AT&T Byron Nelson - Power Rankings
Photo Credit: Golf Digest
This week is a special one on Tour, for the event serves to honor one of the true gentlemen, and stars, our game has ever known. For as good as Day, McIlroy, Spieth and the other top players currently in the game are, the namesake of this week’s tournament will always be remembered for accomplishing a feat that will almost certainly never be even approached, let alone repeated, in professional golf. In 1945, Mr. Byron Nelson won 11 straight professional tournaments. Motivated by his desire to earn enough money to pay for the ranch he desired to construct, Mr. Nelson’s run is as impressive as anything ever seen in golf.
When you examine the very nature of competitive golf and all the factors that come into play in achieving victory, one could argue that his streak is one of the most impressive ever seen in sport. It is sad to think that Mr. Nelson is no longer with us. Seeing him sit in the shaded grandstand behind the 18th green, encouraging each and every player as they came through, was something that any true golf fan came to appreciate.
Whoever hoists the trophy on Sunday at TPC Four Seasons, you can be sure that they will mention what a privilege it is to win the championship that serves to honour a gentleman who was a champion both on and off the course..
Jordan Spieth - Missed cut last week, but I’m expecting to see him bounce back quite nicely as he competes in his home state of Texas.
Dustin Johnson - Has finished in top-10, four out of last five playings of this event.
Sergio Garcia - Didn’t have the week he would have hoped for at Sawgrass, but I think he’s due for a very solid week of golf. Had a great start to the year, finishing 2nd at the Honda Classic, and T11 at the Cadillac World Golf Championships. He continues to make cuts, and finish around T30. I’m thinking that playing back-to-back weeks will be good for him.
Charley Hoffman - T2 finish at this event last year, and coming in playing some of the best golf of his career. Already posted a win this season at the Texas Open three weeks ago.
Jimmy Walker - Also finished T2 last year. While he hasn’t won an event this season, he’s been playing decent golf, finishing inside the top-20 six times, with three top-10 finishes.
Matt Kuchar - Solid play last week at The Players. World class competitor, and always a threat.
Zach Johnson - Someone you can almost always expect to make the cut. and will usually claim a title once every year or two. Finished T5 last year at Byron Nelson.
Charl Schwartzel - Having a solid season having won both in Europe (Tshwane Open) and the U.S. (Valspar).
Colt Knost - Former U.S. Amatuer champ is following a solid week at Sawgrass, by playing in an event where he finished T10 last year. Appears to be a recipe for another solid week of golf.
Boo Weekley - Coming off a solid week at Sawgrass. He is a little streaky, but continues to show that he should never be counted out of any event.
Sleeper Picks
Bryson DeChambeau - Currently playing on sponsor’s exemptions, and is close to earning special temporary status on Tour due to his solid play.
Jerry Kelly - Played some great golf at TPC Sawgrass. Often flies below the radar, but when picking fantasy teams, he’s someone to seriously consider.
And now for this week’s DraftKings lineups.
While many of the big guns on Tour have been posting scores lately, there have also been many lesser-knowns appearing on leaderboards of late. I’m trying to tap into this trend and see if I can’t hit it big by picking a larger number of sleeper picks. It was about a month ago that taking the “sure things” were paying off, but over the last few weeks this trend has dwindled, and us such I must change my strategy.
Starting Lineup:
Dustin Johnson - $11,900
Brandt Snedeker - $9,300
Danny Lee - $8,600
Ian Poulter - $7,600
Aaron Baddeley - $7,200
Will Zalatoris - $5,400
Alternate Lineup:
Ryan Palmer - $8,900
Jimmy Walker - $8,800
Charles Howell III - $8,200
Colt Knost - $7,800
Jerry Kelly - $6,700
Bobby Wyatt - $7,100
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.
