Laguna Golf Phuket

Posted on May 28, 2026 by DaveTindallTravel

It’s Monday morning in Phuket and I’ve arrived at the golf course wearing a yellow wristband. Tomorrow I’ll swap it for a pink one. On Wednesday: a green one.

If I said on Sunday it would be red, golf fans may start to solve the riddle. Tiger Woods famously wore red on Sundays, an idea passed to him by his Thai mother Kultida. In Thai culture each day is associated with a lucky colour and today (Monday) it’s yellow.

My wristband certainly brings me some good luck on the par-4 5th when a leaked drive to the right stops within inches of the water. But it can’t work miracles and I do find the wet stuff on another couple of holes.

My caddie for the day is Ning – all the pink-clad caddies are female, which is common in Asia – and although English isn’t her native tongue she speaks the language of golf perfectly. Unfortunately for me that often involves “water water” or “bunker bunker” but she seems to accurately assess how far I hit each club after just one drive and iron to the par-4 opener. Beyond that she’s like all the Thai people I come across – happy, super polite and helpful. She has a great chuckle too.

I play the front nine in warm sunshine but Ning’s warning of “rain come” after a glance to the darking skies in the distance manifests at the 13th. Unfortunately 13 is considered unlucky in Thai culture too so the heavens open. That makes the already more difficult and longer back nine play harder but it doesn’t dampen the mood.

Overall, Laguna Phuket is a very enjoyable, scenic test. Fairway bunkers are strategically placed and a sharp short game is needed. The greens are on the slow side for my round due to the rains which is just as well as the combination of quick surfaces and slopes would really make it a challenge. 

I spoke with general golf manager Stephen Chick for more insight.

Tell me about the course. What are its key attributes? 

I will list a few key attributes here: integrated resort destination, PGA-branded Academy, Championship standards, scenic tropical setting, accessibility, hospitality, international membership community, lifestyle location within Phuket and event capability.

How challenging is it for a low handicapper? 

The course is challenging for all levels of players, but it is very pretty on the eye during your round so that helps you forgot some of the challenges. The biggest challenge would be around the greens, although position off some tees is crucial. Once you’ve managed that then chipping and putting requires skill to navigate some of the slopes around the greens.

How would an 18-handicapper or higher get on at Laguna Phuket? 

The beauty of an 18 handicap is you know you have one shot to spare on each hole so if you’re off the tee smoothly then you can relax around the greens but there is water waiting around the fairways in case you are not accurate off the tee.

Does it handle the rains well?

Yes, very well. As all greens are raised they naturally drain well.

What is the course record – both for men and ladies? 

The current course record is held by a 16-year-old female, who scored 58 in May 2026 at the recently hosted Annika Invitational. Her name is Marisa Tojai.

What tournaments has it held? 

Laguna Golf Phuket has been the host venue for the Singha Laguna Phuket Open for 10 years which is an event on the All Thailand Golf Tour which has sometimes been co-sanctioned with the Asian Development Tour and Asian Tour. Recently, it hosted the Annika Sorenstam Foundation as well as the Sir Nick Faldo foundation and World Amateur.

Have you had any famous people playing the course – either golfers or celebs? 

Legends such as Sir Nick Faldo and Gary Player have been to Laguna Golf Phuket and celebs such as Maroon 5 have played too.

Any other things about the course you’d like to tell us about?

Laguna Golf Phuket also has the only PGA branded Golf Academy in south-east Asia and we have four PGA professionals available for golf lessons.

The beauty of Laguna Phuket is that the experience goes way beyond golf.

I’m here with my girlfriend and the resort is perfectly set up to cater for and entertain couples, families and golfers too.

While waiting to tee off I chat to an English guy who is here with three other mates and their families. Some are here to play golf; others to sample the beautiful hotels and on-site attractions.

Angsana

We stay at two of the property’s six hotels. First up is Angsana where we enjoy the luxury accommodation of a Loft – a two-floor apartment that overlooks a lagoon. It’s a perfect place to unwind.

On arrival, we’re greeted with a gong and given wrist bracelets with our names on! What a wonderful welcome! 

Then it’s a champagne lunch at the Rava Beach Club where our glasses are topped up by a man in a white suit on stilts while a girl in a sequin red dress plays a saxophone. For a moment I think I’m still on the plane from Manchester having an odd dream but, no, this is real!

Later that day we attend a Thai Inhaler Workshop, a peaceful aperitif for the rather excellent his and hers, side-by-side, Thai massage that follows at the award-winning Angsana Spa.

Muscles and joints loosened up – very welcome after a long flight – we enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail on the beachfront at Xana before tucking into some superb local fish dishes at Bodega & Grill.

Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket

For the final two nights we switch to the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket which has more of an authentic Thai feel and a strong beach vibe. Our room looks out to the beautiful Andaman sea and sitting on the balcony watching the waves is an absolute treat.

Better still is to wander outside to the newly-refurbished Casuarina Beach Club where the sea is a greenside chip away. Mediterranean food and cocktails at primetime sunset as the ocean laps. A fire starter show on one night. Take it all in.

We also enjoy sushi there on our final day, fresh from the indulgence of a second Thai massage – this one outside in the garden. It takes relaxation levels off the scale as the sounds of the sea and tweeting birds provide a blissful soundtrack.

As well as tucking into a hearty breakfast – local and international offerings – at Laguna Cafe we also enjoy dinner at La Trattoria – seafood pizza for me, steak for Jane – and, most memorable of all, authentic Thai cuisine at Benjarong where we sample the signature dish: Flambeed Phuket lobster served with sweet red curry sauce (this one has Michelin Plate recognition no less!).

On day three we’re back to to the Laguna Cafe for lunch before heading further afield.

Beyond Laguna Phuket

While more golf and further unwinding around the pool are tempting options, we also want to see a little more of Phuket.

The ideal option is to book an air-conditioned van. Our driver takes us on a round trip to see the street art and bustle of Phuket Old Town, the beautiful temples at Wat Chalong and, after a slow, steep and winding hillside climb, the giant and spectacular Big Buddha. It’s a must-see and a definite personal highlight. We’re lucky as Big Buddha only recently opened again after landslides. 

Driving home we view the sights and sounds of Phuket’s west coast including Karon Beach and Patong Beach.

Conclusions

  • This really was a wow experience from start to finish. I took it in as part of a couple – on booking.com couples rate Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket at 9.2 out of 10 for a two-person trip – but families and groups of golfers would enjoy it just as much.
  • How did someone shoot 58 on Laguna Phuket?! Hats off to Thai teenager Marisa Tojai. Remember the name.
  • After a great chat about golf in Asia with Samir Wildemann, the General Manager at Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, one thought is that golfers looking for a bigger, longer trip could base themselves at Laguna Phuket, play some other courses (Red Mountain, Blue Canyon) in Phuket too and then even travel on to Vietnam, something of a hidden gem for golfers.    
  • The real acid test of a holiday destination is a) would you recommend it to others? b) would you go back? For Laguna Phuket, the answers are easy: yes and yes. The Thai people are an absolute delight and all the staff just can’t do enough.
  • May is considered the low season but although we had bursts of rain at points, sunshine more often than not won the battle of the skies. Don’t presume that the rain symbol on your phone means it chucks it down constantly. It doesn’t.

Guaranteed sunshine at other times of the year obviously push prices up in peak season but here are the costs for our trip in late May.

Some prices

Our rather grand two-storey suite (One-Bedroom Loft) at Angsana costs under £200. A more standard Laguna Room – King is around £110 in late May.

Our Premier Ocean Front Room (King Bed) at Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket costs £160 per night. Members get it for just £135 and that includes breakfast. 

More details can be found here:

Websites
Lagunagolfphuket
Laguna Golf Rates and Memberships

Instagram
Lagunagolfphuket

Final thought…

This was my first trip to Thailand and I’m sure it won’t be the last.

After posting a photo of my round at Laguna Golf Phuket and asking if anyone has stayed here, one friend on X, Mike Miller, replied: “Hell of a complex; massive. I quickly worked out you need to tee-off early. Afternoon/evening was pretty much exclusively for: alcohol, utterly superb fresh seafood and massages. Happy days!”

Mike, a Kiwi, has travelled far and wide so his view is respected.

If Laguna Golf Phuket hadn’t appeared on your radar before… well, it needs to. Wonderful people, wonderful resort and a golf course that will want you coming back for more.

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Fantasy Picks for the 2026 Players Championship

Posted on March 11, 2026 by DaveTindallTravel

Last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational was a frustrating one for many fantasy players with Jake Knapp withdrawing on the eve of the tournament and Rory McIlroy pulling out at halfway.

The latter news hurt me in the £10 game as I’d captained Rory in both my line-ups.

One of those limped into profit which was a minor pleasant surprise but, as all fantasy players know, you need to get all six golfers playing 72 holes to land the big prizes.

