This article is part of our Golf Barometer series.
Snow has begun to fall in the northern United States while the PGA Tour enjoys a hot and humid week in Mexico, where El Camaleon GC plays host to the Mayakoba Golf Classic along the Caribbean shore. Meanwhile across the Atlantic Ocean, South Africa invites the European Tour's penultimate event of their 2018 season as the Nedbank Challenge serves as a final tune-up before the DP World Tour Championship. We'll take a look at several fantasy trends around the globe as winter approaches.
VALUE RISING
Sergio Garcia
Garcia will take a one-stroke lead into the weekend at the European Tour's Nedbank Golf Challenge, coming on the heels of his homefield victory at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters. The Spaniard is on pace to finish at least top-25 in four consecutive starts, eying a return to the top-25 in the Official World Golf Ranking as well. Garcia finished just 128th in the FedExCup standings during a disappointing 2017-18 campaign, but the 38-year-old's recent form is noteworthy.
Sam Ryder
Ryder has done a great job of avoiding the sophomore slump so far this season, ascending to 10th in the FedExCup standings thanks to a pair of top-5 results at the Safeway and Shriners Open. He ranks third on Tour in SG: Total, fifth in SG: Tee-to-Green and 18th in proximity through eight measured rounds.
Danny Lee
The once volatile Lee has gone eight consecutive starts without a missed cut or disqualification, and he's on track to make it nine at this week's Mayakoba
Snow has begun to fall in the northern United States while the PGA Tour enjoys a hot and humid week in Mexico, where El Camaleon GC plays host to the Mayakoba Golf Classic along the Caribbean shore. Meanwhile across the Atlantic Ocean, South Africa invites the European Tour's penultimate event of their 2018 season as the Nedbank Challenge serves as a final tune-up before the DP World Tour Championship. We'll take a look at several fantasy trends around the globe as winter approaches.
VALUE RISING
Sergio Garcia
Garcia will take a one-stroke lead into the weekend at the European Tour's Nedbank Golf Challenge, coming on the heels of his homefield victory at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters. The Spaniard is on pace to finish at least top-25 in four consecutive starts, eying a return to the top-25 in the Official World Golf Ranking as well. Garcia finished just 128th in the FedExCup standings during a disappointing 2017-18 campaign, but the 38-year-old's recent form is noteworthy.
Sam Ryder
Ryder has done a great job of avoiding the sophomore slump so far this season, ascending to 10th in the FedExCup standings thanks to a pair of top-5 results at the Safeway and Shriners Open. He ranks third on Tour in SG: Total, fifth in SG: Tee-to-Green and 18th in proximity through eight measured rounds.
Danny Lee
The once volatile Lee has gone eight consecutive starts without a missed cut or disqualification, and he's on track to make it nine at this week's Mayakoba Golf Classic where he carded a two-day total of 11-under-par to begin the tournament. Lee also owns four top-25 finishes in those previous eight appearances, climbing to 133rd in the OWGR.
Ryan Palmer
The 42-year-old has more than kept up with his youthful competitors as of late, finishing T7-T3 during his past two performances at the Shriners Open and CJ Cup. Palmer has finished 100th or worse in the FedExCup standings each of the past two seasons, but his 2018-19 campaign is off to a brilliant start.
VALUE FALLING
Jordan Spieth
Spieth not only failed to finish top-50 in each of his past two starts at the Shriners Open and BMW Championship, but he's slated to miss his first cut since the U.S. Open at El Camaleon GC this week. He'll be in danger of falling to No. 15 in the OWGR, having been held without a top-10 in what will be seven straight events.
Zach Johnson
Johnson was on fire from June to mid-August when he racked up six top-20s in a row, but he didn't post a single top-30 result during the FedExCup Playoffs and could miss his second cut in four starts at the Mayakoba Golf Classic this week. He's down to No. 59 in the OWGR and ranked just 119th in SG: Off-the-Tee due to a lack of power last season.
INJURY UPDATE
Grayson Murray
Murray has become more of a liability than an asset, withdrawing yet again this week in Mexico due to a back injury after carding a first-round 71. He's outside of the top-200 in the OWGR and hasn't posted a top-25 since the Valero Texas Open in April.
