FANTASY GOLF

Safeway to the Top

By James Dalthorp III

BEAST DOME NATION.

Where has the time gone? That’s right. Now is the time to dig deep for some golf picks. It’s the 2021 season on Tour. With a whole new season on the horizon, lots of the top players will be taking a break and you’ll need my knowledge on the lesser-known guys to capitalize.

The only big changes we have to face this week relate most of all to the course. We’re putting on bent greens and in a Northern California area where the weather should be a very drastic change from the East Coast playoff format. But have no fear! Nobody from the playoffs is really even in this field!!

It’s a week for the stars and scrubs approach. In fact, pick the rusty stars who you think are now scrubs. Silverado is the course – and it’s been a host for lots of events in other tours in the past. That being said, it’s very gettable for short hitters and even older guys. Tony Romo shot 70 in the first round here last year! I’m excited to share my picks – especially the sleepers.

Lanto Griffin –

We’ve seen improvement since the restart and I think a new season will ignite a dormant Griffin. He played well last week in the Tour Championship and was in the top 10 until not a great final round.

Corey Conners –

Up and coming player who has steadily improved and had a good finish here last year. I think he’s one of the top picks. With fellow Canadian Hughes making a splash last week, Conners has the potential to outshine his rival with a healthy competitive punch with this new season.

Harold Varner –

IT’s a new season and HV3 had a couple weeks to prepare for this one. I think it’s a good course for him – and you have to like that he came out hot in Dallas when there was a restart to the season with a lead until Saturday.

Phil Mickelson –

This week seems like the ideal week for a Phil Mickelson sneaky win or top five. His impressive win on the Champions Tour serves as a valid sign to me that he is capable. I don’t know why he is so underrated this week. He can certainly beat this field.

Jordan Spieth –

Good time to reconsider Jordan’s game and I think he’s in a good position to restart and have that season we’ve been waiting for. I don’t know what he’s been working on but I do think his best days are around the corner.

Luke Schneiderjans –

You know the last name because of his brother Ollie who has been demoted to the KF Tour. But the younger brother seems to be a massive talent even more so than his brother. That makes him a dangerous pick this week as it’s his first event as a pro and his amateur resume suggests we might have another Hovland type on our hands

MJ Daffue –

A T22 in his last start and impressively has monday qualified for a number of PGA and KF tour events in the past year and a half. I know his game personally from playing with him in college. He can do damage here, make no mistake. He also just became a father, so I think he’ll be inspired. Maybe a little restless.

Henrik Norlander –

Due for a win perhaps, but most likely he’ll be a strong consistent player through the week. He’s going to make the cut for you and then some, so might as well pay the price.

Cameron Davis –

Great ball striker who played great in Boston. I’m a big fan of his game and therefore I’ll be picking him often in the coming season.

Kristofer Ventura –

This course tends to yield a bunch of birdies on par fours and Ventura has the potential to break out. i think he’s an interesting sleeper and although he’s not a safe pick, he could be dangerous. He has some recent top 10’s and a 7th place finish here last year.

GET JAMES PICKS FOR THE WEEKEND!

E-Mail [email protected] to learn more