New England Patriots fans were not the only ones looking forward to wide receiver Julian Edelman playing in Week One this season. Daily fantasy players were eagerly awaiting his return to action as well. But, as things now stand, he will not be back until Week Five.
It appears that he failed a drug test and is to be suspended under the league’s PED policy. But it sounds like there may be hope for him when the league hears his appeal.
Hope? Really?
When the news broke it came as quite a shock to most fans. When Edelman posted an apology to Instagram and claimed he had no idea what happened—people scoffed. These guys know how important it is to know what they put in their bodies.
Surely, he doesn’t think we’re going to fall for the “I didn’t know I took anything illegal” excuse. But as it turns, the NFL doesn’t even know what he took.
Confused yet?
It does sound a little convoluted that the league would suspend someone for violating the PED policy without knowing what he took. But the league has done just that. According to a report by Albert Breer at the MMQB, the substance was so unrecognizable that scientists are analyzing it.
If they don’t know what he took, then it sounds like his appeal may have a shot—right?
Don’t hold your breath!
The rules and guideline do account for substances for which the league can’t recognize. From the BostonGlobe.com:
The policy does account for some of the unknown. A test can be considered positive if a player’s ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone is greater than 4-1. A test can also be positive if a player’s epitestosterone level exceeds 200 ng/ml.
So, even if they can’t tell what he took, since whatever it was caused his levels to be out of whack, he’s in violation.
So….
It sounds like you may want to get more familiar with the receivers the Patriots do have. With the unit lacking for experience without Edelman, it may be smart to hold off on using any Patriot receivers in daily fantasy leagues.
Rob Gronkowski, on the other hand, could be gold!
Leading up to the PGA’s second major tournament, many of golf’s elite took this weekend off to rest up for the dramatics about to ensue at Shinnecok Hills Golf Course in Southhampton, New York. Because of the thinner field, Dustin Johnson had little trouble capturing the crown at St. Jude for the second time. His victory helped him reclaim the world’s number one ranking, while also making him an even more dangerous competitor for the US Open.
Decent Scoring in Memphis
Daily fantasy golf contests were tightly contested throughout the first three days until Johnson separated himself from the pack with a blistering 66 on his final round. Those who relied on the 33 year old to propel them to victory were not disappointed, particularly when he capped off the win by holing out from 170 yards on the 72nd hole.
Johnson’s 136 points on DraftKings was far and away the best result of the weekend, but those rounding out the top ten made some impact in DFS contests. Such sleeper picks as Andrew Putnam, Chris Kirk, and Stewart Cink could all be had for dirt cheap on FanDuel, but still produced over 100 points. The pre-tournament favorites such as Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, and Henrik Stenson all had mediocre weekends, providing little benefit to those who plugged them into their starting lineup.
Our recommended sleepers were largely disappointing, as Ollie Schniederjans withdrew before play started, Joaquin Niemann missed the cut, and Peter Uihlein didn’t provide any dramatics.
Who’s Primed to Become the Next US Open Champion?
While Johnson resides as the US Open favorite, a slew of elite golfers will look to unseat him from the world’s number one spot. Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, and Rickie Fowler take up their usual positions at the top of the salary list, but the second tier is where a DFS player can find some real value.
Many feel Phil Mickelson has his best shot in years to complete the career grand slam. He’s played well at Shinnecock, as the 2004 US Open was one of the six times he finished runner up at the prestigious tournament. His $10,500 price tag on FanDuel makes him an attractive choice. Tiger Woods continues to make believers out of those unsure if he could still maintain a viable career, and many feel he could put an exclamation point on his comeback with a win in New York.
Though he’s on the more expensive end of salaries, Justin Rose’s recent play has many pegging him as the next US Open champ. Along with Stenson, Masters winner Patrick Reed, and Webb Simpson, Rose could be one of those selections that helps you prevail in your contest.
Because of the talent level, such players as Louis Oosthuizen, Xander Schauffele, and Brian Harman are all available at prices that fit into the fifth and sixth spots in your lineup. With consistent results from each so far this PGA season, one is bound to find themselves near the top of the leaderboard by the end of play Sunday.
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Free Fanduel lineup for the US Open
The PGA Tour roll out to the East Coast this week, specifically Southampton, New York, for the second major of the 2018 season, the U.S. Open. Dustin Johnson will enter the tournament as the favorite after winning the St. Jude Classic last week and regaining the No. 1 spot in the world.
But does that make him a good choice for your daily fantasy team?
