Fantasy Golf Sleeper Report – Waste Management Phoenix Open

2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open Fantasy Sleeper Report

Driving for show, putting for dough.

It’s an old golfing adage but it rings true to this day, especially when separating glory from misery on a packed leaderboard on any given Sunday.

It was certainly the case at the Farmers Insurance Open at the weekend, when Marc Leishman – a flusher of the highest order – doubled up with the flat stick to land putts from here, there and everywhere on his way to claiming a fifth PGA TOUR victory.

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While the Aussie was dropping everything he saw, the likes of Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed showed their occasional weakness on the dancefloor to ultimately give up any chance of winning the title – if you are somebody that likes to wager in-running, this as ever is the key differentiator during the final round.

Torrey Pines is a venue where quality ball strikers generally have their fill, and the same can be said of this week’s host course – TPC Scottsdale – which will once again welcome the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

This rugged desert layout plays a shade over 7,200 yards for its Par 71, albeit with altitude shortening the distance somewhat, and for the most part is fairly unexceptional: simple fairways can be found or low rough can be played out of, with generous Bermuda greens running quickly but smoothly on the stimp.

But the closing four holes really are a sight to behold, and it is here where our champion will make their mark this week.

There’s a reachable Par 5, a drivable Par 4, a nerve-jangling Par 3 played in front of an estimated 20,000 crowd in the Colosseum amphitheater and a risk and reward closing hole that could make all the difference to the destination of the trophy. As ‘appointment golf’ goes, this stretch is right up there.

Just look at the list of recent champions here: Fowler, Woodland, Matsuyama, Koepka. These are quality operators who can rightly claim to be among the best in the world when it comes to ball striking, but – like Leishman found out last week – making it work with the putter is where the money really lies.

As for our wagering, there could be money to be made among the ranks of our Phoenix Open sleepers, with five players listed below who we expect to go very nicely indeed.

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Waste Management Phoenix Open Fantasy Sleeper Report

Scottie Scheffler – 50/1 – Given how well he has started his maiden PGA TOUR season, there is plenty of encouragement to continue siding with Scottie Scheffler.

A two-time winner on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019, Scheffler went close at the American Express in his penultimate start – a final round of 70 ultimately proving to be his undoing there.

But that was a fourth top-10 finish in nine starts on the main tour, and that is the sort of trajectory we’re looking for at TPC Scottsdale, where the cream tends to rise to the top.

He won’t have experienced anything quite like the 16th hole here, but hopefully the exuberance of youth means he can escape unscathed and kick on in his customary tee-to-green fashion.

Keegan Bradley – 80/1 – At the Farmers Insurance Open, Marc Leishman proved that when premium ball-strikers get things right with the putter they can take some stopping.

So step forward the much-maligned Keegan Bradley, whose fumblings with the flat stick generally tend to be club hacker, rather than major champion.

And yet, a major champion Bradley is, and the eagle-eyed will have noted that he gained +2.08 strokes on the field with the putter on Sunday.

Going under the radar once more, the 33-year-old has five top-25 finishes in eight starts this term, and rounds of 66 at blustery Waialae and last week at Torrey Pines confirm a player rounding up towards his best form.

Daniel Berger – 80/1 – With two top-10s and a T11 in five visits, TPC Scottsdale’s unique assignment is one that seems to suit Daniel Berger.

His current formline is shaping up nicely too ahead of his latest trip, with only one missed cut in his last six starts and his last six rounds all played in the 60s.

Remember when Berger was thought to be the next bright young kid of the never-ending American golf talent conveyor belt? It hasn’t quite worked out as planned for the now 26-year-old, but he seems to be getting his act together of late.

That, ahead of a trip to one of his favorite golf courses, catches the eye.

Vaughn Taylor – 100/1 – It’s rare for players to enjoy a career renaissance at the age of 43, but with a formline reading 43-12-10-2 we’re happy enough to put Vaughn Taylor in that camp.

Indeed, but for a round of 74 at the American Express – the major contributor to that lowly T43 finish – it’s fair to say that record would look even more encouraging.

Notably, Taylor’s form is carrying across land and sea, and previous T7 and T11 returns at TPC Scottsdale suggest that he can continue his golden run in his golden years at a layout that suits.

Sebastian Munoz – 125/1 – All golf bettors and DFS gamers have their pet projects that they refuse to give up on, and right now Sebastian Munoz is arguably ours.

In his last six starts the Colombian’s formline reads MC-21-MC-17-MC-3, and that only goes to sum up the frustration of backing a player who has already won this season at the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Munoz continues to put up some excellent tee-to-green numbers, and so we can only hope we’ve got him here on one of his good weeks rather than the bad. Because if we have, he’s a fine player who can outperform his paltry salary and sportsbook odds.

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Want more of this week’s fantasy predictions? Check out our full fantasy preview for the Waste Management Phoenix Open here.

Sleeper Report Predictions This Season (2019-2020)

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