The Players - Power Rankings
(Photo credit: David Cannon/Getty Images)
It’s referred to as the fifth major for good reason. One of the best stages in golf, the most famous par 3 in the game, and a finishing hole where anything can happen. Open to the top-50 players in the world, TPC Sawgrass plays like a major championship.
In the past 10 years of this tournament, we have seen champions such as Fred Funk (2005), Stephen Ames (2006) and Tim Clark (2010), revealing that in order to succeed in this tournament, you need to place each shot, not just bomb it off the tee. This week’s picks are based off of course familiarity, shotmaking ability and who’s hot right now in the world of golf.
Rory McIlroy - T8 in 2015, T6 in 2014, T8 in 2013….all that’s left to do is win.
Sergio Garcia - Runner up finish last year, solo 3rd in 2014, T8 in 2013, T12 in 2011, and won in 2008. A consistent threat at TPC Sawgrass.
Jason Day - Number one player in the world, and has certainly been playing like it. In his last seven events, he has not finished outside the top-25, has won twice, and is coming off a T5 finish last week in Louisiana.
Jordan Spieth - In my opinion, too much has been made about his struggles on #12 at Augusta. We should be talking about the 71 other holes he played, for they paint a much better picture of where his game is at. Yes, he may not have been playing the way he would have hoped leading up to the Masters, but he’s rested now, and I’m sure very motivated to silence the critics.
Adam Scott - A former Players champion (2003), having a very solid year having already won twice (Honda Classic & Cadillac WGC), along with a runner up finish (Northern Trust).
Zach Johnson - Some decent postings in recent years at The Players Course. Finished T13 last year, T19 in 2013 & T2 in 2012.
Rickie Fowler - Claiming last year’s title was no fluke. He plays well on tough courses, which his record in majors can attest to, as does his runner up finish at Sawgrass in 2012.
Branden Grace - Coming in off a win at the RBC Heritage, and a T9 finish at the Valero Texas Open. Another who has shown in majors that he can play difficult courses well.
Justin Rose - It’s just a matter of time before he wins another event (he almost did it last week in Charlotte), and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see it be at Sawgrass. Incredibly consistent performer.
Patrick Reed - Has five top-10’s this season, and finished in second at the Valero Texas Open just two weeks ago.
Sleeper Picks
David Toms - Finished only five shots back last year (T13), and T10 posting in 2012. While I don’t expect to see him win, I believe he’s playing well enough to provide a solid posting - making him someone to consider in a fantasy lineup.
Bubba Watson - It may seem strange to have a name like Bubba’s on a sleeper list, but there is a method behind my madness. He has certainly been playing as well as anyone the last few months, but I’m not convinced this course suits his game. Bubba wants sight lines - something Sawgrass does not always readily provide.
And now let’s take a peek at my DraftKings lineups for the week.
In picking these lineups, I have attempted to stick with players who have either been playing well, or have played well in this event in the past. Sawgrass is an extreme test, so players must ensure that their game is sharp if they are going to come in and expect to compete. It should also be mentioned that there is some decent value on the board worth paying attention to. Howell III, Kaufman, Moore, Hoffman & Kisner are all available for under $8,000 and are worth consideration as you establish your lineups.
Starting Lineup:
Rory McIlroy - $11,700
Hideki Matsuyama - $9,700
Matt Kuchar - $8,100
Smylie Kaufman - $6,800
Charles Howell III - $6.700
Ryan Moore - $6,600
Alternate Lineup:
Justin Rose - $10,300
Adam Scott - $10,000
Charley Hoffman - $7,900
Kevin Kisner - $7,700
Brandan Steele - $7,000
David Lingmerth - $7,000
This article was written by Jonathan Carr (@jonathanwcarr) as part of our weekly #FantasyGolf series. Each week we preview the upcoming PGA Tour event and highlight some of the players we'll be keeping an eye on. As a scratch golfer himself, Jonathan has a keen eye for what it takes to be successful on and off the golf course. His passion for golf is surpassed only by his passion for his faith and his family.
Read some of Jonathan's other articles here.
