Fantasy Golf Predictions
Fantasy Golf Picks, Odds, and Predictions – The Rocket Mortgage Classic
Fantasy Golf Picks, Odds, and Predictions for the The Rocket Mortgage Classic
2019 The Rocket Mortgage Classic Fantasy Preview
With the PGA Championship shuffled into its earlier timeslot in the schedule, it really does feel like the 2019 PGA TOUR campaign is made up of two halves.
The first half is gone now, but everyone in the game can now look to a strong second part of the season to get themselves into the hunt for the FedExCup places.
We have a three-tournament swing – starting with the Rocket Mortgage Classic this week, before the action heads to the UK for the British Open.
Then we have the St Jude Invitational – bumped up to a WGC event this term, and then we’re into the final four for the FedExCup play-offs; culminating in a trip to East Lake for the TOUR Championship late in August.
Here’s one for trivia fans: who designed the East Lake club?
The answer, of course, is Donald Ross, one of the most inventive architects that golf has ever seen, and is also responsible for an overhaul at this week’s host venue: the leafy Detroit Golf Club in Michigan.
Last Week’s Fantasy Results
Last week equaled ANOTHER WINNER! And just like that we cashed in nicely at TPC River Highlands with our Reavie (1)/DeChambeau (T8)/and Casey picks (T5).
With the win, we have now made 5 correct winning predictions this season and our made cuts ratio still hangs at a healthy 75%.
As you can see from last week’s sample roster, not only did we include these guys but we sprinkled in one of our Tuesday Sleeper Report picks Kevin Streelman, who finished T15.
Here is what we said about our guy Reavie last week in case you missed it:
Chez Reavie : Despite being surrounded by powerhouses at the top of the US Open leaderboard, the short-hitting Reavie once again proved he’s got the game and the nous to compete with the big boys.
One of the things that really stood out from his performance at Pebble Beach was how well he struck the ball off the tee. He used a variety of clubs, but still found a way to find plenty of fairways.
Short Par 70s are naturally his ideal outing, and a run of form in of 3-MC-14-18 suggests that Reavie can once again take care of business despite being one of the shortest off the tee on the PGA TOUR. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
The 2019 The Rocket Mortgage Classic Field
It’s been a frustrating time for the organizers of this event, with quite a few high-profile names committing to playing and then dropping out late in the day.
They have been able to attract Dustin Johnson, however, and he is the headline at alongside Rocket Mortgage’s brand ambassador Rickie Fowler.
Gary Woodland will tee up for the first time since landing the US Open title, and he will be joined by fellow major champions in Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner and Stewart Cink.
There are lots of interesting names to look out for. Viktor Hovland, so impressive as the leading amateur at Pebble Beach, has since turned pro, while the likes of Matthew Wolff continue to draw plenty of interest.
This Week’s Course Preview
This is the first time that Detroit GC has hosted a tournament of any note, and so it’s very much a leap into the unknown for the players and for us!
We’ve taken the virtual course tour and spent hours researching notes made by those that have played the track, and some common themes emerge.
The first is the density of the trees that line the majority of the fairways. These have thin trunks but very thick foliage, and so there is the risk of errant drives landing in areas where approaches will be blocked out find from finding the green.
Another theme is that of bunkers. There appears to be an extraordinary amount of sand traps on the course, and some of these look particularly treacherous. That is a Donald Ross trademark.
This is a Par 72 track that measures 7,334 yards, and with fairly narrow fairways there could be some tough sightlines off the tee for the players.
One thing worth mentioning: there has been lots of rain in Michigan lately. Just check out the videos of Western Michigan University’s sports field, which is basically now a lake.
Okay, so Detroit is on the other side of the state, but there could be some soft greens to attack this week.
Weather Forecast for Detroit, MI
Despite all the rainfall in the state, the good news is that the weather appears to be set fair for the tournament.
In fact, all four days look to have a similar feel to them: it should be warm and sunny, according to the predictions, with temperatures touching 86°F.
But it’s the wind that the players might have to watch out for. Speeds look set to be locked at the 15 mph mark, but it’s the gusts – which could reach upwards of 30 mph – that could be the difference-maker!
Last Year’s Results from the The Rocket Mortgage Classic
This is, in essence, a brand new tournament with a new name and a host venue we have never seen before.