Just like any other major, this year’s tournament will have plenty of good options for daily fantasy players. Before diving into an examination of what some of those options may be…
How about a little information about the course and weather?
The 118th U.S. Open will be held at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Shinnecock Hills, New York. The course is a par-70 that is 7,445 yards long. This will be the fifth time that the U.S. Open has been held at Shinnecock.
As for the weather, it is expected to be sunny with clear skies on all four days with temperatures in the mid-to-high 60s. Winds will be a little high; from 14 MPH on Thursday down to 12 on Friday and 10 over the weekend.
No rain is expected Thursday through Saturday. But current forecast call for a ten percent chance on Sunday.
The Players
Last year’s champion, Brooks Koepka, is playing well overall, but I don’t know if I could say well enough to warrant what he’ll likely cost to start him. He is the ninth ranked golfer in the world, but he seems to be inconsistent this season.
He tied for 30th last week at the St. Jude Classic. But took second at the Fort Worth Invitational, 11th at the Players Championship. However, before that, he tied for 42 at the Wells Fargo Championship.
Yes, he’s good but you can’t trust what you’ll get out of him. Dustin Johnson, on the other hand, could be the anchor every team needs.
Historically, the winner of the St. Jude Classic doesn’t win the U.S. Open. But for daily fantasy purposes, that doesn’t matter. You just want a guy who will play well, and Johnson has certainly done that at every turn this season.
While he may be your anchor, you’ll need a few more guys to field a team. Here are a few suggestions:
- Rickie Fowler: He’s done well in the U.S. Open the last few years (three top-tens in the last five). So, the stage is not going to bother him, and he has played well at Shinnecock. He’s going to be on Cloud 9 still having recently become engaged.
- Jason Day: He’s coming off a tied for 44th finish at Memorial. But he also has two wins to his name this season. However, he also has three tournaments (not including match play) other than Memorial where he finished tied for 20th or worse. So—with him, it’s sink or swim. But since he’s been in the top ten at five of the last seven Opens, I’ll take swim.
- Justin Rose: With the exception of the Houston Open (tied for 52nd), he’s been playing consistently well whenever he plays. He tied for sixth his last time out (Memorial) and won the time before that (Fort Worth). He missed the cut at his last two U.S. Opens, but I’m looking for great things this year from him.
Here are some buyer beware options. They could play great and win the day for you. But they might miss the cut as well.
- Jordan Spieth: He’s the No. 4 ranked golfer in the world, but let’s be real here—he’s not playing great golf this season. He’s missed the cut in two of his last five tournaments and in the other three his best finish was tied for 21st. However, he was third at the Masters.
- Tiger Woods: It’s Tiger, so how can you not want him on your team? Easy- because while he is playing well, he’s probably a year away from being a consistent, reliable player.
- Phil Mickelson: He’s a very good golfer and has turned in some great rounds this season, but I just don’t see him as being a true contender anymore. However, a lot of experts are giving him a shot. There experts for a reason, right?
- Rory McIlroy: He’s a popular guy that is capable of playing great golf. But this season he’s been all over the place. He won the Arnold Palmer, finished tied for fifth at the Masters and 8th at Memorial, but missed the cut at the Players and Valspar. I’d say leave him off your roster because he’ll probably cost more than he’s worth. But the experts like him…
The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club was another tightly contested battle on the PGA Tour. Bryson DeChambeau, Byeong-hun An, and Kyle Stanley finished 72 holes deadlocked at 15 under, forcing a short playoff to determine the winner. DeChambeau ended up birdying the second hole in sudden death to claim the title, his second on tour.
Daily fantasy golfers had a wild Sunday in store, as the leaderboard heading into the fourth round was bunched together rather closely. In fact, 22 players were within 5 strokes of the top when play concluded. Ultimately, it was the sleeper picks like the three at the top that provided the impactful scores, swaying four-day contests on FanDuel and DraftKings.
No Surprises From the Pre-tournament Favorites
Having the majority of golf’s elite teeing it up can cause any PGA player some nerves, and at the Memorial, four of the six big guns had top ten finishes. Only Jason Day and Jordan Spieth didn’t cause a ruckus, as Day finished 44th and Spieth missed the cut after a rare mediocre performance on Thursday and Friday.
Of the popular second tier picks, Marc Leishman, Tiger Woods, and Hideki Matsuyama provided decent DFS scores, but ultimately, contests were decided by those who chose wisely when rounding out their starting lineup with the value picks. Of the top five finishers, none cost more than $8000 on DraftKings.
