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European Tour
Here are three fantasy selections for the Lyoness Open at Diamond Country Club, Atzenbrugg, Austria (7,417 yards, Par 72).
Matthew Fitzpatrick was the leading amateur in the 2013 British Open and was pictured alongside Phil Mickelson who was holding the Claret Jug. The selection is aged 20 and proves the point that players don’t have to be physically well built to play golf well. Fitzpatrick has made a solid start to his professional career and looks a certain tournament winner of the future and that could happen at this level in Austria this week. He scores highly for the key skills of driving accuracy and hitting the greens in the correct number of shots and excels on courses that are more about hitting fairways and greens than long hitting.
Chris Wood finished fifth as an amateur in the 2008 British Open, just one shot too many to make the play-off with eventual winner Stewart Cink and Tom Watson. Injury has prevented Wood building on that early promise even though he has won two relatively minor tournaments in Europe. He has shown decent form this season at a higher level, most notably when fourth in the PGA Championship against the strongest field in Europe after the Open. Wood is in the top 20 for putts per round and that aptitude can compensate for average numbers for hitting fairways and greens and he finished 12th on his only visit to the course.
Bernd Wiesberger is the class act in a moderate field and the best golfer from Austria. He can either be inspired by home support or let the pressure of expectations get to him but he is proven in this tournament in the past. The Austrian is 47 under for four efforts at the host course where he won in 2012 and lost in a play-off last season. He combines that course form with losing in a play-off for the Irish Open two weeks ago and that level of form makes him a leading contender again this time. The one negative is a losing play-off record of three from three but he is good enough to eliminate the need for extra holes.
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US PGA Tour
Here are three fantasy selections for the FedEx St Jude Classic at TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tennessee (7,239 yards, Par 70).
Jason Bohn is a 42- year-old journeyman player who has won two times in 286 tournaments. Despite not reaching great heights he has kept his card for the last twelve seasons and could prosper in a weak event of this nature. The field has been affected by the tournament’s place in the schedule, one week ahead of the US Open which is the second major of the season. Bohn is fifth for driving accuracy and that is great asset on a course that requires precision more than long hitting. He has solid course form and has made his last three cuts at a higher level which suggests he can contend this week.
Charles Howell has won just two tournaments which is a poor return for a player who was recognised as having great potential when he first played on the PGA Tour. Things have not quite panned out and Howell often finds a reason for not winning a tournament. He has developed a solid career from making cuts without contending and may not need to find his best game to win this week. He has made the cut in the last five St Jude Classics so has more course form and experience than most. Howell is a top 20 player for greens in regulation and that skill can make up for average driving and putting.
Billy Horschel won the FedEx Cup and ten million dollar bonus last season so may have lost some hunger. He has not looked like winning since the Cup clinching Tour Championship but this week’s host course gives him a chance. He was tied 13th at the Players Championship and made the top 15 in the Memorial last week. He is known for accurate driving and that is a required skill to get in contention at TPC Southwind. Horschel has finished in the top ten in the last two years in this tournament so combines solid course and current form.
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