Archive
2024 PGA TOUR full-membership fantasy rankings: Nos. 1-50
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| Rank | Player | Age | 2022-23 earnings | Status | Comment |
| 1 | Scottie Scheffler | 27 | 21.014M | Top 30 | While his putting is the focus of criticism, he covers for it with so much volume on approach and elsewhere throughout his bag that you’re not going to feel it in the long-term. He deserves this perch. |
| 2 | Rory McIlroy | 34 | 13.921M* | Top 30 | His second half of 2022-23 was lethal. After simplifying things outside the ropes, he went off. Very much still warrants a 1-1 call on Draft Day because you don’t want to be the owner who takes a pass. |
| 3 | Viktor Hovland | 26 | 14.112M | Top 30 | Gee, that was a hoot. Three wins (including the FedExCup) among nine top 10s would be an unfair baseline to expect, but it wouldn’t be surprising if that’s exactly what he manages. Maybe the most fearless. |
| 4 | Collin Morikawa | 26 | 7.573M* | Top 30 | His cachet deserves a long shelf life, but the late-season win at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP was the launchpad that his confidence needed. His 2024 projects to make 2022-23 appear seriously tame. |
| 5 | Justin Thomas | 30 | 3.566M* | Top 125 | If he’s not the centerpiece of the most animated bids in auction leagues, then y’all are doing it wrong. It’s going to be hilarious when others tell stories of how they got him in the second round of draft leagues. |
| 6 | Xander Schauffele | 30 | 8.459M* | Top 30 | Although it unfortunately still applies, it’s still a compliment to slot him as among the best without a victory in a major. It’s gotta be next because he’s achieved just about everything else. Remain bullish. |
| 7 | Patrick Cantlay | 31 | 10.372M | Top 30 | Late first-round value if not early second because he hasn’t been a force in the majors. Just one top-five finish (T3, 2019 PGA) among only four top 10s in 24 tries. A monster in the Playoffs, however. |
| 8 | Max Homa | 33 | 10.761M | Top 30 | His humor and humility are as much weapons as they are disarming. He’s the epitome of a guy who’s entirely comfortable in his own skin. The total package who now has a top 10 in a major (T10, The Open)! |
| 9 | Jordan Spieth | 30 | 7.240M* | Top 30 | It’s a great thing that it feels like such a long time ago when he was scuffling. Even better, he’s still quite young in the sport and has developed wisdom through adversity. Build with him at the top. |
| 10 | Sam Burns | 27 | 7.139M* | Top 30 | For now, he’s the last winner of the WGC-Match Play. It was his only victory after recording three in 2021-22, and that’s fine as he continues to learn. Projects late first-round value, but he’ll probably slide a bit. |
| 11 | Matt Fitzpatrick | 29 | 8.144M* | Top 30 | His ascent since coming close twice as a non-member has been a reliable pathway. Automatic early second-round value at worst as he settles into his prime but he’s worth the reach if you’re in a toss-up. |
| 12 | Ludvig Åberg | 24 | 3.144M* | Top 125 | The 2023 valedictorian of PGA TOUR University validated the new conduit to the big leagues. Already a winner on the PGA TOUR and the DP World Tour. Someone will overpay … and get paid. |
| 13 | Min Woo Lee | 25 | 2.812M* | Non-member 125 | One of the most beautiful things in professional sports is when results match clear-minded objectives. Everything that was percolating came to fruition in 2023. It’s bloomed. And it’s inspiring. |
| 14 | Rickie Fowler | 35 | 7.864M | Top 30 | Much better! There was at least one owner in your league who knew that he still had it in him. Because Fowler is so thoughtful, even a mild regression would be a massive surprise, so ignore your survival instincts. |
| 15 | Tom Kim | 21 | 7.774M* | Top 30 | Already thrice a PGA TOUR winner whose game has traveled everywhere, it’s not absurd to burn your first-round selection on him despite his age. Even inexperience hasn’t been a headwind. |
| 16 | Tony Finau | 34 | 5.867M* | Top 30 | The ebb and the flow of his last two completed seasons are masked by what were similar campaigns overall, so lean on his consistency in the aggregate with the bonus of torrid stretches in the short-term. |
