jason mezrahi 
In this edition of PGA DFS picks, we’re looking for a big payday at the Sanderson Farms Championship and helping you find some winning teams!
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PGA DFS Course Notes:
- Relatively weak but much improved (from last week) field of 144 Golfers
- Cut: Top 65 and ties
- Defending Champ: Sebastian Munoz (-18)
- The course: Country Club of Jackson (Jackson, MS)
- Par 72: 7,287 yards
- BermudaPoa (Bluegrass)
- Bomb and gouge is in play… but avoid the water!
- Blend of long approaches and short
- The last six winners have all been first time winners on the PGA TOUR, but it used to be an alternate site – which means there will be a few more grizzled vets in the mix this week
- Focus Stat Categories: Strokes Gained: Approach, Birdie or Better%, Par 4s (400-450) SG: OTT, SG: Putting (Bermuda), Proximity (175-200)
The Picks:
Elite PGA DFS (DK $9,500 and up):
Scottie Scheffler (DK $11,400) – Scheffler is probably the most talented golfer in the field, and he’s also the most expensive. The PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year withdraw from the U.S. Open after testing positive for COVID-19 but closed out the season with three top fives (among six straight top 25 finishes) and is gearing up to become the seventh consecutive first-time winner of the tournament. He’s second in my overall model after Doc Redman.
Will Zalatoris (DK $10,000) – Zalatoris, who finished in the top 20 in 13 consecutive starts, including two straight top-10s on the PGA TOUR, arrives at this week’s Sanderson Farms Championship as one of the hottest players in the world. He’s made the shift from leading the Korn Ferry Tour’s Regular Season Points list to PGA Tour events rather nicely, finishing eighth in last week’s event after an impressive T6 performance at the U.S. Open. Third in my model this week.
Sam Burns (DK $9,800) – A few weeks ago, Burns had a solid reputation as a longer hitter and birdie-making GPP play, but he’s vastly improved his T2G play and he’s 3-for-3 at CC of Jackson with a T3 in 2018 – the makings of a chalky, cash game option. He’s also in my Top 10, so I’ll have shares of him in all formats.
Doc Redman (DK $9,700) – We’ve seen Doc trending in the right direction with his overall game and ball-striking, attributes that will play well in Jackson. Redman also ranked 45th in birdie average on the PGA Tour in 2020 (fourth so far after just the Safeway Open in the 2021 season), and he’s my pick to break through and win this week.
Zach Johnson (DK $9,600) – One of the aforementioned “grizzled vets,” ZJ arrives in Mississippi sporting good form — and he finished T14 at this event last season. He’s nearly a lock for a made cut and has the short game to scoot up the leaderboard during the weekend.
Also consider: Sungjae Im (cash), Byeong-Hun An. Adam Long
Mid-Range PGA DFS (DK $7,600 to $9,400):
Corey Conners (DK $9,200) – He should be a staple of cash game lineups and he stands to make a much larger impact — and could be a nifty GPP play — if his ownership stays down and he can get the flat stick going this week. Last year he missed the cut at this event, but the Canadian sensation finished second here in 2018.
Carlos Ortiz (DK $8,300) – With two straight top five finishes at the Sanderson Farms, he’ll be popular this week, but it’s obvious he likes this venue and this layout, so I’ll be on board in a few lineups.
Cam Davis (DK $8,100) – Davis might be a better cash play than GPP because he’s been treading water in the T15-T40 range, but that’s not a bad guy to use last in that range because he fares well in the mixed models.
Chesson Hadley (DK $7,800) – We’re no longer getting the standard Chesson Hadley discount on FanDuel, as his salary there ($9,500) is now the 22nd highest in the field, but he’s under $8K on DK, where he’s a boom-or-bust GPP play.
Sepp Straka (DK $7,700) – Straka is turning into a much better ball striker, and while he’s known for his dynamic play, we’re seeing fewer bogeys and even more birdies these days from the
Tom Lewis (DK $7,700) – He’s not really great at anything, but he’s not particularly bad at anything either, so I’ll consider him for GPPs based on his form, aggressive style of play, and ability to make bunches of birdies.
Also consider: Brian Harman (cash), Dylan Frittelli (GPP), Chez Reavie, Henrik Stenson, Si Woo Kim, Xinjun Zhang, Lucas Glover, Patrick Rodgers (GPP), Denny McCarthy (GPP)
Value PGA DFS (DK $6,600 to 7,500):
Talor Gooch (DK $7,400) – Along with the next guy, he’s my favorite GPP play under $7,500, and he’s fourth in my models – not for one particular area but his overall game. Gooch isn’t the flashiest play, but he’s got what it takes to become the seventh consecutive debut winner at this event.
Cameron Tringale (DK $7,300) – Another solid player who arrives with little fanfare, I’ll have shares of Tringale in GPPs of all sorts (including single-entry), and I believe in his ability to notch a win here given his weekend play at the 3M (63-66), when he finished third.
Cameron Percy (DK $7,200) – In 2020, Percy finished 22nd on Tour in SG: APP, has a pair of top-20 finishes in his last four starts at this event (among four Top 45s) and owns top-25s in his last three starts where he played all four rounds. He’s also lurking in the Top 20 in my model among some accomplished golfers.
Brandt Snedeker (DK $7,100) – We’re talking GPP only, guys. He’s missed three straight cuts and is a notorious terrible ball striker who gets by with otherworldly putting and veteran panache. Don’t get crazy.
Patton Kizzire (DK $6,900) – He could benefit from the bomb-and-gouge approach this week and tend to flourish on Bermuda greens. He’s the definition of a large-field GPP play, because he carries plenty of MC risk (he’s missed five of his last nine cuts).
Davis Riley (DK $6,800) – The two-time 2020 Korn Ferry Tour winner was popping in my models before I found out that he’s from Mississippi, and that he’s only made a few appearances on the PGA Tour – one of which was at last year’s Sanderson Farms Championship (T39). He’s strolling down narrative street this week with a dangerous putter in his hands.
Adam Schenk (DK $6,700) – If you need a cash game play under $7K, I’d say that Schenk – despite the images of inconsistency conjured his name – might just be your man. He’s made eight consecutive cuts, which is actually the longest streak among the not-so-terrible field.
Scott Stallings (DK $6,600) – It’s been a long time since he’s won on tour (2014), and his tee game leaves a lot to be desired, but he’s in the Top 40 on my models and he could squeeze his way into one or two large-field GPP lineups this week.
More value golfers to consider: Nick Taylor (GPP), Hudson Swafford, Richy Werenski, Kristoffer Ventura, Will Gordon (GPP), Jhonattan Vegas (GPP), Mark Hubbard
Longshot Punts PGA DFS (DK $6,500 and under):
Chase Seifert (DK $6,400) – Seifert’s name came up last week in my Corales prep, and he finished T41 (right with the next guy) after a lackluster 72 on Sunday. With no major flaws in his game, if he can make the cut and close with as decent score, he could be a useful cash game cog at this bargain price.
Matthew NeSmith (DK $6,300) – The price is a joke given this guy’s upside (three Top 15s in 2020), and he’s sandwiched at 21 between Si Woo Kim and ZJ in my model. He’s definitely worth a look in GPPs.
Additional punts: Vaughn Taylor, Nick Watney (GPP), Martin Laird (GPP)
