Englishman will be able to adapt quickly.

27. Adam Hadwin

Hadwin’s coming off a 35th-place finish at the Workday marred by an ugly Saturday round of 76 in which he lost strokes all over the place, but most notably 3.31 strokes from tee-to-green. He still finished up 0.1 strokes in that column for the event.

26. Joaquin Niemann

Niemann has made four straight cuts since play resumed. He hasn’t been able to replicate the form of his T-5 finish at the RBC Heritage, but he’s at least a safe pick to make it to the weekend.

Jul 11, 2020; Dublin, Ohio; Matt Kuchar at the Workday Charity Open. (Photo Credit: Joseph Maiorana – USA TODAY Sports)

25. Matt Kuchar

Kuchar was part of a large group tied for 39th at 4-under par last week. He won this event in 2013 and has six other top 10s since 2008.

24. Rory Sabbatini

Sabbatini ranks among the best in the field with 2.02 strokes gained per round across 38 career rounds played here. He tied for 17th last week with a Sunday 73 knocking him out of the top 10.

23. Jon Rahm

Rahm struggled once again last week, as he finished T-27. He entered the midseason pause with four top 10s in his last five events, but hasn’t done better than last week’s performance since play resumed.

22. Matthew Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick tied for 27th last week after finishing 68th in the 2019 Memorial. Having Jim “Bones” MacKay seemed to help out quickly, as he averaged 1.16 Strokes Gained: Putting for the tournament.

21. Gary Woodland

Woodland’s T-5 last week was his best result and second top 10 since play resumed. He was one of two players to finish inside the top 10 last week who averaged better than 300 yards off the tee.

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20. Jason Day

Day had a resurgent showing last week with a T-7 finish while gaining 1.55 strokes per round from tee-to-green.

19. Rickie Fowler

Fowler has three straight top-15 showings in this event and finished T-22 in last week’s tune-up. He’ll be fully capable of handling the quicker greens this week.

18. Sergio Garcia

Garcia ranks fourth on Tour with 1.653 Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green on the 2019-20 PGA Tour season. He tied for fifth in an incredibly strong field at the RBC Heritage.

17. Tony Finau

Finau skipped the Workday Charity Open, but stayed busy last week and shared evidence of a 59 shot at his home club. He missed the cut here last year, but previously had finishes of eighth, 11th and 13th.

16. Patrick Reed

Reed returned to play with a T-7 at the Charles Schwab Challenge, but hasn’t finished better than T-24 in four events since. He lost strokes off the tee and on the greens last week. He may be one to find more success on the quicker putting surfaces this week.

Jun 27, 2020; Cromwell, Conn.; Xander Schauffele at the Travelers Championship. (Photo Credit: Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports)

15. Xander Schauffele

Schauffele’s T-14 last week was his best result since narrowly missing out on victory at the Charles Schwab Challenge. He won’t be able to lose his 0.36 strokes around the greens this week in a stronger field.

14. Justin Rose

Rose had an all-around poor performance last week, capped by his -3.02 Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green. He still ranks near the top of the field with 2.10 SG: Total at Muirfield Village for his career, and will benefit from a return to the usual conditions.

13. Abraham Ancer

Ancer ranks 11th on Tour this season in SG: Approach and SG: Tee-to-Green. He’s well-rested after sitting out the last two events and made the cut here in each of his first two appearances.

12. Daniel Berger

Berger tees it up for the first time since a T-3 at the RBC Heritage. The Charles Schwab Challenge champion should be trusted to get right back to form as he continues to climb the world rankings.

February 14, 2020; Pacific Palisades, Calif.; Tiger Woods at The Genesis Invitational. (Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports)

11. Tiger Woods

Tiger seeks his record-setting 83rd PGA Tour victory at an event he has won five times. We haven’t seen him in a tournament since The Genesis Invitational, but his irons looked to be in peak form in The Match: Champions for Charity. No one may benefit more from fans being denied entry to the course.

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10. Brooks Koepka

Koepka fell flat last week with a missed cut and was a late entry to this event in what’s likely his final tune-up for the PGA Championship. He lost 0.33 strokes per round on the greens at the Workday, but has performed much better on firm and quick surfaces over his career.

9. Hideki Matsuyama

Matsuyama tied for 22nd last week despite losing 0.62 strokes putting per round, though he gained 2.25 strokes tee-to-green. He has three top-6 finishes in this event over the last six years, including his 2014 win.

8. Webb Simpson

Simpson hasn’t played the Memorial since finishing 67th in 2017. He has wins in two of his last five events and tied for eighth at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

7. Dustin Johnson

Johnson silenced an increasing number of critics with his win at the Travelers Championship. His 1.50 SG: Putting may not be repeatable, but he can at least lean on his 1.83 SG: Tee-to-Green and 1.50 SG: Approach.

6. Patrick Cantlay

The 2019 Memorial champ finished T-7 last week on the back of a Sunday 65. He finished fourth here in 2018 and is a near lock for the top 10.

5. Rory McIlroy

McIlroy has never won this event, but has four top 10s since 2010. He leads the Tour in SG: Tee-to-Green on the 2019-20 season.

4. Justin Thomas

A couple of bad late breaks knocked Thomas out of the winner’s circle while shooting a final round 69 at last week’s Workday. He missed the cut last year, but finished fourth in 2017 and eighth in 2018.

Jul 12, 2020; Dublin, Ohio; Viktor Hovland at the Workday Charity Open. (Photo Credit: Joseph Maiorana – USA TODAY Sports)

3. Viktor Hovland

Hovland led the field with 1.56 SG: Off the Tee and 3.74 SG: Tee-to-Green last week. He hasn’t finished worse than 23rd in five events since play resumed.

2. Collin Morikawa

Morikawa will be an interesting case study this week as he seeks back-to-back wins on the same course. The competition level increases and the course is expected to play tougher, but it shouldn’t impact the Tour’s leader in SG: Approach too much.

1. Bryson DeChambeau

DeChambeau is the co-favorite at BetMGM this week, along with Thomas. DeChambeau sat out last week to rest, but is already plenty familiar with a course where he won in 2018, as he looks to follow up his Rocket Mortgage Classic victory in a stronger field.

Get some action on the 2020 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.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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2020 Workday Charity Open Prop Bet Payday: Matchup, Placing and FRL Picks

Analyzing prop bets for the 2020 Workday Charity Open, with odds and picks for the best matchup, placing and FRL best bets.