| 17 | Sahith Theegala | 26 | 7.284M | Top 50 | His breakthrough win (Fortinet Championship) to open the FedExCup Fall is why salary leaguers can’t have nice things. Great for him, not so much to his price tag. Otherwise, have at him early in other formats. |
| 18 | Sungjae Im | 25 | 6.665M* | Top 30 | Remains the quintessential late first- or early second-round value that we embrace. Relatively quiet summer immediately followed a win at home in South Korea in mid-May and without a break, so dismiss it. |
| 19 | Wyndham Clark | 30 | 10.757M | Top 30 | It’s a treat to watch it all come together for a talent who exuded promise dating back to his pre-pro days. Now armed with two wins, including a major, he’s the sleek manifestation of what the work looks like. |
| 20 | Hideki Matsuyama | 31 | 3.874M* | Top 50 | While concern over his neck and back preclude confidence in short-term formats, he remains a cornerstone in the long haul. Dipped to just two top 10s in 2022-23 but missed by just one shot on three others. |
| 21 | Corey Conners | 31 | 5.545M* | Top 30 | Because his world-class ball-striking is so potent, it feels like he’s teasing us despite 17 top 10s among 45 top 25s in the last three seasons. The definition of a third-round pick is entering his prime. |
| 22 | Tyrrell Hatton | 32 | 8.336M | Top 30 | Thrives so well on tough tracks and in thick fields that the 2024 schedule could prop him up even higher into our consciousness. If you reach in the second round, support with volume among commodities. |
| 23 | Tommy Fleetwood | 32 | 6.510M | Top 30 | Proven to be one of the most reliable Euros but a light schedule dents his value. The new scheduling format of 2024 also could apply more pressure to his rhythm to perform. Surround with busier bees. |
| 24 | Brian Harman | 36 | 9.175M | Top 30 | So many winners of The Open Championship haven’t gone on to win again on the PGA TOUR, but he doesn’t project to be among them for long. A horse for courses with so much bonus pop on big stages. |
| 25 | Cameron Young | 26 | 5.392M* | Top 50 | The third-year talent has established a heckuva baseline, so the only surprise is if he wasn’t slotted this high. The slide in salary in 2022-23 only raises his value with a full slate of Signature Events promised. |
| 26 | Cam Davis | 28 | 5.001M* | Top 50 | The once-streaky Aussie has found another gear while coming into his own. A multiple-win season is brewing. His pedigree projects second-round value, but he’ll fall to you in the third. |
| 27 | Will Zalatoris | 27 | 1.474M* | Multi-year | Ignore the result at the Hero World Challenge, all that matters is that he returned. His attitude during his break away from a microdiscectomy spoke volumes about his outlook and drive. Will play the majors. |
| 28 | Si Woo Kim | 28 | 5.397M | Top 30 | It’s probable that, no matter the format, there isn’t an owner who isn’t holding their breath when he commits, much less tee it up. However, his propensity to play a lot assuages concern to bypass on Draft Day. |
| 29 | Keegan Bradley | 37 | 9.010M | Top 30 | Fair to say that he’s on a career third wind and his profile as a longer-hitting, tee-to-green tactician will extend it, but his vastly improved putting is the game-changer. Still a cornerstone. |
| 30 | Russell Henley | 34 | 6.332M | Top 30 | Relentless weapon in fantasy golf. Consistently strong, busy enough and plays up to the competition regardless of the context. He’s also in his prime and fresh off his best season with 14 top-20 finishes. |
| 31 | Harris English | 34 | 5.600M | Top 50 | Welcome back! Extended time off after surgery for a torn labrum in his right hip put him on a tee for salary leaguers … and he sent it. His return on investment was 1,830%, and that was without a victory. |
| 32 | Shane Lowry | 36 | 2.588M* | Top 125 | That he’s coming off a relatively disappointing season yields hope for nothing worse, and that’s OK because he’s a force in the majors in which he has two top fives among 10 top 25s in his last 15. |
| 33 | Adrian Meronk | 30 | 584K* | DPWT | As the top finisher eligible on his home circuit, he’s exempt from the reshuffle. The Polish sensation has been on a strong and steady climb. He’s just missed on a couple of opportunities, but not this one. |
