One & Done: Valspar Championship

Henrik Stenson completed only 11 holes of his opening round of last week’s World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship before succumbing to discomfort in his stomach. In his presser on Tuesday at the Valspar Championship, he said that the virus hadn’t yet run its course, so perhaps we should be impressed that he managed to play 11 holes at all last week. That still doesn’t placate the legions of gamers who were invested in the WGC at which the Swede slotted No. 1 in ownership percentage in PGA TOUR One & Done presented by SERVPRO. All mid-tournament withdrawals hurt, but none are worse than when they occur in a guaranteed FedExCup points grab. This is why Stenson is a shrewd pick at Copperhead. Cross off the folks who have already burned him. Cross off the legions who will resist due to the WD and illness. Cross off those eyeing a future site, although the Dell Match Play isn’t one of them as he’s stated that he won’t play it. Stenson’s primary concern for months has been the partially re-torn ligament in his right knee, but that hasn’t stopped him. He also can’t take medication to heal it, like he can for what irritated him a week ago. This isn’t to say that Stenson should be your pick if he’s available, but rebound candidates can pack a punch due to temporary reasons not to plug him in. And it can’t be overstated that what knocked him off Club de Golf Chapultepec doesn’t impact his swing. Ryan Moore gets the most love among the experts at the Valspar. He’s in my Power Rankings (at No. 6), but the wave he was riding in the second half of 2016 and early this year has broken. So, the logic is that he’ll tap into how his game fits Copperhead and how that’s yielded top-five finishes in the last two years here. Of the remaining sites this season, this is as good as any if you’re compelled to use him at all. Bill Haas would have been my pick if Stenson wasn’t an option. While established, it’s all come to together for the 34-year-old this season. He’s is in prime, which helps explain it. Terrific form, record and statistical fit. Another confident choice is Jason Dufner, he of the 8-for-8 record in this tournament with top 25s in the last five and top 25s in his last three starts entering this week. If you’re holstering any of the guys already mentioned, Dufner can fill the role without question. Charles Howell III is also a suitable surrogate. The intrigue for Justin Thomas is warranted, but his inconsistency is worthy of pause in our world. It shouldn’t be unexpected as he’s still at the beginning of his career, but he’s not as much of an automatic as the proven. Still, he’s a plum if you need a jolt. To round out their tandems, two-man gamers should start with Graham DeLaet, who is both a horse for this course and playing well of late. Classic converging trends for a guy who doesn’t slide into the crosshairs often. Martin Laird, Sean O’Hair, Lucas Glover, Scott Brown and Adam Hadwin also demand consideration. FUTURE POSSIBILITIES NOTE: Select golfers committed to the tournament are listed alphabetically. Future tournaments are sorted chronologically and reflect previous success on the courses on which the tournaments will be held in 2016-17. All are pending golfer commitment. Daniel Berger … Houston; New Orleans; St. Jude (defending) Jason Bohn … Greenbrier Keegan Bradley … Houston; Byron Nelson; Memorial; WGC-Bridgestone; Dell Technologies Luke Donald … Valspar; Heritage; Wyndham; TOUR Championship Jason Dufner … Valspar; Byron Nelson; DEAN & DELUCA; U.S. Open; TOUR Championship Harris English … Valspar; DEAN & DELUCA Tony Finau … Puerto Rico (defending); Byron Nelson; Memorial Jim Furyk … Valspar; WGC-Match Play; Heritage; Memorial; U.S. Open; Canadian; WGC-Bridgestone; TOUR Championship Bill Haas … Valspar; Wyndham Russell Henley … Houston Charley Hoffman … Heritage; Valero; New Orleans; Byron Nelson; DEAN & DELUCA; Travelers; Canadian Billy Horschel … Valero; Memorial; St. Jude; TOUR Championship Charles Howell III … Valspar; Houston; Byron Nelson Chris Kirk … Valero; New Orleans; DEAN & DELUCA Russell Knox … Heritage; PLAYERS; Travelers (defending); Dell Technologies Matt Kuchar … Heritage; Valero; PLAYERS; Byron Nelson; DEAN & DELUCA; Memorial; Canadian; WGC-Bridgestone Martin Laird … Barracuda Graeme McDowell … Open Championship; WGC-Bridgestone; Wyndham Bryce Molder … Heritage; New Orleans; DEAN & DELUCA; Greenbrier Ryan Moore … Valspar; Travelers; John Deere (defending); TOUR Championship Kevin Na … Valspar; Arnold Palmer; Heritage; Memorial; John Deere; Wyndham Scott Piercy … Houston; John Deere; BMW Ian Poulter … Arnold Palmer; Puerto Rico Patrick Reed … Valspar; Houston; Wyndham; Dell Technologies Charl Schwartzel … Valspar (defending); Memorial; U.S. Open; Open Championship; WGC-Bridgestone Webb Simpson … Greenbrier; Wyndham Scott Stallings … New Orleans Henrik Stenson … Valspar; Arnold Palmer; Houston; Open Championship (defending); WGC-Bridgestone; PGA Championship; Dell Technologies; TOUR Kevin Streelman … Memorial Justin Thomas … Valspar; PLAYERS Bubba Watson … Masters; Travelers; Greenbrier; WGC-Bridgestone; TOUR Championship Boo Weekley … Puerto Rico; Heritage; New Orleans; St. Jude; Barbasol Gary Woodland … Byron Nelson; Barracuda; PGA Championship; Dell Technologies; TOUR Championship

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