[jwplayer Ed28Mjar]

The Workday Charity Open replaces the canceled John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour schedule this week and will be the first of two straight tournaments played at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Muirfield Village Golf Club. Jon Rahm fronts the strong 156-man field as the No. 2 golfer in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. Below, we look at the best matchup, placing and first-round leader bets to pair with your outright picks for the Workday Charity Open.

Also see:

2020 Workday Charity Open: Matchup bets

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday, July 8 at 12:10 a.m. ET.

Patrick Cantlay (-118) vs. Hideki Matsuyama

Cantlay won the 2019 Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village while Matsuyama finished sixth. The two are priced at +1500 and +1600, respectively, to win the tournament, making Cantlay a slight favorite in this matchup.

Cantlay has gained an average of 3.23 strokes across 12 career rounds at Muirfield Village to lead the field this week, according to Data Golf. Matsuyama tied for 21st in a weaker field at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last week, while Cantlay tied for 11th at the Travelers Championship in his only event since play resumed.

Rickie Fowler vs. Justin Rose (-125)

Fowler’s T-12 finish last week was his best result since returning to play after he missed the cut in his first two events. Rose took a week off following a missed cut at the Travelers, but had previously tied for 14th at the RBC Heritage and third at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Rose has averaged 2.39 strokes gained per round across 46 rounds played here.


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2020 Workday Charity Open: Placing bets

Top 10: Tom Hoge (+1200)

Hoge has missed the cut in three of four events since returning to play, but returns to a course where he last finished T-13 in 2018. He ranks fifth in SG: Approach and second in Proximity from 175-200 Yards across everyone’s last 50 rounds on courses over 7,400 yards in length, according to Fantasy National.

Top European: Justin Rose (+500)

Rose is the third favorite behind Jon Rahm (+240) and Viktor Hovland (+400) in this group. Rose won the Memorial in 2010 and was the runner-up in 2008 and 2015, and showed great form in his first two events back.

Top Canadian Player: Adam Hadwin (+138)

We cashed this bet on Hadwin at a chalky -200 last week as he finished T-4 while gaining 1.37 strokes tee-to-green, to accompany his usually strong putter. His odds have risen considerably this week with Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes back in the field as two of the next best three Canadians, but Hadwin is still in the best form.


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2020 Workday Charity Open: First-round leader bet

Patrick Cantlay (+2800)

As noted above, Cantlay is just +1500 to win this event outright and is a much more profitable play to lead after Round 1 in his defense of Muirfield Village. He leads the PGA Tour with a first-round scoring average of 67.33 through six rounds in the 2019-20 season. His 5-under 65 in the final round of the Travelers was his best round since returning to play.

Get some action on the Workday Charity 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.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Fantasy Golf Power Rankings for the 2020 Workday Charity Open

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2020 Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

[jwplayer Ed28Mjar]

Four of the top 10 golfers in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings highlight the field in Dublin, Ohio, this week for the 2020 Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village Golf Club. The tournament replaces the John Deere Classic this season and preludes next week’s Memorial Tournament at this same venue. Below, we look at the top 30 fantasy golf picks for the Workday Charity Open.

Also see: 2020 Workday Charity Open odds, predictions, picks and PGA Tour best bets

2020 Workday Charity Open: Fantasy Golf Top 30

Jun 11, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas; Keith Mitchell at the Charles Schwab Challenge. (Photo Credit: Raymond Carlin III – USA TODAY Sports)

Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

30. Keith Mitchell

Claimed his first career victory at the Jack Nicklaus-redesigned PGA National Golf Club in March of last year. Ranks fifth in this field in Birdies or Better Gained on courses measuring at least 7,400 yards over his last 50 rounds.

29. Ryan Armour

Still ranked just 182nd in the Golfweek rankings, Armour is coming off back-to-back top-10 finishes at the Travelers Championship (T-6) and Rocket Mortgage Classic (T-4). He was in contention last week until a Sunday round of even-par 72 to finish seven strokes back.

28. Matthew Fitzpatrick

Finished in a tie for 68th in his debut here last year, but will be joined this year by veteran caddie Jim “Bones” MacKay. He should get a better feel for the greens after losing 1.56 strokes per round putting in the 2019 Memorial Tournament, according to Data Golf.

27. Louis Oosthuizen

Took last week off following a lackluster return to golf from the midseason suspension. Good tee-to-green game.

26. Scottie Scheffler

Has uncharacteristically missed consecutive cuts coming into this week. Performs well in the long approach shots required here.

Jul 4, 2020; Detroit; Rickie Fowler lines up a putt at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. (Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

25. Rickie Fowler

Fowler finally showed a flash of his old form last week while finishing T-12 after taking a week off. Has averaged 2.00 strokes gained on the field across 34 career rounds played at Muirfield Village.

24. Byeong Hun An

Also well experienced at this course, An has averaged 1.93 strokes gained across 18 rounds. Finished T-17 last year while gaining 1.34 strokes per round from tee-to-green.

23. Bubba Watson

Ranks among the most experienced golfers in the field with 44 rounds played at this venue. Enters the week seventh in the field in SG: Tee-to-Green on courses of at least 7,400 yards.

22. Joel Dahmen

Ranks 32nd in my stat model with a top rank of eighth in Proximity from 175-200 Yards. Took last week off, but hasn’t finished worse than T-48 in three events since golf returned.

21. Corey Conners

Fifteenth in the field in SG: Approach and 20th in SG: Tee-to-Green on courses longer than 7,400 yards. Finished T-65 at last year’s Memorial Tournament due to uncharacteristic tee-to-green performance.


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20. Phil Mickelson

Mickelson has played every other week since returning to play. He showed at the Travelers Championship he can still hang with the top young power hitters and has more than enough distance for this lengthened course.

19. Ian Poulter

Ranks sixth in this week’s stat model and leads the field in the key proximity distance of 175-200 yards.

18. Matthew Wolff

Wolff resurfaced last week with a solo second-place finish. Gained 1.52 strokes per round putting but also gained 1.51 per round from tee-to-green.

17. Adam Hadwin

A T-4 finish last week was his best result since the same finishing position at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in the fall. Usually relies heavily on his putter, but gained 1.37 strokes per round from tee-to-green in Detroit.

16. Jordan Spieth

Spieth is coming off back-to-back disappointing finishes after a resurgent T-10 result at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Has averaged 1.52 strokes gained per round across 26 trips around Muirfield Village.

Jun 26, 2020; Cromwell, Conn.; Collin Morikawa with his caddie on the 18th fairway at the Travelers Championship. (Photo Credit: Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports)

15. Collin Morikawa

Took last week off to regroup after missing his first cut as a professional at the Travelers Championship. Struggles slightly with the long par 4s present here.

