Tuesday, July 5, 2022

Fantasy Golf: The Scottish Open Preview

Who knew that this year's Scottish Open was some kind of newfangled joint venture between the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour with one of the best fields of the year? (Everyone? Really? Thanks for the heads-up friends). And here I was all set to write a mega blow-off preview of The Barbasol Championship while picking Nick Hardy who is absolutely going to win it. (Bonus pick . . . you're welcome).

Now I gotta deal with the burden of a tournament featuring 14 out of the top 15 players in the world (WTF Rory?) plus other fun chaps like Tommy Fleetwood and Max Homa. Tall order coming-off a holiday weekend where I've fallen asleep on thirteen separate occasions. (Dad is fucking tired!) Well, someone's got to pay for these $7 ice cream cones so here we go.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Talor Gooch is quickly establishing himself as golf's court jester. And not the eloquent kind who regales the king and queen with his rapier wit. More like the one who wears a goofy hat and falls down. Over and over and over again.


GOLF ANALYSIS

This will be the fourth consecutive year that this event is contested at The Renaissance Club which definitely sounds like a place that serves pretty good steaks while you watch naked people do the Watusi. Despite its duplicitous name, it tends to produce a good show as the past three have ended in a playoff and the likes of Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele and Matthew Fitzpatrick have all posted top tens. 

Combine a decent competition course with a world class field and the fact that it feels like every top player is in championship form, and we could be in for quite a hootenanny. Especially as the loyalists appear to be more motivated than ever to stick it to the defectors. Case in point, this three minutes from Billy Horschel is en fuego. Billy Ho ain't playin' no mo.

For that reason, I like Thomas this week and for the remainder of the season. Hard to bet against a guy with a chip on his shoulder the size of a toaster oven. The same could be said for Rahm and, to a slightly more understated extent, Scottie Scheffler. So there really is no wrong answer at the top. 

The next tier is of course flat loaded and we're banking on the fact that Collin Morikawa has figured-out which way his ball is turning by now. Jordan Spieth will likely preview his British Open win with a top ten here but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

This week's overall pick, Tyrrell Hatton, is a bargain at $7,800. At least that's how we're pitching it. I have to admit that if I had every player in the field at my disposal, Hatton probably wouldn't make the top ten but we are where we are and there would be no better way to spend Sunday morning than watching him put on a full display of gnashed teeth and sarcastic smiles on his way to a win. 

Lucas Herbert has finished T4 here the last two years and Robert Macintyre has a couple top 20's. Throw them in the mix with Mackenzie Hughes and Victor Perez to round-out your lineups. Enjoy a bonus week of meaningful morning golf you beautiful bastards.

One and Done Pick: Tyrrell Hatton
"Fuckin' blimey. I guess 
it's on to St. Andrews."

Other Guy I'd Pick: Justin Thomas

Sleeper Pick: Victor Perez

DraftKings Top Ten Values

Justin Thomas

$10,600

Xander Schauffele

$9,900

Collin Morikawa

$9,400

Jordan Spieth

$8,900

Tommy Fleetwood

$8,400

Tyrrell Hatton

$7,800

Lucas Herbert

$7,600

Robert Macintyre

$7,600

Mackenzie Hughes

$7,200

Victor Perez

$6,900


Email the Fantasy Golf Report at fgr@fantasygolfreport.com

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