The best players in the world have arrived in New York for the year's final Major. The 98th PGA Championship gets underway at Baltusrol Golf Club, the site of Phil Mickelson's first Major victory in 2005. Our statistics guru has crunched the numbers and selected the following three players he believes deserve a place on your Fantasy teams this week.
Pick of the favourites: Rory McIlroy
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No one in the field has a better PGA Championship record than Rory McIlroy. The World Number Four has played the year’s final Major seven times, winning twice and notching three further top ten finishes. In each of the last two Ryder Cup years, McIlroy has lifted the Wanamaker Trophy, at Kiawah Island in 2012 and Vahalla two years ago. He has shot 71 or lower in his last 14 rounds at the PGA Championship and arrives in New York in impressive form. Other than his missed cut at the US Open, McIlroy has strung together eight straight top 15 finishes including four straight top fives. The 27 year old ranks first on Tour in Greens in Regulation, second in Stroke Average and 14th in Putts Per Green in Regulation. With his recent swing changes looking more comfortable, McIlroy may be the player to beat this week at Baltusrol.
Form horse: Charl Schwartzel
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Among the overlooked Major champions in the field this week, Charl Schwarzel may be one to add to your Fantasy teams. The 2011 Masters Champion made a surprising equipment change ahead of The Open Championship but the change hasn’t seemed to impact the South African’s form. He has six straight top 25 finishes entering this week, including the past two Majors. Schwartzel has won three times since December and is the only player on Tour that ranks inside the top ten in Stroke Average, Driving Distance, Greens in Regulation and Putts Per Green in Regulation. That type of all-round game should serve the 31 year old well around Baltusrol, one of the toughest PGA Championship venues.
Wild card: Tyrrell Hatton
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Tyrrell Hatton has turned an average season into a brilliant season in a matter of weeks. Having finished inside the top 40 once in his first five starts this season, the Englishman has now notched six top 15s in his last nine starts, including a runner-up finish in Scotland two weeks ago and a top five at The Open, his first Major top ten. Hatton made an impressive debut at the PGA Championship last year, finishing in the top 25 at Whistling Straits. The 24 year old is currently ninth in the Race To Dubai rankings and is in the top five on Tour in Stroke Average this season.
Those are our picks, did we do enough to convince you? Add them to yourEuropean Tour Daily Fantasy Gameand your line-up in theFantasy Race To Dubaibefore the action begins on Thursday morning.