And so to TPC Sawgrass where pulling that feat off is far from easy.

Even the elite players have missed cuts sprinkled on their Players Championship CVs as the course can be extremely punishing if anything is slightly off.

If you’re new to the game, a quick reminder that among your six picks, the Captain and Underdog (UD) – the cheapest player in your line-up – both score x1.25pts.

Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have won four of the last six editions of this event but Scheffler has slipped to 12th and 24th in his last two starts (recording negative Approach numbers in both which is unheard of) while Rory is still nursing a bad back so said he’d only turn up on the eve of the tournament.

McIlroy’s ownership will be way down as a result so if you fancy taking the gamble…

First up, let’s start with a SPECIAL OFFER below!

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Get £40 in entries for simply depositing £10 and playing any cash game.

Okay, let’s start building…

Top Tier Picks (18M and over)

Collin Morikawa (19.6M): The Californian’s superb ball-striking gives a real layer of comfort for anyone siding with him on this course. He’s made four of five cuts, posting 10th and 13th in two of the last three. But just as appealing is his current form. Morikawa won at Pebble Beach and has since added seventh at Riviera and fifth at Bay Hill. His Approach numbers are elite as expected while he’s also gained strokes with the putter in his last two events which is the absolute clincher.

Viktor Hovland (18.2M): Opinion on him will be far from unanimous this week but Hovland could definitely be worth the risk. He was 13th at Bay Hill last week (14th Approach, 6th Putting) and prior to that he’d cracked the top 10 in six of his last 12 starts in Florida. Two of those were third and ninth at Sawgrass. If he gets in contention, Hovland tends to stay there so there’s lots to like.

Others to consider: Obviously Scottie Scheffler (28.4M) and Rory McIlroy (23.8M) could still be big factors but, given the doubts, that’s a lot of money to invest on either. And, unlike the betting markets, their fantasy prices haven’t altered due to the doubts. Hideki Matsuyama (19M) has a feast or famine record at Sawgrass in the last six years: fifth, sixth and eighth mixed in with three missed cuts. His irons haven’t looked sharp in the last two starts it has to be said. Si Woo Kim (18.6M) was a shock winner here in 2017 and has finished sixth and ninth since. It would be no shock to see him contend again this year though after five top 15s already this season, including second, third and sixth.

Mid-Range Value Selections (14.2M up to 18M)

Ludvig Aberg (17.4M) is on the rise again and his results and underlying numbers are getting better by the week. They shot up at Bay Hill last week where the Swede finished third. Stats-wise he was 2nd Tee To Green, 2nd for Driving Accuracy and 3rd for Approach. Add to that an eighth place on his Players debut in 2024 when he carded a trio of 5-under 67s.

Min Woo Lee (15M). The head says Lee is perhaps a little erratic to flourish here. But the Aussie admits he loves TPC Sawgrass and his results back it up. Lee has made all three cuts and has finishes of sixth and 20th. Twice he’s shot 66. Hopes are even higher this time given his current form of 6-12-2, excellent approach play and much straighter driving.

Others to consider: Sepp Straka (15.2M) has been one of the most reliable Sawgrass performers around in the last four years; he’s made every cut and finished in the top 16 three times. He returns with a second place and two other top 20s from his latest four outings. Jake Knapp (15.2M) had outstanding 2026 form of 11-5-8-8-6 before pulling out last week. It was originally reported as an illness but it’s emerged the WD was due to a back issue. That’s a slight concern although his recent play and 12th last year point to a high ceiling. Brooks Koepka (15.6M) didn’t do much on his first two starts after returning to the PGA Tour with much fanfare. But back in his native Florida and on Bermuda greens, he flourished again with ninth at the Cognizant last time (positive SG: Putting figures). It’s going back a while but he has an 11th and a 16th in two of his last four Players Championship starts. Adam Scott (14.6M) is making his 24th appearance and one of those resulted in a win way back in 2004. Fuelled by improved putting (11th and 6th for SGP in his last two events), the Aussie feels his game is in good shape and it’s showing in his results: 11-4-30-24. Aaron Rai (14.4M) lives just five minutes away after making Florida home a few years ago and his game really matches up well with Sawgrass where he practises. The Englishman has course form of 14-35-19 and current form of 23-28. He was a winner at the Abu Dhabi Championship in November. Daniel Berger (14.2M) got pipped at Bay Hill after leading for almost the entire week but he’s 7-for-7 here since 2016 and has reeled off three straight top 20s at Sawgrass.

Underdog Options (14M and Under)

Sahith Theegala (14M) was mentioned as an Underdog (UD) candidate last week and he came up trumps by finishing sixth. That was his third top 10 of the season and he has two other top 25s so his revival after an injury-hit 2025 has been impressive. Theegala has made his last three cuts at Sawgrass and was ninth in the middle of those. Once again, he’s a leading UD contender.

Keith Mitchell (14M) has made his last 10 cuts on the PGA Tour and four of those are top 20s. The most recent was sixth at the Cognizant earlier this month. His Approach numbers are strong and suggest he could challenge or improve upon his best Players finish of 13th. He’s missed just one cut at Sawgrass in the last four years.

Others to consider: Denny McCarthy (13.8M) doesn’t seem an ideal course fit but the proof is in the pudding and he’s made all six of his Sawgrass starts. Not only that, two of the last three were top 15s. He missed the cut at Bay Hill last time, the first time he’s failed to make the weekend all season (McCarthy’s best 2026 finish is only 40th however). Jordan Smith (13.6M) ranks 1st for Ball Striking this season so should enjoy his tournament debut. He’s taken well to life on the PGA Tour, making four cuts out of five and posting 16th (Phoenix) and 23rd (Cognizant) in his last two starts. Bud Cauley (13.2M) played well in Florida last year (sixth here and fourth at the Valspar) and enjoyed his return to the Sunshine State with 18th at Bay Hill last week. Ryan Fox (13M) made it four straight top 25s with 24th at Bay Hill and two of his three Sawgrass starts have yielded 20th and 27th. If you want a bargain buy who keeps making cuts, try Zecheng Dou (12M). The debutant’s 6-for-6 slate this season includes 13th in Phoenix and 17th at the Cognizant and he’s 10th for SG: Approach this season. Finally, I can’t leave out Tom Hoge (14M) given his third places in both 2023 and 2025. He’s also made every Players cut since 2019 but three MCs in the last four weeks is a concern even if he delivered 14th at Pebble (the scene of his only PGA Tour win) during that run.

That’s this week in the books from a fantasy perspective.

Now to check out the revamped and much-boosted FanTeam Sportsbook.

Let’s have a couple of bets too.

Last week’s 72-hole match bet landed again with Cameron Young (third) beating Si Woo Kim (13th).

This week I’ll take Daniel Berger to beat Jordan Spieth at 1.80.

Spieth has played some decent golf lately but Sawgrass gets in his head. In his last 10 visits, he’s missed the cut in half of them and managed just one finish better than 40th (19th in 2023).

In terms of this match bet at Sawgrass, had you placed it every year Berger would have won it seven times out of eight and by a comfortable margin in plenty of those.

As for my second play, I’ll take a chance on Shane Lowry to be Top Irish at 2.95.

He has two rivals: Rory McIlroy and Seamus Power.

Obviously McIlroy is the defending champion but in the previous four editions of this event, Lowry outscored Rory in three of them and tied with him in the other.

Add in McIlroy’s bad back and Lowry could cash in.

Power, who missed the cut in Puerto Rico last week, has form here in the last three years of MC-64-MC.

Good luck and don’t forget to SIGN UP HERE

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Fantasy Picks for the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational

Posted on March 4, 2026 by DaveTindallTravel

After profits in the last two Signature Events, including a second place finish at Pebble Beach, hopefully we can land some more in this latest one.

It’s a limited 72-man field at the Arnold Palmer Invitational where there will be a cut.

The low 50 plus ties or anyone within 10 of the lead make it to the weekend.

Not getting all six players through to the last 36 holes cost me in last week’s Cognizant Classic which was frustrating – especially for my team which featured runner-up Shane Lowry as captain.

If you’re new to the game, a quick reminder that among your six picks, the Captain and Underdog (UD) – the cheapest player in your line-up – both score x1.25pts. They’re key.

Bay Hill, a 7,466-yard par 72, is a tough course and only twice in the last seven years has Augusta National had a higher winning score.

Once again, we need to decide whether to pay the big bucks for Scottie Scheffler and build a team around him or pass him by for a more balanced line-up.

First up, let’s start with a SPECIAL OFFER below!

SIGN UP HERE

Get £40 in entries for simply depositing £10 and playing any cash game.

