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PGA DFS Picks

Wells Fargo Championship: Initial Picks

Sia 4 years ago

written by Sia

The PGA Tour is in North Carolina this week for the Wells Fargo Championship. Players will need to bring the big stick as OTT game takes a major role in a successful week here. I’ll be focused on OTT and APP and I’ll have a particular focus on proximities of 175 through 200+ as those are back in play just like last week. While the second shot proximities remain similar to last week, the big difference at Wells Fargo is the sheer length of the course and what will be required off the tee. Don’t completely rule out shorter hitters, but certainly give the edge or the tiebreaker to a guy that can hit it long. Make sure you listen to tonight’s Win Daily Sports PGA show as we will bring you much more perspective on the course dynamics and each player in this field. Now let’s get to the Wells Fargo picks.

Bryson DeChambeau (11000) – I really think Justin Thomas should be included in this article but I only want to make room for two in this elite range, so I’m going to go with Bryson and Rahm (see below). This course gives a big advantage to OTT game and Bryson is the Captain of Team OTT. Rest of his game hasn’t been too bad either and I think this is an excellent course fit.

Jon Rahm (10800) – Speaking of elite OTT game, Rahm hasn’t lost strokes OTT in a very long time. He rates out 2^nd OTT in this Calendar year (behind only Bryson and his APP game has been stellar as well, particularly on shots of 175-200+. He rates out number 1 in my model. Again, honorable mention in this range goes to JT and I should also add Webb Simpson.

Corey Conners (9200) – If you’re looking for a great ball striker who has been particularly good OTT, then look no further than the 5^th ranked golfer in my model. Only thing holding this guy back right now is the short game, but that shouldn’t hurt him too badly here. Give me the ball striker.

Joaquin Niemann (9100) – The only issue with Niemann is he rarely puts all facets of his game together but he’s clearly an elite player just waiting for his moment. This guy has a small frame but absolutely crushes the ball OTT. His history at the Wells Fargo is limited and not particularly great, but I’m willing to take a chance on a good course fit and a rising star.

Bubba Watson (8300) – I’m not a Bubba guy, but he has been pretty great lately and I think this DK price is very fair. Watson has been finishing strong lately and making cuts at the rate of vintage Bubba Watson. His long iron and putting game has been shaky as of the last 36 rounds, but I’m willing to take a chance on Bubba, but only in GPP’s.

Emiliano Grillo (8100) – a great price for a great ball striker who has been surprisingly great OTT. Grillo is both a GPP and cash game play as his ball striking and history at this course speak to a golfer that should probably be closer to 8500 rather than 8100. As usual, he will need to find the putter.

Stewart Cink (7900) – Already a two time winner this year, Cink is in the midst of a great stretch of golf. That great stretch included a takedown at the RBC and a 12^th at the Masters. Most people may think he’s not the best course fit here due to a presumed lack of length of the tee. Cink is inside the Top 20 in driving distance over the last 36 rounds, and for the sake of context, he has been driving it longer than Jon Rahm. The floor is low for Cink but the ceiling is quite high.

Matt Jones (7500) – As you build your lineups, you’ll find yourself in this exact price range quite often and my favorite guy in this particular range is Matt Jones. He’s a good course fit as he has made 3 out of his last 4 cuts here and his recent history is pretty good as well, and that includes a 1^st place at the Honda.

Kyle Stanley (7100) – We’re getting into the danger zone in this price range, but I’ll go ahead and lean on last week’s Secret Weapon (34-6, but who’s counting) as this course will demand a lot of the same from last week from an APP standpoint. While he doesn’t appear to be a good course fit, his last two efforts at Wells Fargo resulted in an 8^th and 13^th place finish.

Adam Schenk (6800) – A simple case of riding the hot hand as he has finished within the Top 25 over the last three tournaments (for the sake of fairness, one of those tournaments was the Zurich Classic match play). Either way, Schenk has been striking it well lately and finished 13^th here the last time this tournament was played in 2019.

Luke List (6800) – Some clear deficiencies in List’s game, particularly with the putter and certain APP metrics (175-200), but the OTT game is there as he ranks 12^th OTT over the last 36 rounds in this field. In 2019 he made the cut but finished 65^th and in 2018 he finished 9^th.

Secret Weapon (less than 7k/less than 5% owned) – See you in Discord. Current SW record is 34-6.

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4 years ago 0 comments

PGA DFS Picks: Valspar Championship

jason mezrahi 4 years ago

written by jason mezrahi

In this edition of PGA DFS picks, we’re looking for a big payday at The Valspar Championship and helping you find some winning teams!

PGA DFS Course Notes:

Decent top-end in a full field of 156 golfers, but not an elite group
36-hole Cut: Top 65 and ties play the weekend
Canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19
2019 (and 2018) champion: Paul Casey (-8 in ’19; -10 in ’18)
The course: Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort (Palm Harbour, FL)
- Par 71: 7,340 yards
- Bermuda greens
- Tough track that played easier before 2015 renovations and a 2007 date change
- Five par 3s, four par 5s
- Tight fairways, water in play on 11 of 18 holes
- Solid tee-to-green golf a must
- AVOID THE SNAKE PIT (Holes 16-18 can bit you… and poison a victory with a multi-stroke swing come Sunday)
Some Friday afternoon wind will bump up (10-14 MPH) but weather looks great in the low 80s with no rain forecasted
Focus Stat Categories: Strokes Gained: Approach, SG: T2G, Par 3s Gained: 200-225, SG: Short Game, Par 4s Gained: 400-450, Good Drives Gained

The Picks:

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

Justin Thomas (DK $11,500) – JT is my top dog emcee this week, despite an embarrassing MC his last time out here at Copperhead in 2019. Feel free to drop him into your GPPs and hope for the A game on a course he should excel on — in a clime and locale he digs. Some tighter pricing at the very top will keep him lower owned than usual. He posted T10 in 2015 and T18 in 2016, but not tons of success here…yet. JT’s greatest strength in GPPs is both his predictability (on hard golf courses) and his relative unpredictability (when it comes to making cuts) in PGA DFS.

