Max Homa, Patrick Reed, Tyrrell Hatton, Patrick Cantlay and Joaquin Niemann will be among the notables evaluated on Tuesday’s Fantasy Insider.
The traditional construction of 144 golfers for THE PLAYERS is 10 heavier, as it was recently decided by members to include the top 125 in the 2019-20 FedExCup ranking. It is an annual entry criterion, but has been replaced by a special points list that ran from the start of the 2019-20 season until the World Golf Championships-Workday Championship at The Concession and the Puerto Rico Open on February 28.
Both criteria were used to grant access, but the 10 that qualified only through the top 125 in FedExCup 2019-20 are considered add-ons, so if either is withdrawn, it will not be replaced. (They are listed under “Top 125 on the FedExCup 2019-2020 points list at Inside the field.)
As 2019 champion, Rory McIlroy is the most recent winner of the tournament. As such, he is the next to try to become the first to successfully defend himself in TPC Sawgrass. This is the 39th edition of THE PLAYERS on course. Although he has been without victories since the WGC-HSBC champions for 16 months, his form is encouraging enough that he has a reasonable chance of consecutive titles; that is, if you adhere to conventional thinking. Consider that of the last 10 title champions, the 2018 winner, Webb Simpson, is the only one to finish as strong as one of the top 55. He qualified as T16 in 2019.
The fact that there was no consecutive golfer at TPC Sawgrass helps to legitimize the fairness of the test. It is a par 72 stock and all 7,189 yards have been checked. The rough primary is lush and trimmed to two and a half inches, while the Bermuda TifEagle greens are expected to reach 13 feet on the Stimpmeter. On his return to March after a dozen years in May, he averaged 71,513 in 2019. McIlroy’s pace of 16 under 272 was consistent with history.
Because of the ubiquity of the risk-reward component, experience defines the majority of champions in this tournament. McIlroy contributed to this narrative as having appeared nine times before capturing the title. Since Tiger Woods won a second time in 2013 – he won for the first time in 2001, so he’s the only winner in March and May – Martin Kaymer, Rickie Fowler and Jason Day needed exactly five trips before connecting. Si Woo Kim surprised in his second appearance in 2017, but Simpson had eight games on his resume before his victory.
Striking the ball is the other weapon that most winners have. At the time, McIlroy came in second in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee, T3 on greens in regulation, 11th in the vicinity of the hole and first in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green on the way to the title. He also led the field in scoring par 3.
Contrary to so many editions of THE PLAYERS in March, the weather forecast is excellent for the whole week. The passing clouds do not prevent the daytime peaks from reaching 70 degrees. The main challenge will be a persistent east breeze, but only gusts frighten golfers of the caliber of this course, most sincerely on the famous penultimate target. Fair conditions in general can influence the urgency to score, so the likelihood of taking risks increases and this makes the viewing experience more attractive.
By the way, Every Shot Live returned to the main TOUR event. As its name implies, each shot of each golfer will be on camera and with visual enhancement, such as golf ball tracing.
As a reminder, if a winner is not determined in the regulations, a three-hole playoff consisting of aggregate scores on holes 16, 17 and 18 will be used to define the score. If there is still a knot after that, a traditional hole-to-hole playoff starting on the 17th and alternating with the 18th will be used.
Last but not least, the prize fund is a record $ 15 million, of which $ 2.7 million is reserved for the champion. He will also receive 600 FedExCup points and a five-year membership exemption.
ROB BOLTON SCHEDULE
Fantasy Insider from PGATOUR.COM, Rob Bolton, recapitulates and shows all tournaments from various angles. Look for your contributions below as scheduled.
MONDAY: Power Ratings
TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Fantasy Insider
SUNDAY: Qualifiers, Remodeling, Medical Extensions, Rookie Watch
* – Rob is a panel member for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which he also publishes on Tuesday.