Okay, let’s start building…

Top Tier Picks (18M and over)

Scottie Scheffler (28.4M): He puts a big hole in the budget once more but Scheffler is a hard man to leave out at Bay Hill. He won here in 2022 and 2024 so likes an even-numbered year while his three other finishes show fourth, 11th and 15th. Despite being possessed by ‘average golfer demons’ in recent round ones, he’s still followed his season-opening win at The American Express with finishes of 3-4-12 while he’s recorded positive SG: Putting figures in all four 2026 starts.

Rory McIlroy (23.2M): For over 5M cheaper, you can add the captain’s armband to Rory. And it’s a more than justifiable move. McIlroy’s 11 Bay Hill starts include a win, a second, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, nine top 15s overall and nothing worse than 27th. With his iron play sharpened up by a return to blades (top four for SG: Approach in last two starts), McIlroy has momentum after following a 14th at Pebble with a second place at Riviera.

Others to consider: Tommy Fleetwood (20.8M) is starting to find his late-season 2025 groove again after fourth at Pebble Beah and seventh at the Genesis. His driving looks strong and his short game sharp while the Englishman has five top 20s at Bay Hill including third in 2019 and 11th last year. Compatriot Matt Fitzpatrick (19.6M) will rightly have high ownership this week due to his four top 10s at Bay Hill (including a runners-up finish), three straight top 25s on the PGA Tour and eyecatching ball-striking figures. His putting is a potential problem though (minus SGP figures in all four 2026 starts). Russell Henley (18.8M) loves a tough test and returns as defending champion. Also fourth in 2024, he has three top sixes in his last five Florida starts and an eighth and two other top 20s in four starts this season. Cameron Young (18.2M) started hitting it really well again when seventh at Riviera (9th Off The Tee, 5th Approach) and made the top 15 in his first two Bay Hill starts (2022 and 2023).

Mid-Range Value Selections (14.2M up to 18M)

Shane Lowry (16.2M) will be seen as a risk after throwing away victory at last week’s Cognizant Classic. But beyond a couple of crazy holes at the finish he played beautifully and his second place followed eighth at Pebble and a top 25 at Riviera. At Bay Hill he’s finished seventh and third in the last two editions. Many will be put off in the belief that his head won’t be right but that offers a chance to cash in on a much reduced ownership if you’re prepared to take a gamble. I am.

Jason Day (15.4M) makes plenty of appeal at the lower end of this price range. The Aussie lived next to Bay Hill when first moving to America and his strong record at Arnie’s place shows a win (2016), top 10s in 2023 and 2025 and seven top 25s overall. He was a runner-up at The American Express in late January and 24th at Pebble while he always putts these fast Bermuda greens well.

Others to consider: Harris English (17.8M) is ‘Mr Consistency’ so far 2026 after finishes of 27-22-28-24-22. Twice a runner-up in majors last year, he was second here in 2023 and also made the top 10 in 2020. Rickie Fowler (16M) is enjoying another upswing in form via three top 20s and a 28th this season. The Californian was third here in 2013 and has made his last nine Bay Hill cuts. Keegan Bradley (15M) is very much course horse material. The 2025 US Ryder Cup captain was fifth last year and has only been outside the top 11 once in the last five editions. Go over a decade back and you’ll also find a pair of top threes. A 29th at Pebble two starts ago and some good golf in recent TGL matches suggest he can thrive again. Jordan Spieth (14.8M) didn’t play here until 2021 but he clicked immediately, finishing fourth on his first two visits. In four starts this season, he has a 24th at the Sony and a 12th last time at the Genesis Invitational and watch out for that hot putter (2nd and 3rd for SG: Putting in his last two starts). Jake Knapp (17.2M) simply has to be mentioned due to his ridiculously good start to the season: 11-5-8-8-6. He had to settle for 57th on his only Bay Hill visit in 2024 but, overall, he seems pretty good at Florida golf with three top sixes and a 12th in his last seven starts in the Sunshine State.

Underdog Options (14M and Under)

Sahith Theegala (14M) has to be a real Underdog (UD) candidate here. He’s 6-for-6 this season, with two top 10s and two other top 25s. After the struggles of an injury-hit 2025, it’s great to see and at Bay Hill he’s also performed well with sixth in 2024 and 14th in 2023.

Corey Conners (13.6M) is a course specialist and his run of five straight top 25s here is bookended by a pair of top threes in 2021 and 2025. The Canadian has also finished 8-6-3 in his last three Florida starts. Conners hasn’t found much this season but he’s 3-for-4 with 24th at the Sony Open and 37th at Riviera where he shot par or better on all four days.

Others to consider: Ryan Fox (13.4M) has made a strong start to his 2026 PGA Tour campaign with top 25s at Phoenix and Pebble Beach and then a jump to seventh at Riviera. His only Bay Hill start produced an encouraging 14th place in 2023. Keith Mitchell (13.8M) is another great option if trying to balance up a Scheffler-led team. The man with the visor has a fifth and a sixth in his perfect 5-for-5 Bay Hill slate and kicked off the Florida Swing with sixth at the Cognizant. He’s realiable too: since October 2025 Mitchell has made all nine of his cuts. For an enabler, how about Michael Kim (12.4M), who was fourth here last year and 17th in one of his other two Bay Hill starts. Although he disappointed in three California events, 18th in Phoenix was a decent knock.

That’s this week in the books from a fantasy perspective.

Now to check out the revamped and much-boosted FanTeam Sportsbook.

Let’s have a couple of bets too.

First, I like Rickie Fowler for a Top 20 at 2.45.

Fowler has three of those in four starts this season and even in the down years he’s always made the cut at Bay Hill (best finish third).

With his putter looking good, a top 20 seems a very reasonable ask.

Last week’s 72-hole match bet landed and this week I’ll back Cameron Young to beat Si-Woo Kim in a 1.92 pick ’em.

Kim has cooled a little (45th and 34th last two starts) after his red-hot start to the season and Bay Hill is hardly his favourite course. He’s broken 70 just once in 31 rounds there and has a best finish of 19th.

Young, by contrast, is hitting form (seventh last time) and boasts a 10th and a 13th in his four API starts.

Good luck and don’t forget to SIGN UP HERE

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Fantasy Picks for the 2026 Cognizant Classic

Posted on February 25, 2026 by DaveTindallTravel

After a morale-boosting second place at Pebble Beach, I managed to eke out small profits with both my £10 teams last week.

Despite being very different line-ups, they actually finished side by side in 42nd and 43rd but by far the most frustrating was the former.

That team included surprise winner Jacob Bridgeman, runner-up McIlroy (my captain) and seventh-placed Tommy Fleetwood while Underdog (UD) Tony Finau chipped in nicely with just under 97.5pts after tied 28th.

But this six-legged animal had to keep up the sprint with just five limbs after Jason Day was lost to the cut.

Even a modest performance from the Aussie would have put this line-up in second place but plenty of managers will have had similar hard-luck stories so let’s not dwell!

This week the PGA Tour moves from west coast to east for the start of the Florida Swing.

The Cognizant (formerly Honda) Classic used to be won with single digits under par but the course is far easier these days to the point where Jake Knapp (not playing this week) opened with a 59 in 2025!

If you’re new to the game, a quick reminder that among your six picks, the Captain and Underdog (UD) – the cheapest player in your line-up – both score x1.25pts. They’re key.

First up, let’s start with a SPECIAL OFFER below!

SIGN UP HERE

Get £40 in entries for simply depositing £10 and playing any cash game.

Okay, let’s start building…

Top Tier Picks (18M and over)

Shane Lowry (21.2M): With water in play on 15 of the 18 holes at PGA National, double bogeys and worse are common and that explains why lots of players have mixed records. But Lowry seems immune from the fluctuations. He’s 8-for-8 here while the last four read 2-5-4-11. His current form also shows high-class reliability. After ending 2025 with finishes of 3-12-11, he’s started 2026 with a run of 3-26-8-24. Living 20 minutes from the course, this is very much a ‘home’ game these days.

Ryan Gerard (20.6M): Gerard pieced together a trio of second place finishes either side of Christmas (Mauritius Open, Sony Open, American Express) and after a slight cooling off in February (11-45-28), he’ll welcome the return to Bermuda greens. At PGA National, he was fourth on debut in 2023 and 25th last year.

Others to consider: Nicolai Hojgaard (19.6M) is my preferred twin here and, surprisingly, he’s cheaper than brother Rasmus Hojgaard (20.2M), who is also worth a look. Nicolai was 18th in this event last year and already in 2026 he’s delivered third at the Dubai Desert Classic, fourth at the Phoenix Open on his latest outing and 22nd at Torrey Pines. Keith Mitchell (18.6M) won here in 2019 (his only PGA Tour success) and added top 10s in 2022 and 2024. He’s made all five cuts this season with a best of 11th at Torrey Pines. Michael Thorbjornsen (18.8M) had three good rounds out of four on his Cognizant debut last year for 39th and was third in Phoenix. A lack of consistency makes him a riskier play than some in this price bracket.

