Full-membership fantasy rankings: 1-50

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FANTASY

Full-membership fantasy rankings: 1-50
- October 10, 2016
  By Rob Bolton , PGATOUR.COM Follow @RobBoltonGolf

FULL-MEMBERSHIP RANKINGS: Intro | 1-50 | 51-100 | 101-150 | 151-200 | 201-246 | Cheat sheet

NOTES: Age is as of Oct. 13, 2016 | An asterisk beside a salary indicates a bargain.

Rank	Golfer	Age	2015-16 Earnings	Comment
1	Dustin Johnson	32	9.365M	He’s what the fulfillment of potential during one’s prime looks like, so embrace the reality and resist the urge to raise the expectations even higher. Don’t be that gamer.
2	Rory McIlroy	27	5.790M	The key is that he end-loaded his season with two wins and the FedExCup title, so there’s momentum. Bonus: No. 1 in the OWGR is back within reach.
3	Jason Day	28	8.045M	The trust equity he built regarding a sore back at the Match Play was exhausted in the Playoffs, but he’s not going to disappoint full-season investors. Harvests so much out of a relatively light schedule.
4	Jordan Spieth	23	5.538M	Amid concern over his travel, finally pulled the reins on his schedule in making a career-low 21 starts and still produced. Grinded more but remains one of the best putters and scorers.
5	Patrick Reed	26	5.679M	Fantasy gold. Exemplified how to peak when it matters most in 2015-16 and for the Ryder Cup. So, now it’s time to inject that approach for the majors in which he’s still chasing his first top 10.
6	Hideki Matsuyama	24	4.193M	Once emotion from one of his patented WDs subsides, even weekly gamers understand value in his body of work. It’s the one-and-doner who holds his/her breath. Connects four rounds as well as anyone.
7	Brooks Koepka	26	3.322M	With a top 10 in every third start over his first two seasons, he’s meeting the most glowing of expectations, and he’s only getting started. Build around him for he can handle it.
8	Adam Scott	36	6.473M	Career-high-tying 20 starts and career bests in cuts made (20) and earnings, thus eliminating doubts due to anchoring ban. However, because of limited schedule, surround with busier commodities.
9	Matt Kuchar	38	3.819M	Strong second half reeled in quintessential season. Even touched 26 starts to match an eight-year high. Can’t overemphasize that he doesn’t need length off the tee to succeed.
10	Justin Thomas	23	4.126M	So much to love as he enters his third season. Fearless and devours par 5s, but he’s shown maturity beyond his years on a myriad to tracks. Future first-round stalwart is nearly already there.
11	Rickie Fowler	27	2.713M*	Struggled with timing of the Olympics arguably more than anyone, but still qualified for the Ryder Cup and contributed to victory. Now poised to free-wheel it in 2016-17. Late first-round value.
12	Phil Mickelson	46	4.022M	In his own league deep into his 40s, but 2015-16 was a spike despite the absence of a victory. Perhaps more important than anything is that he’s overcome long-term doubt regarding his health.
13	Brandt Snedeker	35	3.960M	Coming off nearly identical seasons during which he’s battled injury. Stays busy, so it can seem like he slumps, but it’s an illusion. Finds a balance to take some of the pressure off his reliable putting.
14	Justin Rose	36	2.085M*	Coming off his first winless season since 2009, which means he’s an automatic buy for salary gamers. Production reduction was in part due to a herniated disc. He’s resting his back for two months this fall.
15	Jimmy Walker	37	4.148M	Hard to believe that he didn’t begin winning until only three years ago. Capable complement to any first-rounder. Always gets off to a good start and plays more often than equivalent peers.
16	Sergio Garcia	36	3.242M	Fourth cornerstone value as usual. If only he could bottle Ryder Cup mojo in a major, but he still tops the short list in whom we trust to maximize on the most limited of schedules among members.
17	Bubba Watson	37	3.492M	Essentially coasted to the finish line and only 19 starts overall. There are more reasons to be concerned than usual, but accept 2013-15 stretch as his spike. Solid in WGCs for weekly gamers.
18	Jim Furyk	46	1.538M*	Accomplished a lot in only 14 starts, but fell short of season-long objectives. That’s fine, though, because it means he comes cheap now. Usually doesn’t start his season until Pebble Beach, so remain patient.
19	Emiliano Grillo	24	3.371M	Dynamic talent who already seems slump-proof. Worldly experience established smooth transition to the PGA TOUR. Top 20s in three of four 2016 majors. Potential first-round value written all over him.
20	Zach Johnson	40	1.718M*	Salary gamers were holding their breath for a quiet conclusion to 2015-16, and they got it despite terrific putting that normally aligns with contending. That he still went 21-for-24 with five top 10s quells concern.
21	Henrik Stenson	40	3.397M	Ended the season not dissimilar to how he wrapped 2015, with worry over his right knee on which he had surgery last December. Age isn’t a friend in the recovery process, but showing no letup otherwise.
22	Bill Haas	34	2.390M	Finally picked off his first career top 10 in a major last summer (T9, Royal Troon), but that was a minor bonus to the above-average consistency he furnishes. Didn’t slap an asterisk on his price tag, but he’s on sale.
23	Russell Knox	31	4.885M	Because of the boon, he’ll probably slide, so let him. Then grab him confidently. Can’t expect another two-win season, but he’s so balanced and busy that he can book another 11 top 25s among 20-plus paydays.
24	Daniel Berger	23	3.290M	Rapidly checking off boxes and even garnered short-list conversation to be a Ryder Cup captain’s pick despite shoulder soreness. Averaging a top 10 every 4.83 starts. Love the bloodlines, too.