Dustin Johnson (DK $11,200) – He’ll come in even lower than JT, so why not? I’m going to try to jam both of these guys in together in just one or two of 20 max GPPs – it’s a tough stars-and-scrubs route but not impossible if you deploy 2-3 of my punts in the $6,300-$6,700 range. DJ’s almost twice that, but I’m still fine coming in around the field on his ownership because he’s so frickin’ solid T2G. Again — in most cases we’ll be tasked with rostering one or the other, so you’ll have to pick your poison in the Justin-or-Dustin sweepstakes.

Paul Casey (DK $10,000) – I guess he likes it here, huh? Casey’s the defending champ two times over, so you know damn well he’s going to be popular – like Hell’s Ice Cream Man. I’m using some recent course history in my mixed model this week; as a result he’s No. 1 in the field four categories (three exclusive to Copperhead: SG:T2G, SG: Short Game and DK Pts), and the other a very impressive field-beater for Par 4s (400-450). Casey also ranks out as No. 5 in my Good Drives Gained metric and No. 3 overall in two categories tweaked for difficult fairways and scoring: SG: APP and SG: T2G. So hard to bet against him, but he’s definitely looking at 15-20% ownership this week in GPPs.

Corey Conners (DK $9,600) – He might be more of a cash play than GPP, because he’s becoming popular – and he’ll be more popular than Casey, even – for a reason. But yeah, I’d use him in single-entry GPPs, especially if you’re fading Casey. Conners finished T16 here (right with the next two golfers I wrote up, in fact) in 2018, and it’s a very viable trio again in 2021, with all three of them in my model’s Top 15.

Louis Oosthuizen (DK $9,500) – So yeah, I love Louis and the high price – because it’s up with the big boys and he should fly under 12% owned in GPPs. Oosty has a T7 (2016), a T16 (2018) and a T2 (2019) at Copperhead and he’s swinging it great recently. The last tee shot he hit that folks watched got pushed it into the water – and he and teammate Charl Schwartzel lost in the first hole of a playoff at the Zurich Classic to Aussie bros and champs Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith. Not sure what effect that has, but I’m using King Louis of the Gorgeous Tempo in like 20-30% of my GPPs to get myself way ahead of the field.

Also consider: Scottie Scheffler (GPP), Patrick Reed (Cash)

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

Abraham Ancer (DK $9,300) – Ancer’s solid driving, elite iron play and pin-seeking approaches should help keep him on point at Copperhead, where he finished T16 in his only appearance in 2018. No 4 in my mixed model, No. 3 in Par 4s (400-450), No. 8 in Good Drives Gained and No. 17 in the field for Par 3s (200-250). Impressive numbers for this T2G maestro that help me see him as a top cash and SE GPP play this week.

Sungjae Im (DK $9,200) – Our guy Joel may be “on a Sungjae kick,” but I’m just getting started because I’ve avoided him a bit like Sia has. This week, he’s popping up as No. 2 on my mixed model, and he notched a T4 here at the Valspar in 2019. I’ll have a hard time leaving him out of my player pool even if he’s 20% owned. Im’s approach game and recently competitive play indicate he’s the type of guy to look for here in a breakthrough.

Russell Henley (DK $9,000) – He’ll be popular, and Sia discussed why a little before when Joel confessed he’s a Sungjae believer on the breakdown. Henley pops in a lot of models, even though he hasn’t played well here aside from a T9 in 2017. I may not be into him like Sia – but I’m a little more bullish than Joel on him because of his T2G and approach abilities on tough courses like this.

Justin Rose (DK $8,800) – Always a better driver and ball-striker than a putter, Rose has hit a resurgent stride under the tutelage of Sean Foley and looks to be recovered from his back woes and wayward shots. He was one of the first guys I wrote in to discuss, arrives in great form and finished T5 here in 2018. I’m jumping aboard and I still think folks are wary to do the same – so he’s fine for GPPs at under 10-12% ownership. Glad to hear Sia is into him too. Watching Rose play the last few weeks has been a pleasure after his rough patch.

Jason Kokrak (DK $8,700) – He’s shaping up to be popular, and I like him for cash with Conners or Ancer (or maybe both). Good recent course history (consecutive top tens) and great form (3/4 top tens) His average finish at the event is 19th, and he even carded one of the individual top single-day scores in 2019 when he finished T2 with Oosthuizen. It wouldn’t surprise me if Kokrak was in contention on Sunday, so he’s on my short list in this price range.

Cameron Tringale (DK $8,400) – I’ll be looking at ownership before I make a final determination on how deep I’ll plunge in GPPs, and I’m really the most focused on his SG:APP numbers more than anything, so that might end up meaning I’m fine being close to where the field lands. I don’t want to be double it and overexpose, and I don’t want to miss out on a guy I really like playing each week for his ball-striking.

Emiliano Grillo (DK $8,300) – Putting is less important than T2G numbers here, so Grillo makes for a perfect GPP play. I landed on a lot of the same names as Joel and Sia this week, so the overlap in our Venn diagram of player pools could work out great for WinDaily subscribers if they really zero in with our builds. My piece on Grillo is that he won’t be quite as popular as the early ownership projections, because folks will get cold feet when they look at his course history here.

