Porsche European Open PlayOn fantasy picks

This Porsche European Open fantasy team blends promising young players with those who are deeply experienced, passing over higher-ranked players in the field.

The 35th edition of the Porsche European Open takes the European Tour to Green Eagle Golf Course in Hamburg, Germany this week. Players and fans alike can take a deep breath and look forward to a more relaxed competition after the intensity of Royal Birkdale and the 146th Open Championship.

Alexander Levy, who anchors my fantasy team this week, is the defending champion. Levy won last year with a breathtaking 30 foot putt and I’m hoping for a similar standout performance from him this week. Levy will have the opportunity to become the first since Lee Westwood in 2000 to successfully defend his European Open title.

Patrick Reed, Jimmy Walker, and Charl Schwartzel top the field in terms of the world rankings, but I passed over all of them for my fantasy team picks. Reed missed the cut last week at Royal Birkdale and Walker and Schwartzel, who both played the weekend, are coming to Green Eagle worn out and probably not bringing their best games to the tee. I looked for less expensive players who promised a greater return on my investment that Reed, Walker, and Schwartzel could.

I shaped my fantasy team picks this week to capitalize on the strength of several very experienced players in the field and to put two promising young European Tour players to work as well. It’s a balance of youth and age, with the defending champion anchoring the team.

Take a look and see what you think. There are certainly other options, but I like the diversity in this team composition.