Last week, we recommended Phil Mickelson, Tony Finau, and Louis Oosthuizen. All posted low numbers throughout the Memorial, helping drive up the point totals for those who altered their strategy to fit these players into their lineup.
Gearing up For The St. Jude Classic
After his eighth place finish at the Memorial, Dustin Johnson heads into the St. Jude Classic as the odds-on favorite to win the prestigious tournament. With several players taking the week off to prepare for the upcoming US Open, the talent drops off from the top rather rapidly. Brooks Koepka, Henrik Stenson, and Phil Mickelson will cost above $12,000 on FanDuel, but DFS golf participants can find plenty of value in the bargain basement.
Daniel Berger, the back-to-back St. Jude champ makes an intriguing choice for a higher salary pick, though recent play from him has produced average results. Finau and An could provide some punch if their solid play at the Memorial continues this week in Memphis.
The thinner field makes it that much more difficult to find hidden jewels among the sleeper picks, but Peter Uihlein, rookie Joaquin Niemann, and Ollie Schniederjans will look to take advantage. Each can be found toward the bottom of the draft list, but each have had impressive performances throughout the 2017-2018 season.
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The PGA Tour leaves the Midwest and heads to the great state of Tennessee this week for the FedEx St. Jude Classic. Held at TPC Southwind in Memphis, the tournament will be held in June for the last time. Next year, it will move to August and become the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.
This year’s tournament should be a good one with plenty of options for daily fantasy players. Before diving into an examination of what some of those options may be…
How about a little information about the course and weather?
TPC Southwind in Memphis has hosted the tournament since 1989. It’s a par-70 course that is 7,244 meters long. It’s described as a course that will reward you as much as it tests you.
As for the weather, it is certainly going to be warm with temperatures expected to be in the low to mid-80s throughout the weekend. There will be a little relief in the form of cloud cover on Friday and Sunday (partly). But it will be clear skies on Thursday and Saturday.
Winds will be slight on Thursday and Friday (4-5 MPH) but will pick up on Saturday and Sunday (9 MPH). Rain is not expected, but there is a slight chance there could be some on Saturday and Sunday.
The Players
I do like to back defending champions. But normally, I wouldn’t back last year’s champ, Daniel Berger, because he has not played well in months. He finished tied for 57th at the Players Championship, tied or 55th at Wells Fargo, missed the cut at the Zurich Classic, and tied for 32nd at the Masters.
That’s not a good track record and not one that should have anyone excited to pick him up in a daily fantasy league. But he is a back to back defending champion. Prior to last year’s win he finished tied or 65th, tied for 36th, missed the cut and tied for 27th at the same four tournaments.
He shouldn’t be the cornerstone of anyone’s team, but he seems to bring his ‘A game when he heads to Memphis.
The following guys are additional options worth considering:
Brooks Koepka: The wrist injury that took 15-weeks to recover from appears to be a thing of the past. He re-injured it prior to the Players Championship but went out and had one of his better tournaments of the season (tied for 11th; 11-under). He followed that up with a second-place finish two weeks later in Fort Worth.
Since 2014, he has two top-three finishes (tied for second and tied for third), and he’s averaged 68.56 a round.
Dustin Johnson: The No. 2 golfer in the world, Johnson won at the St. Jude back in his tournament debut in 2012. He placed fifth his last time at TPC Southwind in 2016. He was playing better back in January and February, but he isn’t playing bad now—just not as consistent as he usually plays.
During his last two tournaments, he alternated shooting in the mid-to-high 60s one day followed by a day in the 70s. He ended up finishing tied for 17th at the Players Championship an tied for eighth last weekend at Memorial.
Billy Horschel: The last time he missed the cut (the Masters) he followed it up with a tied for fifth finish at the RBC Heritage. If he follows that pattern, since he missed the cut at Memorial last week, he should be due for a great finish this week.
It certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s got a good history at TPC Southwind (since 2013 he’s finished T10-T6-T8-T4).
Luke List: Anyone that can lead the tournament after three days (like he did last year) has to know the course reasonably well. Yes, he flubbed it on Sunday and turned in a 73. But there is a reason for hope. His game can be a little all over the place but when he’s on—it’s pretty darn good.
He’s missed the cut five times this season. But he’s also finished in the top ten five time. Consider him a longshot but do consider him.
