Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Fantasy Golf: The Sony Open Preview

The Sony Open is one of a handful of events on tour where the same players seem to rotate through the leaderboard every year (because they actually do) which is a good thing because I'm writing this sucker in the fleeting hours of Tuesday evening and tomorrow is my birthday (thank you) so there ain't gonna be a lot of early morning editing or early morning anything for that matter (other than the typical farting, groaning and honking). Check-out this list of players with multiple top tens at the Sony since 2012 and run with it in whichever direction you see fit. 

Justin Thomas: 2017 (1st), 2015 (T6th)
Kevin Kisner: 2017 (T4th), 2016 (T5th)
Jamie Lovemark: 2017 (T4th), 2016 (T7th)
Zach Johnson: 2017 (T6th), 2016 (T9th), 2014 (T8th)
Gary Woodland: 2017 (T6th), 2015 (T3rd)
Charles Howell: 2017 (T8th), 2015 T8th), 2013 (T3rd), 2012 (T2nd)
Jerry Kelly: 2016 (T9th), 2015 (T6th), 2014 (3rd), 2011 (9th)
Jimmy Walker: 2015 (1st), 2014 (1st), 2011 (4th)
Chris Kirk: 2014 (2nd), 2013 (T5th)
Marc Leishman: 2014 (5th), 2013 (T9th)
Hudson Swafford: 2016 (T9th), 2014 (T8th)
Pat Perez: 2014 (T8th), 2013 (T9th)

We're going to use that list as our guide but give the nod to Jordan Spieth (3rd here last year) over Thomas as our high dollar guy because Spieth really needs himself a win. At the other end of the spectrum is Chris Kirk who contended here in 2013 and 2014 before devoting 2016 and 2017 to sucking at golf. He recently showed some signs of life with a T4th at The RSM Classic and that, combined with his history in Hawaii, is enough for me.  

Everyone is hot and heavy on Brian Harman but you can't pick all of the favorites or else you're just one of those hacks over at PGATour.com and besides, I prefer Marc Leishman this week so he's my one and done guy. I'm sure you like me aren't ready for a world in which Leishman is the 12th ranked player in it, but that's where we've found ourselves my friends. The big squishy Aussie has been on a tear since the middle of last year with seven top 10's in his last twelve events worldwide including a win at the BMW Championship. Use Leishman now so, when he misses the cut, you still have a whole season to make-up for it.  

Leishman is going to make it rain birdies
in Hawaii this week. See what I did there?
It's raining in the picture. You're welcome.
The FGR's One and Done Pick: Marc Leishman

The DraftKings Top Ten Value Picks


Jordan Spieth
$12,000
Marc Leishman
$11,100
Kevin Kisner
$10,100
Charles Howell
$8,800
Si Woo Kim
$8,500
Jamie Lovemark
$8,100
Gary Woodland
$7,800
Jerry Kelly
$7,500
Hudson Swafford
$7,300
Chris Kirk
$7,100

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

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