The First Tee – Zurich Classic by Adam Daly

Fantasy Golf Insider Staff
By Fantasy Golf Insider Staff April 24, 2017 22:58

This will be a very condensed article this week given that there’s no DFS for the Zurich team play event this week; it will however be a very fun week of golf that can still be gambled on, so the beat goes on. Look for analysis of how the Pros did at Valero NEXT week, when the First Tee returns in full for the Wells Fargo. Also make sure to check out Pari’s excellent coverage of the Volvo China Open, to keep scratching the DFS itch.

This Week

Since changing the format of the Zurich Classic from just another stop between the Masters and the Players to something fresh and exciting, the PGA has both brought some life to an otherwise listless stretch but also disappointed DFS players – with all the sites using the same stats provider, there’s no daily fantasy this week.

The Course

The Zurich Classic is played at TPC Louisiana, just outside New Orleans, and is a team play event. The 60 teams of two will alternate with rounds of alternate shot (rd. one and three), and best ball (rd. two and four). The cut will come after round two, and the top-35 teams will make the cut.

A Pete Dye design, TPC Louisiana is typically one of the easier courses on Tour, with scores in the high teens into the twenties. It plays just over 7400 yards as a par-72, with four par-3s and four par-5s. The shorter length on the par-5s makes them reachable, especially with the width of the fairways here; although they’re lined with trees and strategically placed fairway bunkers, it should be easy for golfers to hit the fairways here.

Once in the fairway, golfers will look to get to the greens safely by avoiding the typical Dye traps: collection areas, greenside bunkers, and some off the green slope.

The undulating Bermuda grass greens are of average speed, around 11’ on the stimpmeter, and they’re over-seeded with some poa. Don’t let the poa fool you, putting on these greens is rather simple; as mentioned last week, Bermuda already sees less of a correlation between putting performance and finish position. Beyond that, there are fewer three putts, and more putts made from inside 10’ than on average.

The Strokes Gained stats to focus on in order (not including Tee to Green):

  • Off-The-Tee
  • Approach
  • Around the Green
  • Putting

Counting stats to focus on in order:

  • Driving Distance
  • Par-5 Scoring
  • Birdie or Better %
  • Greens in Regulation

The Event

N/A this week. It’s the inaugural version of this event, so not much to talk about in the way of past winners.

The Golfers

The Core

Daniel Berger – Thomas Pieters (14 to 1 currently): With the ability shown by Thomas Pieters in the Ryder Cup, it’s clear that the Belgian can succeed in the team format (even in a losing effort). Coming off a top-5 at the Masters, Pieters has the distance (technically 64th on Tour, but hasn’t played any full-on bombers courses) and the putting to cash in with his partner. The aforementioned partner, Daniel Berger, is an excellent scrambler (24th) if the pairing struggle on approach, and himself is an excellent putter.

The Fade

Just a small note here – I play one lineup, so every week I’m fading the full field minus six, just by virtue of only using one lineup. The Fade of the Week is thus chosen for expected value vs. expected ownership, NOT because they’re necessarily good or bad plays.

N/A this week.

You can follow me on Twitter @adalyfrey, and if there’s something you’d like to see change in this column my DMs are open! Good luck this week

Fantasy Golf Insider Staff
By Fantasy Golf Insider Staff April 24, 2017 22:58

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