In a new regular column on Rotoworld, we reflect on the tournaments just gone and also take an early peek at the action ahead on the PGA and European Tours.
PGA TOUR
A Military Tribute At The Greenbrier
Final Leaderboard
1. (-21, 259) Joaquin Niemann (DraftKings $9,700; Odds: 22/1)
2. (-15, 265) Tom Hoge (DraftKings $7,000; Odds: 160/1)
3. (-14, 266) Brian Harman (DraftKings $8,900; Odds: 55/1)
3. (-14, 266) Harris English (DraftKings $6,800; Odds: 160/1)
3. (-14, 266) Nate Lashley (DraftKings $6,900; Odds: 110/1)
3. (-14, 266) Richy Werenski (DraftKings $6,700; Odds: 200/1)
Notes: A first win for Niemann - by six shots! - and a popular one for gamers who like a bit of 'x' factor. This was the Chilean's first PGA TOUR tournament as an amateur in 2017, he secured his card here in 2018 and had the added incentive this week of trying to catch Ernie Els' eye and secure a Presidents Cup place. He was fifth favorite in the betting but four of the other top six were priced north of 100/1.
Fate of the favorites
MC. (-2, 138) Bryson DeChambeau (DraftKings $11,100; Odds: 12/1)
10. (-14, 274) Viktor Hovland (DraftKings $10,900; Odds: 14/1)
MC. (-3, 137) Jason Kokrak (DraftKings $10,500; Odds: 16/1)
19. (-3, 285) Sungjae Im (DraftKings $9,800; Odds: 16/1)
Notes: Another fast finish from Hovland, who now heads to Wentworth for the BMW PGA Championship in England. Yet another consistent week for Im but gamers who banked on DeChambeau and Kokrak will be cursing.
EUROPEAN TOUR
KLM Open
Final Leaderboard
1. (-18, 270) Sergio Garcia (Odds: 16/1)
2. (-17, 271) Nicolai Hojgaard (Odds: 1000/1)
2. (-15, 273) Matt Wallace (Odds: 16/1)
2. (-14, 274) James Morrison (Odds: 200/1)
2. (-13, 275) Callum Shinkwin (Odds: 250/1)
Notes: In hindsight, Sergio's odds looked decent in a weak field, especially when compared to others around the same price. Wallace came good on the weekend while there were some surprises elsewhere, none more so than Danish teenager Nicolai Hojgaard, the World No. 1002, who finished runner-up.
Fate of the favorites
15. (-9, 279) Patrick Reed (Odds: 8/1)
10. (-10, 278) Thomas Pieters (Odds: 12/1)
3. (-15, 273) Matt Wallace (Odds: 16/1)
1. (-18, 270) Sergio Garcia (Odds: 16/1)
Notes: A collectively strong performance from the market leaders with Garcia hoisting the trophy, Wallace taking third, Pieters T10 and Reed T15. There were two others around 16/1 - local man Joost Luiten and Mike Lorenzo-Vera - and both finished alongside Pieters in T10.
Coming up this week…
PGA TOUR
Sanderson Farms Championship
Location: Country Club of Jackson, Mississippi. 7,421 yards, par 70.
Notes: Previously played as an opposite event, the Sanderson Farms Championship now has the stage to itself with a full quota of FedExCup points on offer. Cameron Champ won last year in just his second event as a PGA TOUR member. Its history - under different guises - stretches back to 1968 although Country Club of Jackson (which opened in 1914) was used for the first time in 2015.
Who's playing? Sungjae Im, Cameron Champ (DC), Jason Dufner, Dylan Frittelli, Lucas Glover, Emiliano Grillo, Charley Hoffman, Zach Johnson, Luke List, Joaquin Niemann, Chez Reavie, Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Streelman.
Past winners at Country Club of Jackson
2018/9 (-21, 267) Cameron Champ - 1st PGA TOUR win
2017/8 (-19, 269) Ryan Armour - 1st PGA TOUR win
2016/7 (-20, 268) Cody Gribble - 1st PGA TOUR win
2015/6 (-18, 270) Peter Malnati - 1st PGA TOUR win
2014/5 (-16, 272) Nick Taylor - 1st PGA TOUR win
Notes: The best tournament for first-time winners on the PGA TOUR! You have been warned. Cameron Champ kept the streak going last year with a dominant four-shot win.
Next events:
Sept 26-29 Safeway Open
Oct 2-6 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
Oct 10-13 Houston Open
Oct 17-20 THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES - South Korea
Oct 24-27 The ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP - Japan
EUROPEAN TOUR
BMW PGA Championship
Location: Wentworth Golf Club, Surrey, England. 7,284 yards, par 72.
Notes: A switch in date from May for the European Tour's flagship event, due to the PGA Championship moving in the calendar to be the year's second major. After the low-key tournaments in Europe for the last few weeks, we're back with a bang with a top-class field enriched by several big-name Americans.
Who's playing? Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jon Rahm, Francesco Molinari, Tommy Fleetwood, Tony Finau, Patrick Reed, Paul Casey, Shane Lowry, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Matt Wallace, Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter, Billy Horschel, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Bernd Wiesberger, Andrew Putnam, Tyrrell Hatton, Thomas Pieters, Viktor Hovland.
Past winners of BMW PGA Championship
2018 (-17, 271) Francesco Molinari - 5th European Tour win
2017 (-11, 277) Alex Noren - 9th European Tour win
2016 (-9, 279) Chris Wood - 3rd European Tour win
2015 (-21, 267) Byeong Hun An - 1st European Tour win
2014 (-14, 274) Rory McIlroy - 6th European Tour win
Notes: An is the only non-European champion since 2005. The last American winner of the tournament? That would be Arnold Palmer in 1975!
