Every week of the year the PGA Tour plays on a new course. There are some examples in other DFS Sports of environments impacting performance, such as Coors Field in Baseball; Golf, however, offers an entirely unique environment each and every week. This article will break down the week’s PGA course and attempt to find what skill sets are needed for success. This article will then combine the course breakdown with the DFS Army Domination Station & VIP Research Station and give a few players to target in both Cash Game and GPP formats. For more updates throughout the week follow me on twitter @_bschnarr
Congrats to dbarlow87, becoming our 8th winner of over $50,000 in the past 2 months with this massive $250,000 win on Sunday! Interested in joining and gaining access to the same tools used by all eight of these winners? Click here
Course Preview
The PGA tour is back! For all golf fans the wait is over as the off-season comes to an end as regular events begin. The year kicks off with the Sentry Tournament of Champions, an annual event with all of the past seasons champions. The no-cut event takes place in Kapalua, Hawaii at the Kapalua Resort, Plantation course. This same course has been used since 1999 so no worries about course history.
The par 73, 7,452-yard course almost always plays as the easiest event of the season with the last three winners all finishing 21 under par or better. These low scores are a direct result of the layout of Kapalua. The only par 73 on tour is not necessarily short but Kapalua has some of the widest fairways we will see all better. Players are not penalized for inaccuracy off-of the tee and will have plenty of chances for birdies. This means we should be targeting driving distance and as a key stats this week. With accuracy not being punished the longer hitters have an advantage over the rest of the field.
We should also be heavily targeting birdie or better %. If you are new to DFS Golf players are heavily rewarded for scoring with bonuses for birdies and eagles. It is always important to target players who score well but in a no-cut event it becomes even more important as a way to gain an advantage with every player (barring withdrawals) playing 4 rounds.
Ownership Percentage is critical in a no-cut event and we have you covered here at DFSArmy. Check into our SlackChat later in the week to see our ownership projections to know who to pivot on and off of. Also, well this write-up is focused on DraftKings and FanDuel we can’t forget about Draft. In SlackChat Wednesday I will be giving out a guide based on our picks versus Draft’s projections.
Not a member? use code PGA for 20% off and Sign up here!
Picks
Jordan Spieth – Top End – DK: $10900 FD: $12300
At the top my personal preference this week will be to start teams with Spieth. Of the four Salaries above $10,000 on DraftKings and $12,000 on FanDuel I think ownership will likely spread out as none appear as the obvious play. Although Spieth has the least distance off-of the tee of the top four he has the highest birdie or better % of all four in field adjusted statistics. At this event, Spieth has shined in all three appearances at Kapalua with a win in 2016 and never finishing worse than third.
Brooks Koepka – Second Tier – DK: $9400 FD: $11400
On paper this is the perfect course for Brooks and his ranking amongst with the top end of talent in the world reflects this. Our Research Station has Koepka as the highest field adjusted driving distance in the field and top five in birdie or better %. Our current ownership projections have him as the lowest owned of the top six salaries on both DraftKings and FanDuel (check SlackChat later for updates as touts talk up players and news comes out). In one appearance here at Kapalua Brooks finished third with a score that would regularly win the event. Although he did not look good in his appearance at the Hero World Challenge there has been over a month to get his game back and concerns about form shouldn’t stop you from rostering Koepka.
Brendan Steele – DraftKings Value – DK: $7400 FD: $9000
Fresh off of his best PGA season and a recent win at the Safeway Open Steele is a tremendous value play on DraftKings. Steele’s price does not match his ability and with no recent form concerns Steele is looking like a great option. According to our Research Station Brendan Steele ranks fourth in field adjusted statistics for driving distance and is in the upper half of the field for birdie or better%. Our Domination Station projections reflect this, showing Steele as the 4th best fantasy points per dollar of any player on DraftKings formats. The potential ownership however could be steep and should be considered when rostering Steele.
Patton Kizzire – FanDuel Value – DK: $7300 FD: $7400
No player finished out the swing season as hot as Patton Kizzire who finished with a win and three top fives in his last four events of the season. As a result of recent Patton Kizzire will surely be the chalk play for low end salaries. Although not known for power off of the tee Kizzire has been gaining over half a stroke in driving distance according to our field adjusted statistics. Because of his price, Kizzire is projected to have the 5th most fantasy points per dollar of any player on FanDuel according to our Domination Station.
As always, this article is published as a first look, things change leading up to lock and SlackChat should be checked as thoughts are changed when new information arises.
Other DFS Army PGA Golf Tools and Articles
DFS Army VIP Members also have access to our PGA Cheatsheet!
DFS Army VIP Members also have access to our DFS Army Domination Station Lineup Optimizer!
DFS Army VIP Members also have access to our Euro Tour Cheatsheet!
Be sure to sign up to our DFS Army VIP Membership in order to utilize our custom Domination Station projections, PGA spreadsheets and access to chat with Taco, myself and many other proven winners. Use Coupon Code “PGA” to receive 10% all of this PGA content as well as content for MLB, NBA, NFL and every other DFS sport your heart desires.