25	J.B. Holmes	34	2.969M	TOUR’s longest hitter statistically also ranked seventh in birdie-or-better percentage. In his prime and not done winning. While not necessarily cheap, among the most confident to sustain his salary.
26	Paul Casey	39	3.885M	Hangs up numbers like a late first-rounder, but he’s still stuck on one PGA TOUR title. However, his dedication to one tour and streamlined life has paid dividends. Averaging 23 starts the last two seasons is a bonus.
27	Billy Horschel	29	1.744M	Essentially the same investment for the last two years except that he went with the less-is-more approach, plummeting to just 20 starts. Still crazy streaky, but not yet eligible for any major or WGC.
28	Jon Rahm	21	1.004M*	Special. Ever since the former world’s top-ranked amateur made his presence known at TPC Scottsdale in 2015 with a T5, he’s been on everyone’s radar. Fully exempt via the non-member top 125.
29	Kevin Na	33	3.441M	Poster boy for maxing out in his prime. Obviously not piling up hardware, but he’s always the guy you hope falls to you. Stays busy, contends a lot and entirely comfortable in his own skin.
30	Gary Woodland	32	2.392M*	So consistent in the long-term and busy enough to maintain his trajectory. In his prime, periodically contending and has learned how to harness his power, he’s ripe for a mammoth season soon.
31	Kevin Kisner	32	3.424M	Sustained early-season work and authored essentially a carbon copy of 2014-15, albeit with his first win. Tilted the balance back on his outstanding putting, too, but his confidence hasn’t wavered.
32	Jason Dufner	39	2.879M	Dismissed aging concern with a 25-for-28 season and return to the TOUR Championship. We’d love if he stays this busy, especially on weekends, but hedge down a click.
33	Si Woo Kim	21	3.086M	Phenomenal, breakthrough season included a win, a P2, another two top 10s and yet another 11 top 25s! Co-led the TOUR with 34 starts. Now slated to compete in all of the biggest events.
34	Ryan Moore	33	3.701M	Coming off a career year and in his prime. Nine top 10s in 23 starts is his potential, but there’s new curiosity for the impact of his Ryder Cup appearance, performance and competition-clinching point.
35	Chris Kirk	31	1.762M*	It took longer than expected to eliminate doubt over broken hand of 2015, but compiled right around what’s expected without a victory. Equaled career high with 28 starts. Now entering his prime.
36	Louis Oosthuizen	33	2.422M	A favorite when healthy, but still won’t commit to a little more than the membership minimum. Your lesson is simple: align with his objectives, not with the massive fantasy potential.
37	Byeong-Hun An	25	1.278M*	Exempt via the non-member top 125 conduit. Comfortably inside the top 50 of the OWGR, so he’ll get another crack at all of the biggies. His overall commitment figures to be strong, too. Exciting, young star.
38	Charley Hoffman	39	2.350M	Recovered from a slow start to submit a typical season, albeit with only one top 10, but that was a win (Valero). Plays too often to nosedive in the long-term. Power on the tee box is insurance.
39	Kevin Chappell	30	4.501M	Scattering a quartet of runner-up finishes in 2015-16 portends a breakthrough sooner than later. (See Kevin Kisner in 2014-15.) Most impressive was P2 at East Lake, which usually demands strong putting.
40	Branden Grace	28	2.878M	Despite a fine debut with a TOUR card, he’s arguably best utilized as a hired gun in weekly games. Top-five finishes in each of the last two U.S. Opens and PGA Championships. Also handy in the WGCs.
41	Scott Piercy	37	2.905M	Back at the superior level of play that got us giddy before arm surgery. Cashed a career-high 20 times in 2015-16 en route to career-high earnings for a single season. You’re never disappointed when you’re on board.
42	Harris English	27	2.014M*	He’s survived nearly 80 percent of his cuts during his career and has cashed at least 20 times per season, but averages just two top 25s in every five starts. At his age, you need to continue to invest in the potential.
43	Charl Schwartzel	32	2.936M	The sabbatical forced by a stomach illness paid dividends with a win at Copperhead, but you can’t expect to prevail in a league with him out front. It’s like this with most South Africans who play minimally.
44	Jamie Lovemark	28	1.940M*	Delivered on what was truly his first healthy season of several chances to thrive on the PGA TOUR, thus finally dismissing the narrative of leaving USC too early. Total package.
45	Daniel Summerhays	32	2.045M	Solid, busy contributor and exceptional putter; 64-for-84 with 27 top 25s in last three seasons. Among best without a PGA TOUR title. Already exempt into Masters, U.S. Open and PGA Championship.
46	Patrick Rodgers	24	1.290M*	Not a sleeper, but a sleeping bear. In the subset of potential breakout stars in whom you just throw all caution to the wind because his baseline wouldn’t be disappointing in the macro.
47	Rafa Cabrera Bello	32	1.609M*	Flourished as a non-member en route to fully exempt status. Terrific schedule management gave his confidence room to breathe. Potentially dynamic contributor and hired-gun type. Bullish.
48	Webb Simpson	31	1.450M*	Predictably quiet, baseline of a season should get salary gamers back on board, but his contract season isn’t until 2017-18. Fourth child born in May; his oldest is only five years of age.
49	Ryan Palmer	40	1.794M	Looks great on paper often, but his greatest value is long-term consistency. Only drawback is that he sits half the season out. So, just let him come to you and embrace the predictable.
50	Brendan Steele	33	1.589M	Every savvy gamer has owned him at some point in the last four years. Fourteen top-15 finishes in the last two seasons combined. Automatic for weekly gamers at the Valero and Barracuda.