14. Matt Kuchar

Ranks second in the field with an average of 2.75 strokes gained per round across 46 career rounds at this course. Took the last two weeks off following a T-41 result at the RBC Heritage.

13. Sungjae Im

Coming off three straight disappointing results after returning to play with a T-10 at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Finished T-57 at the 2019 Memorial Tournament while losing 1.25 strokes per round on approach.

12. Viktor Hovland

Hasn’t finished worse than his T-23 at the Charles Schwab Challenge since returning from the midseason pause. Also hasn’t finished better than his T-11 at the Travelers Championship.

11. Patrick Reed

Missed the cut in two of his last three events but ranks fourth in this field in Birdies or Better Gained on courses of 7,400 yards.


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10. Joaquin Niemann

Returns after a week off following a disappointing 63rd-place finish at the Travelers Championship on the heels of a T-5 at the RBC Heritage. Ranks 12th in the field in SG: Approach and third from the key distance of 175-200 yards.

9. Gary Woodland

Fifth in this week’s stat model and fourth in SG: Tee-to-Green. Highly experienced here with 32 rounds played and 0.99 strokes gained per round.

8. Marc Leishman

One of 11 golfers in the field with at least 42 rounds played at Muirfield Village. Has averaged 1.10 strokes gained per round and ranks fourth in the field in SG: Approach and eighth in Par 4 Efficiency: 450-500 Yards.

7. Xander Schauffele

Tied for 14th last year while gaining 1.17 strokes per round off the tee. Missed the cut in his lone other appearance.

6. Patrick Cantlay

The 2019 Memorial Tournament champ returned to play with a T-11 finish at the Travelers Championship and took last week off. He gained 3.64 strokes per round from tee-to-green last year.

Jun 26, 2020; Cromwell, Conn.; Jon Rahm reacts after missing a putt at the Travelers Championship. (Photo Credit: Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports)

5. Jon Rahm

Fifth in the field in SG: Tee-to-Green and 10th in Birdies or Better Gained. Still No. 2 in the Golfweek rankings. He’s the top golfer in the field.

4. Hideki Matsuyama

Slipped to a T-21 finish last week after firing a Saturday round of 65. Finished alone in sixth at the 2019 Memorial Tournament while gaining 2.50 strokes per round from tee-to-green.

3. Brooks Koepka

Returns following two weeks off after his caddie tested positive for COVID-19 and he withdrew from the Travelers Championship. Had returned to form with a seventh-place finish at the RBC Heritage.

2. Justin Rose

Ranks third in the field in SG: Tee-to-Green and Birdies or Better Gained. Has played 46 rounds at Muirfield Village with a win at the 2010 Memorial Tournament and an average of 2.39 strokes gained.

1. Justin Thomas

Leads the field in SG: Tee-to-Green, Birdies or Better Gained and Par 4 Efficiency: 450-500 Yards on courses longer than 7,400 yards. Has gained 0.45 strokes on the field across 18 rounds played here.

Get some action on the 2020 Workday Charity 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.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Fantasy Golf Power Rankings for the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club.

[jwplayer GSXT56dF]

Detroit Golf Club hosts the second annual Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, beginning Thursday. Webb Simpson and Bryson DeChambeau highlight a slightly weaker field than golf fans have seen in the last three events, but it’s still significantly stronger than last year when Nate Lashley won by six strokes at 25-under par. Below, we look at the fantasy golf power rankings for the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Detroit Golf Club, designed by Donald Ross, measures 7,334 yards and plays to a par of 72. Simpson returns to play after withdrawing from the Travelers Championship amid COVID-19 concerns. He rose to No. 3 in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings following his win at the RBC Heritage.

Also see: 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic odds, picks, predictions and PGA Tour best bets

2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic: Fantasy Golf Top 30

Jun 28, 2020; Cromwell, Conn.; Brendon Todd reacts to a putt during the final round of the Travelers Championship. (Photo Credit: Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports)

Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club.

30. Brendon Todd

Resurfaced with a T-11 finish last week in Connecticut. A back-to-back winner early in the 2019-20 season, we know he can stay hot for two weeks in a row.

29. Matthew Wolff

He’s out of form with two straight missed cuts, but he’s a PGA Tour winner and his stock rises in the weaker field after missing the cut on the number last week.

28. Rafael Cabrera Bello

Finished T-32 last week with thanks to a final-round 64. Tied for 16th in a strong field at the WGC-Mexico Championship before the season was suspended.

27. Rory Sabbatini

Riding a streak of five straight made cuts dating back to The Genesis Invitational. Ranks sixth in this field in Sand Saves Gained over everyone’s last 50 rounds, according to Fantasy National, and will be capable of escaping any of the 87 bunkers covering this course.

26. Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Has three international wins in the last five years, but still looking for his first in North America. This will be one of the weaker Tour fields in which he has played.

Jun 14, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas; Branden Grace tees off at the Charles Schwab Challenge. (Photo Credit: Raymond Carlin III – USA TODAY Sports)

25. Branden Grace

Missed the cut on the number last week. Ranks 26th in this field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green.

24. Brian Harman

An expert sand player who ranks 18th in this field in SG: Tee-to-Green. Came out of the break with back-to-back top-30 finishes before a missed cut last week.

23. Sebastian Munoz

Got off to a strong start at the RBC Heritage before slipping to a T-28 result, and then missed the cut at the Travelers Championship. Ranks 17th in SG: Tee-to-Green and 23rd in SG: Approach.

22. Tom Hoge

Came back from consecutive missed cuts to finish T-37 last week. Ranks fifth in the field in SG: Approach.

21. Russell Knox

Seven missed cuts dating back to a T-16 finish in a strong field at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Still ranks seventh in SG: Approach and 13th in Bogey Avoidance.


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20. Harold Varner III

Missed the cut in 2019 despite gaining a stroke per round on the field in SG: Approach, according to Data Golf. Flashed his potential with a T-19 finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge, but needs to string four rounds together.

19. Adam Hadwin

One of the best putters on Tour on any surface. Has missed the cut in just one of his last 12 events.

18. Cameron Tringale

Tenth in this field in Bogey Avoidance and 16th in both SG: Tee-to-Green and SG: Approach. Tied for fifth in 2019 while gaining 2.02 strokes per round from tee-to-green.

17. Erik Van Rooyen

Rested last week following a T-21 finish at the RBC Heritage. Ranks 11th in the field in SG: Tee-to-Green and 18th in SG: Approach.

16. Doc Redman

Last year’s runner-up heated up last week with a T-11 finish at the Travelers Championship. Hasn’t missed a cut in his last four events.