It is a direct replacement for the Quicken Loans National, which had a nomadic existence from Congressional to TPC Potomac.
No Title
SUBSCRIBE to PGA TOUR now: http://pgat.us/vBxcZSh In the final round of the 2018 Quicken Loans National, Francesco Molinari keeps his composure to card an 8-under 62 to win his first PGA TOUR event of his career. The Quicken Loans National returns to TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm.
The 2018 edition was notable for perhaps proving the springboard for Francesco Molinari’s triumph in the British Open. He had won the National just three weeks before, dominating the final round to win by eight from Ryan Armour.
The Italian was rarely far away from the top of the leaderboard, and he asserted control on the Saturday with a solid 65 to take joint lead with Abraham Ancer into the Sunday.
And Molinari rarely looked troubled – in fact, he was positively serene – as he blitzed the course with a sublime 62. It was his first win on the PGA TOUR; two more have followed since.
Where to Play Fantasy Golf for the The Rocket Mortgage Classic this Week
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PGA $600K Drive the Green [$100K to 1st]: This may be your starting point this week. Biggest first place prize and it will max out at 142,687 players (if it even gets that many). This cash game will include $600,000.00 in total prizes and pays out the top 34,350 finishing positions. Again, first place wins $100,000.00.
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PGA $400K CLUB TWIRL [$100K TO 1ST]: If you’re after the shorter entry games with a little more buy-in, try this $44 entry game for a chance to win $100,000. This 10601-player contest features $400,000.00 in total prizes and pays out the top 2185 finishing positions. First place wins $100,000.00.
This Week’s Fantasy Notes for the The Rocket Mortgage Classic
So what are we looking for this week?
It’s a great question! We know little about Detroit GC other than the visuals we have been presented with, and to us it looks like a quintessential parklands track you’d find in the heart of the USA.
Of course, our main angle this week is the Donald Ross narrative. He was clearly a fan of ball-striking tests, that’s evident from his other designs at Sedgefield (home of the Wyndham Championship), East Lake (TOUR Championship) and Aronimink, which hosted the 2018 BMW Championship.
There’s a few things those layouts have in common. For one, there’s a premium on accuracy off the tee, so assuming Detroit is of a similar vein we don’t expect bombers to have their way here either.
And it’s the flushers who really thrive. Woods, Schauffele, McIlroy, Snedeker, Stenson, Bradley….these are the most recent winners at Ross’ layouts, and they all share a common trait of being world class with their irons.
Given the forecast we should be looking for players comfortable in a breeze, and as we head back to some Par 72 real estate as ever making hay on the Par 5s will separate the winner from the chasing pack this week.
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Our Top 5 (and Top 2 Sleeper) Fantasy Picks and Odds to Win the The Rocket Mortgage Classic
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Top 5 Picks/Odds to Win the The Rocket Mortgage Classic
Top Tier Pick #1:
Rickie Fowler (Odds: 12/1, FPPG:81.50, GPFP: 98.58 Salary $11,200)
Fowler is a ‘Rocket Mortgage brand ambassador’, which in reality means very little, but it could give him the spur to put in a big performance here.
You tend to see it at the RBC events, where the sponsored players tend to give a strong account of themselves, and so we’ll take a chance that Fowler follows suit.
It’s a course which should suit his straight hitting game, and he does tend to enjoy life on Donald Ross tracks: he has top-10s at both East Lake and Aronimink.
An opening 66 at Pebble Beach a few weeks ago gave way to some ordinary golf, but this is a guy who banked back-to-back top-10s at the Masters and the Wells Fargo, so some strong form is not far away.
Key Stats:
- Scoring Average – 12th
- SG: Putting – 21st
- SG: Tee-to-Green – 31st
Top-Tier Pick #2:
Hideki Matsuyama (Odds: 16/1, FPPG:77.8, GPFP: 92.52 Salary $10,200)
Although he hasn’t set the world alight in terms of his results, we assure you that Matsuyama is playing some outstanding golf at the moment.
Solo sixth at the Memorial and T8 at THE PLAYERS, the Japanese star’s formline is otherwise manned by close-but-not-quite performances: T16 at the PGA Championship, T21 at the US Open and T32 at the Masters.
You sense then that Matsuyama is somebody that thrives on classic golf course – for which Donald Ross is famed, and indeed he has shown stacks of good form at this designer’s layouts.