Chris Kirk (DK $8,200) – I know his course history isn’t great, but he’s just a better golfer now and he’s No. 30 on my model, which includes a data set of some assorted SGs (and DK points) from Copperhead over the past five seasons. That part isn’t too appealing, but he’s tackling all the other focus stats recently in this stretch of wonderful form. I wrote the start of this blurb right before I heard Sia point out in the breakdown about how he’s playing the best golf of his life at the moment – and a great value.

Talor Gooch (DK $8,000) – His numbers at Copperhead are awful, but he’s bound to come around here the second time he plays it, right? He’s a tough longshot play at 75-1 to win, but I like his Top 15 upside this week based on his SG:APP numbers and his dominance of Par 3s 200-225. There’s five par 3s here! And he hits the golf ball very well! Seriously, though, I’m getting me some GPP shares of the Goochmeister.

Also consider: Joaquin Niemann, Charley Hoffman, Sam Burns, Keegan Bradley (GPP), Kevin Kisner, Lucas Glover, Adam Hadwin (GPP)

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

Lanto Griffin (DK $7,400) – It’s his debut at Copperhead, but Griffin is the type of talent who could get in the Top 12-15 here in his first run. He shakes out well on the mixed model (No. 16 overall) and I don’t think the lack of experience should hurt him too much. He’s almost $1K cheaper than Grillo and has similar upside as an under-the-radar PGA DFS value play.

Danny Willett (DK $7,200) –A really good play in GPPS this week, Willett arrives in very good form and the former Masters champion is a whiz on this type of difficult track – which demands good shots into the par 3s and plays to his T2G strengths. The Englishman is one of the more talented players in this range, alongside Stenson and Griffin, and he’s hitting it crisp and straight.

Charl Schwartzel (DK $7,100) – I think being in contention alongside Oosthuizen last week helped him out tremendously, and I think the good memories of his 2016 win here are more than just a narrative on a course this tough, especially when you factor in the solo sixth place in 2017. Charl makes for a viable value play in a good majority of formats this week, as he was T26 at the Masters (another place he won) and I think he’ll still come in under 8% ownership. I’ll be pleased as punch if I can lock him into 15-20% of my GPP lineups and get that far ahead of the field, for his top 20 upside alone.

Henrik Stenson (DK $7,000) – He’s tops in the field in SG: APP on Copperhead over the past five events, so I’m going to be grabbing some shares at this low price – especially considering the dynamic track record and his ability to play well on tough courses. His short game isn’t great, but that’s not a focus stat this week, and his swing coach has him playing much better than in 2020. Stenson makes sense for use in some GPPs.

Tom Hoge (DK $7,000) – He’s almost always firmly in play in PGA DFS as a high-risk, high-reward GPP play unless the greens are very difficult, but that’s not the issue here. He’s No. 34 in my mixed model this week and I’m still waiting for that Top 5-10 I know he’s capable of if he can avoid the one bad round that usually spoils his eventual finish.

Ryan Moore (DK $6,900) – Moore grades out in the Top 10 of my model, but we’ve acknowledged that I’m taking course history into account – especially when it comes to searching for sub-$7K plays. There’s plenty to like about the current state of his game and the venue just works great, as he’s fifth in SG: T2G and SG:APP among the field over the Valspar’s past five events at Copperhead.

Kyle Stanley (DK $6,800) – A good driver of the golf ball who’s pretty solid T2G, Stanley fits the course profile pretty well and should come in under 5% ownership, so he’s worth a look in GPPs. He’s far from masterful around the greens and on them, so SG: Short Game is my biggest concern when it comes to focus stats, but I can endorse up to 10% in 20 max GPPs and other large-field events.

More value golfers to consider: Denny McCarthy, Doug Ghim, Brandt Snedeker (GPP), Patton Kizzire (GPP), Rory Sabbatini (GPP), John Huh, Luke List, Chase Seiffert (GPP), Scott Stallings (GPP)

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

Ryan Armour (DK $6,500) – He’s missed the last two cuts but has played well here before, including a T9 in 2019. Think of him as the higher-risk, higher-reward Brian Stuard, who I’m also considering for a few GPPs. He’s No. 26 in the model that uses a data set including course history metrics. Armour is boom-or-bust in PGA DFS, but I might take the risk this week.

Cameron Percy (DK $6,500) – A perfect type of player to debut here and flirt with an early lead because he likes it. He should like it, as he tears apart Par 3s in the 200-225 range (tied for tops in the field over his last 50 rounds with Talor Gooch) and is No. 14 on my mixed model despite the glaring lack of course history. He doesn’t feel like a punt, so he could get a few more plays as folks realize that – but for you SW predictors in Discord and followers (I confess, I VERY MUCH AM one), he might come in a little higher (or lower) than 5%.

Wes Bryan (DK $6,400) – T25 at the Heritage and he’s played well here before. Large-field GPP only but someone to consider in your stars-and-scrubs builds. Known as a less-than-driver player, Bryan hits decent approaches when he’s allowed to club down from the big stick. He’s been learning to embrace tougher tracks like this, so he’s fine for 5-10% ownership in 20 max GPPs.

Sean O’Hair (DK $6,200) – He’s made the cut here a bunch of times AND has a T12 (2018) and T2 (2015) in his last two attempts here. O’Hair’s form is hot garbage, so he’s really only a consideration for enormous GPPs in limited ownership, but at least there’s a viable narrative – rare for this admittedly desperate price range in PGA DFS.

