PGA DFS Picks: Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship

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In this edition of PGA DFS picks, we’re looking for a big payday at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship and giving you the picks to do it!

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PGA DFS Course Notes:

• Full but weak field of 154 Golfers
• Cut: Top 65 and ties
• Defending Champ: Graeme McDowell (-18)
• The course: Corales Puntacana Resort & Club (Punta Cana, DR)
• Par 72: 7,650 yards
• Smaller Paspalum greens similar to Florida swing
• Seaside links-style course with inland front nine, easy-to-hit fairways
• Wind can play a huge factor
  • Four long par 5s
• Focus Stat Categories: Birdie or Better %, Strokes Gained: Approach, SG: OTT, SG: Putting (Bermuda), GIR

I’m going to keep the blurbs brief and to the point. I’ve plugged in some data into the mixed models and there’s a few GPP plays that really stand out this week.

The Picks:

Elite PGA DFS (DK $9,500 and up):

Will Zalatoris (DK $10,900) – He had a great week at the U.S. Open and was T6 behind some amazing golfers. Playing on a sponsor’s exemption this week, Zalatoris is my pick to win.

Corey Connors (DK $10,600) – The Canadian T2G sensation hits greens and ranks second and third in SG: OTT and SG: APP, respectively. He’s a great bet for a Top 15 even though he missed the cut here last year, but he’ll have to make some putts.

Mackenzie Hughes (DK $10,300) – Another Canadian at the opposite end of the SG stat spectrum, Hughes has a great short game and sometimes fails OTT and with his approaches. He finished second here last year but I’d use him as a GPP play only.

Sam Burns (DK $10,100) – There will be scoring opportunities for this solid ball striker, and he’ll be going for the Par 5s in two. He finished 12th here last year and we could see improvement on that this season.

Adam Long (DK $9,900) – He shows up near the top of my model (fifth overall) and his only flaw is his weak tee game. I’m intrigued but a little bit scared.

Also consider: Denny McCarthy (GPP), Emiliano Grillo, Charles Howell III

Mid-Range PGA DFS (DK $7,600 to $9,400):

Sepp Straka (DK $9,300) – Fourth overall in my model but first in my heart, I’m not passing up a chance to snag a low-owned Straka in a spot where he could notch his first PGA Tour win.

Pat Perez (DK $9,100) – Perez looks like a great fit for the course in the mixed model, and he’s usually pretty solid on the Florida swing, which correlates well here.

Luke List (DK $8,700) – List’s last really solid performance was a T10 at the Memorial, and he’s playing the course for the first time. But he’s a beast off the tee and can hit greens.

Patrick Rodgers (DK $8,000) – Nobody’s picking him to win, but I love the short game and SG: OTT stats, so I’m buying for his upside in GPPs.

Brice Garnett (DK $7,900) – Garnett loves the venue, notching a wire-to-wire win here in 2018, and will be happy to get back to a course that fits his style. He’ll likely be popular.

Jhonattan Vegas (DK $7,700) – Vegas showed up in my model and finished T26 at Puntacana Resort last year. We can use the Venezuelan in any format.

Also consider: Thomas Detry, Kristoffer Ventura, Henrik Norlander, Adam Schenk, Kyle Styanley (GPP), Graeme McDowell, James Hahn

Value PGA DFS (DK $6,600 to 7,500):

Matthew NeSmith (DK $7,400) – The price seems a bit high considering his poor play recently, but the model loves him and e could get some big-time leverage in GPPs if he notches a top 15.

Peter Uihlein (DK $7,100) – This isn’t my favorite price range, but I’m willing to take a shot with Uihlein, who’s stat profile looks very similar to last year’s winner, Graeme McDowell.

Patton Kizzire (DK $7,000) – Kizzire missed the cut at the Safeway but the long-but-inaccurate hitter could find refuge in the course’s wide fairways. He’s my favorite play at $7K or less.

More value golfers to consider: Beau Hossler, Vaughn Taylor, Hudson Swafford, Chase Seifert

Longshot Punts PGA DFS (DK $6,500 and under):

Graham DeLaet (DK $6,300) – He’s showing up at the top of my models and why that’s hard to explain, it’s going to get him in a few of my scrubs and studs GPP builds.

Jamie Lovemark (DK $6,300) – I’m interested only because of his ability to get hot with the putter and roll in a bunch of birdies. Another player who should benefit from the wider fairways and long Par 5s.

Additional punts: Roberto Diaz, Shawn Stefani (GPP), Sebastian Cappelen, Dominic Bozzelli