Jun 19, 2020; Hilton Head, S.C.; Kevin Kisner at the RBC Heritage. (Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

15. Kevin Kisner

Missed the cut in three of his last four events and each of his last two, but finished T-46 in the weaker field last year at 9-under par, despite losing strokes putting.

14. Bubba Watson

Lost 1.70 strokes per round on approach in 2019 and missed the cut last week following a T-7 finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge and a T-52 at the RBC Heritage. Ranks 28th in the field in SG: Tee-to-Green and is 13th by the betting odds to win at BetMGM.

13. Rickie Fowler

Fowler returned to play with consecutive missed cuts before taking last week off. He has slipped all the way to 98th in the Golfweek rankings, but he’s still 10th by the tournament’s betting odds.

12. Brandt Snedeker

Fourth in the field in Sand Saves Gained and 14th in Bogey Avoidance. Finished T-41 last week following a missed cut at the RBC Heritage in his return to play.

11. J.T. Poston

One of my favorite betting plays this week at +4000. Finished T-10 at the Charles Schwab Challenge and T-8 at the RBC Heritage before a missed cut last week. Tied for 11th in Detroit last year.


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10. Kevin Na

Ranks 11th in Bogey Avoidance and 13th in Sand Saves Gained. Finished fifth last week.

9. Scottie Scheffler

Yet another player who missed the cut on the number at 3-under last week. Ranks eighth in this field in SG: Tee-to-Green.

8. Patrick Reed

Reed missed the cut at the RBC Heritage following a T-7 finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge, but returned with a T-24 last week. He’s seventh in Bogey Avoidance and 13th in SG: Tee-to-Green.

7. Tony Finau

Ranks eighth in SG: Approach and leads the field in SG: Tee-to-Green. Hasn’t finished in the top 20 since a disappointing runner-up result at the Waste Management.

6. Viktor Hovland

Up to 21st in the Golfweek rankings following a T-11 finish last week. Has steadily improved his results over his four events dating back to the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Jun 14, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas; Sungjae Im on the third tee during at the Charles Schwab Challenge. (Photo Credit: Raymond Carlin III – USA TODAY Sports)

5. Sungjae Im

Returned to play with a T-10 result at the Charles Schwab Challenge, but missed the cut at the RBC Heritage and finished T-58 last week. Ranks fourth in this field by the Golfweek rankings and has the seventh-lowest betting odds.

4. Tyrrell Hatton

Ranked fourth by the betting odds, Hatton is 17th in the world and fifth in the field by the Golfweek rankings. Took last week off following a T-3 at the RBC Heritage.

3. Hideki Matsuyama

Missed the cut last week, but ranks third in the field in SG: Tee-to-Green and ninth in both SG: Approach and Bogey Avoidance. Ranks fifth by the betting odds at +1800.

2. Bryson DeChambeau

A massive betting favorite at +650, DeChambeau has six straight top-10 finishes. Ranks fourth in the field in SG: Tee-to-Green and Bogey Avoidance.

1. Webb Simpson

The RBC Heritage champ withdrew last week, but returns to lead this week’s stat model. His first career win came at the Donald Ross-designed Sedgefield Country Club in 2011.

Get some action on the 2020 Rocket Mortgage 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.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Fantasy Golf Power Rankings for the 2020 Travelers Championship

Analyzing the best fantasy golf picks for the 2020 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands.

[jwplayer UTff6kvi]

The 2020 Travelers Championship is set to tee off Thursday at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. The third event on the PGA Tour’s revamped 2020 schedule is the first to be played on its regularly scheduled dates and features another star-studded field. Below, we look at the top-30 fantasy golf power rankings for the 2020 Travelers Championship.

Thirteen of the top 15 players in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings will be in attendance, including reigning RBC Heritage champ Webb SimpsonDaniel Berger, who has risen all the way to No. 5 in the Golfweek rankings, withdrew from the event Sunday night.

TPC River Highlands is a par-70 measuring just 6,841 yards and featuring Bentgrass greens.

Also see:

2020 Travelers Championship: Fantasy Golf Top 30

(Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands.

30. Ryan Moore

Moore has never won here, but has gained an average of 1.75 strokes per round on the field across 44 career rounds at TPC River Highlands, according to Data Golf.

29. Matthew Fitzpatrick

A regular contender on the European Tour, Fitzpatrick is still looking for his first win on the PGA Tour after a T-14 result last week at a favorite course of his.

28. Corey Conners

Conners again lost strokes putting last week and still managed a T-21 finish. His ball-striking should shine through at this short venue.

27. Joel Dahmen

Dahmen has quietly climbed into 31st in the Golfweek rankings with a top-50 finish in each of the last three events. He was in contention last week until a Sunday 75 dropped him to T-48.

26. Ian Poulter

The veteran Poulter has taken up residency on the PGA Tour with the European Tour still on pause. He tied for 14th last week after grabbing a share of the first-round lead.

(Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

25. Jason Day

Still one of the best Bentgrass putters on Tour, Day has a good history here with a T-8 in 2019 and T-12 in 2018.

24. Scottie Scheffler

Potentially a sneaky play after last week’s Tuesday morning withdrawal. Scheffler scores well on par 4s from 400-450 yards and gains scoring opportunities on these shorter courses.

23. Patrick Reed

Missed the cut last week at a short, but tight course following a T-7 finish at Colonial Country Club. Reed is a much better putter on Bentgrass than last week’s Bermuda greens.

22. Jordan Spieth

The rollercoaster continues, but there’s denying Spieth is a strong choice in any fantasy format that rewards birdies more strongly than it punishes bogeys.


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21. Sergio Garcia

A T-5 finish last week was his best result since a T-4 at the 2019 Wells Fargo Championship. Led the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and ranked second in SG: Approach last week.

20. Sungjae Im

A rare missed cut was entirely the fault of losing 2.20 strokes per round putting on the Bermuda greens at Harbour Town Golf Links. He ranks 41st in this week’s field on Bentgrass greens, according to Fantasy National.

19. Joaquin Niemann

A first-time winner at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier in the first event of the 2019-20 season, Niemann resurfaced with last week’s T-5 result in a considerably stronger field. He excelled from tee to green and on approach.

18. Jon Rahm

Still ranked second in the Golfweek rankings, Rahm is one of the few players from among the world’s elite without a top-20 finish in two events back from the midseason pause.

17. Xander Schauffele

Lost strokes in all key areas except for SG: Off the Tee last week after narrowly missing out on a playoff at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Missed the cut in 2018 after a T-14 in 2017.

(Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

16. Viktor Hovland

His first victory at the Puerto Rico Open in February was on a much longer course, but he’s an expert ball-striker who can create scoring opportunities.