Additional GPP punts: Brian Stuard, Austin Cook (GPP), Danny Lee

4 years ago 0 comments

PGA

Valspar Championship: Initial Picks

Sia 4 years ago

written by Sia

The PGA Tour is back in Florida for one last time in 2021 and the field will be given a true test at the Valspar Championship. The Valspar is a tough course that will hurt you if you’re not in the fairway and will test all parts of your game. This week I’m focusing on APP, Driving Accuracy and ARG more than the the other metrics. As for APP, I’m taking a hard look at proximities between 175-200 and 200+ as a lot of shots will come from that range. Tune into our Livestream tonight at 8:00 EST for more on all the golfers in this field.

Dustin Johnson (11200) – I don’t love the elite range this week, but I do like the fact that DJ will likely float under the radar at the Valspar Championship as he has been unimpressive over the last couple of months. In spite of his recent struggles, over the last 36 rounds he still rates out 5^th in my model.

Corey Conners (9600) – Will fit nicely into your cash games, but likely to garner some high ownership so be mindful of that in your GPP’s. Conners has been striking the ball better than everyone on tour and the short game is really coming around. He rates out very high in my model as expected.

Tyrrell Hatton (9400) – Hatton is starting to come around but he has been plagued by inconsistency. With that said, he’s inside the Top 10 in my model and is excellent in the notable proximity ranges (long iron play). He is a big risk ARG and that could hurt him here, unless he’s striping those irons like he has been. I’m willing to take the leap in GPP’s.

Russell Henley (9000) – I’m looking for guys who keep it in the fairway, are great on APP and are good on APP from long distances. Henley checks all the boxes and rates out very high on my model. A good price here and a solid cash and GPP play.

Justin Rose (8800) – I’m a bit surprised I’m writing Rose up as I haven’t rostered him in years. It’s pretty clear the game is coming around and he’s gained strokes in a significant manner in three tournaments in a row. There’s no reason to believe his game won’t translate well to the tough test at the Valspar Championship so I’m happy to roster him this week in GPP’s, but I’ll stay away in cash games.

Cameron Tringale (8400) – Certainly seems like a low price for Tringale considering that his ball striking has been great all year. Part of the reason for this low price is his terrible history at this tournament (missed all three cuts the last three times he’s played here), but I’m willing to overlook that and hope the ball striking stays in good order.

Denny McCarthy (7500) – I think Denny is a solid GPP play this week as you may be catching him early while his ball striking game begins to rise. The putter has always been his strong suit but the ball striking has made a bit of a comeback after a terrible stretch a few months back. He finished 9^th here last year and recent form has been great.

Lucas Glover (7400) – He will need to find a hot putter to contend on Sunday, but outside of his struggles with the flat stick, he has been good. His APP stats this year are good, but not great, but he looks like a player on the rise so I’ll ride the wave.

Rory Sabbatini (7100) – His stats don’t necessarily provide a beautiful picture, but he’s a smart and plotting player that should fit well on this course. If history is any indication, you are getting value with Rory here as he’s finished 18^th and 5^th in his last two efforts at the Valspar Championship.

Kyle Stanley (6800) – Rates out 30^th in my model and checks most of the boxes, particularly on APP. The big issue with Stanley will always be the putter. To be clear, he’s a horrible putter, but he is actually on his best putting surface at the Valspar Championship (Bermuda) so if there were a time to take a chance on putter regression with Stanley, it’s here.

Secret Weapon (less than 7k/less than 5% owned) – See you in Discord.

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4 years ago 0 comments

Daily Fantasy Sports PGA

PGA DFS Picks: Zurich Classic of New Orleans

jason mezrahi 4 years ago

written by jason mezrahi

In this PGA DFS picks column, we’re looking for all the right team at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and helping you navigate this team event!

PGA DFS Course Notes:

Solid field of 160 golfers (80 teams)
Eight players out of the world top 20 teeing it up this week
Only one teammate per team is allowed on your DK lineup
36-hole Cut: Top 35 teams and ties play the weekend
2019 champion: Jon Rahm/Ryan Palmer
The course: TPC Louisiana (Pete Dye design)
- Par 72: 7,425 yards
- Small TifEagle Bermuda greens
- Iron play again an emphasis at these tough par 4s
Focus Stat Categories: Strokes Gained: Approach, SG: Putting (Bermuda, Opportunities Gained, Birdie or Better %, SG: OTT

The Picks:

Elite PGA DFS (DK $11,000 and up):

Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay (DK $11,700) – I doubt these golfers will find much trouble off the tee and they look like the best combo of ball-striking and ability to capitalize on opportunities. Cantlay hasn’t played well recently, but in a team event, it’s easy to throw that out and look at the fact that both of these players are in the OWGR Top 10, and have the most combined talent in the field.

John Rahm/Ryan Palmer (DK $11,700) – They mastered this format last year, and Ryan Palmer lines up as a good proximity golfer from outside 200 yards (he ranks fourth on the PGA Tour). Combine their past success with Rahm’s overall talent and ability and you could have another winning combo in New Orleans. They’re a solid play in all formats.

Marc Leishman/Cameron Smith (DK $11,100) – These two were President’s Cup teammates and they both play the same ball – which is a bonus when they get to alternate stroke team play. Smith has shown an affinity for Pete Dye course and ranks fifth in the field for SG:APP at TPC Louisiana, where he was a part of the winning team in 2017 alongside Jonas Blixt. There should be plenty of scoring opportunities every day for this team, which has a shot at winning.

