Fantasy Golf: AT&T Byron Nelson Preview

Well they up and changed course for this event again dagnabbit. This year we'll be watching the boys play at TPC Craig Ranch which is the centerpiece of the Craig Ranch Community. Yes that may sound like a cult but, judging from the rave reviews on the homeowner's association page, it is nothing like that. These are actual quotes from Craig Ranch homeowners about "Living the Dream" (without grammatical corrections) and really, nothing about them makes you think Stepford situation. I'll let you try to figure-out where the original quote stops and the FGR commentary begins. 

I have lived in Craig Ranch for a year now and so far I have really enjoyed it. I feel like I am far from the big city chaos however Im not far from getting the things I need. My neighbors are friendly and overall, my street is very quiet except for the screaming voices I've had in my head since the new homeowner welcome party. – Craig Ranch Homeowner

As a homeowner I feel like I am kept informed on neighborhood activities, changes in HOA and just "need to know" type stuff. I feel we have a strong HOA that gets things done and I feel confident I always have someone to go to should I have questions or concerns. One time I asked a member of the HOA a question about something that I did not "need to know." I used to have ten fingers and now I have nine but I don't have any more questions. So that's nice. – Craig Ranch Homeowner

There are so many good things yet to come to Craig Ranch and its happening now and very fast! I am very excited with all the new stuff and only look forward to many more new things coming our way. (Please get me out of here . . . I don't know how much longer I can keep them believing I drank the fruit punch at the new homeowner welcome party). - Craig Ranch Homeowner

The area is quiet (except for the screaming voices of course) and on my street I can say that I have a good group of neighbors. I encourage anyone who is looking for a home to visit Craig Ranch. I guarantee you will like what you see. Which is good because you can check-out any time you like, but you can never leave. - Craig Ranch Homeowner

TWEET OF THE WEEK

I have a similar recurring dream but in mine I'm a kangaroo that can't jump too good and all of the other kangaroos call me "shithead."

GOLF ANALYSIS FOR THE MAN ON THE GO

So we have no historical data which makes my job easy this week as I will be guessing along with the rest of you amateurs. Bryson DeChambeau crawled back from the Friday brink last week to finish T9th so I'm on a bit of a mini-roll if you don't count Patrick Reed's missed cut at the Valspar. Which I don't. Because he's a chump. 

Some may remember (but I doubt it) that I picked Scottie Scheffler to win the Valero Texas Open back in March. Well funny thing about that. I didn't actually enter him that week and, after he shot an opening round 68, I pitched a silent fit to myself as I was sure he was going to win without me. But good news, he finished T54th so I'm going to pick him again this week. At least that's the goal.

The rest of the picks are either Texans, guys who play well in Texas or K.H. Lee. Even with D.J. bailing this is a strong field at the top but then the quality falls straight off a cliff after Lee Westwood at $8,500. Where's Cameron Tringale when you need him?

One and Done Pick: Scottie Scheffler

"Ha ha great story dude. You
know I'm going to screw you
for real this time right?"

Other Guy I'd Pick: Jordan Spieth

Sleeper Pick: K.H. Lee

DraftKings Top Ten Values

Jordan Spieth	$10,700
Scottie Scheffler	$9,400
Marc Leishman	$9,200
Lee Westwood	$8,500
Aaron Wise	$8,300
Talor Gooch	$7,900
Doug Ghim	$7,500
Martin Laird	$7,200
Scott Piercy	$7,100
K.H. Lee	$6,900

Email the Fantasy Golf Report at fgr@fantasygolfreport.com.

Fantasy Golf: Wells Fargo Championship Preview

No real broken arm update other than the fact that I am now almost adept at tying my shoes and picking my nose with the bad hand. So that's some progress which is good because I may have to play a golf match eight days after cast removal. "Competitive" country club golf can be pretty cut-throat. Oh and on a semi-related health note, the second Pfizer shot can feel like an unearned two day hangover. Headache, dry mouth and fatigue but at least with none of the remorse and lost apparel.   

