American Express – The American Express: Skilled Fantasy Golf Picks

Event Data

The American Express
Date: January 21^st – 24^th
Course: PGA West Stadium
Purse: $6.7MM ($1.2MM to winner)
2020 Winner: Andrew Landry (-26)
OWGR Points: 46

Course

PGA West Stadium Course — This 7,300 yard course was created by Pete Dye. It’s largely barren outdoors of the fairways which I discover useful at protecting a bifurcation of greens vs. tough however the golfers may assume in any other case after they land in each the tough and the very deep bunkers. It’s largely constructed for an extended straight hitter and rewards the strong putters within the course of. Gap Four has a bunker that competes with the perfect of them. It’s well-known for the 17th “island” gap which is equal components deadly for golfers and breathtaking to take a look at. It is a harder course with a course score of 76.1 and a slope score of 150, accuracy is necessary.

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Photograph by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR through Getty Photos

My Beginning 4

Andrew Landry (first choice this yr) — Landry completed within the high 30 every of the final three years at Stadium Course. Landry has struggled a bit this season with three missed cuts and two different finishes 50th or worse. He has only one high 25 end however I see a second one coming this weekend.

Abraham Ancer (third choice this yr) — Ancer’s final three years have proven continued enchancment: 76th, then 18th then second. After eight consecutive made cuts to start out the season, he missed the reduce final week on the Sony Open in Hawaii. Ancer does tend to have again to again missed cuts however I feel he rebounds sturdy right here given the energy throughout all components of his recreation. He’s seventh in driving accuracy, 75th in strokes gained placing, and 87th in complete strokes gained.

Brendan Steele (second choice this yr) — Steele’s strong in driving accuracy, greens in regulation and approaching the inexperienced. He’s completed within the high 60 every of the final 4 years right here. He comes into this match contemporary off a fourth place end final week at Sony Open in Hawaii.

Chez Reavie (third choice this yr) — Reavie completed among the many high 40 right here in 2017-2019 earlier than an honest spherical (-8) however not ok had him miss the reduce final yr. I imagine he’s nonetheless a strong play right here and his photographs gained tee to inexperienced (42nd) and approaching the inexperienced (21st) good indicators. His drives are actual brief however he’s fairly correct (one thing wanted for it’s 17th gap).

My Bench 2

Andrew Putnam (second choice this yr) — Putnam has been a high 35 finisher every of the final three years right here. Putnam is powerful approaching the inexperienced (86th in strokes gained) and placing (62nd) however he’s not getting sufficient distance off his drives. He has additionally missed the reduce in 4 of the final 5 tournaments.

Sean O’Hair (first choice this yr) — O’Hair completed ninth right here in 2017 and 2019. He didn’t take part right here final yr. He was out a lot of 2019 with a torn indirect earlier than returning in early 2020 for a handful of tournaments earlier than taking the rest of the 2020 season off. This season he began rusty lacking the reduce in three of the primary 4 tournaments. Since then, he’s completed 66th, 59th, and most lately second on the QBE Shootout. I feel he’s wanting higher and might be a high 25 golfer at a course the place is his traditionally comfy.

Enjoyable Truth: This match was performed throughout 5 days as a substitute of the common Four till 2012.

2020-2021 Stats
Beginning 4: avg end 36^th (29^th %)
Bench 2: avg end 49^th (40^th %)