Also consider: Collin Morikawa/Matthew Wolff (GPP)

Mid-Range PGA DFS (DK $9,500 to $10,900):

Scottie Scheffler/Bubba Watson (DK $10,900) – I have no doubts about the team chemistry with these two birdie-makers, and while Watson has struggled in recent weeks, he’s a team player who seems to be more at ease when he’s outside his head. Scheffler’s ability to provide ample scoring opportunities will be a welcome sight for Bubba.

Tyrrell Hatton/Danny Willett (DK $10,300) – The English pair complement each other’s games quite well, with Hatton’s ball-striking and Willett’s putting possibly providing a winning combination of skill sets. I may not be overweight on the field if they get popular, but I’ll have shares.

Chris Kirk/Brendan Todd (DK $10,100) – A team that might end up making my single entry GPP lineups, Kirk/Todd (we can call them the UGA connection as former Georgia Bulldogs) should make the cut and give us some possible upside if they can get hot with the putters. They’ll be in play on these holes and we know Todd likes the small Bermuda greens and these types of “short-game forward” setups.

Max Homa/Talor Gooch (DK $9,900) – Both players can make birdies in bunches and that’s a good thing in team play. It’ll be easier to avoid big numbers that plague these golfers occasionally, and the sub-$10K tag is alluring in such a tight pricing format. The team fares well in combined models and I’ll have plenty of shares in GPPs.

Victor Hovland/Kristoffer Ventura (DK $9,700) – They played together at Oklahoma State and a quick review of the metrics indicates another complementary pairing here. Hovland ranks at or near the top of the field in SG:OTT, Opps Gained and BoB%, while Ventura is one of the better putters on tour, ranking well overall and on Bermuda. This could be a sneaky team.

Also consider: Tony Finau/Cameron Champ, Billy Horschel/Sam Burns

Value PGA DFS (DK $8,000 to $9,400):

Brendan Steele/Keegan Bradley (DK $9,300) – Steele is the better putter and longer driver, and Bradley the better ball-striker, and Steele had a Top 10 at this event in 2018. It’s not an exciting team, but one that might be lingering come Sunday and make a run at a Top 5.

Thomas Pieters/Tom Lewis (DK $9,200) –Another EURO connection that combines experience and form (Pieters) with birdie-making and motivation (Lewis). Lewis wants his PGA Tour card and Pieters is motivated in his own right – looking for a spot on the Ryder Cup team. Sia had them in his initial picks and I’m firmly aboard this pairing as well.

Lucas Glover/Chez Reavie (DK $8,800) – I’m most worried about this group’s putting statistics, which lag far behind the ball-striking metrics, but that tends to get mitigated a bit in team events, when two heads are usually better than one of reading putts and bouncing back from the bad holes.

Jason Kokrak/Pat Perez (DK $8,300) – Both of these golfers are PGA Tour “nice guys” who have had mixed results in 2020-21, with Perez hitting a bit of a plateau and Kokrak breaking through with his first PGA Tour win in October. If DK gave out points for good vibes, they’d be priced even higher, but I’m loving the discount in the value range.

Cameron Tringale/Roberto Castro (DK $8,000) – Tringale, who’s had a solid 2020-21 season, is third on my model and while Roberto Castro struggles with consistent play, he’s No. 18 in the field for SG:APP at this golf course. I’m liking the price and upside, but it’s risky in single-entry GPP.

More value golfers to consider: Louis Oosthuizen/Charl Schwartzel, Erik van Rooyen/Wyndham Clark, Kevin Kisner/Scott Brown, Doug Ghim/Justin Suh

Longshot Punts PGA DFS (DK $7,900 and under):

Matthew NeSmith/Chase Seiffert (DK $7,500) – This team will be very chalky, and they seem to be mispriced considering the talent level. They’re on a bit of a pricing island and seem to be one of the only exciting options between $7-8K.

Richy Werenski/Peter Uihlein (DK $7,100) – I’m glad that Joel brought these two (and Michael Thompson/Will Gordon) up in the Breakdown. Both teams caught my eye looking for cheap options that have upside, and I like the ability of Werenski/Uihlein to make a bunch of birdies in best ball and outperform their affordable salary.

Scott Piercy/Ashkay Bhatia (DK $6,900) – It’s kind of an off-the-wall play considering the differing general makeup of these two golfers, but they could surprise some folks in the first couple of days, when they seem to play their best golf. The opportunities should be there, and Piercy won with Horschel in 2018, so they’re worth a look in GPPs.

Bo Hoag/Wes Roach (DK $6,300) – It’s a dart throw for sure,because neither of these players is known for their consistency, but Hoag projects well for this golf course on the mixed model (No. 36 overall) and Roach ranks No. 22 in the field for SG:APP at TPC Louisiana.

Additional GPP punts: Michael Thompson/Will Gordon (GPP), Sepp Straka/Josh Teator, Tom Hoge/Beau Hossler (GPP), Roger Sloan/Aaron Baddeley, James Hahn/Martin Trainer

4 years ago 0 comments

PGA

Zurich Classic: Initial Picks

Sia 4 years ago

written by Sia

This week we have the lone team event on the PGA Tour as 160 golfers make their way to New Orleans for the Zurich Classic. This event will feature two days of best ball (Thursday and Saturday) and two days of alternate shot (Friday and Sunday). For detailed explanations on the format, please join us in the Win Daily Sports Golf Discord or on tonight’s PGA Livestream on YouTube and Twitter. As for the course itself, I’m looking for accurate drivers and APP more than anything. The course isn’t particularly long so driving distance, while helpful, isn’t a huge advantage. Because it’s a team event, there is certainly a different approach this week, but more on that on the Livestream (and podcast).