15. Tony Finau

A disappointing restart to the season with a T-23 and T-33 finish. Missed the cut last year, but tied for 17th in 2017.

14. Dustin Johnson

Johnson gained an impressive 1.35 strokes off the tee and 0.79 strokes on approach last week. The T-17 finish was his best result since a T-10 at The Genesis Invitational.

13. Gary Woodland

Stumbled to a T-62 last week following a ninth-place finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Playing here for the first time since 2016.

12. Collin Morikawa

Last year’s T-36 finish in his debut last season now pales in comparison to what he has accomplished since. Still hasn’t missed a cut as a professional.

11. Patrick Cantlay

Back-to-back T-15 finishes here in the last two years. Returns to play for the first time after sitting out the last two events following the midseason suspension.


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10. Justin Rose

Another veteran with good history here, but no appearances since a 13th-place showing in 2013. Back-to-back top 15s out of the break.

9. Bubba Watson

A three-time champion here looks to tie Billy Casper’s 47-year-old record four titles. Has been quietly playing well and salvaged a T-52 finish with a Sunday 65 last week.

8. Bryson DeChambeau

All that added power may be for naught at such a short venue. Struggles on Bentgrass greens compared to Bermuda or Poa Annua, as well.

7. Rory McIlroy

Has excelled on shorter courses in his career, including a victory at 22-under par at last year’s RBC Canadian Open. Has gained 1.84 strokes per round in two appearances here.

6. Marc Leishman

A champion in 2012, Leishman has averaged 1.13 strokes gained per round on the field at TPC River Highlands. Leads this field in SG: Ball Striking and Par Efficiency: 400-450 Yards on courses shorter than 7,200 yards and featuring Bentgrass greens.

(Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock – USA TODAY Sports)

5. Webb Simpson

Now a two-time winner in 2020, Simpson rebounded nicely from a missed cut at the Charles Schwab Challenge to win last week. He’s been largely unimpressive here and last missed the cut in 2018.

4. Abraham Ancer

Came oh-so-close to his first career PGA Tour win last week in Hilton Head, S.C. Led the field with 2.96 SG: Approach and ranked second in SG: T2G.

3. Justin Thomas

Two top 10s since returning to play, but has struggled at this venue since tying for third in 2016.

2. Brooks Koepka

Flashed his old form in a seventh-place finish last week, while gaining 1.73 strokes per round off the tee. Also gained 0.94 strokes putting on the Bermuda greens, including some clutch long attempts on Sunday.

1. Paul Casey

The would-be course history darling if it weren’t for Watson. Casey has finished either T-5 or as a runner-up in four of his five appearances here. Leads the field in Opportunities Gained in what should be another shootout in the Tour’s return to play.

Get some action on the 2020 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.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Fantasy Golf Power Rankings for the 2020 RBC Heritage

Analyzing the best fantasy golf options for the 2020 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links.

The PGA Tour shifts to Hilton Head, S.C., for the 2020 RBC Heritage this week at Harbour Town Golf Links. Last week saw Daniel Berger outlast Collin Morikawa in a playoff for his first win since 2017 in the PGA Tour’s return from a nearly three-month hiatus. Below, we’ll look at the fantasy golf power rankings for the 2020 RBC Heritage.

Also see:

2020 RBC Heritage: Fantasy Golf Top 30

Jun 14, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas; Branden Grace lines up a putt at the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club. (Photo Credit: Raymond Carlin III – USA TODAY Sports)

Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links.

30. Luke List

List will return to the PGA Tour after winning in a strong field on the Korn Ferry Tour last week. He has some confidence, and his sixth-place finish at last year’s PGA Championship shows he can contend in strong fields at the highest level.

29. Rory Sabbatini

Sabbatini’s T-14 last week was his best finish in North America since a T-6 at the 2019 Wyndham Championship. He’s excellent on par 4s, especially Harbour Town’s most common range of 400-450 yards, and he tied for 10th last year.

28. Sergio Garcia

Garcia missed the cut last week, but he’s a good fit to Harbour Town, with top-10 field ranks in Greens in Regulation Gained and Bogey Avoidance over everyone’s last 100 rounds.

27. Abraham Ancer

Ancer tied for 14th last week while gaining 1.66 strokes per round on the field from tee-to-green, according to Data Golf. He enters the week at 22nd in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings.

26. Corey Conners

Conners had a much better than usual putting performance last week at Colonial Country Club, as he gained 0.57 strokes per round on the greens. He has three missed cuts here in his career, but the putter is typically his main weakness.

Jun 12, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas; Scottie Scheffler lines up a putt at the Charles Schwab Challenge. (Photo Credit: Raymond Carlin III – USA TODAY Sports)

25. Scottie Scheffler

Scheffler’s Sunday round of 73 dropped him down the leaderboard to a T-55 finish after opening with three sub-par rounds. He has a well-rounded game and has the iron play to hit these small greens.

24. J.T. Poston

Poston tied for 10th last week while gaining 1.27 strokes per round tee-to-green and 0.92 strokes per round putting. He tied for sixth in this event last year, albeit in a much weaker field.

23. Shane Lowry

Lowry tied for third last year in his second career appearance at this event. The Open Champion is 10th in this field in SG: Off-the-Tee over everyone’s last 100 rounds.

22. Bubba Watson

Watson picked up a T-7 last week for his third top-10 result of 2020 to match his total from 2019. He gained 1.45 strokes per round tee-to-green and 1.23 putting.

21. Jason Kokrak

Kokrak put together weekend rounds of 65 and 64 for a T-3 finish last week. He has gained 0.80 strokes per round across 25 career rounds at this venue.


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20. Jordan Spieth

Spieth was able to somewhat tame his driver last week, but he lost 0.35 strokes per round on approach while gaining 2.15 strokes putting. His T-10 finish was promising, but he’s still too erratic to trust on a weekly basis.

19. Tyrrell Hatton

Hatton returns to play following his first PGA Tour win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He looks to follow the lead of Berger in picking up his pre-break form.

18. Gary Woodland

Woodland faltered to a Sunday 70 for a ninth-place finish last week. He’s ninth in this field in SG: Off-the-Tee, and he gained 2.20 strokes per round on approach last week.

17. Hideki Matsuyama

Matsuyama had a T-5 at the Genesis Invitational and a T-6 at the WGC-Mexico Championship before a T-56 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He can avoid trouble and hit these greens.

