Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Fantasy Golf: The Rocket Mortgage Classic Preview

I'm in a bit of a mood today. Is it because Bubba Watson went from 1st to T19th in the space of five holes last week thereby depriving me of an unprecedented third win in four weeks? Is it because I somehow managed to schedule a dentist appointment for today AND a colonoscopy tomorrow? Is it because my dog has spent the last two days delivering baby bunnies to me as some kind of warped show of respect/gratitude?* Is it because I miss the rhythmic sometimes deafening buzz of the cicadas and how it mercifully drowned-out the voices in my head? 

The answers to all of these questions (and so many more) is a resounding "YES." Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna have another mango popsicle and keep spreading joy throughout my house.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

This is a question that I, along with many others, need to ask themselves more regularly. 



GOLF ANALYSIS FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS

For reasons that escape me at the moment but now for which I am thankful, I did not pick Hideki Matsuyama to win the Waste Management Phoenix Open where he ultimately finished a disappointing T42. What that means for me and you (a/k/a "us") is that we have a perfectly viable low risk option this week as Hideki has actually played this event twice posting a T13 and a T21. That means that this qualifies as a track he likes and, while he's not as picky as Bubba who is to golf courses what a lactose intolerant gluten free vegetarian is to the buffet at Golden Corral, he's still one of those guys who is very particular about his layouts. So consider this a reserved if not over the top with enthusiasm endorsement for the Masters champ.

Overall this tournament is a bit of a crap shoot. As noted, they've played Detroit Country Club twice. One year the top three finishers were Bryson DeChambeau, Matthew Wolff and Kevin Kisner but the other year they were Nate Lashley, Doc Redman, Rory Sabbatini and Wes Roach (they tied for 3rd and I did not make any of those names up). The field is "Watered Down" based on Cameron Tringale's $8,100 price tag so we should at least see some talent at the top on Sunday but I would expect someone other than DeChambeau and Reed. Maybe two non-antichrists like Will Zalatoris and Joaquin Niemann. 

In the year Doc didn't finish 2nd he actually finished T21 so he's the closest thing we have to a mortal lock from the mid-range guys. I also like the idea of a Rickie Fowler feel good story in this spot. Low profile event, holiday weekend and a field just good enough to get his attention but not so good that he gets run over. He missed the cut last week but before that he posted a T8 at the PGA Championship and a T11 at The Memorial. Forget about the curveball Rickie . . . GIVE 'EM THE HEATER!!!

Pretty much sums-up how I feel about
this week's pick but hey, I was supremely
confident last week and . . . you know.
One and Done Pick: Hideki Matsuyama

Other Guy I'd Pick: Will Zalatoris

Sleeper Pick: Joel Dahmen

DraftKings Top Ten Values

Hideki Matsuyama

$10,400

Will Zalatoris

$10,000

Jason Kokrak

$9,500

Rickie Fowler

$8,700

Cameron Tringale

$8,100

Doc Redman

$7,900

Sepp Straka

$7,700

Chris Kirk

$7,400

Andrew Putnam

$7,100

Joel Dahmen

$7,000


Footnote

* This is true and I'm happy to report that (so far) no bunnies have been injured (physically) as a result of these offerings. It pretty much goes down like this:

Charlie brings bunny up. 

I yell "NO CHARLIE!" 

Charlie gives me the "nothing is ever good enough for you" look with which I am all too familiar. 

Charlie drops bunny. 

Bunny lays there in shock for a minute.

Charlie gives me the "I barely touched him" look. 

Bunny hops away. 

Repeat. 

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Fantasy Golf: The Travelers Championship Preview

It's going to be a very thin preview as things snowballed on me a bit after picking my second winner in three weeks. I know Jon Rahm was the prohibitive favorite but, if you're familiar with the typical methodology of the FGR, you know that historically would have led to a creative pick of Will Zalatoris followed by two days of extreme sulking after he missed the cut. Maybe after ten plus years I'm starting to figure it out (I doubt it).

We're going to keep playing it chalky this week and go with multiple past champion Bubba Watson. Fantasy Golf 101 dictates that you either take Bubba at Augusta, Riviera or here because eight of his twelve wins have come on those three courses. The rest of the picks are solid. You'll just have to trust me. 

One and Done Pick: Bubba Watson
It's all-in on Bubba week! Always
one of the most exciting of the year.