Mid-Range Value Selections (14.2M up to 18M)

Daniel Berger (17.8M) lost a playoff here to Padraig Harrington on his tournament debut in 2015 and added fourths in 2020 and 2022 (54-hole leader) before another top 25 last year. Already in 2026 he’s banked a sixth in the Sony Open (correlates well with this event) and 16th in Phoenix. He’ll relish this return to Bermuda greens.

Eric Cole (14.6M) lives close to the course and was runner-up on debut in 2023. He’s always one to consider when the tour heads to a Bermuda grass venue and was 12th at the Valspar on his last start in Florida. While a best of 27th (twice) this season doesn’t leap off the page, Cole was fourth with a lap to go at The American Express and sixth at halfway at Torrey Pines.

Others to consider: Johnny Keefer (15.6M), a first-timer at PGA National, has launched his PGA Tour career with a barrage of birdies. His ball-striking numbers look great so he just needs to get the putter hotter. Doug Ghim (14.8M) has finished 11th (2025) and 16th (2024) in the easier conditions here and is a reliable performer in Florida. Aaron Rai (17.6M) was a winner at November’s Abu Dhabi Championship and he was set for a big finish at Riviera last week after two 66s in his opening three rounds. Yet to flourish here but he’s been good in other Florida events. Lee Hodges (14.2M) has a ninth and a 14th in two of his three starts at PGA National and enjoys this corner of the USA. He started 2026 with sixth at the Sony Open after ending 2025 with fourth in the RSM Classic. Ricky Castillo (15M) was third at November’s RSM Classic after opening with a 63 and closing with a 62. He’s 3-for-3 this season and made the cut here last year, shooting 66 and 67 along the way. Tom Kim (14.8M) is starting to find his mojo again and has cashed in all fives starts this season. He looks a good fit for this and is 6-for-7 in Florida.

Underdog Options (14M and Under)

S.H. Kim (14M) has made his last nine worldwide cuts and seven of those were top 20s. He’s also played all four rounds in both Cognizant starts and had a piece of the first-round lead in 2024. Twice this year Kim has opened with laps of 63 so he knows how to rack up the birdies. He’s listed as S. Kim in the game just to point out.

Andrew Putnam (13.6M) looks a bargain and definite UD (underdog) material. He was runner-up at The American Express on his penultimate PGA Tour start thanks largely to a second-round 60 and posted 11th here last year. Also eighth at Bay Hill in 2024, his putter should be a big weapon as it works really well on Bermuda greens.

Others to consider: Adam Hadwin (13.4M) was a PGA Tour staple for years before losing his card. He did though finish 11th in the Bermuda Championship in November and he’s started strongly on the Korn Ferry this season with second place at the Panama Championship. The Canadian was eighth here when he last played the tournament in 2021. Teenager Blades Brown (13.6M) made everyone sit up and take notice at The American Express with a second-round 60 and he was second with a round to go before landing in 18th (1st GIR). He’s since returned to the Korn Ferry and was 25th last time out. Zecheng Dou (13.8M) finished runner-up in two of his final three Korn Ferry events of 2025 and has made all four cuts on the PGA Tour in 2026 with a best of 13th in Phoenix last time (R4 63).

That’s this week in the books from a fantasy perspective.

Now to check out the revamped and much-boosted FanTeam Sportsbook.

Let’s have a couple of bets too.

In the 72 Hole Match Bet market, I like Nicolai to beat Rasmus in a pick ’em at 1.92.

Nicolai is in better form and was 18th here last year. Rasmus seems to struggle in Florida (missed last four cuts).

Second, I’ll play Daniel Berger in the Top 10 market at 4.7. As well as his second place on debut, the local man has two top 10s here (both fourths) in his last four visits.

Good luck and don’t forget to SIGN UP HERE

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Fantasy Picks for the 2026 Genesis Invitational

Posted on February 18, 2026 by DaveTindallTravel

PB had a double meaning last week – Pebble Beach and personal best.

Yes, after a rather frustrating start to the season, I finished 2nd out of 744 in the £2 game to land a very nice profit. That beat my previous best Fanteam fantasy golf performance of 5th.

The result came courtesy of an experimental Scottie Scheffler team and, being contrarian (I was the only player in the top five finishers to have him), paid off.

Many, as in Phoenix, felt the 30M for the World No.1 didn’t leave enough budget elsewhere but I managed to spread it around to get some good picks on board.

This was my team:

T2nd Sepp Straka 141.00pts
T4th Scottie Scheffler (Captain) 157.50pts
T6th Akshay Bhatia 117.00pts
T8th Ryo Hisatsune 122.75pts
T14th Tom Hoge (Underdog) 131.88pts
72nd Michael Kim 63.25pts

With the captain and UD (underdog) – both score x1.25pts – performing well, it racked up 733.38pts.

The winner bagged 738.88 – well done Leegiles9 – so it was close. My six-man line-up would have finished 3rd in the £10 game.

As for the Season Game, my Scheffler team finished 20th out of 602 at Pebble Beach and is now exactly 100th in the overall standings. Work to do but some encouraging signs after it ended Week 1 way down in 350th.

My non-Scheffler team is going the other way: 58th after Week 1 but now down to a woeful 388th.

Next up, the PGA completes the West Coast Swing with a trip to famed Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.

First, let’s start with a SPECIAL OFFER below!

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Okay, let’s start building…

Top Tier Picks (18M and over)

Tommy Fleetwood (20.6M): After a rather modest start to the season in Dubai, Fleetwood’s first 2026 foray onto the PGA Tour ended with a very encouraging T4 at Pebble Beach, his best finish there. With strong Tee To Green figures – a key pointer for success at Riviera – hopes must be high that he can continue his record here of improving his result on every visit. So far the sequence reads 37-28-20-10.

Rory McIlroy (22.6M): McIlroy also left Pebble with a spring in his step after closing with a 64. That moved him up to 14th place and with a sense of momentum heading to LA. Six of the last 10 editions of this event at Riviera have been won by Masters champions which bodes well, as does his 4th place for SG: Approach at Pebble.

Others to consider: Scottie Scheffler (29.4M) has form this season of 1-3-4 and don’t forget that he was 10 shots off the pace after 18 holes in both of his last two events. He has four-year Riviera form (2021 to 2024) of 20-7-12-10 but should he be worth nearly 7M more than McIlroy? Hideki Matsuyama (19M) is still far from convincing with the driver but he’s still finished second and eighth the last two weeks. He produced a majestic Sunday 62 to win at Riviera two years ago and prior to that had logged fourth, fifth, ninth and 11th at this course. Collin Morikawa (18.8M) was back to his brilliant best with the irons to win at Pebble Beach last week and, with the Tour staying in his native California, he could be high up the leaderboard again. He loves Riviera (19-6-2 last three visits). Another Golden State local, Patrick Cantlay (18.6M) is another strong option in this price category having totted up three top fours along with two 15ths and a 17th in his last seven starts at The Riv. He’s made the top 15 in both California events so far (Amex and Pebble) in 2026.

Mid-Range Value Selections (14.2M up to 18M)

Ludvig Aberg (16.6M) is the defending champion although that win 12 months ago came at Torrey Pines due to the wildfires near Riviera. But the Augusta connection is strong – he’s had a piece of the R4 lead in the last two Masters – and was 19th on his only start here in 2024. He’s had a slow start to the season, partly due to illness, but the Swede shot the joint-sixth best score over the final three rounds at Pebble last week and could be ready to flourish again.

Harris English (15.8M) hasn’t finished worse than 28th in four starts this season and was a winner on the West Coast Swing last year as well as runner-up in two 2025 majors. He’s driving the ball superbly this year and brings course form too via seventh here in 2024 and 12th in 2023. English shot a round of 65 on the weekend in both years.

Others to consider: Adam Scott (15.8M) is another to have helped build the Augusta-Riviera connection. He won the Green Jacket in 2013 and has two wins, two seconds, a fourth and a seventh here. He’s been solid in three PGA Tour starts this season: 40-24-30. This is a Riveria debut for Jake Knapp (17.2M) but he’s been one of the stars of the West Coast Swing (11-5-8-8). His putting on Poa Annua greens (the surfaces here) has been superb. Jason Day (15.4M) is one of just two players to have cracked the top 10 in the last two editions of this event at Riviera (Cantlay is the other). The Aussie closed with three 68s for 24th at Pebble and was runner-up at The American Express. Max Homa (14.2M) represents the course form v current form dilemma. His form here from 2020 reads 5-1-10-2-16 but he’s started the season somewhat slowly (27-MC-66).

