Fantasy League: KLM Open preview
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With the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs taking a week off, we turn our attention to the European Tour for this week’s Today’s Golfer Fantasy League event.
The field at the KLM Open features three of the world’s top four – Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Rory McIlroy – and gives managers their first chance to select solely from the European Tour.
There is an interesting mix of big names hoping to earn some early Ryder Cup qualification points, mid-standard players looking to force their way into the top 60 of the Race to Dubai and those fighting for their Tour cards for next season.
Hilversumsche GC is hosting Holland’s only European Tour event for the second successive year, but it was also the tournament venue from 2002 to 2005 and many times prior to this.
As you would expect, the track is very flat. It is a typical parkland layout with the majority of the danger coming from tree-lined fairways that will benefit straight hitters.
TG’s six-man Fantasy League team for the KLM Open is:
Lorenzo Gagli, $0.5m
It’s an exciting time for Italian golf and Gagli is the latest prospect to emerge on Tour. He has six top 22s in his last nine starts and is 12th and 5th on Tour in driving accuracy and greens in regulation respectively.
Benjamin Hebert, $0.5m
He has earned his European Tour card off the back of three wins in his last five starts on the Challenge Tour. His confidence is sky-high and he could ride this wave onto the main Tour.
Martin Kaymer, $4.5m
The defending champion hasn’t quite reached last season’s heights in 2011 but a runner-up finish last week indicated he’s ready for a big finish to the year. He ranks inside the top 59 for all major stats.
Rory McIlroy, $4.0m
The US Open champion didn’t seem affected by his arm injury at all on his way to a T3 finish last week. Third on Tour in stroke average this season.
Romain Wattel, $0.5m
The 20-year-old is another rookie making waves on the European Tour. He looks set to retain his card courtesy of three top 20s.
Lee Westwood, $5.0m
The world number two hasn’t played in Hilversum for nine years but he did win here in 1999. He’s on an incredible run of eight top 10s in his last 11 starts, including two wins.
> You can register for the free Today’s Golfer Fantasy League and pick your team here.
