Travelers Championship Preview: Fantasy Golf picks
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The PGA Tour heads to the Travelers Championship this week as Russell Knox defends against a World Class field.
It’s hard to believe it was only a year ago that Jim Furyk carded a miraculous 58 and Russell Knox holed a 12-foot putt and simultaneously tossed his cap in celebration to win his second career victory by a single-shot over hometown hero Jerry Kelly.
And then he re-enacted it with Golf.com
If last year was anything to go by, this tournament will be incredibly exciting. Adding to that – it’s the week after the US Open, and yet the event at TPC River Highlands in Conneticut still boasts four of the World’s top 10.
We’ve had a closer look at the most recent results and stats to help you choose your Fantasy Golf team. All you need to do is make sure you change it by midnight on Wednesday 21st June!
Remember, the European Tour is also hosting the BMW International Open Championship this week: for Fantasy picks, click here
Fantasy Golf Picks: Travelers Championship
Jordan Spieth: Fantasy Price £15m
The 2015 US Open Champion made the cut at Erin Hills last week but didn’t really ever mount a challenge, finishing T35 at one-over-par. Prior to that he was T13 at Memorial and narrowly missed out on victory at the Dean & Deluca. He’s already had a victory, four other top 5s and a top 10 in his last 15 events, which also includes three top 13s and three missed cuts. His downfall is his driving accuracy (rank 121st) but he’s currently 1st in approach to green stats, 2nd in both birdie and third in scoring average so we wouldn’t rule out Spieth.
Justin Thomas: Fantasy Price £14m
He had already had a 59 and had won twice in 2017 before he broke Johnny Miller’s scoring record during the third round of the US Open, although he had a disappointing Sunday. Thomas also had a real chance of winning at Memorial if he could have holed some putts, but he’s definitely on hot form. It could well be the week for Thomas, who is ranked 1st for eagle and birdie average, 4th for scoring average, 4th for approach to the green and 1st for approaches from 200-225 yards and 100-125 yards.
Rory McIlroy:Fantasy Price £15m
Rory returned to the US Open after a second spell off with injury having re-aggravated the rib injury at The Players that he picked up in South Africa in January. He’s got a brand new set of TaylorMade clubs and a new Spider Tour putter in the bag, but the US Open was a disaster for the World No.3. The damage happened on day one, but he did birdie four of his final six holes before missing the cut – so there’s definitely signs he’s got form in him. In Rory’s words “It was much better today but I think it’s game time, it’s prep, it’s competitive rounds and I’ve been very light on those this year.”
Paul Casey: Fantasy Price £13.5
Paul Casey was joint leader after round 2 of the US Open, and the way he was playing – it felt it might finally be time for his major title. But a triple bogey on Saturday ended his challenge as he failed to recover the deficit and just continued to slip back further. Prior to that Casey has had three top 10s in his last five events, in addition to a T12 and T22 – and has clearly got a lot of confidence in his game right now. He’s 3rd in approach to the green stats, 5thh in Green in regulation, and 14thth in scoring average – we’d say that’s pretty solid.
Patrick Reed: Fantasy Price £14.5m
Reed’s final round hurt him at the US Open, but he still ended up T13 – and given that he was T11 here last year, it made sense to include him this week. His stats aren’t anything to write home about but he’s three Top 15s in his last six events, so it could be a good week for Reed.
Brandt Snedeker: Fantasy Price £13.5m
Snedeker finished T9 at the US Open, making a further case for his name on the list of best players never to have won a major. His best result this year was T4 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am, and has had two other top 10s in his last 11 outings (four in total). There are no stand out stats for Snedeker, who is fairly average across the board.
Marc Leishman: Fantasy Price £12
Leishman is one of those guys that flies under the radar, despite the fact he’s already won this year and finished T9 at the WGC Dell Match Play. He’s missed just one cut all year and has been very consistent, which bodes well given that he’s ranked 7th in scoring average this season.
Brian Harman: Fantasy Price £8.5m
Harman finished T2 in the US Open and is on phenomenal form. He won the Wells Fargo Championship a few weeks ago, and in seven events has a victory, a top 5 and two top 10s. His stats aren’t particularly exciting but he is 4th for birdies and is currently in the top 10 of the FedEx Cup, so we wouldn’t bet against him.
Charley Hoffman: Fantasy Price £10.5
Hoffman has been a real contender in the majors this year. He led the first two rounds of the Masters before a lacklustre weekend, but he had a career high finish of 8th at the US Open. He also came close at the Arnold Palmer Invitational but finished second, and his eighth rank in total birdies stats might give an indication why. His other stats aren’t as good, but four top 10s in 13 events speak for themselves.
Fresh off a career-best solo eighth at the U.S. Open where he ranked T4 in greens hit. He’s 6-for-6 at TPC River Highlands since 2010 with a pair of top 10s.
Jamie Lovemark: Fantasy Price £8m
Lovemark’s last three results are T27- T10 – T18, so we think he’s a pretty good low Fantasy Value pick this week. He hasn’t played in this tournament since 2014, but he’s a great driver of the ball and seems to be really coming in to form at the right time.
Tony Finau: Fantasy Price £9m
Finau didn’t qualify for the US Open, but finished T3 yesterday at the CVS Health Charity Classic at -12, so he’s definitely one to watch this week. Before that he was T40 at Memorial, T29 at the Dean&Deluca and T13 at Byron Nelson. If that doesn’t convince you he’s on the brink of a victory – he’s 6th for strokes gained tee to green, 6th in greens in regulation and 6th for total birdies.
Jason Day: Fantasy price £15m
Another missed cut for Jason Day, who really struggled at Erin Hills – and has struggled all season. However, he was 2nd at the AT&T Byron Nelson and T15 at the Memorial Tournament and has good stats, but has slipped to World No.4. He’s ranked 4th for approaches between 75-100 yards, 4rd for sand saves and 1st for strokes gained around the green.