Underdog Options (14M and Under)

Sahith Theegala (13.8M) will be particularly determined to do well after tournament host Tiger Woods awarded him a spot in the field via the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption – a place given to the most deserving golfer from a minority background. Theegala made the cut as an unknown here in 2017, has cashed in all four four visits and took sixth in 2023. He didn’t get it going at Pebble but his 2026 form is impressive with top 10s at the Amex and Torrey Pines followed by 18th in Phoenix.

Tony Finau (13.6M) has definite UD (underdog) credentials. He’s twice been a runner-up at Riviera, has five top 20s in the last seven runnings on the par 71 and is definitely showing good signs again after a difficult 2025. Finau was 11th at Torrey Pines and 18th at Pebble last week and those two finishes form part of a run of four top 20s in his last five California starts.

Others to consider: Jacob Bridgeman (13.6M) got a mention in this section last week after putting up 2026 finishes of 4-13-18. Now we can add an ‘8’ onto that after his top 10 at Pebble. Bridgeman’s strong putting on Poa Annua greens bodes well for his Riviera debut. Tom Hoge (12.6M) did me proud as the UD last week and he’s definitely a contender for that role again thanks to some rather neat symmetry. He’s been eighth and 14th in the last two runnings at Riviera and has eighth (Amex) and 14th (Pebble) on his CV in 2026. Hoge was 8th for SG: Approach last week. Ryo Hisatsune (13.6M) actually has very marginally better form than his far more celebrated compatriot Hideki Matsuyama over the last three starts (8-10-2 v 8-2-11). Enough said. It’s Hisatsune’s course debut.

That’s this week in the books from a fantasy perspective.

Now to check out the revamped and much-boosted FanTeam Sportsbook.

Let’s have a couple of bets too.

In the Top 10 market, I like Tony Finau at 8.6. That’s great value given that he’s a course horse with two strong results in his last three events.

Second, I’ll play Tom Hoge in the Top 20 market at 4.4.

Remember, there are only 72 players in the field and Hoge has cracked the top 20 in his last two Riviera starts and boasts an eighth and a 14th already this season.

Good luck and don’t forget to SIGN UP HERE

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Fantasy Picks for the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Posted on February 11, 2026 by DaveTindallTravel

Week 5 of the 2026 PGA Tour season takes us to perhaps the most scenic course in golf – the spectacular Pebble Beach Golf Links.

The good news this week is that I can guarantee that all six players in my fantasy team will make it to the weekend.

Rather than a brag, that’s due to this being a no-cut Signature Series event.

Last week, the decision to not pay the huge price (31.4M) for Scottie Scheffler looked a smart one when he was 89th after round one and in grave danger of missing the cut.

But, almost inevitably, the World No.1 recovered superbly to finish in a tie for third.

However, the strategy was still correct and none of the top 20 finishers in the £10 FanTeam game had Scheffler in their line-up.

I had playoff loser Hideki Matsuyama as my captain but hopes of a payout were undone by missed cuts for Brooks Koepka and my UD (underdog) Andrew Novak.

If you’re new to the game, a quick reminder that among your six picks, the Captain and Underdog (UD) – the cheapest player in your line-up – both score x1.25pts. They’re key.

First up, let’s start with a SPECIAL OFFER below!

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Get £40 in entries for simply depositing £10 and playing any cash game.

Okay, let’s start building…

Top Tier Picks (18M and over)

Russell Henley (19.2M): With top 20s in each of his last 10 PGA Tour starts stretching back to June last year, Henley is probably the most reliable high-class performer on the PGA Tour not called Scottie Scheffler. A top five here last year showed his suitability to the test while he’s started 2026 with 19th at the Sony Open and eighth in The American Express.

Xander Schauffele (18.2M): The ‘X’ man gets bumped up my thinking due to a price that is perhaps a couple of million cheaper than it might have been. That’s due to form this season of MC-41 but he shot a closing 65 in Phoenix last week and in his final PGA Tour start of 2025 he won the Baycurrent Classic. Here at Pebble Beach, Schauffele was third in the 2019 US Open.

Others to consider: Scottie Scheffler (30M) The common consensus was that Scheffler was too pricey last week. Does he now appeal at 1.4M cheaper? The World No.1 has 2026 form of 1-3 and Pebble Beach Pro-Am form of 9-6. Viktor Hovland (19.8M) was 12th in the US Open at Pebble in 2019 and in two of the last three Pebble Beach Pro-Ams he’s posted 13th and 22nd. Perhaps not at his very best he’s still managed 14th (Dubai DC) and 10th (Phoenix) in two starts this season. Si Woo Kim (19.6M) has been one of the early stars of 2026 with a brilliant run of 11-6-2-3 in the four events staged so far. Can he keep it going? The Korean was fourth here in 2019 as well as 14th and 12th the last two years.

Mid-Range Value Selections (14.2M up to 18M)

Maverick McNealy (17.6M) The local man has lots of history at Pebble Beach, including a runner-up finish in 2021 and fifth in 2020. He’s finished midfield since but on current form (24-10-13) the Californian can be expected to get in the mix again. He’ll be chomping at the bit after a disappointing final round in Phoenix last week when bang in contention.

Jason Day (16.8M) would have ‘course horse’ on his back if the tournament went for something more gimmicky in terms of dress code. Perhaps that’s the future. Anyway, the Aussie holds such a status due to his brilliantly consistent form in this event: nine top 10s (all seventh or better) and four other top 25s in 15 appearances. As for a recent thermometer check, he was runner-up in The American Express on his penultimate start.

Others to consider: Shane Lowry (15.8M) is probably going a bit mad trying to get his next win. But second here last year, third in Dubai (when mucking up the final hole) last month and a rather grotty weather forecast on Sunday all guide us towards the Irishman. Sepp Straka (15.4M) can also flourish in a bit of wind and rain. The Austrian was first (American Express) and seventh (here at Pebble) in last year’s two California pro-am events so likes the format. He shed some rust with a nice 18th in Phoenix last week. Akshay Bhatia (14.6M) was just one shot out of the playoff in Phoenix last week and has decent form of 30-22 at Pebble. The left-hander is a California native. Daniel Berger (16M) has strong claims at a mid-range price. He’s not played here since winning it in 2021 and before that his only starts produced a fifth and a 10th. So far in 2026 he’s delivered sixth in the Sony Open and 16th in Phoenix.

Underdog Options (14M and Under)

Tom Hoge (13M): Perhaps ‘King of the West Coast Pro-Ams’ is over-egging it but Hoge has certainly thrived both here and at The American Express. His one PGA Tour win came at Pebble in 2022 while he’s been 17th or better in four of the last five editions. At the Amex, he has a second, sixth and eighth, the middle of those coming a few weeks ago to show he’s already played some good golf in 2026.

Michael Kim (13.2M) has strung together a series of good results over the last 12 months, winning the Open de France in October and taking 18th at TPC Scottsdale last week. He’s ranked 3rd and 10th for SG: Putting in two of his three events this season and the last time he pegged it up at Pebble, Kim closed with a 66 to finish 11th. The Californian local has been keeping us up to date on his excellent ‘X’ account this week. “Pebble Beach is sick” he posted on Monday.

Others to consider: Denny McCarthy (13.6M) is playing well consistently on a host of different set-ups (he’s made his last 11 cuts) but this one definitely suits. Before a midfield finish in 2025, his previous three Pebble finishes were 26-4-12. Ryo Hisatsune (13.6M) remains sub-14M despite 10th (Phoenix) and 2nd (Torrey Pines) the last two weeks. He performs well in California. Finally, any player in this price range with three top 20s in three starts this season has to be worth a mention. Jacob Bridgeman (13.8M) is that man and his fast start to the campaign includes fourth in another coastal event, the Sony Open. It’s his tournament debut but this elite putter could easily thrive.

That’s this week in the books from a fantasy perspective.

Now to check out the revamped and much-boosted FanTeam Sportsbook.

Let’s have a couple of bets too.

In the Top 10 market, I like Jason Day at 4.6. As mentioned he has no less than nine top 10s here.

Second, the market asks ‘Will there be a Hole in One?’ I say ‘No’ at 2.21.

These guys are good but there are only 80 of them and Sunday looks particularly windy so opportunities for an ace are pretty sparse.

Let’s side with the underdog in this market which is probably so short due to both Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry making hole-in-ones last year.

Good luck and don’t forget to SIGN UP HERE

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Fantasy Picks for the 2026 WM Phoenix Open

Posted on February 4, 2026 by DaveTindallTravel

Week 4 of the 2026 PGA Tour season takes us to a very familiar – and noisy – venue: TPC Scottsdale in Arizona.

The Scottie Scheffler conundrum is with us once more and plenty will be willing to pay the big bucks given his excellent course record.

Last week’s Farmers Insurance Open was a frustrating one.