Jun 12, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas; Sungjae Im lines up a putt at the Charles Schwab Challenge. (Photo Credit: Raymond Carlin III – USA TODAY Sports)

16. Sungjae Im

One of Im’s eight missed cuts in his last 44 international events came at this venue last year, but he’s coming off a T-10 at the Charles Schwab Challenge, where he also missed the cut in 2019. He’s 16th in this field in Bogey Avoidance and will score on the par 5s.

15. Tony Finau

Finau’s best trait for Harbour Town is a field rank of seventh in Greens in Regulation Gained. He gained 1.08 strokes off-the-tee last week while finishing in a tie for 23rd.

14. Brooks Koepka

Koepka will make his debut at Harbour Town amid one of his worst stretches in recent memory. The former world No. 1 enters the week 19th in the Golfweek rankings, but he’s ninth in this field in Bogey Avoidance and proximity from the key distance of 175-200 yards.

13. Daniel Berger

The reigning PGA Tour champ has made seven straight cuts with four consecutive top-10 finishes. He’s also riding a Tour-best streak of 28 rounds of par or better.

12. Dustin Johnson

Johnson tied for 16th here in 2018 and 28th last year. He’s second in the field in SG: Off-the-Tee and is a good bet to bounce back from last week’s missed cut.

11. Webb Simpson

Simpson also missed the cut last week, and slipped to No. 6 in the Golfweek rankings. He has gained 1.30 strokes per round over 38 rounds at Harbour Town, and he tied for fifth in 2018.


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10. Patrick Reed

Reed finished T-7 last week with four rounds in the 60s highlighted by Saturday’s 63. He was in great form before the break with a win at the WGC-Mexico Championship and seems to have picked right back up.

9. Justin Rose

Rose gained 1.59 strokes per round tee-to-green and 1.34 strokes per round with the putter last week. He’s an excellent ball-striker and avoids trouble areas.

8. Collin Morikawa

Morikawa was without weakness last week before losing to Berger in a playoff. Debuting at tough courses hasn’t proven to be an issue yet, as he continues his streak of no missed cuts as a professional.

7. Matt Kuchar

Kuchar, the 2019 runner-up, has three other top-11 finishes here in the last five years with nothing worse than a T-23. He played a field-high 60 rounds at Harbour Town while gaining 1.76 strokes per round on the field.

Jun 13, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas; Bryson DeChambeau reacts after putting for an eagle at the Charles Schwab Challenge. (Photo Credit: Raymond Carlin III – USA TODAY Sports)

6. Bryson DeChambeau

DeChambeau received plenty of air time last week due to his new, beefed-up look, but it certainly worked as he gained a tournament-best 2.65 strokes per round tee-to-green and 1.83 strokes per round off-the-tee.

5. Xander Schauffele

Schauffele gained 0.91 strokes per round with the putter, but you wouldn’t know it with his 17th-hole lip out costing him a chance at a playoff. He was among the best in the field off-the-tee and from tee-to-green. He’ll play here for the third year in a row.

4. Jon Rahm

Rahm was a disaster on the greens last week en route to a missed cut. He’s accurate off-the-tee and precise with the irons and is another good bet to bounce right back.

3. Justin Thomas

Thomas hasn’t played here since finishing T-11 in 2015 and 75th in 2016. It was his play off-the-tee last week which cost him, but he was able to gain 1.75 strokes per round on approach.

2. Rory McIlroy

McIlroy hasn’t played here since a 58th-place finish in 2009. He faltered with a plus-4 74 in Round 4 last week, but he leads this field in SG: Off-the-Tee, Bogey Avoidance and Greens in Regulation Gained over everyone’s last 100 rounds.

1. Branden Grace

The 2016 champ tied for seventh in 2015 and 11th in 2017. He opened the Charles Schwab Challenge with three straight rounds of 66 before Sunday’s 73 dropped him to T-19 to inflate his odds at Harbour Town.

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Fantasy Golf Power Rankings for the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge

Analyzing the best fantasy golf options for the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club.

The 2019-20 PGA Tour season resumes Thursday, June 11, with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. Previously an invitational event, the 2020 field is expanded to 144 golfers, including many of those ranked at the top of the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings. Below, we look at the top fantasy golf picks for the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge.

Colonial Country Club features Bentgrass greens and measures 7,209 yards with a par of 70. The scores of the last five tournament winners have ranged from 10-under par to minus-20.

Charles Schwab Challenge: Fantasy Golf Top 30

Mar 12, 2020; Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; Rory McIlroy lines up a putt on the 10th hole during the first round of the 2020 edition of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. (Photo Credit: Adam Hagy – USA TODAY Sports)

Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club.

30. Brandt Snedeker

Snedeker has a strong history at Colonial, having gained an average of 1.06 strokes per round on the field across 36 career rounds. He made the cut in each of his last five trips to Fort Worth, picking up a T-2 in 2015 and a T-19 last year.

29. Adam Hadwin

Hadwin is an excellent putter on Bentgrass greens. He tied for fifth at Colonial in 2015 and followed it with three more made cuts before skipping last year’s event.

28. Harris English

Another strong putter (sensing a theme?), English was the runner-up in 2016. He ranks fifth in the field among those with a minimum of 10 rounds played with 1.58 true strokes gained per round at Colonial, according to Data Golf.

27. Shane Lowry

Lowry makes his debut at Colonial coming off his 2019 Open Championship victory. The 24th-ranked golfer in the Golfweek rankings tied for 21st at The Honda Classic in a rare non-major appearance in North America before the season was suspended.

May 26, 2019; Fort Worth, Texas; Kevin Na kneels with trophy after winning the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club. (Photo Credit: Ray Carlin – USA TODAY Sports)

26. Kevin Na

The 2019 Charles Schwab Challenge champion has finished inside the top 10 in three of his last four visits to Fort Worth. He’s a steady performer on and around the greens.

25. Matt Kuchar

Kuchar had a couple of strong finishes early this year. He won the SMBC Singapore Open on the Asian and Japanese Tours, and he was a co-runner-up at The Genesis Invitational. He’s well-experienced at Colonial with 42 career rounds and an average of 1.48 strokes gained per round.

24. Marc Leishman

Leishman won the Farmers Insurance Open and finished second at the Arnold Palmer Invitational before his season was put on hold. He’s not a particularly strong putter on Bentgrass surfaces, but the rest of his short-game play has been in excellent form.

23. Joaquin Niemann

Niemann opened the 2019-20 season with a victory at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier. He was ice cold to begin the 2020 portion of the schedule, missing the cut at The Genesis Invitational, The Honda Classic and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He still ranks third in my stat model at Fantasy National, which looks at everyone’s most recent 50 rounds played on courses with Bentgrass greens.

