Fantasy Golf: Sanderson Farms Championship Preview

I sincerely hope that everyone caught at least a piece of the Presidents Cup which flat-out delivered the goods. Here were the highlights in some particular order:

• Si Woo Kim going full Patrick Reed on Justin Thomas. I've long been a JT fan and still believe that he has it in him to be the best player in the world but I would imagine squaring-off against him in a team competition is not the most pleasurable experience. So good on Si Woo for sticking it to him a little and humbling him by making birdie on 18 to win their leadoff singles match. And good on JT for giving him proper credit on Twitter. Everyone wins . . . which was kind of the theme of the weekend.

• Max Homa somehow making himself even more likable. The guy is already smart, humble and self-deprecating (so not your typical PGA Tour player). Now he's also a team format assassin in the mold of a Luke Donald and Billy Casper. Let's hope this snowballs into what would be the most popular major win scenario outside of Rickie Fowler making a miraculous comeback or of course you know who.   

• The moxie of the International team. They were already huge underdogs before their best player ditched them a few weeks ahead of the event. Then they predictably got kicked-around for the first two days falling behind 8-2. But on Saturday morning they held their ground to make it 10-4 before winning 3 points along with a lot of hearts in the afternoon (awwww). We knew it was over at that point but they still held their own on Sunday losing the singles 6.5 to 5.5. I'd be lying if I said I didn't catch myself rooting for them a few times . . . definitely some Rocky IV vibes in my living room. 

Would the competition have been closer if they had Cam Smith and Joaquin Niemann instead of Taylor Pendrith and Christiaan Bezuidenhout? Absolutely. But at no point did I find myself lamenting that they weren't there. If anything, the story of a couple guys ranked 68th and 104th in the world trying to take down the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth is more compelling. In other words, fuck those guys. 

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Forget tweet of the week. This video of Bryson DeChambeau getting sent into a tizzy by a piece of string might be the golf tweet of the year. To be honest, the opportunity to feature this petulant jamoke having a caniption fit over a self-inflicted graze on the forehead was more than half the inspiration for writing this whole preview. 

The crowd shot of Bryson getting close lined by the rope is so great. Dude goes down like he’s been shot. pic.twitter.com/uoEc67CmhM

— Bunkie Perkins (@BunkiePerkins) September 19, 2022

GOLF ANALYSIS

You'd think that the debacle of the Fortinet Championship picks would have led to a reinstatement of the FGR's not picking fall tournaments policy. Yet here we are. 

The field is actually pretty solid led by defending champ Sam Burns who has to be feeling a bit fried after playing "A-" caliber golf only to come away from last week with a 2-3 record thanks to some spotty partner play. We're going to assume that Sam is going to show-up, carry himself like a pro and then play just well enough to miss the cut by a couple shots. 

The last time I tried to preview this tournament was in 2020 when I picked a young upstart named Scottie Scheffler to win and he finished a respectable but pedestrian T16. I also recommended Sungjae Im (2nd), Carlos Ortiz (T4), Denny McCarthy (T18) and Richy Werenski (T18) so one of my dozens of readers probably made some money that week. Maybe that performance is what's giving me a bit of a tingle this week or maybe it's the five day old leftover shrimp wrap I ate for lunch but either way, here you go. 

One and Done Pick: Sahith Theegala

The big cat's minor snubbing from the
Presidents Cup in favor of Good Time
Kis has him primed for a win this week.

Other Guy I'd Pick: Denny McCarthy 

Sleeper Pick: Joel Dahmen

DraftKings Top Ten Values

Sahith Theegala	$10,400
Denny McCarthy	$9,900
Davis Riley	$9,000
Harris English	$8,600
Seamus Power	$8,400
Wyndham Clark	$8,000
Aaron Rai	$7,800
Byeong Hun An	$7,400
Mackenzie Hughes	$7,000
Joel Dahmen	$6,800

fgr@fantasygolfreport.com 

Fantasy Golf: The Fortinet Championship Preview

Hello friends. It's been three weeks since we last hung-out but it feels like three years. So much news to catch-up on before we dip our toe back in the tepid waters of fall PGA Tour golf. Let's do a quick review.

• LIVGolf added a few more guys, hosted another "tournament" (so I'm told) and had a few players with nice showings at Wentworth but in the end it was Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm going 1-2-2 so all is right in the golf world and Greg Norman is still a douche. 
• The NFL season kicked-off (finally) and, despite ESPN's annual and ongoing attempt to convince us that the Dallas Cowboys are a viable entity with Mike McCarthy in a key management role, they still comically suck. 
• And finally, the queen died sparking a wave of refreshing monarchy mocking humor because seriously, kings and queens and dukes? In 2022? But we will be respectful of the Queen. After all, she was a head of state, a monarch, a mother to multiple pedophiles and, most importantly, a devoted cousin to her husband. 

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Per the succession theory referenced below, I think I am now the assistant manager at the Towson Cheesecake Factory and the guy who had that job moves-up to be the Director of Waste Management for the city of Logansport, Indiana.  

Now that Charles is king, Prince William becomes Prince of Wales. Basically, it all shifts up one. For instance, I’m now my next door neighbor, Pauline Cathcart.

— GlennyRodge (@GlennyRodge) September 9, 2022

GOLF ANALYSIS

In my entire career as a fantasy golf writer, I think I've watched a total of five shots from this tournament and that was probably by chance as I glanced at a TV trying to look casually not impatient while tapping my credit card on a bar. A cursory review of past leaderboards has, however, revealed that there are some consistent performers and I have done my best to capture that with the picks. 

Maverick McNealy and Denny McCarthy are currently two of the frontrunners for next PGA Tour winner and LIVGolf defector though though both of their families probably have enough bank to make them think twice about it. Especially if they can climb over the LIV guys on the OWGR to become fully major eligible. Mav is currently 71st and Denny is 80th. That's enough motivation for us this week. 

One and Done Pick: Maverick McNealy

I'M BACK BABY!!!

Other Guy I'd Pick: Denny McCarthy  

Sleeper Pick: Beau Hossler 

DraftKings Top Ten Values

Corey Conners	$10,300
Maverick McNealy	$9,900
Emiliano Grillo	$9,200
Brendan Steele	$8,900
Denny McCarthy	$8,800
Justin Suh	$8,200
Chez Reavie	$7,600
Nick Hardy	$7,500
Doc Redman	$7,100
Beau Hossler	$6,900

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