I had runaway winner, Justin Rose, on one team and Tony Finau as my UD (Underdog) on another. Finau finished tied 11th to absolutely justify his 14M price tag.

But at the top end there were some surprise early exits, including Xander Schauffele whose streak of 72 cuts came to an end.

It meant I didn’t get all six of my players through to the weekend and that’s virtually a must to earn a spot in the payout places.

If you’re new to the game, a quick reminder that among your six picks, the Captain and Underdog (UD) – the cheapest player in your line-up – both score x1.25pts. They’re key.

First up, let’s start with a SPECIAL OFFER below!

SIGN UP HERE

Get £40 in entries for simply depositing £10 and playing any cash game.

Okay, let’s start building…

Top Tier Picks (18M and over)

Scottie Scheffler (31.4M): The World No.1 has now won seven of his last 13 PGA Tour events after opening his 2026 campaign with a dominant win at The American Express while he won here in both 2022 and 2023 and was third and seventh either side. He was a red-hot favourite last year and only finished 25th but that was part of a relatively slow start to the season after his freakish and well-documented hand injury. Now he can putt well, Scheffler is an absolute winning machine but this week we have to pay 31.4M to get him rather than the high 20s of last year.

Xander Schauffele (22.4M): While his MC at Torrey Pines was a shock, Schauffele did shoot 73-69 so was hardly too far away. He’s never finished worse than 17th in six starts here and that includes 2nd, 3rd and a pair of 10ths. Perhaps that cut streak was a burden. It would certainly be no surprise at all if he responds with a big week here.

Others to consider: Cameron Young (19.6M) kicked off 2026 with T22 at Torrey Pines and finishes of 12th and eigth here in the last two years point to something good again. Maverick McNealy (18.2M) is becoming more and more reliable and five top 25s in six starts either side of the festive break include 24th at the Sony and 10th at Torrey Pines. In this event he’s posted ninth and sixth in the last two editions. Hideki Matsuyama (19.2M) is a double champion in Phoenix and since the last of those in 2017 he’s added another five top 25s. A pair of top 15s to start the season add to his appeal. Sam Burns (18.8M) has a third and a sixth in the last three Phoenix Opens and always seems a potential winner here. He was T27 at the Amex on his only 2026 start so far. Finally, Si Woo Kim (19.8M) can’t be left out of discussions after starting the year with finishes of 11-6-2. His course form is decent too: 21-12-23-26 in the last four editions.

Mid-Range Value Selections (14.2M up to 18M)

Brooks Koepka (17.4M) made a low-key comeback to the PGA Tour from LIV with 56th at Torrey Pines but that actually beat his three previous performances there (all missed cuts). TPC Scottsdale is where the fireworks could go off again as he loves the greens, the layout and the wild crowds. It was the scene of his first PGA Tour victory in 2015, he won here for a second time in 2021 and was third on his most recent visit in 2022.

Haotong Li (15M) is my difference maker in the competitive mid-range section. The Chinese golfer is teeing it up for the first time here which will deter many but given that this venue has been described as a links-style desert track, his win in last year’s Qatar Masters along with victory in the Dubai Desert Classic and two top fours in The Open suggest he’ll be good fit. He’s flying in 2026 after finishing eighth (Amex) and 11th (Farmers) in the last two weeks. Notably, Li was making his debut in both those events too so he’s a quick learner.

Others to consider: Jake Knapp (17.6M) lives a short drive away from the course and has the form this season – 5th Torrey Pines, 11th Sony Open – to improve his best finish here. He’s posted 28th and 44th in two Scottsdale starts. Rickie Fowler (17.8M) has a win, two seconds, a fourth and three other top 15s here. He’s playing better again, as shown by 18th on his 2026 debut at The American Express. Jordon Spieth (16.4M) has an eyebrow raising four top sixes in five starts here. Do we trust him these days? Four rounds in the 60s and a top 25 in his only start of the season (Sony Open) certainly helps. Daniel Berger (15M) was runner-up last year and it didn’t come out of nowhere given that he has four other top 11s at this par 71. He was sixth at the Sony Open after closing with a 64. With back-to-back top 10s in the last two weeks along with third and fifth here, Sahith Theegala (16.8M) packs plenty of appeal for those focusing on mid-rangers rather than going down the Scheffler route. If bypassing the World No.1 is the plan, Andrew Novak (14.6M) could be used as your UD. He was eighth here two years ago and seventh last week.

Underdog Options (14M and Under)

Adam Schenk (12.4M): Trying to build a team around Scheffler leaves very little budget but Schenk looks a very decent enabler and UD at sub-13M. A winner in Bermuda in November, he ranked 5th for SG: Approach when 11th at Torrey Pines last week and, not only that, Schenk has pieced together three straight top 25s at Scottsdale.

Billy Horschel (13M) has made 10 of 12 cuts here and the highs include sixth, ninth and 11th. He missed the cut last week – you obviously can’t have everything at this price – but T27 at The American Express was a decent effort so he should enjoy this return to the desert.

Others to consider: John Parry (13.4M) gained dual membership for his excellent play on the DP World Tour last year and he’s already cashing in with a run of 19-56-43 in the first three PGA Tour events of the season. Michael Brennan (13.6M) won another desert event, the Bank of Utah Championship, in October so could like it here. He was DQ’d from the Farmers after a rules violation (google it!) so will be keen to make amends. S.H. Kim (13.6M) is 3-for-3 this season and banked healthy fantasy points with 13th in the Sony Open and 18th at The American Express. A 28th here on his only start in 2024 adds another layer of confidence. Eric Cole (13.8M) has finished 27th or better in five of his last eight events and two of those are top 10s. He broke par in all four rounds here on debut in 2024 (MC last year).

That’s this week in the books from a fantasy perspective.

Now to check out the revamped and much-boosted FanTeam Sportsbook.

Let’s have a couple of bets too.

In the Top 5 market, I like both Brooks Koepka and Sahith Theegala. Both are priced at 10.0.

All Koepka’s big finishes here are top fives while 14 of his 18 top 10s in majors doubled as top fives.

Theegala has a third and a fifth in his four Phoenix Open appearances and, injury-free, is back to form again after eighth and seventh in his last two starts.

For more of a fun bet, how about the 3.65 for a Hole in One at the 16th – the infamous stadium hole where 20,000 mostly beer-fuelled fans cheer or boo every tee-shot and exchange numerous wagers on nearest the pin.

Tiger Woods famously sent the crowd crazy with an ace there and, for the record, there have been 12 hole-in-ones at the 16th since 1988.

Emiliano Grillo made one last year and there were two in 2022 (Sam Ryder and Carlos Ortiz) so the bet has landed in two of the last four editions.

Good luck and don’t forget to SIGN UP HERE

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Fantasy Picks for the 2026 Farmers Insurance Open

Posted on January 28, 2026 by DaveTindallTravel

Week 3 of the 2026 PGA Tour season takes us to spectacular Torrey Pines in California for the Farmers Insurance Open.

Those who kept faith with Scottie Scheffler and were prepared to pay the big bucks were rewarded at last week’s American Express as the World No.1 cruised to a four-shot win.

The top four in the FanTeam £10 game picked Scheffler as captain but three of the top 10 on the leaderboard didn’t have him at all so, as always, there are different routes to profit.

All those top 10 scored heavily with their UD (Underdog) to highlight how important the skipper and the cheapest player are on your teams as both score x1.25pts.

So, on to Torrey Pines and three laps of the ultra-tough South Course and one at the easier North.

First up, let’s start with a SPECIAL OFFER below!

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Get £40 in entries for simply depositing £10 and playing any cash game.

Okay, let’s start building…

Top Tier Picks (18M and over)

Jason Day (19.2M): With new irons in the bag, Day started his 2026 season off with a bang by finishing tied second in last week’s American Express. Now he gets to ride that momentum at Torrey Pines where he’s a two-time Farmers winner and can boast seven top 10s in all. The Aussie, who ranked 1st for both SG: Putting and SG: Around The Green last week, has four top 10s and a 13th in his last seven starts in California.

Patrick Cantlay (20.6M): He’s not exactly cheap but Cantlay in California equates to high-class consistency. The man from Long Beach always seems to show up strongly in his home state and the latest evidence is three top fives in his last six California starts. That includes fifth at this course when it stepped in to host last year’s Genesis Invitational after Riviera was deemed unplayable due to the fires in LA. Cantlay’s 13th spot in last week’s American Express looks a nice marker.

Others to consider: Xander Schauffele (21M) was born just a few miles from the course and the San Diego native has finishes of 9-13-34-7-2 at Torrey Pines South. The only doubt is a bit of rust given that we haven’t seen him on tour since his win at October’s Baycurrent Classic in Japan. Ludvig Aberg (20.8M) comes with some risk after he pulled out of the American Express (68-67) with illness. Then again, he also suffered sickness at this event last year but returned a couple of weeks later to win the Genesis at Torrey. He’s a perfect course fit if healthy. Harris English (18.2M) scooped the first prize here last year in tough conditions having previously had a second and a third at Torrey Pines. He started his 2026 campaign with 27th at The American Express, ranking 7th for Off The Tee.