Other dark horse/sleeper options include Chez Reavie, James Hawn, T.J. Vogel, and Scottie Scheffler.
The Carolina Panthers knew they were getting a playmaker in running back Christian McCaffrey when they drafted him out of Stanford last year. With over 1,000 total yards, seven total touchdowns, and 80 receptions last season, it is safe to say that Panthers fans and daily fantasy players were not disappointed in him.
But if you follow him or the Panthers on social media than you are aware that he’s changed. The change has some concerned that his greatest asset—his speed – may not be as great anymore.
It’s just a little muscle.
It is clear to see in the pictures of McCaffrey that have recently made their way to the internet, that he is bigger. Normally, more muscle would be considered a good thing for a football player. But for a guy who relies on his speed, it could slow him down.
That is, if he has put on too much.
So—has he?
Whatever McCaffrey did during the offseason has definitely given him a much more ripped physique. But according to him, he didn’t really put on much weight; just five pounds of muscle.
“Everybody’s acting like I was tiny last year and now I’ve had this big growth,” he said after the Panthers wrapped up their first week of OTAs (Panthers.com). “It’s not like I’ve transformed.
“I’ve gained about five pounds of good muscle,” he said.
Will this be a problem?
He didn’t gain so much weight that there should be any concern over his speed and agility. If anything, he probably put on enough to help him do what he said he was looking to do:
“My core strength, my upper body strength and my lower body,” McCaffrey continued, “I’m just trying to increase all those. Make sure I can break tackles in the second level and be able to turn those three-, four-yard runs into some bigger runs.”
It sounds like his new physique is going to help him become an even better daily fantasy asset this coming season as he was last season.
Recapping Fort Worth and Preparing You for Thursday
As one of the tournament favorites prior to teeing off Thursday at The Fort Worth Invitational, no one was shocked to see Justin Rose’s name on the leaderboard all week. Rose certainly didn’t figure his cushy, four-stroke lead heading into Sunday to be in jeopardy, but it ended up taking a flawless round of 64 to hold off the hard charging Brooks Koepka and Kevin Na. His 20 under par was the second lowest finish in tournament history.
Rose and Koepka gave daily fantasy players some excitement tracking their scores Sunday, but it was the sleeper pick Na, and his nine under par 61 that shifted a few four-day contests in the final hours. Na had a great week overall, as he also shot 62 on Thursday. His 116 points on DraftKings was well worth the $7800 price tag.
Predictable Scoring All Weekend
Other than Na, there were no real surprises in Texas this weekend, as most players performed to their level of expectation. Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, and Jon Rahm all fared decently, with Rahm cracking the top five. Second tier players such as Kevin Kisner, Matt Kuchar, and Louis Oosthuizen all managed to keep playing over the weekend. Oosthuizen came the closest to Rose, finishing at ten under.
Zach Johnson, a two-time winner at Colonial Country Club, was not the sleeper everyone hoped for, offering next to nothing in fantasy points after missing the cut. Nick Watney performed even worse, and Adam Hadwin was a lukewarm pick, finishing the tournament outside the top 50.
Big Guns Return for the Memorial Tournament
The best players in the world will convene in Dublin, Ohio for the prestigious Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village this weekend. While Rose has some great momentum, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas join him as the chalk picks on FanDuel and DraftKings. It will be difficult for DFS players to wedge two of these players into a six-man lineup, but the deep talent pool will allow you to pick up a heavy hitter for less money than they would normally cost in other weeks.
Such players benefitting from a cheaper salary this week include, Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama, Tiger Woods, and Marc Leishman. Each can be picked up in the $9000 range on DraftKings. It should not be discounted that Woods has won here five times.
When scouring the draft boards for hidden values, old reliable Phil Mickelson, DFS mainstay Tony Finau, and Oosthuizen can all be had for several hundred dollars less on FanDuel than they traditionally cost. Last year’s winner Jason Dufner, Luke List, and Joaquin Niemann could provide some impact from that tricky sixth roster spot.
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The PGA Tour leaves Texas this week, and head to the Heartland for the Memorial Tournament held at the Muirfield Village Golf Course in Dublin, Ohio. The field is going to be a challenging one which bodes well for daily fantasy players. They should have plenty of options.
Before diving into an examination of what some of those options may be…
How about a little information about the course and weather?
Jack Nicklaus founded the tournament 46 years ago and it is held on a course he designed, the Muirfield Village Golf Course in Dublin, Ohio. It’s a par-72 course that is 7,392 yards long.
