The Loop

Can Rickie Fowler bang the victory drum in Shanghai this week?

November 04, 2015

Justin Thomas stopped Ryan Moore's reign of terror in Malaysia and continued the current hot streak of young first-time winners on the PGA Tour. Through three events of the 2015-16 season, the three winners are a combined age of 68, which is just two years older than Tom Watson. Two of those three, Thomas and Emiliano Grillo, will be making their World Golf Championship debuts this week with the HSBC Champions, but they'll have their work cut out against a stout field. Here's who I'm taking on my PGA Tour Fantasy Golf squad in Shanghai:

Rory McIlroy: At 26, is McIlroy even considered young anymore? Regardless, he's always played great golf at Sheshan International GC, with four top-six finishes in four trips. This trip didn't get off to the best start with a bout of food poisoning caused by a club sandwich of all things, but we're banking on Chef BoyarRory's stomach rounding back into form by Thursday.

Kevin Na: Another week, another close call, but there's no reason not to stick with the hottest hand in the game right now. Na has two runner-ups and a T-3 in three fall starts. As far as we know, he's avoided the club sandwiches in Shanghai and is ready for another high finish.

Patrick Reed: We're sticking with Reed after a T-10 in Malaysia and a T-3 in Hong Kong the week before. That form has us expecting better than the T-22 he turned in last year in his first time playing this event.

Rickie Fowler: Missed out on a playoff won by Bubba Watson at this event by one shot last year, but he's gotten over that. "As long as I was a better drummer than Bubba, I'm happy," Fowler said earlier this week.

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Good to know, Rickie, but let's try to be just a little bit better on the course this year, too.

__ Bench:__ Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson.

And for those of you playing other fantasy golf formats:

Yahoo! lineup: The Yahoo! season doesn't start until Kapalua in January.

Knockout/One-and-done pick: .

Previously used: Tony Finau (Frys.com), Anirban Lahiri (CIMB), Patrick Rodgers (Shriners).