FANTASY GOLF MAYAKOBA GOLF CLASSIC (One, two, Pick Six, Cancun!)
FANTASY GOLF MAYAKOBA GOLF CLASSIC
(One, two, Pick Six, Cancun!)
By James Dalthorp III
BEAST DOME NATION.
Good news if you’re looking to buy an extra stocking stuffer in about two weeks that your struggling family member wants – you’re about to get paid by checking out my picks for the Mayakoba Fantasy Golf picks for your rosters this week on a second 2020 restart on the PGA TOUR.
Here’s the skinny: Mayakoba is a well known event from head to toe. The fields typically are not very strong – but players of high skill levels tend to separate themselves quite nicely here. There’s plenty of history to look at! But most importantly, I want you to be aware of what I’m seeing right now with this 20/20 vision. So let’s just jump right into my top picks and I’ll talk about the course as needed. Just add water.
1. Brooks Koepka
Wasn’t sure how Brooks would play going into Fall. I’ve been watching him closely. I was very keen on his chances going into the Masters where he finished tied for 7th. He was the closest to catching Tiger there in 2019 as well (just trying to paint a picture that he’s not in a slump). I think his iron play looks absolutely dangerous. His distance control is outrageously good from what I’ve seen. His putting looks good enough. Right now, I think he will screw up and still finish in the top 10. So if you’re looking to spend the extra bandwidth on a top notch player, look no further. There are a few big name players here this week. In order of top picks, I like Brooks, Ancer, JT, then everybody else.
2. Charles Howell
I rarely pick Charles Howell but this week he deserves a look. He’s about as exciting a fantasy play as Rickie Fowler (so he doesn’t get enough respect for his consistency) and his game is just good enough that he’s always right inbetween being a Ryder Cup pick on his career seasons and being a middle tier pro who plays in some majors on the reg. Charlie’s game is quite tidy. And I believe that this course doesn’t let players jump off to a shotgun start but it will knock guys out of the picture. A top 5 here 2 years ago and a barely missed cut last year, I think Howell will be hungry. He’s coming off the Masters and this should seem like a pitch and putt (it did for the guys who played the RSM and didn’t do well there).
3. Russel Knox
If you believe in horses for courses, Knox is your best choice here. He is consistent off the tee and as much as I would expect him to play well here, I think he still overachieves here in his past performance. He’s contended to win three times with three top fives. His game seems to suit places that set up like this – more forgiving in distance and yet requiring a little more precision. He also judges windy conditions well with his Scottish nature or whatever – and he likes the type of greens that look like they belong in the Keys.
4. Will Zalatoris
It’s hard to tell where a player like Zalatoris will be mentally after such a strong season where there wasn’t much press on him, no fan reception, and a very quiet top 3 finish in the US Open where normally he might have new sponsors by now. But his trajectory reminds me of Spieth when he broke out and he certainly has the game with more credentials as a pro at this stage – thanks to the battlefield promotion from the KFT.
5. Brian Harman
Game is coming along quite nicely for the scrappy lefty. His putting stats and scoring clubs have looked pretty salty. He got something going at the RSM and i would expect him to keep it going. A devil’s advocate might say that Harman was on his home turf out in the Carolinas and this is not the same type of venue. I would agree – it’s not. He can shred a course like this, too. Maybe better. If he does, he’ll win (he’s due).
6. Doug Ghim
I’ve watched Ghim quite closely since he was an amateur. He lost to an absolute dream finish in the US Amater and impressively went on to get his PGA TOUR card soon after. He’s had a slow career build up to here, but he’s finally starting to put himself in position to finish with a big, Happy Gilmore sized check. Ghim certainly has the game and I believe this is the type of course that he will relish. Be precise, don’t miss fairways on a few key holes. Make 12 footers when they matter. His game reminds me a bit of Bud Cauley. Bud’s not in the field or I would probably pick him first.