Rahm/Palmer (11500) – Good friends and defending Zurich Classic champions and both in very good form. They are 2^nd in total strokes gained in this field (Xander and Cantlay are 1^st) and are coming in with great recent form.

Watson/Scheffler (10900) – If you’re looking for upside you may have found a home with this pairing. Watson and Scheffler rate out at 3^rd in strokes gained total and 3^rd in T2G. They are both in good form this year and I think they’ll play well together.

Kirk/Todd (10100) – Kirk and Todd don’t have a lot of flash and may come up short on birdies relative to some of the heavier hitters, but I’ll go ahead and lean on their precision and accuracy and hope for some hot putting. They grade out as 11^th in total strokes gained (combined averages) relative to the field and have been making cuts and finishing strong all year.

Oosthuizen/Schwartzl (9400) – These two South Africans are also good friends and are very familiar with each other’s games. The weak link here of course is Schwartzl, but he’s been in pretty good form lately, and coincidentally, he and Oosthuizen finished in a tie for 26^th at the Masters.

Bradley/Steele (9300) – In 5 of the last 6 tournaments Keegan has been inside the Top 30 including a 10^th at the API. Steele was bad at Valero but hasn’t missed a cut this year (9 in a row) and took 3^rd at the Honda Classic and 4^th at Sony in January. They grade out at 18^th in total strokes gained and 7^th T2G meaning they have plenty of upside if they find a hot putter.

Pieters/Lewis (9200) – In his last four tournaments Pieters has finished inside the Top 15 (two on the PGA tour and two on the European tour). Lewis has made 4 cuts in a row and coming off a Top 25 at RBC. Both of these guys can get hot at any moment and should be under the radar from an ownership standpoint.

Ghim/Suh (8000) – Not a big fan of the 8k range overall, but these two present some value due to their ball striking. Suh hasn’t been great so far on the PGA Tour but he is making cuts. With that said, he limped into a 61^st place finish at the KFT event last week which does concern me. Ghim’s ball striking has been elite but his short game has been bad so the hope is that the ball striking for both of these guys remains strong.

NeSmith/Seiffert (7500) – Maybe a bit of a misprice here as they grade out at 17^th in total strokes gained and 4^th in this field on APP (again, combined averages). As the numbers indicate these two have been great in the ball striking department.

Straka/Teater (7200) – Another lower end option that will be off most radars. Teater has played a total of 6 tournaments this year on the PGA and KFT tour (4/2) and made the cut in each tournament. Add to that Straka’s ability to catch fire and you’ve got some upside here.

Piercy/Bhatia (6900) – Throwing darts a bit but Piercy has been making cuts and Bhatia has shown that he can catch fire for a round here and there. This is a sneaky upside play but not recommended for cash.

Sloan/Baddelley (6500)– Sloan MC at Valero but 3 Top 25’s immediately before that. Baddeley, since February has made 2 PGA cuts in a row and two KFT cuts in a row, including 5^th place last week at MGM Resorts Championship – the same tourney Suh was 61^st in).

Don’t forget to tune into the Zurich Classic PGA Livestream at 8:00 EST on Tuesday and don’t forget to subscribe to Win Daily Sports on YouTube and at the Apple Store.

4 years ago 0 comments

Daily Fantasy Sports PGA

PGA DFS Picks: RBC Heritage at Harbour Town

jason mezrahi 4 years ago

written by jason mezrahi

In this edition of PGA DFS picks, we’re looking for a big payday at The RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links and helping you find some winning teams!

PGA DFS Course Notes:

Solid field of 136 golfers missing only a few big names
36-hole Cut: Top 65 and ties play the weekend
Last year’s champion: Webb Simpson
The course: Harbour Town Golf Links (Pete Dye design; Hilton Head Island, SC)
- Par 71: 7,121 yards
- TifEagle Bermuda greens
- Driving it great not important – because some spots in rough provide fine scoring opportunities
- Small greens that nobody hits with regularity makes approach and putting key stats
- Coastal breezes can affect play and reach gale force
- Last year’s event had almost no wind, so scores were much lower than usual
Focus Stat Categories: Strokes Gained: Approach, SG: Putting, SG: Around the Green, Fairways Gained, Good Drives Gained, Proximity (150-200)

The Picks:

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

Dustin Johnson (DK $11,600) – DJ is a South Carolina-born golfer who went to college in Myrtle Beach (Coastal Carolina), but this isn’t his type of golf course. Still – even though he’s fared poorly here in the past and doesn’t look too appealing on my model (No. 16), he can’t be completely ignored. The missed cut at the Masters and his relatively poor course history should keep him from higher ownership, so I might take a shot in some GPPs.

Webb Simpson (DK $11,000) – Simpson is the defending champion at Harbour Town and the chalkiest golfer on the board this week, but I don’t think I can endorse a full fade because he’s just so good on the greens – and his course history is quite impressive (no worse than T16 in his last four appearances here). He was T12 at the Masters last week and is a solid bet for a top 10 at the RBC – he just might not be necessary to roster in GPPs if he doesn’t crack the Top 5.

Collin Morikawa (DK $10,500) – His approach play is second-to-none on tour, he managed to keep it together for a T18 at Augusta last week, and he most recently won in February at the WGC-Workday. Morikawa is projected to be the third-highest owned golfer this week and while there is some merit to a fade considering his T64 finish here during a stretch of poor play in 2020, he’s No. 7 overall on my model and a tough player to get away from in PGS DFS when you consider the metric data.