Mid-Range Value Selections (14.2M up to 18M)

Jake Knapp (16.4M) is another California local and says Torrey Pines South is one of his favourite courses. He’s backed that up with results having finished third here in 2024 and 17th when it hosted last year’s Genesis. The big hitter started 2026 brightly with 11th at the Sony Open, ranking 10th for SG: Putting.

Taylor Pendrith (17.4M) likes a big boy golf course and he’s shown that here with top 10s in the the last two editions of the Farmers. The Canadian, who has cracked the top 10 in four of his last six starts in California, started his season off with sixth at the Sony Open before missing the cut last week. This test is far more suited than the easy birdie-fest at La Quinta.

Others to consider: Will Zalatoris (17.6M) showed he’s in better health again with 15th in December’s Nedbank (DP World Tour) and 18th at last week’s American Express. He has a second, seventh and 13th in three of his last four Farmers starts. Max Homa (16.6M) won this tournament in 2023 (also 9th 2020, 18th 2021 and 13th last year) while 27th at the American Express added to three top 20s in his previous four starts and further fuels the idea that he’s very much on the up again. Sam Stevens (15.6M) was your runner-up here last year and is 4-for-4 at Torrey Pines. He boasts a sixth (American Express) and a seventh (RSM Classic) in two of his last three starts on tour. Between 14M and 15M, there are three I like. Sahith Theegala (14.8M) was eighth last week after 31st at the Sony and has a fourth here (made all four Farmers cuts). Andrew Novak (14.4M) putts well on Poa Annua and was third and 13th in the two events at Torrey Pines last year. He much prefers this test to last week’s where he missed the cut for the fifth straight time (his 36-hole total was actually his lowest ever) while fit-again Billy Horschel (14.2M) closed the AmEx with a 66 for 27th and has two top eights and an 11th at the Farmers.

Underdog Options (14M and Under)

David Ford (13.4M): The 23-year-old is in my Season Game team as a bench warmer but I may start him here with Anthony Kim pulling out with a back issue. Ford, who enjoyed a stellar amateur career, flashed his vast potential with third at October’s Bank of Utah Championship and he’s 2-for-2 this season with 50th at the Sony Open followed by 13th in the American Express.

S.H. Kim (14M) has started the new year the way he ended the last one – racking up top 20s. He’s now had seven in a row worldwide after 13th at the Sony and 18th at the Amex. The Korean has made two of three cuts here which adds a layer of extra confidence.

Others to consider: Tony Finau (14M) is a fascinating prospect this week. With seven top 10s at Torrey between 2017 and 2025, he’s an absolute bargain but where is his game now? Two MCs so far in 2026 are a worry but 68-68-71 at the American Express was hardly a crime. Sami Valimaki (13.6M) got hot at the end of 2025 with a win at the RSM Classic and a second two starts earlier at the WWT. His course form here of 15th (2025) and 43rd (2024) counts for more than his MC last week where he actually shot all three rounds under par. Austin Smotherman (13.8M) ranked 1st for both SG: Tee To Green and SG: Approach when eighth at The American Express. He was 11th here in 2024 and has top 10s in his last two California starts. Johnny Keefer (14M) has PGA Tour form of 27-61-7 either side of the festive break and the rising star struck his irons superbly well at the American Express (4th Approach). Adrien Dumont De Chassart (14M) was a Korn Ferry winner in October and has made both cuts in 2026 (24th Sony, 69th American Express). He cashed here on his only visit in 2024.

That’s this week in the books from a fantasy perspective.

But while I’m here, I’ll point you towards the revamped and much-boosted FanTeam Sportsbook.

Let’s have a couple of bets too.

I didn’t mention Patrick Rodgers (14.4M) above as I was saving him for a little mention here. He’s definitely a fantasy option too though.

The Stanford star has three top sevens in his last five starts and two of his top 10s at Torrey have come recently – third in last year’s Genesis and ninth in the 2024 Farmers.

Let’s back him for a Top 10 at 5.8.

Second tip is Taylor Pendrith for Top Canadian at 2.06. Getting odds-against seems fine given that he only has Mackenzie Hughes, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Adam Svensson and AJ Ewart to beat.

Hughes is the only one to have made a cut here but his Farmers form is poor: 64-MC-MC-MC-29-MC-54.

Good luck and don’t forget to SIGN UP HERE

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Fantasy Picks for the 2026 American Express

Posted on January 21, 2026 by DaveTindallTravel

Week 2 of the 2026 PGA Tour season takes us from Hawaii to California.

I have to admit I was disappointed not to be in the money at last week’s Sony Open.

Chris Gotterup (a winner at 40/1) was my top pick in the Mid-Range Value bracket at 17M while S.H. Kim was my Underdog (UD) at just 13.2M. The Korean was the halfway leader before banking good points by finishing 13th.

But it takes consistency across the board and others in my six-man team just didn’t do enough.

At least there was better news for one of my Season Game entries as my ‘balanced’ line-up ended Week 1 ranked 58th out of 602. Don’t forget to tweak your teams for Week 2.

For those new to the weekly FanTeam game, a quick reminder. You get 100M to spend on six players. The captain scores x1.25pts, as does the UD (Underdog), the cheapest player in your six-man squad. Those two players are key.

This week it’s the Scottie Scheffler dilemma which sounds like a good crime thriller.

Scheffler is a pricey 28.4M so that’s a lot of the budget gone if you pick him/captain him. So much so that the rest of your team would have to average just over 14.3M to compensate.

First up, let’s start with a SPECIAL OFFER below!

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Get £40 in entries for simply depositing £10 and playing any cash game.

Okay, let’s start building…

Top Tier Picks (18M and over)

Ben Griffin (20.6M): Nope, I’m not paying that top whack for Scheffler. From the high end, Griffin looks the best of the bunch at just over 20M. With a win in Mexico in November, a top 20 at the Sony last week and a pair of top 10s on his last two visits here, it’s hard not to see Griffin banking plenty of fantasy points. He ranked 38th for Birdie Average last season.

Harry Hall (18.6M): The Englishman ranked 3rd for Birdie Average last year and 1st for Birdie or Better Conversion. It’s taken him a while to find his feet in this event but 21st in 2025 was his best to date and that could easily become a top 10 this week. Confidence increases when noting he was sixth in last week’s Sony Open where he did everything well.

Others to consider: Sam Burns (19.6M) is making his first start of the season but in half-a-dozen starts at La Quinta he has two top sixes, an 11th and five finishes inside the top 30. He’s also done well at Pebble, the other west coast pro-am. Okay, I can’t not mention Scottie Scheffler (28.4M) but, although third on debut in 2020, finishes of MC-25-11-17 in his last four starts here suggest it’s not a venue where he can separate himself from others with hotter putters. Patrick Cantlay (20.8M) is nearly always a strong performer in his home state and has four top 10s in his last six starts here. It’s a while since we’ve seen him in action which is the only concern.

Mid-Range Value Selections (14.2M up to 18M)

Daniel Berger (15.6M) removed any doubts about a lingering finger issue with sixth place at last week’s Sony Open after a closing 64. He has form here of 12-29-39-21 and was eighth with a round to go last year. Berger is also a winner at Pebble Beach so is comfortable with the much slower pace of play in pro-ams.

Michael Thorbjornsen (17.2M) surely has a huge future and flashed more signs with a third (Baycurrent) and seventh (RSM Classic) in the Fall Series. He missed the cut here last year after following a bright 65-68 opening with a poor Saturday but his ranking of 8th for Birdie Average in 2025 suggests it’s a tournament he can thrive in. A first win shouldn’t be too far away.

Others to consider: Ryan Gerard (15.2M) played himself into The Masters by flying to Mauritius and securing the result (runner-up) that took him into the world’s top 50 and he followed that December near miss with another second place at the Sony last week (20 birdies). He was 51st on debut here last year. J.T. Poston (16M) loves a birdie-fest and after seventh here in 2019 he’s posted 25-6-11-12 in the last four editions. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (15.4M) was runner-up here in 2024 after 11th in 2023 and finished 2025 with four top 10s in five starts. The first two were on the PGA Tour and the second two on home soil in December. Michael Kim (15M) looked confident with his scoring clubs last week at the Sony where only one iffy round stopped a likely top 10. The Open de France winner was sixth in this event two years ago. Justin Rose (15.8M) is a former winner at Pebble and hasn’t been outside the top 34 in three starts here. He’ll have some pep in his step after making an albatross in the TGL on Tuesday night.