The weather forecast makes it look like they may not get much if any, golf played on Thursday or Friday. There is an 80 percent chance of rain on Thursday (down from 90 percent on Wednesday) and a 100 percent chance of rain on Friday.
But Saturday’s forecast looks pretty good; 67 degrees, clear skies, 12 MPH winds, and just a ten percent chance of rain. Sunday is expected to be partly cloudy with temperatures in the high 60s with a ten percent chance of rain as well.
The Players
Earlier in the season, I was all about giving the defending champion some love, but not anymore. A look at Jason Dufner’s history and specifically his history at Muirfield makes it look like his win was the exception and not the rule.
Besides, it’s not like he’s playing particularly well this season. In his last four appearances, he’s missed the cut (Fort Worth), tied for fifth (Players), tied for 42nd (Wells Fargo), and placed second (Zurich). With him, you could get someone who has a great tournament, but you might not.
Someone like that is not a good choice for daily fantasy play. But these guys would be better options:
- Tiger Woods: I’ve been back and forth on the Tiger Woods train this season and this week—I’m back on it. Some experts seem to think he could finally notch a win this week while others believe he’ll play well but fall short of winning. Either way that means he’ll be a good player for your daily fantasy team. To be fair, with the exception of his performance at the Masters and Wells Fargo and he’s looked good this season.
- Marc Leishman: He’s been a little all over the place this season which makes him look like a sketchy pick. His last time (Byron Nelson), he finished second. But the time before that (Players) he finished tied for 63rd. Prior to that he missed the cut at RBC Heritage and placed ninth at the Masters. But what I like about him is that he’s averaged 69.67 over his last 12 rounds at Muirfield. He may not win, but he’ll play well.
- Justin Thomas: This will be his first time on the course as the new No. 1 golfer in the world. So, you know he is going to be looking to do well enough to stay there. It’s a little concerning that he’s only had three rounds in the 60s out of his last eight. But he knows Muirfield well enough to finish tied for fourth last year.
- Dustin Johnson: after dropping out of the No. 1 spot, he is going to be a little extra motivated to get his game back on track this week. He’s played well at Muirfield (five top-20s; two top-five finishes), but he’ll need to get his game back on track. Not that he’s been playing poorly. Since finishing tied for second at Pebble Beach, he’s finished t16, t7, t59, t10, t16, and t17. But he was the No. 1 for a reason.
Sleeper picks: these are guys that do not look like sure-fire winners on paper, but they are good golfers that could do well if a few things go there way. If you load up your roster with a couple of studs, they could add some reasonable value to your roster:
- Sam Burns: won the Nicklaus Award as the top golfer in NCAA DI play last season; has nine starts on the Tour and has a win and a second-place finish on the Web.com Tour this season.
- Doc Redman: reigning U.S. Amateur Champion; has played three PGA Tour events and made the cut in two.
- Kevin Streelman: He has a decent history at Muirfield (t18, t8, and t13), but what I really like is he doesn’t often bogey (tied for fourth in bogey avoidance the last four months).
Despite weather conditions playing a factor throughout the tournament, tour rookie Aaron Wise secured his first PGA victory on Sunday at the Trinity Forest Golf Club. While the AT&T Byron Nelson didn’t sport the deepest group of players, the 21 year old fired a bogey-free 65 in the fourth round, besting the always solid Marc Leishman by three strokes.
Increased Interest in Trinity Forest
Much of the talk heading into the tournament last week revolved around how many of the PGA’s elite were leary of playing the lesser known location for this prestigious tournament. As one of the charter members at Trinity Forest, young PGA phenom Jordan Spieth was singing the praises of the Dallas track all week. Many other participants expressed their approval as well, which could see more top players attend in future years.
Overall, the daily fantasy scores were much better this week than over the last month or so. Wise and Leishman were able to pull off some enviable rounds, propelling their DraftKings scores in four-day contests into the 130 range. With birdie opportunities available like they were this past weekend, next year’s Byron Nelson could be loaded with talent.
A Mixture of Results
Early favorites Leishman, Adam Scott, and Jimmy Walker did well for themselves, as all three earned top ten finishes. Spieth may have ended up near the middle of the pack, but his ambassadorship was more prominent than his play at the AT&T. Only Sergio Garcia and Matt Kuchar didn’t measure up to their pre-tournament expectations, with both concluding play on Friday after missing the cut.