22. Lucas Glover

Glover ranks 10th by the same stat model, leaning on a strength of Par 4 Efficiency on holes measuring between 400 and 450 yards. He missed the cut in his last two appearances here, but his 38 career rounds rank among the most of anyone in the field.

21. Scottie Scheffler

The reigning Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year finished T-15 at the API prior to the Tour’s season being suspended. He’ll debut at Colonial having shot up to 28th in the Golfweek rankings.


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20. Byeong Hun An

An bucks the trend of backing putters, but he was in otherwise excellent form earlier this year, highlighted by a T-4 finish at The Honda Classic. He ranks among the best in the field in Strokes Gained: Scrambling, and he has a good approach game.

19. Daniel Berger

Berger was showing flashes of his former self earlier this year. He finished T-4 at The Honda Classic and T-5 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Putting is a weakness, but his ball-striking is back in top form.

Mar 12, 2020; Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; Rickie Fowler watches his tee shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the 2020 edition of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. (Photo Credit: Adam Hagy – USA TODAY Sports)

18. Rickie Fowler

Golf fans were able to see Fowler at the TaylorMade Driving Relief skins match where he was the best in a foursome consisting of Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Matthew Wolff. Fowler tied for 14th here in 2018, but he missed the cut last year.

17. Xander Schauffele

Schauffele has a surprisingly poor history at Colonial. He missed the cut each of the last two years following a T-48 finish in 2017. He’s a reliable putter who can get hot, and he is a low scorer.

16. Collin Morikawa

Morikawa still hasn’t missed a cut as a professional golfer on the PGA Tour. He tied for ninth in a strong field at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

15. Patrick Reed

Reed is an excellent putter and does extremely well on our selected par-4 distance of 400-450 yards. He tied for 15th here in 2016 before taking the last three years off.

14. Sungjae Im

Im, who picked up his first PGA Tour win at The Honda Classic earlier this year, missed the cut here in 2019, but he missed the cut in just two of 26 worldwide events since. He has an excellent short game and can create scoring opportunities.

February 6, 2020; Pebble Beach, Calif.; Kevin Kisner lines up a putt on the second hole during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Spyglass Hill Golf Course. (Photo Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)

13. Kevin Kisner

Kisner finished T-5 in 2015 and T-10 in 2016 before winning the plaid jacket in 2017. He has since finished T-52 and missed the cut in 2019. He is third in the field in SG: Putting on Bentgrass greens across everyone’s last 100 rounds on the surface.

12. Gary Woodland

Woodland was rounding into form immediately before the break, finishing T-12 at the WGC-Mexico Championship and T-8 at The Honda Classic. A weaker putter, he’ll rely on excellent ball striking and scoring.

11. Bryson DeChambeau

DeChambeau ranks fourth in my overall stat model. He missed the cut in three of four appearances here, but he finished inside the top five in each of his last three events in 2020.


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10. Tony Finau

The 2019 runner-up has gained an average of 1.57 strokes per round across his 16 career rounds at Colonial. He’s an expert ball-striker and low scorer.

9. Jordan Spieth

Throw out any ill-feelings you may have toward Spieth due to his struggles over the past three seasons. The 2016 champion of Colonial tied for second in both 2015 and 2017 and tied for eighth last year. He leads the field with 2.52 strokes gained at this venue, and his putter has remained consistently elite amid his struggles from tee-to-green.

8. Jason Day

Day is the only member of the field better with the putter than Spieth over everyone’s last 100 rounds on Bentgrass. Persistent injury issues have kept him out of the winner’s circle since 2018, but he’ll be well-rested after last withdrawing from the API.

7. Dustin Johnson

Johnson was a disaster at the TaylorMade event, but it’s quite possible the charity event didn’t have his full interest. He ranks seventh in the stat model and is the second-best ball-striker over everyone’s last 50 rounds.

6. Webb Simpson

The No. 1 golfer in the Golfweek rankings skipped last year’s event following a missed cut in 2018. He was fifth in 2017 and tied for third in 2016. Putting isn’t a strength, but he excels as an escape artist, which could have him better prepared than most to shake off the rust.

Aug 25, 2019; Atlanta; Brooks Koepka lines up a putt during the final round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. (Photo Credit: Butch Dill – USA TODAY Sports)

5. Brooks Koepka

Koepka has now had plenty of time to rest and fully heal the knee injury which was plaguing his play early in the calendar year. He was the runner-up in 2018, his only career appearance at Colonial, and he gained 4.01 strokes on the field.

4. Rory McIlroy

McIlroy was in good, not great, form at the TaylorMade event. His closest-to-the-pin shot in the playoff proved to be the winner. He’s fifth in the stat model and will be looking for his first win of 2020 after four top-five finishes.

3. Jon Rahm

Rahm ranks fourth in the Golfweek rankings and his early 2020 form may have been trailing only McIloy. He collected two wins on the European Tour to end his 2019 campaign. He then finished second at the Farmers Insurance Open and tied for third in Mexico.

2. Justin Thomas

Thomas is another of the top-ranked golfers making his debut at Colonial in the restructured 2020 season. He bests the stat model, ranking first in Ball Striking and Birdies or Better Gained.

1. Justin Rose

Chalk Rose up as someone likely to have enjoyed the break from competitive golf. He had missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open, The Honda Classic and the API before play was suspended. He won here in 2018 and ranks second in the stat model coming in.

Get some action on the 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.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

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Fantasy Golf Power Rankings for the 2020 Players Championship

Analyzing the best fantasy golf options for the 2020 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Can world No. 1 Rory McIlroy defend his title?

TPC Sawgrass welcomes the world’s best golfers for the 2020 Players Championship. The 144-man field is annually the strongest of the PGA Tour season, and Tiger Woods is one of just four golfers from the top 50 of the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings not in attendance this week. Here, we look at the top 30 fantasy golf options for The Players Championship.

TPC Sawgrass measures 7,189 yards and plays to a par of 72. Each of the last 11 winners finished 10-under par or better.

The Players Championship: Fantasy Golf Top 30

Mar 17, 2019; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA; Rory McIlroy lines up his putt on the 18th green during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. (Photo Credit: John David Mercer – USA TODAY Sports)

Here are my top-30 fantasy golf rankings for the 2020 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

30. Viktor Hovland

The Puerto Rico Open winner has struggled since what was expected to be an ice-breaking victory in the alternate event. He missed the cut at the difficult Honda Classic and tied for 42nd last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Also see: The Players Championship odds, predictions, picks and PGA Tour best bets

29. Ian Poulter

Poulter ranks fifth in this field with 58 career rounds played at TPC Sawgrass, according to Data Golf. He has gained an average of 1.33 strokes per round in that time. He was a co-runner-up in 2017 but finished just T-56 last year.