| 34 | Adam Hadwin | 36 | 4.713M | Top 50 | Taking one for Team Canada on the 18th green at Oakdale aside as a requisite anecdote to mention, he’s evolved into exactly what a career prime is supposed to yield. Plenty busy to boot. |
| 35 | Kurt Kitayama | 30 | 6.840M | Top 50 | Because he’s exhibited enough moxie to hang on hard tracks, it was perfect that he prevailed at Bay Hill (at just 9-under 279) for his PGA TOUR breakthrough. If you hop aboard, plan on a wavy ride. |
| 36 | Jason Day | 36 | 6.922M | Top 30 | A year ago at this time, he was outside the top 110 in the Official World Golf Ranking. |
| 37 | Sepp Straka | 30 | 5.287M | Top 30 | It’s a good thing that he doesn’t mind playing often because he can be a frustrating own in the short-term. However, he’s also unafraid of swimming in the deep end when the lights are brightest. Hop in with him. |
| 38 | J.T. Poston | 30 | 3.699M* | Top 50 | Of the 25 golfers with at least seven top 10s, his earnings were the lowest … and he had eight top 10s, including two podiums! That kind of floor is unsustainable even if he totals fewer top 10s. Bursting with value. |
| 39 | Seamus Power | 36 | 3.792M* | Top 50 | It was unfortunate that an injured right hip thwarted his title defense in Bermuda during the FedExCup Fall, but he’s still solid value in every format. Fully exempt through 2025 so he can slow-play his return. |
| 40 | Adam Scott | 43 | 3.329M | Top 125 | Because he retains a light schedule, his best fit is felt best in real time. Even in his 40s, he is what we know him to be – insurance – so continue to lean on him as a bridge to the next round when you can be friskier. |
| 41 | Akshay Bhatia | 21 | 2.346M* | Top 125 | If there was a golf version of Immaculate Grid and the square called for an American who eschewed college, plays left-handed, wears glasses and wins on the PGA TOUR, he’s 1-of-1. Special, indeed. Enjoy. |
| 42 | Taylor Moore | 30 | 5.077M | Top 30 | Parlayed his breakthrough win at the Valspar Championship and fifth-place finish to open the Playoffs into what should be another fruitful season for the athletic, third-year talent. Don’t be bashful. |
| 43 | Denny McCarthy | 30 | 6.760M | Top 50 | Guys who rely so much on their putters like he does, and very well at that, are facing tougher forces in deeper fields than guys who are balanced with longer tee balls. That said, he’s comfy at his new tier. |
| 44 | Eric Cole | 35 | 5.457M | Top 50 | It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish, and he did so with a flourish in the FedExCup Fall. His lineage, pedigree, maturity and wisdom projected a good one, but my goodness. |
| 45 | Pierceson Coody | 23 | 363K* | KFT (Rookie) | The former No. 1 amateur in the world might be the first KFT grad off the board, and he deserves to be. Won twice on the KFT in 2023. He’ll have every opportunity to fulfill lofty expectations. |
| 46 | Patrick Rodgers | 31 | 3.026M* | Top 50 | Came through as expected and with a career season no less. Best of all, it’s sustainable with the full array of Signature Events on his horizon. Crazy that he’s still this young yet 151 paydays into his career. |
| 47 | Billy Horschel | 37 | 1.810M* | Top 125 | He telegraphed a year of struggle on the Aloha Swing. All that means is that he’s now on sale because he’s entitled to a down year, relatively speaking of course. Also found some life late on the DP World Tour. |
| 48 | Emiliano Grillo | 31 | 5.476M | Top 30 | If his putter refuses to cooperate as it has too many times to count over the years, then it won’t matter much that he has a carte blanche schedule. Worth the plunge but complemented with steadier performers. |
| 49 | Justin Suh | 26 | 3.075M* | Top 125 | Was it worth the wait? Oh, yeah. His profile favors contending on tough tracks, but he’s vocalized his knack as a consummate learner. Marry all of that with his pedigree and he’ll keep showing why he belongs. |
| 50 | Robert MacIntyre | 27 | 1.023M* | DPWT | The popular lefty from Scotland has been on a similar trajectory that Matt Fitzpatrick rode before he snared a TOUR card. Respect the learning curve despite a handful of teases over the years. |
* Denotes salary bargain
RB
Rob Bolton is a Golfbet columnist for the PGA TOUR. The Chicagoland native has been playing fantasy golf since 1994, so he was just waiting for the Internet to catch up with him. Follow Rob Bolton on Twitter.