Fantasy Lookahead: Jamie Lovemark builds form with eye on first win
Jamie Lovemark had a disappointing finish at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, losing in a playoff to finish in a tie for second. It's his best finish in a year where he's made 11 of 16 cuts, with five top-10 finishes. After starting the season by playing nearly every week, he's been playing in every second event since the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
He had a disappointing missed cut at the RBC Heritage, but he's finished inside the top 20 in each of his other three most recent events. His price has dropped despite last week's strong finish, due to the high quality of this week's field. Lovemark's sixth-place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational shows he's fully capable of a quality finish in a strong field.
Course History
Lovemark missed the cut in this event in both 2014 and 2012, without playing in 2013 and 2015. He had missed the cut in his previous appearance at TPC Louisiana - the site of the Zurich Classic - illustrating once again the unpredictability of course history.
Statistical Breakdown
Per FantasyInsiders, the following stats have been strengths of previous winners at Quail Hollow:
Driving Distance (DD)
Par 4 Efficiency: 450-500 Yards (P4E)
Par 5 Scoring Average (P5S)
Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (SGT2G)
Here's how Lovemark ranks in those statistics in 2016:
| DD | P4E | P5S | SGT2G |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 2 | 16 | 54 |
As a so-called bomber, Lovemark is well suited for Quail Hollow. His scoring average of 70.280 ranks 13th on tour, another stat to monitor at a course where just one of the past 13 winners has finished with a final score higher than 10 under.
Daily Fantasy
Lovemark fired three rounds in the 60s last week and with the tough playoff holes added in, he totaled 17 birdies and two bogeys on the week. It was his fourth consecutive tournament with fewer than 10 bogeys, and the third time in four weeks in which he had at least 15 birdies.
Seven of his past 13 rounds have been below 70, with his final-round 76 at the Shell Houston Open representing his worst score in that time. He has plenty of scoring upside at a moderate salary this week and is an excellent cash-game option for owners trying to assemble a more balanced lineup.
Season-Long Fantasy
Lovemark is a part of the very crowded and very skilled C-List. He'll be fresh in the minds of owners, coming off his high finish in Louisiana. Owners should be deploying him before the tour moves on to more marquee events and his starts should be used up while on this current run of success