This article is part of our PGA Tour Stats Review series.
The PGA Tour shifts to Malaysia this week for the 78-man, no cut, CIMB Classic. This is a week of guaranteed FedEx Cup points, which is why someone like Robert Streb was scheduled to be playing ... until he won the McGladrey Classic. He subsequently withdrew. Here's the stats preview for those still in the field:
History Lesson
This is the fifth playing of this tournament. Last year, Ryan Moore beat Gary Woodland in a Monday playoff, in 2012 Nick Watney beat Robert Garrigus and Bo Van Pelt by one shot, in 2011 Van Pelt beat Jeff Overton by six, and in 2010 Ben Crane beat Brian Davis by one.
Watney, Van Pelt, Garrigus, and Crane are not in the field. As a result, we have no recommendations from History Lesson.
Who is Playing
The field includes Billy Horschel, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Davis Love III, Jonas Blixt, Hideki Matsuyama, Tim Clark, Jason Dufner, Lee Westwood, Carlos Ortiz and Mike Weir. Last week's playoff participants Brendon de Jonge and Will MacKenzie are also in the field.
Our recommendations here are Reed, Matsuyama and Ortiz. Reed had the great Ryder Cup and also competed a couple weeks in the Volvo World Match Play Championship on the European Tour, so his game is probably sharper than some others on that list. Matsuyama had the great 2013-14 season and has two top-10s already this season, tying for third at the Frys.com Open and 10th in Las Vegas. Statistically he sits 10th in strokes
The PGA Tour shifts to Malaysia this week for the 78-man, no cut, CIMB Classic. This is a week of guaranteed FedEx Cup points, which is why someone like Robert Streb was scheduled to be playing ... until he won the McGladrey Classic. He subsequently withdrew. Here's the stats preview for those still in the field:
History Lesson
This is the fifth playing of this tournament. Last year, Ryan Moore beat Gary Woodland in a Monday playoff, in 2012 Nick Watney beat Robert Garrigus and Bo Van Pelt by one shot, in 2011 Van Pelt beat Jeff Overton by six, and in 2010 Ben Crane beat Brian Davis by one.
Watney, Van Pelt, Garrigus, and Crane are not in the field. As a result, we have no recommendations from History Lesson.
Who is Playing
The field includes Billy Horschel, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Davis Love III, Jonas Blixt, Hideki Matsuyama, Tim Clark, Jason Dufner, Lee Westwood, Carlos Ortiz and Mike Weir. Last week's playoff participants Brendon de Jonge and Will MacKenzie are also in the field.
Our recommendations here are Reed, Matsuyama and Ortiz. Reed had the great Ryder Cup and also competed a couple weeks in the Volvo World Match Play Championship on the European Tour, so his game is probably sharper than some others on that list. Matsuyama had the great 2013-14 season and has two top-10s already this season, tying for third at the Frys.com Open and 10th in Las Vegas. Statistically he sits 10th in strokes gained - tee to green and sixth in strokes gained - total at the moment.
Ortiz, meanwhile, who earned the Battlefield Promotion from the Web.com Tour last season, tied for 57th at the Frys and was T18 in Vegas. Stats wise, he's ninth in strokes gained-putting through those two starts. We like him not only for that reason but also because he should have little stress this week in an event which guarantees at least some FedEx Cup points to anyone who completes four rounds.
We do NOT like Dufner, who suffered a neck injury last season that led to poor play and a series of withdrawals around the PGA Championship. He returned in Perth last week, and although he finished in the top 30, it's unknown how many consecutive weeks he can play and if and when the neck will flare up again. Wait to see how he's performing over multiple events before starting him again on your team.
Sunday Surgers
These guys who played well on Sunday could help you this week on your fantasy team.
Kevin Chappell - Chappell moved up 12 places on Sunday to a T8 finish at McGladrey with his 5-under 65. Statistically he ranked eighth in strokes gained – tee to green.
David Lingmerth - Lingmerth saw a 13-spot jump to a T14 finish with a final-round 66. He was T1 in sand saves and T14 in strokes gained – total last week at Sea Island.
Davis Love III - Yes, Love, last week's host, is flying all the way to Malaysia after seemingly having an obligation every five minutes. He also played well on Sunday, shooting a 66 to move him up 27 spots to a T41 finish. He ranked T25 in greens in regulation.
