Emergency 9: Fantasy tidbits from Round 1 at the RSM Classic

Here are nine tidbits from the opening round of The RSM Classic that gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. Be looking for the Emergency 9 shortly after the close of play of each round of the tournament. The followers are leading: Of the two courses in play this week, the par-70 Seaside course annually plays more difficult than the par-72 Plantation course. Those who went low on Seaside will have the advantage entering tomorrow, as they won’t have to force the action on Plantation to catch up. Just five of the top 27 on the leaderboard played Seaside today. All of those players posted 66 or 65 and now will get a chance to attack the third-easiest course on TOUR from last year on Friday. Hot golf is hot golf. Lurking at T18 after 66 (-4) on Seaside, last week’s winner and Sea Island resident Patton Kizzire continues his sizzling form. He’s in uncharted territory for gamers, as he hasn’t rattled off a month of play like this before on TOUR. Those who piled on this week will be thrilled with this start. Wat is going on here? Las Vegas resident Nick Watney fired 73-82 to miss the cut at his home event to open his 2017-18 season. I don’t think his T55 at Mayakoba last week would inspire gamers to take the leap this week. His 65 (-5) was bogey-free and tied for the best of the day on Seaside with Brice Garnett. This was his best round of the year, and the event, by four shots. Kim is making waves but this week, so far, it’s Michael and not last week’s third-place finisher Si Woo. Pro gamers will point out that Michael was in the conversation last year as he opened with 64 on Plantation. His opening round 66 on Seaside should have him excited for his return to Plantation tomorrow. Former Sea Island resident Chris Kirk eagled his final hole to post nine-under-par 63 on Plantation. The 2013 champion only needed 23 putts on greens he played for six years before moving back to Athens, Georgia, to be closer to family. He’s traded in his PXG sticks for a mixed bag to start the year and had only posted three of 14 rounds this season in the 60’s before today. If he keeps using just 23 putts each round, it won’t matter what arrows he’s using. Cancer sucks and Joel Dahmen beat it in 2011 and returned to golf later that same year. He was the clubhouse leader, before Kirk’s eagle, as he posted bogey-free 64 (-8) earlier in the day. Considering his best round of the new season was 68 in four events, this is a surprise. Considering he ranks No. 49 on the Web.com priority list out of 50 players, this was also a surprise. The three of you who have him on the roster in the PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO game deserve kudos. I hope you all started him! Chalk it up: PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO lists Webb Simpson on 56 percent of rosters entering the week. He was the most selected with Kevin Kisner in second with just over 40 percent. Simpson, who was listed No. 1 in Rob Bolton’s Power Rankings, racked up four birdies and an eagle against one bogey to post 67 on Plantation (T8). Kisner, the tournament record holder (22-under in 2015), carded 67 on Seaside to put him in an excellent spot for Friday’s round at Plantation. Plan B is an option in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO and that’s good news for Ollie Schniederjans investors. He was the fifth-most selected player and his 72 on Seaside saw him see T135 at the close of play. It might be time to flex your bench muscle and cut your losses as scoring is the only metric in use this week…Gamers love a good, solid reputation more than current results, as evidenced by Luke Donald being the 10th-most selected player. His pre-tournament WD warrants a mandatory substitution for many of you… Abraham Ancer withdrew during the round, so investors on the back of his top 10 last week need to adjust as well. Glass half full? With three top 25’s in four events this fall, those of you with Brandon Harkins sitting on the bench might want to pop him in the lineup tomorrow at Plantation. He’s birdied half of the par five holes he’s played this season (T28) and will have four more chances tomorrow. His 66 on Seaside suggests he’s dialed in.  

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