Daniel Berger (DK $10,000) – Berger is No. 2 overall on my model and his ownership should come in well under Simpson’s – making him a fine single-entry and large-field GPP alterative. He’s only played here twice, but finished T33 in 2019 and T3 in 2020 – so it’s clear he likes the venue and the course layout. Berger doesn’t handle al the Pete Dye courses as well as he does this one, but I’m seriously considering him to be the “spend up” golfer in my core of single-entry builds.

Also consider: Patrick Cantlay (GPP), Cameron Smith (GPP), Will Zalatoris, Tyrrell Hatton (Cash)

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

Paul Casey (DK $9,200) – His last performance of note at the RBC Heritage was way back in 2014, when he finished T18, and since then he’s had a couple of missed cuts (2016 & 2018). But my mixed model (fourth overall) and the course layout are pointing in his direction this week, especially considering his SG:APP numbers in recent play. Course history hounds might stay away, but there’s a chance he garners ownership because of name recognition and recency bias.

Matthew Fitzpatrick (DK $9,100) – The guy calls this his “favorite place in the world” and he really wants this to be the event where he gets his first win – if not at a major. I really like Fitzpatrick’s chances at bouncing back from his T34 at the Masters with another top 10 finish this week, as he’s shown improvement at this venue over the past few years and has two Top 15s in his last three tries here. He’s a great putter and despite some occasionally shaky approach play from 175-200, ranks 17th in my model, just behind DJ. I won’t be all-in on ownership, but I’ll be slightly ahead of the field, probably around 20-25%.

Abraham Ancer (DK $8,900) – Ancer ranks No. 6 overall on my model this week and finished solo second here in 2020, just one stroke behind Simpson. Both will be chalky, but he comes at a huge discount from the defending champion and offers almost as much upside with his solid driving, elite iron play and pin-seeking approaches. If there’s an area where he can’t match Webb, it’s on the greens.

Shane Lowry (DK $8,500) – The Irishman is Stick’s pick to win the event and I couldn’t have been more elated when he announced that during the breakdown video – especially after he lauded Hideki Matsuyama last week before the Japanese sensation won the Masters. Lowry is No. 21 overall on my model, has been striking the ball very well lately, and has a T3 here in 2019. His ownership isn’t expected to surpass 10%, and there’s plenty of upside here compared to most of the other players in the mid range.

Harris English (DK $8,400) – English had a rough patch of two MCs at the Farmers and Waste Management, and a final round 80 at the WGC-Workday put him near the caboose of the no-cut event in solo 66th place. But before that he had some solid finishes, and since the WGC event he’s finished T26 (API at Bay Hill) and T21 (Masters). This is a guy you want to jump on as he starts rounding into form.

Si Woo Kim (DK $7,900) – I loved him last week at the Masters and he rewarded me with a T12 – a solid finish for his price and ownership level. My concern this week is that he might get a little too popular on the heels of that performance, as he’s still priced under $8K and his name is fresh in the minds of the leaderboard watchers. But if we’re choosing between him and Charley Hoffman (also just under $8K and projected for a similar ownership percentage), I’ll take Si Woo all day.

Russell Henley (DK $7,900) – The breakdown boys danced around the topic of Henley, but I’ll take my stand regardless of his spotty course history (his last two tries here are MCs), largely because he fares extremely well in my mixed model (third overall). Another knock on Henley from a DFS perspective is an inflated ownership projection that currently puts him as the ninth most popular play in the field.

Also consider: Corey Conners (Cash), Tommy Fleetwood (GPP), Brian Harman, Kevin Na (GPP), Matt Kuchar, Kevin Kisner, Brandon Grace, Ian Poulter

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

Chris Kirk (DK $7,500) – We have a general consensus among the WinDaily writers that Kirk looks like a fine play for most formats this week in DFS, though his ownership seems to be creeping up as folks ogle his string of made cuts since the Waste Management and his three Top 10 finishes in his last eight tournaments. He’s okay for single-entry and cash games and I’ll have shares right around 10-15% in my GPP builds.

Sebastian Munoz (DK $7,500) – Munoz is a solid shotmaker and he’s coming off a somewhat disappointing week at Augusta, where he placed T40 after a T9 finish at the Valero Open. I’d probably steer clear in cash games, but he’s fine for large-field GPPs and should stay below the 5% ownership threshold. I’ll be giving him a look, even if I prefer the discount offered by the next couple of guys on this list.

Kevin Streelman (DK $7,300) – If course history matters here (and it does), then we have to consider Streelman, who has a couple of top ten finishes in his last three appearances on Hilton Head Island. He’s a great value for all formats and Sia even staked his claim that Streelman will be the first round leader at long odds (66-1). The tour veteran is 20th overall in my model and he’ll be a staple of my GPP lineups.

Michael Thompson (DK $7,200) – Thompson isn’t nearly as safe as Streelman in this range, but he’s tenth overall in my model and does offer upside – despite a relatively high projected ownership for a guy with his brand of spotty play. His popularity can be explained by three straight made cuts (including a T34 at the Masters last week) as well as a sparkling course history that includes top ten finishes in his last two appearances.

J.T. Poston (DK $7,100) – He’s firmly in play as a high-risk, high-reward GPP play, and both Joel and Nick like him this week too – probably because he’s finished T8 and T6 in his last two runs here. I never like going too hard on Poston, but he’s definitely in play this qweek.

Matthew NeSmith (DK $6,900) – He’s got the “site of his marriage proposal” narrative going this week, and he’s No. 11 overall in my model. He’s a great play in all formats and on my short list for single-entry GPP consideration. He may not have the upside of Poston or Thompson, but a breakthrough is still very possible.