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Ever since I designated Cameron Tringale as the FGR weather vane of above averageness, the guy has produced a T9 and a T3 jumping from 89th to 65th in the world. I may need to go in search of a new measuring stick but for now I'll ride with Tringale and his cool, almost content just to contend demeanor. Apparently I'm not alone in this assessment.* 

Mid-Post Footnote (A thighnote?)

* I believe this tweet is a reference to the No Laying Up podcast. I don't listen to golf podcasts because they are inevitably eight minutes of worthwhile content spread over ninety minutes with the balance of the time being filled with ads and golf banter that generates a 5:1 groan to laugh ratio. I try to keep these previews brief in an effort to lower that ratio to 4:1 (though that "thighnote" joke).  

A FEW WORDS ON OUR GOOD FRIEND PATRICK REED

Patrick Reed provided me with my annual reason to continue despising him by missing the cut last week. And that was before reading what appeared to be an effort at image rehabilitation in Golf Digest that managed to step on every rake in the yard. 

Q: You’ve given to charities with the express desire of not being found out. I’ll put you on the spot to tell us what causes and why?

A: If I’m going to help a person but broadcast it over social media, it looks like you’re trying to get a gain out of it. Junior golf, homeless shelters, disaster relief funds, Ronald McDonald, cancer centers, veterans, the list goes on. (Emphasis added for douchy effect).

I guess why people don't like him will just remain one of life's great unsolved mysteries.  

GOLF ANALYSIS FOR THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE

I'm going to hold my nose, close my eyes and down all of the shitty medicine for the year in one two week dose. Bryson DeChambeau hasn't played since yet another embarrassing performance at Augusta and you know he's out for retribution from those who dare to judge him for being exactly who he is. Not to mention, he finished T4 here the last time he played.

I wrestled with putting Rory in the second slot. If he's going to bounce back anywhere, it will be on a course that he prefers in a tournament with moderate significance so I'm taking a leap of faith. You wouldn't hurt my feelings if you went with Webb Simpson or Viktor Hovland there. It's a home game for Simpson, though that home course advantage thing is a bit of a myth as I prove on a regular basis.

The rest of the picks are a bit of an eclectic mix to suit the randomness of outcomes this tournament produces. Max Homa, Jason Day, Brian Harman, James Hahn and Rory are quite the hodgepodge of winners and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see a Talor Gooch or Lanto Griffin join that crew. Hopefully we get a flash of Phil Mickelson on the leaderboard this weekend to keep it interesting because I'm not sure a Gooch/Griffin duel down the stretch is going to hold my attention. (See for example Burns v. Bradley, circa last week). 

One and Done Pick: Bryson DeChambeau

"GET IN MY BELLY!!!"

Other Guy I'd Pick: Talor Gooch

Sleeper Pick: Phil Mickelson

DraftKings Top Ten Values

B. DeChambeau	$11,000
Rory McIlroy	$10,000
Corey Conners	$9,200
Brian Harman	$8,700
Jason Day	$8,600
Talor Gooch	$7,600
Joel Dahmen	$7,600
Aaron Wise	$7,100
Pat Perez	$7,000
Phil Mickelson	$6,900

                                THE SECOND SHOT BAD BOOZE EFFECT
                                   HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE CHART

One might think that with how much the players say they love this event, more good ones would finish in the top ten but one would be wrong. It should be noted that, in addition to his two recent T4's here, Rickie Fowler is the 2012 champion. And so it has been noted.

