So after effectively blowing-off last week's preview and then having a five day weekend to get a jump on this one, here I am again on Wednesday morning scrambling for something to say. And it's not like I didn't have the time. On Thursday I played one almost full round of golf before the pro threatened our membership status if we finished the 18th twenty minutes after the horn went off (supposedly). Then I tried to play another round where I started birdie-birdie before the horn went-off, waited almost an hour to hit it to five feet on the third hole before the horn went-off again and then waited another hour for "them" to close the course. When "they" came to get us, I may have muttered something along the lines of "it's fucking dirt and grass."
The weekend wasn't a total loss, however, as I did caddie my daughter to a win in the 12-13 year old six-hole division of the junior club championship. We almost had a Van de Velde moment on the final hole when she had a three shot lead and insisted on chipping her fourth shot from the fringe instead of putting it to safety and consequently made an 8. When I told her I was right about using the putter, she came back over the top and said she was right because she won. I'm meeting Michael Greller later for drinks so we can commiserate.
Finally, I ended the weekend by having lunch and a couple of beers while reminiscing with old high school friends from out of town which somehow managed to turn the standard FGR Sunday evening misery spiral into the emotional version of this Russian chairlift. (Note to self: no more nostalgic events on Sundays).
Things improved a bit on Monday and Tuesday when I got to yell at some people I've never met before on a conference call for being idiots, deal with the human resources side of the opioid crisis and write a letter that included the phrase "choke on it mutherfucker" in the first two drafts before my better judgment took over. Go ahead and ask me why I'm cranky. No really. Go ahead.
And that's how we got here. Let's talk some fucking golf. But first, we need a mood swing.
GOLFBABES TWEET OF THE WEEK
Other Guy I'd Pick: Joaquin Niemann
Sleeper Pick: Doc Redman
DraftKings Top Ten Values
There's not a lot of past consistency outside the likes of ZJ, Harman and Wagner but, if you look a little deeper, you'll note that this is one of the courses Scott Brown uses to keep his card and the same can be said of Chris Stroud. If you're looking for a super bargain flyer to complete an otherwise scintillating roster, he could be your guy.
THE BEER BATTERED BUFFALO ZUCCHINI
HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE CHART
Footnote
*Don't fuck with it.
Email the Fantasy Golf Report at fgr@fantasygolfreport.com.
The weekend wasn't a total loss, however, as I did caddie my daughter to a win in the 12-13 year old six-hole division of the junior club championship. We almost had a Van de Velde moment on the final hole when she had a three shot lead and insisted on chipping her fourth shot from the fringe instead of putting it to safety and consequently made an 8. When I told her I was right about using the putter, she came back over the top and said she was right because she won. I'm meeting Michael Greller later for drinks so we can commiserate.
Finally, I ended the weekend by having lunch and a couple of beers while reminiscing with old high school friends from out of town which somehow managed to turn the standard FGR Sunday evening misery spiral into the emotional version of this Russian chairlift. (Note to self: no more nostalgic events on Sundays).
Things improved a bit on Monday and Tuesday when I got to yell at some people I've never met before on a conference call for being idiots, deal with the human resources side of the opioid crisis and write a letter that included the phrase "choke on it mutherfucker" in the first two drafts before my better judgment took over. Go ahead and ask me why I'm cranky. No really. Go ahead.
And that's how we got here. Let's talk some fucking golf. But first, we need a mood swing.
GOLFBABES TWEET OF THE WEEK
This is the famous Western Swing of @LucySRobson https://t.co/mjPxXGfLJX @billyraycyrus @LilNasX pic.twitter.com/VEmJTePevt— Golf Babes (@golfbabes) July 8, 2019
THIS WEEK'S ANALYSIS
Finally some order is restored as we return to the friendly confines of TPC Deere Run in scenic Silvis, Illinois which is just north of Coal Valley and west of Carbon Cliff (seriously). Asbestos Hollow used to sit just east but they had to change the name after, you know, "The Problems."
Steve Stricker and Zach Johnson have been dominant on this course over the years with guys like Ryan Moore, Brian Harman and Bryson DeChambeau popping-in for the occasional win. So clearly it's a course that suits dorks which is fine because we love dork courses at the FGR due to the consistent results they produce. Unfortunately, Stricker and DeChambeau aren't in the field this week so we need to find some other dorks to team-up with ZJ and Harman.
The most obvious guy is Joaquin Niemann who seems to love this part of the PGA schedule. That's a huge advantage because all of the good players are either focusing on the British Open or other summer activities that all fall into the category of not playing golf in the middle of the country. Everyone is keyed-in on the more higher profile young dudes right now so it's a good opportunity for guys like Niemann and Doc Redman to slide-in under the radar.
Speaking of the young dudes, they do not typically have a lot of success in Silvis. Maybe it's because even the salads at the local Applebee's are high in saturated fat but, whatever the reason, you'll be more likely to see Johnson Wagner or Jonathan Byrd in the top ten than Matthew Wolf or Viktor Hovland. I think the really crusty guys know this is one of the last places they can compete so they get really geared-up for it. It's basically the journeyman's Masters.
One and Done Pick: Zach Johnson
Steve Stricker and Zach Johnson have been dominant on this course over the years with guys like Ryan Moore, Brian Harman and Bryson DeChambeau popping-in for the occasional win. So clearly it's a course that suits dorks which is fine because we love dork courses at the FGR due to the consistent results they produce. Unfortunately, Stricker and DeChambeau aren't in the field this week so we need to find some other dorks to team-up with ZJ and Harman.