Of the hidden value recommendations, Kevin Na provided some punch to the back end of many lineups this weekend. His 16 under netted him 113 points on DraftKings despite cooling off Saturday and Sunday after a blistering start. Graeme McDowell and James Hahn weren’t the sleepers DFS players were looking for, as both missed the cut and provided little to no help in daily lineups.
Gearing Up for The Colonial
PGA big guns return to action this week in Texas for the Fort Worth Invitational. Four of the top six in the world will tee it up at Colonial Country Club, including 2016 winner Spieth. Joining him at the top of the salary list includes Jon Rahm, Justin Rose, and Rickie Fowler.
An exciting group sits in the second tier of salaries as well. Wise will look for back-to-back victories deep in the heart, while Kuchar hopes to right his ship after trouble at Trinity caused him to miss his first cut in quite some time. Last year’s champ Kevin Kisner isn’t given much credit to repeat, and can be drafted for $9800 on FanDuel. Familiar contributors to DFS lineups such as Xander Schauffele, Louis Oosthuizen, and Brian Harman are all available in this range as well. Zach Johnson could end up becoming the steal of the tournament, as the two-time Colonial winner is available for great value this week despite quietly putting together an impactful season in 2018.
With the deeper field, players such as Adam Hadwin, Kevin Na, and Nick Watney represent attractive options for drafting those fifth and sixth spots in your lineup.
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This week will find the PGA Tour stays in the great state of Texas for the Fort Worth Invitational. So, guys who were in Dallas for the Byron Nelson will not have far to go if they are playing in the Fort Worth Invitational held at the Colonial Country Club.
There will be some top talent in attendance this week making it easier to fill a couple of slots on your daily fantasy roster. Before diving into an examination of what some of those options may be…
How about a little information about the course and weather?
The tournament is held at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. The course is 7,209 yards long and is a par-70.
The weather should be nice. There will be a slight chance of rain on each of the four days of the tournament (10 percent). Thursday will be the only day where any cloud cover is expected. Otherwise, the players and fans in attendance will have clear skies.
But they may wish for some cloud cover as the temperatures hit the mid-to-upper 80s throughout the tournament. Winds will hang around 6-8 MPH.
The Players
Jordan Spieth seems to be a popular pick among many experts. But I’m not so sure he’ll be worth the price tag. As the No. 3 golfer in the world, it is easy to understand why people think he’ll do well. It doesn’t hurt that he’s had pretty good luck at Colonial (tied for 7th, 14th, second, won, and tied for second again).
But regardless of how good he is, he is not playing well right now. Last week, he was one of the favorites at Trinity Forest, and he tied for 21st. The week prior he finished tied for 41st at the Players Championship, and he missed the cut at the Zurich Classic.
To be fair, he tied place third at the Masters and tied for third at the Houston Open. But considering how he has played the last three weeks, I don’t trust him. I would, however, be more inclined to have a little faith in these guys:
- Jason Dufner: Fortune seems to favor guys who have place tenth or higher in previous appearances. Dufner placed second in 2012 and ’12 and has a sixth-place finish to his name as well—so he’s got that working for him. He last played at the Players Championship where he finished tied for fifth.
- Justin Rose: He hasn’t been playing like a superstar lately, but he hasn’t been playing poorly either. Rose has been the picture of relative consistency in recent months; has placed outside of the top 25 just twice the last nine months. He’s made the cut whenever he plays at Colonial. But he hasn’t been there since 2010 (tied for 71st).
- Chesson Hadley: He doesn’t have the track record of success that many winners ten to have at Colonial (tied for 24th in 2015). He has played well his last few times out with six rounds under 70 in his last 12 (three of them at the Players Championship where he finished tied for 11th).
- Brian Harman: He has seven top ten finishes this season, so you could say that he has played well this year. But he also has a pretty decent history at Colonial. Since 2015 he has averaged 68.5 a round and finished tied for tenth, twenty-fifth, and seventh.
- Jimmy Walker: If there was ever a guy on the verge of a win, it’s Walker. In his last four tournaments he has placed fourth (Valero Texas Open), tied for 25th (Zurich Classic), tied for second (Players Championship), and tied for sixth (Byron Nelson).
- Kevin Kisner: Consider him your ‘sick or swim’ option. He won last year, so you know he is capable of playing well at Colonial. The question is what version of him will show up to play. In his last ten appearances he has placed 29th, second, tied for 28th, tied for seventh, and tied for 15th; not fantastic but not bad either. However, in the other five, he failed to make the cut.