There’s a T3 at Sedgefield, plus T4 and T5 turns at East Lake as well, and all in the last couple of years. With excellent ball-striking of late and at a track that should suit his eye, Matsuyama has to be on the shortlist this week.
Key Stats:
- SG: Tee-to-Green – 3rd
- Scoring Average – 14th
- Par 5 Birdie or Better Leaders – 25th
Mid-Tier Pick #1:
Ryan Moore (Odds: 33/1, FPPG:62.9, GPFP: 52.79 Salary $9,500)
A former champion at Sedgefield and a runner up at East Lake, it would be fair to say that Ryan Moore rather enjoys himself on Donald Ross layouts!
That’s no coincidence either for a player who, at his best, is a premium ball striker.
Is he at that level right now? Perhaps not, but there’s a solo third at the Texas Open on the resumé lately and opening rounds of 65 and 66 at the Memorial and RBC Heritage respectively, so maybe we can say he is flirting with his best form.
Moore was very good from tee-to-green at TPC River Highlands, and while the putter was ice cold we just hope that is something that can be rectified in the next week, because the basic foundation for success is there.
Key Stats:
- Driving Accuracy – 5th
- SG: Approach – 25th
- SG: Putting – 58th
Mid-Tier Pick #2:
Charles Howell III (Odds: 66/1, FPPG: 66.79 GPFP: 73.59 Salary $7,800)
CH3 has regained himself this season, already with a win. Around the green, Charles is as good as it gets and he doesn’t miss greens too often. At the price point of $7,800, Charles is a strong play for Sedgefield.
He has a win, and a total of 4 Top-10 finishes and comes in this week 15th on the FedExCup leaderboard. He should continue the momentum as the playoffs begin to draw closer.
Key Stats:
- SG: Around the Green – 11th
- Greens in Regulation – 6th
- SG: Total – 30th
Low-Tier Pick:
Ryan Armour (Odds: 150/1, FPPG 51.8, GPFP: 41.42 Salary$ 6,900)
Something seemed to click at TPC River Highlands for Ryan Armour after a couple of months of bad form, and this accurate driver is somebody who always comes to mind for tracks where precision is important.
His lack of length can see him left behind at times, but Donald Ross was somebody who always favored quality ball striking and so we aren’t convinced that bombers will have any advantage at Detroit GC – that’s not Ross’ modus operandi.
Armour was excellent on approach in the Travelers and putted particularly well, so we’re willing to take a shot on a guy with a pair of top-10s at Sedgefield in his most recent visits.
Key Stats:
- Driving Accuracy – 4th
- SG: Around-the-Green – 33rd
- Par Scoring Average – 40th
Sleeper Pick for the The Rocket Mortgage Classic
Keith Mitchell (Odds:70/1, FPPG: 63.2, GPFP:50.53 Salary $7,800)
Could be a solid combo along with CH3 for the $7,800 left/right punch. Some would even consider both guys below Fowler and Matsuyama in order to have the fire power of the two big price tag guys. Mitchell is a solid player tee-to-green.
Mitchell putting together an impressive season so far with a win at the Honda and a total of 3 Top-10 finishes. He sits 30th on the FedExCup leaderboard.
Key Stats:
- SG: Off the Tee– 7th
- Going for the Green – 4th
- SG: Tee-to-Green – 33rd
Alternative Sleeper Pick for the The Rocket Mortgage Classic
Cameron Tringale (Odds: 140/1, FPPG: 58.8, GPFP: 61.45 Salary $7,000)
Speaking of flushing your irons, Tringale has been absolutely outstanding on approach of late.
He’s been flag-hunting for a good couple of weeks now, but unfortunately prowess with irons and wedges counts for nothing if you can’t make a putt from inside 10 ft.
So what do we do: kick Tringale to the curb as a bad lot, or presume that his putting will turn around soon?
The stats suggest he is capable with the flat stick, and so we’re very much in the latter camp this week.
Key Stats:
- SG: Approach – 40th
- Birdie Average – 57th
- SG: Putting – 61st
This Week’s Sample DraftKings Lineup
Note: Sample lineups provided as examples only. Be sure to mix-and-match players to best fit individual contests.
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Fantasy Golf Predictions This Season (2018-2019)
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Cover Photo via Instagram
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