Fantasy Golf: The Valspar Championship Preview

We don't keep statistics around here for our own mental self-preservation but if we did, I'm pretty sure the last two weeks would go down as the worst stretch in FGR history. To somehow talk myself out of picking Scottie Scheffler not once, but twice in a row on courses where he was the prohibitive favorite was a level of incompetence not yet previously achieved on this website. And that's saying something. 

I went to play nine holes at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday and, when I walked into the pro shop, I saw that Scottie was one shot off the lead so I asked the young assistant pro "he's going to win isn't he?" Apparently reading my somber tone, he simply replied, "I'm afraid so" in much the same way a parent explains the reality of a floating goldfish to a five year old. 

In the spirit of being a goldfish we will, however, soldier on with a new tournament this week and undaunted thanks to the firm hope that vindication awaits at Augusta.  

TWEET OF THE WEEK

I know two minutes is a lot to ask these days but please do yourself a favor and watch the PGA Tour video first and then Scotty Holdridge's take. For what it's worth, I'm about to go watch it a couple more times and cracking-up just thinking about it . . . "ok, what did we learn?"

The Caddy: https://t.co/8vKKAZAiGk pic.twitter.com/kL4YUYGFDc

— Scotty Holdridge (@holdridge_scott) March 16, 2024

GOLF ANALYSIS

We're going with the less is more approach this week because clearly the "more is more" approach has been a complete disaster. Sam Burns has dominated this event for the last three years and he's playing well enough. Also, I'm so gun shy right now that I'm afraid not to pick him which is really a great way to approach any decision in life. 

If you wanted to throw Justin Thomas or Jordan Spieth out there against a weaker field, I wouldn't blame you but I'd stay away from Xander Schauffele. If for no other reason than the fact that the guy two stools over from me at the bar on Sunday believes that "HE CAN'T CLOSE!" And, if you didn't hear him the first three times, well then you were in luck because he said it at least three more times. 

Beyond that, I love Nick Taylor (top ten +700), Doug Ghim (top ten +750) and Taylor Moore (top 20 +260). If you've got a taste for some higher stakes, I'd take a flyer on Adam Schenk (winner +6500) and Andrew Novak (top five +2200 and top ten +900). Please do not read this as a condonation of gambling . . . which is bad

One and Done Pick: Sam Burns

COME ON BURNSY!!!

Other Guy I'd Pick: Nick Taylor

Sleeper Pick: Adam Schenk

DraftKings Top Ten Values

Sam Burns	$10,900
Sungjae Im	$9,400
Nick Taylor	$9,100
Keith Mitchell	$8,900
Doug Ghim	$8,400
Adam Hadwin	$8,200
Taylor Moore	$7,800
Sam Ryder	$7,300
Adam Schenk	$7,100
Andrew Novak	$6,700

If anyone had a worse week than the FGR, it was apparently the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee which is being universally reviled to an extent never before seen. Kornheiser and Wilbon absolutely shredded them on PTI but, for some pure unvarnished vitriol, I recommend the opening few minutes of Episode 20 of the Meister Madness podcast. If you love to hear imbecility called-out as much as I do, this will make your heart sing.

                                 THE NCAA TOURNAMENT SELECTION

                              COMMITTEE TRULY SUCKS AT THEIR JOB

                                  HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE CHART

There's really not much to go on here as LIVGolf and the signature events have taken what used to be a B- field and docked it a couple grades. I mean Keegan Bradley once sandwiched a runner-up between a couple missed cuts if that does it for you.

	DK Price	2023	2022	2021	2019	2018
Xander Schauffele	$11,200	DNP	T12	DNP	DNP	DNP
Sam Burns	$10,900	6th	1st	1st	T30	T12
Justin Thomas	$10,400	T10	T3	T13	DNP	DNP
Jordan Spieth	$10,200	T3	DNP	DNP	DNP	MC
Brian Harman	$9,800	MC	T5	DNP	MC	DNP
Cameron Young	$9,600	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Sungjae Im	$9,400	DNP	DNP	T29	T4	DNP
Tony Finau	$9,300	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	MC
Nick Taylor	$9,100	T10	T70	MC	T24	MC
Min Woo Lee	$9,000	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Keith Mitchell	$8,900	DNP	DNP	69th	DNP	DNP
C. Bezuidenhout	$8,800	DNP	T62	DNP	DNP	DNP
Eric Cole	$8,700	MC	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Keegan Bradley	$8,600	DNP	MC	2nd	MC	T31
Aaron Rai	$8,500	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Doug Ghim	$8,400	T27	DNP	MC	DNP	DNP
Beau Hossler	$8,300	MC	DNP	T39	MC	MC
Adam Hadwin	$8,200	MC	T7	MC	MC	T12
Maverick McNealy	$8,100	T36	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Patrick Rodgers	$8,000	T36	DNP	MC	MC	T59
Sepp Straka	$7,900	DNP	DNP	DNP	T46	DNP
Taylor Moore	$7,800	1st	MC	DNP	DNP	DNP
Andrew Putnam	$7,700	DNP	MC	MC	DNP	MC
Thor Olesen	$7,600	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	MC
Taylor Montgomery	$7,500	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Billy Horschel	$7,400	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	MC
Brendon Todd	$7,400	DNP	MC	DNP	DNP	DNP
Lucas Glover	$7,300	T36	DNP	T48	T13	T74
Sam Ryder	$7,300	T19	MC	MC	MC	T68
Daniel Berger	$7,200	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Ryan Fox	$7,200	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Adam Schenk	$7,100	2nd	MC	T18	MC	T59
Akshay Bhatia	$7,100	MC	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Ryo Hisatune	$7,000	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Victor Perez	$6,900	T45	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Ben Griffin	$6,800	T45	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Joel Dahmen	$6,800	T61	T39	DNP	T30	DNP
Thomas Detry	$6,800	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Chesson Hadley	$6,700	MC	MC	MC	T65	MC
Mackenzie Hughes	$6,700	DNP	MC	MC	T13	MC
Webb Simpson	$6,700	T7	T48	DNP	MC	T8
Andrew Novak	$6,700	T27	MC	DNP	DNP	MC
Taylor Pendrith	$6,600	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP

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