2014 Greenbrier Classic Fantasy Sleeper Picks

By Danny Norris | Jul 1, 2014

The Greenbrier Classic is the place to get your first victory. In the last three tournaments, Scott Stallings, Ted Potter Jr., and Jonas Blixt have all won their first PGA Tour event here. One of the reasons for that is this is typically a tournament where the fields are pretty weak. So, that leads to some very unpredictable results.

With unpredictable results, expect the unexpected. This is a chance for some under-the-radar, sleeper players to shine this week. I have five players to keep an eye on this week, so let’s get to it.

More from PGA

Pat Perez– Pat Perez has struggled of late and so he’s sort of fallen off the map a little bit. I believe this is the week Perez bounces back. This is the type of tournament and the type of field Perez can take advantage.

Perez is typically a solid player in some of the top tier tournaments – he’ll make the cut – but never really compete on the weekend. And I’m not saying he’s not a good player, he is, but he’s not on that top tier level. He’s just a notch below and with fields like these he usually competes and is in the hunt on Sunday.

Factor that in, but also just take a look at Perez’ history here at The Greenbrier Classic. Last year, Perez finished T-6, in 2012: T-27, and in 2010: T-9. Perez looks like a really good play this week and the fact that he comes cheap is a big plus. Look for Perez to be in the thick of things come Sunday afternoon.

Cameron Tringale– 2014 has been the year where golfers have won their first tournament. I think it’s about time for someone like Cameron Tringale to jump in and join the party. You would have to say Tringale is one of the better players on Tour right now without a win. He may be off that list by this time next week.

Tringale is a very talented player and has played extremely well this year. He’s only missed the cut in five times in 24 tournaments and in a handful of tournaments he’s been right there on the first couple of pages come Sunday afternoon.

At the Phoenix Open he finished T-12, Pebble Beach T-13, Northern Trust Open T-12, Valspar T-25, Houston Open 4th, and Zurich Classic T-17. In the last three tournaments he’s finished T-37 at the Memorial, T-32 at the St. Jude Classic, and Quicken Loans National T-30.

Tringale has played well all season long and has played well here at the Greenbrier Classic. Last year, Tringale finished T-23, in 2012: T-56, and in 2011: T-4. Tringale is about due to finally get that win and he may just do it this week.

Daniel Summerhays– Daniel Summerhays isn’t really a sleeper pick. He’s just a bit below the average in terms of the fantasy money, but still, I figure I throw him in because he still is a value pick and he goes along the lines of what I said about Tringale.

Summerhays is in the same boat as Tringale. Summerhays is a very talented, young golfer that hasn’t yet hoisted a trophy on the PGA Tour. Summerhays is having a very good year and has come close to getting that first win a few times. At the McGladrey Classic he finished T-10, at the Honda Classic T-12, and his best chance this year was at the Texas Open where he finished T-2.

Feb 8, 2014; Pebble Beach, CA, USA; Daniel Summerhays on the tee of the sixth hole during the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

Summerhays has had the results this year and has played extremely well here at the Greenbrier Classic the past two years. Last year, Summerhays finished T-9, and in 2012 finished 5th. Summerhays has figured out the Old White TPC and maybe he’ll finally get that win. And hey, the Greenbrier Classic has given us some drama in the four years. In 2011 and in 2012 the winner had to be decided via a playoff. Maybe it’ll come down to Tringale and Summerhays in a playoff.

Ted Potter Jr.– While Ted Potter Jr. is having a terrible season, I was still surprised to find out that he was so low in terms of fantasy money this week. In two events here at The Greenbrier Classic, he’s finished T-6 (last year) and won (in 2012). While that’s a small sample size, I like Potter’s chances at competing once again this year.

Consider this: Potter has played in 21 tournaments this year and has only made the cut eight times. That’s not good. That’s not good at all, but look at last year. In 16 tournaments prior to The Greenbrier Classic, Potter made the cut in half of those tournaments. In 2012, he played in 15 tournaments Potter Jr. missed the cut nine times; including missing five straight tournaments prior to winning at The Greenbrier Classic.

So, even though he’s having a bad year, don’t completely write him off. He’s in the same form he’s been in the past couple of years and he played extremely well here at The Greenbrier Classic. Potter is a very, very cheap pick up and has the most value on the list.

Michael Putnam– Michael Putnam has quietly put together a real solid year. In 24 tournaments, Putnam has only missed the cut six of those tournaments, and in his last six tournaments he’s made the cut in five of them which includes a T-11 at the Travelers Championship.

Putnam has never played here at the Greenbrier Classic, but neither had the previous winners: Blixt, Potter, Stallings, and Stuart Appleby they all played here for the first time and won it. This is Putnam’s first time playing at the Greenbrier Old White TPC and maybe he’ll keep the small tradition going.