Underdog Options (14M and Under)

Seamus Power (14M): The Irishman enjoys a coastal test. He ended 2025 with 11th in Bermuda and seventh at the RSM Classic and added 31st in last week’s Sony when closing with a 64 (ranked 8th for SG: Approacch). Add in course form here of 14-MC-11-21 and he’s definitely a strong Underdog (UD) option.

Nick Dunlap (14M) famously won this as an amateur in 2024 and made a decent defence (34th) last year. He has two wins in California and, after a dip, showed better form at the end of last year with eighth in the WWT and 22nd at the Dunlop Phoenix. Last week’s 61st at the Sony could have been so much better but for a blowout on Saturday (65-68-77-68). He ranked 2nd for Approach there.

Others to consider: Doug Ghim (13.6M) has now made his last seven PGA Tour cuts after 55th at the Sony (14th at halfway). The Vegas resident posted 21st in this last year and made the top five in 2021. Bud Cauley (13.4M) played a strong final 54 holes to make the top 25 at Waialae last week and can build on that here. He’s not played it since 2020 but was something of a tournament specialist with a third, a fourth and two other top 15s from his five starts in the event. Lee Hodges (13.4M) has to enter calculations if looking for cheap options. He closed 2025 with fourth at the RSM, opened 2026 with a Sony sixth and was third on debut here in 2022 (MC-MC-34 since). Eric Cole (13.2M) is 3-for-3 at the Amex (including 21st in 2024) and has made six of his last eight PGA Tour cuts. He crashed at halfway last week (67-73) but his underlying numbers were good and he should be better for the run. Chandler Phillips (13M) was greenside to congratulate his good friend Chris Gotterup on victory at the Sony. Phillips had done well himself by finishing 19th (19 birdies) and that was two starts on from second place in the Bermuda. One of his two appearances here resulted in a top 25 (2024).

That’s this week in the books from a fantasy perspective.

But while I’m here, I’ll point you towards the revamped and much-boosted FanTeam Sportsbook.

Let’s have a couple of bets too.

It won’t be the most ambitious bet you ever make but sticking £10 on both Scottie Scheffler (American Express) and Rory McIlroy (Dubai Desert Classic) to both finish Top 5 pays £34.17.

McIlroy has made the top five in each of his last five starts at the DDC and was third at the Dubai Invitational last week.

For another cross-tournament double, how about Ben Griffin (Amex) and Thorbjorn Olesen (Dubai) to both make the Top 10. That same tenner returns a few pence under £100.

Griffin is seeking a third straight top 10 in this event while Dubai resident Olesen was seventh last week and has four top 10s to his name in the DDC.

Also note that there’s a Scheffler ‘Golden Boost’ offer here.

Good luck and don’t forget to SIGN UP HERE

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Fantasy Picks for the 2026 Sony Open

Posted on January 14, 2026 by DaveTindallTravel

The 2026 PGA Tour season begins in Hawaii this week with the 61st edition of the Sony Open.

It’s not usually the starting point but takes on that mantle this year due to The Sentry being cancelled.

For those new to the FanTeam game, it’s easy. You get 100M to spend on six players. The captain scores x1.25pts, as does the UD (Underdog), the cheapest player in your six-man squad.

Getting both right makes a big difference.

I started this column in March last year and my best finishes in the game so far are fifth in the Houston Open and sixth at the RSM Classic.

I also managed 14th at the Procure and 15th in the Hero World Challenge while there were a decent number of other profitable weeks so hopefully we can build on that this year.

For a season-long interest, it’s also worth checking out FanTeam’s 2026 Season Game. I’ve written an article on that featuring strategy and picks here.

Back to this week and, before looking through the 120-man Sony field, let’s start with a SPECIAL OFFER below!

SIGN UP HERE

Get £40 in entries for simply depositing £10 and playing any cash game.

Okay, let’s start building…

Top Tier Picks (18M and over)

J.J. Spaun (19.2M): I’m just about equally keen on the top five players in the game so Spaun appeals most due to costing the least. Winning the US Open and finishing runner-up at the Players Championship last year were huge moments but I liked the way he played after his major breakthrough, his continued excellence suggesting it wasn’t just a moment in the sun and there’s much more to come. Spaun was third here last year and 12th in 2023. He returns at the peak of his powers.

Hideki Matsuyama (19.4M): He’s a winner of both this event (2022) and The Sentry (2025) so will have same great vibes when returning to Hawaii. After a rather odd 2025, Matsuyama found a groove again late on, completing a run of three straight top 10s with victory in December’s 20-man Hero World Challenge. Hard to stop when playing his best golf and he’s cheaper than a couple of other elite rivals.

Others to consider: Russell Henley (20.6M) is the most expensive player in the game but with justification. He won here on his first pro start way back in 2013 but also has a second, a fourth and a 10th in three of his last four visits. He’s the highest-ranked player in the field at World No.5 and is a money-making machine these days. The only doubt would be lack of a recent run. Ben Griffin (20.2M) had a fantastic 2025, starting the year ranked 68th and ending it 8th after three wins and a Ryder Cup debut. Collin Morikawa (19.6M) has form in Hawaii of 2-5-2-5-7-7-21-7. Most of that was at The Sentry but he clearly feels very at home in these parts (his grandparents were born there) and has incentive after a disappointing 2025.

Mid-Range Value Selections (14.2M up to 18M)

Chris Gotterup (17M) likes playing by the coast. He scored his breakthrough victory (by six shots!) at the 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic while last year he defeated a world-class field to win the Scottish Open and followed that with third in the Open at Royal Portrush. A much-improved performer, his low ball flight will suit the predicted windy conditions this week.

Haotong Li (14.4M): At the lower end of this price range, Li jumps out at just over 14M. He won his PGA Tour card for 2026 via some excellent performances on the DP World Tour where he ended the campaign with a pair of top 10s. Li, who was fourth in last summer’s Open, was third after 54 holes on his last visit to Waialae in 2022 and he’s playing well enough to have another big week.

Others to consider: Rico Hoey (16.2M) was second only to Scottie Scheffler in SG: Tee to Green last season and that consistency showed in his results (four top 10s in his final seven events). The switch to a longer putter could see him rise even further through the ranks. Nico Echavarria (15.8M) will likely be a popular pick but justifiably so. He thrives on these sort of tests and and was runner-up last year as well as 12th in 2023. He signed off 2025 with fourth at the RSM Classic, an event that correlates well. Mac Meissner (15M) really found some consistency in the second half of last season and ended with six finishes of T27 or better in his last seven starts (including second place at the Wyndham). He was 21st on debut here in 2025. Aaron Rai (16.4M) has never built on his three good R1s here. Expect that to change as his straight hitting will be rewarded and he has confidence from November’s win at the Abu Dhabi Championship.

Underdog Options (14M and Under)

S.H. Kim (13.2M): The Korean is the least fancied Kim in the field behind Si Woo, Michael and Tom but is certainly worth a look as a possible UD (underdog candidate). He finished 2025 by connecting five worldwide top 20s and has two good previous knocks here: 12th on debut in 2023 and 30th last year.

Takumi Kanaya (13.4M) looks a no-no based on missing all five cuts here but he’s shot a round of 66 in two of his last three Sony starts. In a strong finish to 2025, the man with the lowest ball-flight on Tour (good for these winds), was third at the Baycurrent and fourth in Bermuda. He followed that with a top five back on the Japan Tour in December.

Others to consider: Max McGreevy (13.8M) has missed all three cuts here but shot 70-68 last time and ended 2025 with third in Bermuda and second at the RSM Classic to show that seaside golf suits. Zach Johnson (13M) is a former winner of this (2009) and was 21st last year. His last nine rounds on the PGA Tour show six laps in the 60s and nothing worse than 71 so the veteran can still compete on the courses he chooses to play. Adam Svensson (13.4M) has a perfect 5-for-5 slate at Waialae and that includes seventh in 2022. Hopefully he’s had a rest after a poor second half of 2025. Keita Nakajima (13.4M) is a real talent, who won dual membership via an impressive campaign on the DP World Tour. As a bonus, the 25-year-old has played the Sony Open twice already, finishing 41st on debut in 2022 and 54th in 2023.

That’s this week in the books from a fantasy perspective.

But while I’m here, I’ll point you towards the revamped and much-boosted FanTeam Sportsbook.

Let’s have a couple of bets too.

In the winner only outright market, I’ll go with J.J Spaun at 20.00. The US Open champion, who also lost two playoffs last year, was third at this course in 2025 and is playing the best golf of his life.

I also like the 4.00 for a Playoff. Usually, it’s a course where separation seems hard and the last six editions have seen four Playoffs and two wins by a single stroke. Expand the study period and it’s six Playoffs in the last 10.

The numbers are certainly on our side.

Good luck and don’t forget to SIGN UP HERE

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