28. Tyrrell Hatton

Hatton picked up his first career PGA Tour win last week while surviving difficult conditions at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, but he missed the cut at Sawgrass each of the last two years.

27. Shane Lowry

The reigning Open champion missed the cut here three of the past five years but will enter as a major champ for the first time. He’s among the best in the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Green.

26. Marc Leishman

The winner of the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open popped back up on the leaderboard last week and finished as the lone runner-up to Hatton. His putter is the only thing that can hold him back, and when it’s been on, he’s been a top finisher.

Mar 6, 2020; Orlando, Florida, USA; Scottie Scheffler hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. (Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay – USA TODAY Sports)

25. Scottie Scheffler

The PGA Tour rookie debuts at TPC Sawgrass ranked No. 27 in the Golfweek rankings. He tied for 15th last week amid a horrible putting performance while his tee-to-green and approach games were nearly perfect.

24. Abraham Ancer

Ancer’s top finish of 2020 thus far was a runner-up result at The American Express, but he also tied for sixth in a strong field at the European Tour’s Saudi International. He ranks near the top of the field in Proximity from 125-150 Yards, a key distance for second shots at TPC Sawgrass.

23. Collin Morikawa

Morikawa had a disappointing weekend at Bay Hill, but he still finished inside the top 10 for the first time in a full-field event in 2020. He’s now up to 21 consecutively made cuts for the longest active streak on the PGA Tour.

22. Matt Kuchar

Kuch, the 2020 Players champ more recently tied for third in 2016. He hasn’t finished higher than T-17 in the three years since, but he has 50 career rounds played here to rank among the most experienced in the field.

21. Henrik Stenson

Stenson missed the cut last year and in 2016, but he has finishes of T-17 in 2015, T-16 in 2017 and T-23 in 2018. He ranks second in my stat model at Fantasy National in Greens in Regulation Gained over the last 36 rounds played by everyone in the field on courses shorter than 7,200 yards.


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20. Justin Rose

Rose missed the cut at Bay Hill and PGA National in each of his last two events to slip to No. 28 in the Golfweek rankings. He struggled with the flat stick last week and would have at least made it to the weekend with an average putting performance.

19. Tony Finau

Finau missed the cut back-to-back in 2016 and 2017, but he has responded with a T-57 finish in 2018 and a T-22 result in 2019. He missed the cut last week at Bay Hill, but he hasn’t missed the cut in back-to-back weeks since missing three straight from last year’s Memorial Tournament through the Travelers Championship.

18. Gary Woodland

Woodland has strung together consecutive strong results. He tied for 12th at the WGC-Mexico Championship before a T-8 result at the Honda Classic. The US Open winner tied for 30th here last year.

17. Jason Day

Day would be higher in these rankings if not for the back injury which forced his withdrawal at Bay Hill last week. The Aussie won in 2016 and has a T-8 and T-5 finish the last two years. He remains among the best in any field in SG: Around the Green.

16. Sungjae Im

Yet another recent first-time winner in this year’s field, Im missed the cut in his TPC Sawgrass debut last year. His best putting performances have come on Bermuda greens over his career, and he has been extremely strong off the tee the last two weeks.

Mar 7, 2020; Orlando, Florida, USA; Rickie Fowler hits his tee shot on the second hole during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. (Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay – USA TODAY Sports)

15. Rickie Fowler

Fowler bounced back from a missed cut at PGA National to finish T-18 last week. He won here in 2015, but he missed the cut two of the last four years.

14. Brooks Koepka

Betting Koepka right now means banking solely on pedigree, which is never a bad idea. His best finish in the last five years was a T-11 in 2018, and he finished just T-56 last year. He hasn’t finished inside the top 10 in any global event since the Tour Championship, but he is Brooks Koepka.

13. Xander Schauffele

Schauffele debuted with a T-2 in 2018 but missed the cut last year. He has made the cut in four of five events to open 2020, but he has a top finish of just T-14 in Mexico.

12. Paul Casey

Casey is one of the top statistical fits by my stat model, but the veteran Englishman has struggled at TPC Sawgrass over his career. He has gained just 0.39 strokes per round across 29 rounds, and he missed the cut last year.

11. Patrick Cantlay

Cantlay returns from an injury absence to play for the first time since a T-17 result at the Genesis Invitational. He missed the cut last year following T-22 and T-23 finishes in 2017 and 2018, respectively.


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10. Patrick Reed

Reed has had a pedestrian run at TPC Sawgrass. While he has made the cut four of the last five years, his top finish was a T-22 in 2017. He’s the most recent winner of a WGC event in a comparable strength of field.

9. Bryson DeChambeau

DeChambeau has strung together three straight top-five finishes in 2020. He’s played here each of the last two years with a T-37 in 2018 and a T-20 last year.

8. Webb Simpson

The 2018 champ has 15 top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour since, including his 2020 win at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

7. Adam Scott

Scott won here in 2004. He already claimed victory at the Genesis Invitational to start his 2020 campaign, after closing out his 2019 season with a win in the Australian PGA Championship.

6. Hideki Matsuyama

Matsuyama does well in the stadium setting of TPC Sawgrass and TPC Scottsdale. He has a T-7 and T-8 finish in the last four years.

Mar 5, 2020; Orlando, Florida, USA; Tommy Fleetwood hits his drive on the 15th hole during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. (Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay – USA TODAY Sports)

5. Tommy Fleetwood

Fleetwood has gained more strokes per round at TPC Sawgrass than anyone else in the field with at least 10 rounds played at 2.34 strokes per round. He tied for fifth last year after a T-7 in 2018 and needs his breakthrough win.

4. Jon Rahm

Rahm tied for 12th last year for his best result in three trips to TPC Sawgrass. He took the last two weeks off for rest following a T-3 in Mexico and T-17 at the Genesis Invitational.

3. Dustin Johnson

Johnson picked up his best result in The Players Championship last year with a T-5. He has been largely unimpressive early in 2020, but he remains an elite scorer on these shorter courses.

2. Justin Thomas

Since finishing T-3 in 2016, Thomas has finished T-75, T-11 and T-35 the last three years. His putter has been shaky early in the year, though he’s a contender anytime it doesn’t cost him strokes.

1. Rory McIlroy

The defending champ has seven straight top-five results in global events and five straight fifth-place finishes on the PGA Tour. His putter cost him again last week; however, he gained 0.7 strokes on these greens last year and he only needs to be average with the flat stick.

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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.

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