2017 Hero World Challenge expert picks, rankings, fantasy golf and betting tips

Looking for 2017 Hero World Challenge picks, either for betting or fantasy golf games like DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo, Golf Channel or the PGA Tour?

We have your 2017 Hero World Challenge rankings and expert picks, as we do each week of the PGA Tour season.

We are at the only silly season event that really matters. The Hero World Challenge has been Tiger Woods' comeback event each of the last two playings, including this one. Hideki Matsuyama defends, but Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth really headline.

For those new to our weekly picks, we offer our top 10 players for free -- but we're doing nine this week since that's half the field. GNN Plus members get additional analysis and research otherwise hidden to the general public, and that's in addition to access to a searchable database of PGA Tour results from 2011-present, top-15 PGA Tour trends and season-long DraftKings salary trends.

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2017 Hero World Challenge rankings: Top 9 picks

1. Justin Thomas -- Thomas is a par-5 stud, and he can smoke the golf ball all over the place on this resort-style course. Best on the planet right now.

2. Jordan Spieth -- Spieth has a nice little track record in two years here, and he placed well in the Aussie Open with a stone-dead putter. He'll need it this week.

3. Rickie Fowler -- Fowler loves Albany, too, and he's been in the runner-up position in two of his last three PGA Tour starts.

4. Brooks Koepka -- Brooks won the Dunlop Phoenix by 9. NINE. He defended his title with aplomb, running away on the final day.

5. Justin Rose -- Rose let the Euro Tour finale get away from him in Dubai, but he's been all-world class the last 60 days.

6. Dustin Johnson -- Kinda blah to end the PGA Tour playoffs, and he choked away a six-stroke lead at the WGC-HSBC Champions to Rose. But he should be fine.

7. Kevin Kisner -- Kisner has been inside the top four in his last two PGA Tour starts, including a good run at The RSM Classic.

8. Hideki Matsuyama -- The baffling clunker at the WGC-HSBC aside, Matsuyama has been in the top five in his other two recent starts.

9. Tommy Fleetwood -- C'mon. He's the Race to Dubai winner with three top-10s in his last six starts.

My DraftKings lineup for this week:

1. Rickie Fowler - $9,600
2. Brooks Koepka - $9,200
3. Justin Rose - $8,600
4. Hideki Matsuyama - $8,200
5. Kevin Kisner - $7,100
6. Tommy Fleetwood - $6,800

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