	DK Price	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
Justin Thomas	$11,300	DNP	T21	DNP	MC	T7
B. DeChambeau	$11,000	DNP	4th	MC	MC	DNP
Jon Rahm	$10,800	DNP	DNP	4th	DNP	DNP
Xander Schauffele	$10,500	DNP	T72	T24	DNP	DNP
Webb Simpson	$10,200	T18	T21	MC	MC	T2
Rory McIlroy	$10,000	T8	T16	DNP	T4	1st
Viktor Hovland	$9,800	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Patrick Cantlay	$9,600	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Tony Finau	$9,500	T60	T21	DNP	T28	DNP
Will Zalatoris	$9,400	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Patrick Reed	$9,300	T28	8th	T12	T28	T58
Corey Conners	$9,200	DNP	T42	DNP	DNP	MC
Joaquin Niemann	$9,100	T38	MC	DNP	DNP	DNP
Max Homa	$9,000	1st	DNP	MC	DNP	T76
Abraham Ancer	$8,900	DNP	MC	DNP	DNP	DNP
Sungjae Im	$8,800	T31	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Brian Harman	$8,700	T24	74th	1st	T35	MC
Jason Day	$8,600	T24	1st	DNP	DNP	DNP
Keegan Bradley	$8,500	MC	T76	DNP	DNP	DNP
Cameron Tringale	$8,400	MC	T27	MC	T41	19th
Bubba Watson	$8,300	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Shane Lowry	$8,200	DNP	T34	T24	MC	DNP
Emiliano Grillo	$8,100	DNP	T9	DNP	T61	DNP
Harris English	$8,000	T54	DNP	MC	T17	DNP
Tommy Fleetwood	$8,000	DNP	MC	DNP	DNP	DNP
Russell Henley	$7,900	MC	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Stewart Cink	$7,900	DNP	T72	MC	DNP	T20
Lucas Glover	$7,800	T31	MC	T52	8th	T28
Rickie Fowler	$7,800	T4	T21	DNP	T4	DNP
Brendan Steele	$7,700	T54	DNP	DNP	T14	T9
Kevin Streelman	$7,700	T45	MC	MC	MC	T9
Harold Varner, III	$7,600	MC	DNP	MC	T24	DNP
Joel Dahmen	$7,600	2nd	T16	MC	DNP	DNP
Talor Gooch	$7,600	DNP	T13	DNP	DNP	DNP
Francesco Molinari	$7,500	DNP	T16	T24	T17	DNP
Gary Woodland	$7,500	W/D	MC	DNP	T24	T4
Matt Wallace	$7,500	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Carlos Ortiz	$7,400	DNP	DNP	DNP	T65	DNP
Lanto Griffin	$7,400	DNP	MC	DNP	DNP	DNP
Matt Jones	$7,400	T38	DNP	T66	MC	T28
Ian Poulter	$7,300	DNP	DNP	DNP	T61	DNP
Matthew NeSmith	$7,300	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Maverick McNealy	$7,300	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Adam Hadwin	$7,200	T38	T16	DNP	T61	MC
Denny McCarthy	$7,200	DNP	MC	DNP	DNP	DNP
Erik Van Rooyan	$7,200	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Sebastian Munoz	$7,200	T38	DNP	MC	DNP	DNP
Aaron Wise	$7,100	T18	T2	DNP	DNP	DNP
Cameron Davis	$7,100	MC	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Kyle Stanley	$7,100	T8	T13	DNP	MC	DNP
Ryan Moore	$7,100	DNP	MC	DNP	MC	T47
Zach Johnson	$7,100	MC	DNP	T18	DNP	DNP
Johnny Vegas	$7,000	T8	T42	DNP	T53	T76
Keith Mitchell	$7,000	T8	T34	DNP	DNP	DNP
Tom Hoge	$7,000	T65	T76	MC	T41	MC
Pat Perez	$7,000	T8	DNP	T2	DNP	T20
Phil Mickelson	$6,900	MC	T5	T18	T4	T4
James Hahn	$6,800	DNP	MC	T59	1st	73rd
Scott Stallings	$6,800	MC	MC	DNP	DNP	MC
Rory Sabbatini	$6,700	T18	T27	W/D	DNP	MC
Doc Redman	$6,700	T18	MC	DNP	DNP	DNP
Byeong Hun An	$6,600	W/D	T63	T8	MC	DNP
J.B. Holmes	$6,600	W/D	T42	T36	T53	MC

Email the Fantasy Golf Report here.