The most obvious guy is Joaquin Niemann who seems to love this part of the PGA schedule. That's a huge advantage because all of the good players are either focusing on the British Open or other summer activities that all fall into the category of not playing golf in the middle of the country. Everyone is keyed-in on the more higher profile young dudes right now so it's a good opportunity for guys like Niemann and Doc Redman to slide-in under the radar.
Speaking of the young dudes, they do not typically have a lot of success in Silvis. Maybe it's because even the salads at the local Applebee's are high in saturated fat but, whatever the reason, you'll be more likely to see Johnson Wagner or Jonathan Byrd in the top ten than Matthew Wolf or Viktor Hovland. I think the really crusty guys know this is one of the last places they can compete so they get really geared-up for it. It's basically the journeyman's Masters.
 |
| We usually class it up with a golf course picture here but this is a tradition and you know what we always say about tradition.* |
Other Guy I'd Pick: Joaquin Niemann
Sleeper Pick: Doc Redman
DraftKings Top Ten Values
Joaquin Niemann
|
$10,200
|
Zach Johnson
|
$9,600
|
Brian Harman
|
$9,400
|
Kyle Stanley
|
$8,800
|
Joel Dahmen
|
$8,400
|
Scott Brown
|
$8,300
|
Bronson Burgoon
|
$7,800
|
Doc Redman
|
$7,200
|
Johnson Wagner
|
$7,200
|
Scott Stallings
|
$7,000
|
There's not a lot of past consistency outside the likes of ZJ, Harman and Wagner but, if you look a little deeper, you'll note that this is one of the courses Scott Brown uses to keep his card and the same can be said of Chris Stroud. If you're looking for a super bargain flyer to complete an otherwise scintillating roster, he could be your guy.
THE BEER BATTERED BUFFALO ZUCCHINI
HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE CHART
DK Price
|
2018
|
2017
|
2016
|
2015
|
2014
|
|
Viktor Hovland
|
$10,900
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Collin Morikawa
|
$10,700
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Matthew Wolf
|
$10,500
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Joaquin Niemann
|
$10,200
|
T23
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Kevin Streelman
|
$10,000
|
T7
|
T44
|
DNP
|
MC
|
MC
|
Lucas Glover
|
$9,800
|
DNP
|
T25
|
DNP
|
MC
|
MC
|
Sungjae Im
|
$9,700
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Zach Johnson
|
$9,600
|
T16
|
T5
|
T34
|
T3
|
2nd
|
Charles Howell, III
|
$9,500
|
DNP
|
T19
|
DNP
|
T60
|
T23
|
Brian Harman
|
$9,400
|
DNP
|
T10
|
MC
|
T24
|
1st
|
Daniel Berger
|
$9,300
|
DNP
|
T5
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Ryan Moore
|
$9,200
|
T55
|
MC
|
1st
|
T24
|
T7
|
Sam Burns
|
$9,100
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Wyndham Clark
|
$9,000
|
DNP
|
MC
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Kevin Tway
|
$8,900
|
T50
|
T12
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
T52
|
Kyle Stanley
|
$8,800
|
MC
|
T55
|
T22
|
T18
|
T63
|
Bud Cauley
|
$8,700
|
DNP
|
T12
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
T52
|
Nate Lashley
|
$8,500
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Joel Dahmen
|
$8,400
|
T2
|
MC
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Scott Brown
|
$8,300
|
T12
|
T25
|
T16
|
MC
|
T5
|
Martin Laird
|
$8,200
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Nick Watney
|
$8,000
|
T60
|
MC
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Bronson Burgoon
|
$7,800
|
T2
|
DNP
|
T47
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Cameron Tringale
|
$7,700
|
MC
|
T50
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Vaughn Taylor
|
$7,700
|
T34
|
T19
|
MC
|
T44
|
DNP
|
Cameron Champ
|
$7,600
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Danny Lee
|
$7,600
|
DQ
|
W/D
|
DNP
|
T3
|
MC
|
Denny McCarthy
|
$7,500
|
T34
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Brian Stuard
|
$7,400
|
DNP
|
MC
|
DNP
|
T18
|
MC
|
Harold Varner
|
$7,400
|
6th
|
MC
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Jhonattan Vegas
|
$7,400
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
T44
|
T3
|
Nick Taylor
|
$7,400
|
T34
|
MC
|
MC
|
MC
|
DNP
|
Ryan Armour
|
$7,300
|
DNP
|
MC
|
DNP
|
T60
|
DNP
|
Carlos Ortiz
|
$7,200
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
MC
|
MC
|
DNP
|
Doc Redman
|
$7,200
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Johnson Wagner
|
$7,200
|
T16
|
MC
|
T5
|
T5
|
T7
|
Scott Stallings
|
$7,000
|
MC
|
T5
|
T16
|
DNP
|
MC
|
Seamus Power
|
$6,800
|
T16
|
T25
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Chris Stroud
|
$6,600
|
T30
|
T19
|
MC
|
T5
|
T59
|
Richy Werenski
|
$6,400
|
T23
|
T25
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
Footnote
*Don't fuck with it.
Email the Fantasy Golf Report at fgr@fantasygolfreport.com.
