When researching the field ahead of a fantasy golf event, it is important to survey the player salaries and observe how they have changed in recent weeks. This is one of the best ways to spot a value pick or avoid a popular player whose price has simply risen too high.
Last week we saw another somewhat random winner on the PGA Tour, as James Hahn, after eight straight missed cuts, strolled into Quail Hollow and defeated Roberto Castro in a playoff to claim his second victory on the PGA Tour in as many seasons. With Justin Rose, Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy right on their heels, it made for one of the more exciting finishes of the season so far. After a strange start on Thursday where the leaderboard was littered with random names, the best players in the field steadily gained ground all weekend as the course played tougher as the final three holes held scores in check.
This week, the tour heads back to Florida for the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, a course most well-known for its 17th hole, the 137-yard island green. Though technically a peninsula, this green allows little room for error and usually sees more water balls than any other hole all year. Much of the rest of the course has a similar feel. While many recent courses have been dominated by the bigger hitters, TPC Sawgrass does not really fit that mold. As a consequence, when you do your research, you will notice that many stronger players have struggled here over the years with this extremely difficult, Pete Dye-designed course. Last year alone, players such as Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker, Brooks Koepka and even Matt Kuchar, a Pete Dye specialist, all missed the cut.