Other Guy I'd Pick: Abraham Ancer

Sleeper Pick: Chez Reavie

DraftKings Top Ten Values

Bryson DeChambeau

$11,100

Paul Casey

$9,900

Abraham Ancer

$9,100

Bubba Watson

$8,900

Charley Hoffman

$8,600

Marc Leishman

$8,100

Keegan Bradley

$7,900

Sam Burns

$7,700

Mackenzie Hughes

$7,100

Chez Reavie

$7,000


In addition to the brilliance above, I'd also take a hard look at Kevin Streelman and Brian Harman. A very hard look. I would also take a look at Keegan Bradley and Brendan Steele but with slightly less intensity. 

                         HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE CHART THAT 
                          LITERALLY SERVES NO OTHER PURPOSE

 

DK Price

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

Dustin Johnson

$11,400

1st

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

B. DeChambeau

$11,100

T6

T8

T9

T26

T47

Brooks Koepka

$10,700

DNP

T57

T19

DNP

T9

Patrick Cantlay

$10,400

T11

T15

T15

DNP

DNP

Patrick Reed

$10,000

T24

T30

MC

T5

T11

Paul Casey

$9,900

T32

T5

T2

T5

T17

Scottie Scheffler

$9,600

MC

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

Kevin Streelman

$9,400

2nd

T15

T33

T8

MC

Matthew Wolff

$9,300

MC

T80

DNP

DNP

DNP

Tony Finau

$9,200

MC

MC

DNP

T17

T25

Abraham Ancer

$9,100

T11

T8

MC

MC

T56

Joaquin Niemann

$9,000

63rd

T5

DNP

DNP

DNP

Bubba Watson

$8,900

MC

T54

1st

MC

T25

Brian Harman

$8,800

MC

T8

T6

T35

MC

Cameron Smith

$8,700

MC

MC

DNP

DNP

T34

Charley Hoffman

$8,600

T41

MC

T15

T3

T25

Si Woo Kim

$8,500

T11

MC

T26

DNP

T25

Justin Rose

$8,400

MC

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

Russell Henley

$8,300

T32

MC

T6

DNP

T11

Harris English

$8,200

DNP

T71

MC

MC

DNP

Marc Leishman

$8,100

T58

T21

MC

T17

T9

Adam Scott

$8,000

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

Garrick Higgo

$7,900

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

Keegan Bradley

$7,900

MC

T2

T47

T8

T25

Max Homa

$7,800

MC

MC

DNP

DNP

DNP

Phil Mickelson

$7,800

T24

MC

DNP

DNP

DNP

Francesco Molinari

$7,700

DNP

T57

DNP

DNP

T47

Sam Burns

$7,700

T24

T43

DNP

DNP

DNP

Cameron Tringale

$7,600

MC

T71

T69

DNP

DNP

Doc Redman

$7,600

T11

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

Harold Varner, III

$7,500

T32

T21

MC

DNP

DNP

Jason Day

$7,500

T46

T8

T12

MC

DNP

Kevin Na

$7,500

5th

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

Aaron Wise

$7,400

T46

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

Ian Poulter

$7,400

64th

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

Lanto Griffin

$7,400

T24

DNP

T38

DNP

DNP

R. Cabrera Bello

$7,400

T37

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

Brendon Todd

$7,300

T11

DNP

DNP

DNP

MC

Chris Kirk

$7,300

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

Emiliano Grillo

$7,300

T60

T60

T19

T43

DNP

Rickie Fowler

$7,300

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

Stewart Cink

$7,300

MC

DNP

T2

DNP

DNP

Brandt Snedeker

$7,200

T41

T43

MC

T14

DNP

Brendan Steele

$7,200

T6

T21

MC

T14

T17

C.T. Pan

$7,200

MC

T36

MC

T8

DNP

Maverick McNealy

$7,200

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

Chesson Hadley

$7,100

DNP

MC

MC

DNP

MC

Kevin Kisner

$7,100

MC

T15

DNP

DNP

DNP

Mackenzie Hughes

$7,100

T3

T51

T47

T17

DNP

Patton Kizzire

$7,100

T6

MC

MC

T53

DNP

Zach Johnson

$7,100

T11

DNP

T19

MC

T47

Chez Reavie

$7,000

T46

1st

MC

T43

T47

Kyle Stanley

$7,000

T24

T36

T15

T57

MC

Russell Knox

$7,000

MC

T21

T38

T62

1st

Talor Gooch

$7,000

MC

DNP

MC

DNP

DNP

Adam Hadwin

$6,900

DNP

MC

T42

T57

MC

Danny Lee

$6,900

MC

MC

T15

T3

DNP

Richy Werenski

$6,900

T46

T60

T26

MC

DNP


Email the Fantasy Golf Report at fgr@fantasygolfreport.com