Doug Ghim (DK $6,900) – The breakdown touched on how NeSmith might be the better play in cash games, but Ghim could be a fine PGA DFS play in this range for large-field GPPs. The youngster is a first-timer at the RBC Heritage, but he’s made 12 of his last 16 cuts and hits awesome approach shots.

More value golfers to consider: Emiliano Grillo, Cameron Davis (GPP), Lucas Glover, C.T. Pan (GPP), Sepp Straka (GPP), Harold Varner III, Ryan Moore (GPP), Rory Sabbatini, Russell Knox (GPP), Kyle Stanley (GPP), Henrik Norlander (GPP), Chez Reavie, Jim Furyk

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

Patton Kizzire (DK $6,500) – I had a very productive PGA DFS run using Kizzire in GPPs in the 2020-21 transition in December-January, and he’s been okay if nor great since, with a T9 at the Valero ranking as his best finish since his T7 at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He’s a longer hitter sprays it around a bit off the tee and doesn’t typically light the world on fire on shorter courses, but Kizzire is a verified putting demon who can get hot with the flat stick and make a boatload of birdies.

Tom Hoge (DK $6,400) – I usually finish up my article as I’m listening to the breakdown, and I’m very glad that Sia mentioned him as a possibly mispriced golfer in the value/punt range. Hoge is a solid T2G golfer who hits good approaches 175-200 (No. 11 in the field), and he’s a decent putter with the ability to finish in the Top 10. I’ll have plenty of shares in large-field GPPs.

Scott Piercy (DK $6,300) – Piercy gets inclusion here based on his T3 finish here in 2019 and T16 in 2018, but his form in 2021 has not been great. Perhaps something clicks this week at the site of a venue where he’s had success and he can revisit some of the Top 20 form he flashed in October-November of 2020. He’s a large-field GPP play (maybe one or two lineups out of 20) with some Top 20 upside this week, but don’t go overboard.

Additional GPP punts: Tom Lewis, Jason Dufner, Chesson Hadley, Danny Lee, Bo Hoag, Tyler Duncan

4 years ago 0 comments

PGA

RBC Heritage: Initial Picks

Sia 4 years ago

written by Sia

There’s no off-season in golf, which means there are tournaments to be played immediately after the Super Bowl of golf. This week we are at the RBC Heritage with a very talented field, especially when we consider that this is the week immediately after The Masters. This week I am looking for accurate ball strikers in every phase. Being long OTT isn’t a huge factor this week so I’ll weight APP over OTT and I’ll give a little bump upward to ARG as these greens are the 2^nd smallest on the PGA Tour. Tune into the PGA Livestream tonight for more on all the golfers in the field. And check out everything we have on the website as this week proceeds. Now, let’s get to the picks at the RBC Heritage.

Webb Simpson (10700) – Defending champ and RBC Heritage tournament sponsor has a great track record here and is a great course fit. Adding to that his recent form is picking up and he gains strokes in all SG metrics. Webb should feel at home here and a tournament takedown is in the cards.

Daniel Berger (10000) – Daniel Berger was a surprise miss cut along with DJ and Cantlay, but I think all three are playable this week. As for how each of them played last week, Berger offers the least to be concerned with as he lost a lot of strokes with the putter. Berger has been great on APP and is normally great with the putter so fire him up.

Paul Casey (9200) – Casey is a reasonable price this week and is in the Top 10 on Pete Dye courses dating back to January 2020 (19 measured rounds). Add to that his game has been in great form, mostly due to ball striking and I think he’s a solid play at this price.

Abraham Ancer (8900) – Has been great T2G on Pete Dye courses and off Pete Dye courses. Put simply, Ancer is a great ball striker and a good course fit which was evidenced by his 2^nd place finish last year. This is Ancer’s 4^th tournament in a row, which includes Match Play, so there is a small concern with fatigue, but I’ll worry more about that if he plays next week.

Brian Harman (8700) – Hard to argue against rostering Harman as he has great course history and is playing the best golf of his career as of late. He’s been gaining strokes OTT and APP at a great rate, particularly in the last 5 tournaments.

Chris Kirk (7500) – If you look at Kirk over the last 36 rounds, he has been great in all SG metrics, and more specifically, falls within the top 30 in this field OTT, APP and ARG. Not a big hitter and that shouldn’t hurt him this week.

Kevin Streelman (7300) – This is the type of guy you may not take at most courses, but should be a good fit here. He has been good on Pete Dye tracks and has very good course history here (outside of an MC in 2020). Streelman, a short hitter, should be able to find the right parts of the fairway to set up his APP on a consistent basis.

Michael Thompson (7200) – Has played very well at the RBC Heritage, as evidenced by two Top 10’s in his last two outings, he certainly has the game to succeed here. Further, a 34^th last week at The Masters is nothing to ignore.

Lucas Glover (7100) – A very sneaky golfer who has been good on Pete Dye courses and who has been making almost every cut dating back to late last year. Add to that he’s offered upside with a recent 4^th place finish at Valero and a 5^th place finish back in December at Mayakoba.

Matthew NeSmith (6900) – A relatively short but accurate hitter with a fantastic APP game seems like a nice recipe for DFS and that’s what we have here with NeSmith. Add to that he proposed to his wife on the 18^th green and we have the metrics and the narrative to be high on NeSmith.

Doug Ghim (6900) – the average play as of late has mostly been a result of his terrible ARG and PUTT but the ball striking remains very good. Being bad ARG may really hurt with the super small greens (2^nd smallest on the PGA Tour) but I’m ok with having Ghim in a few lineups and hoping the short game bounces back. I should note that Ghim does not have any course experience, so tread carefully on this upside play. I wouldn’t play Ghim in cash.

Tom Hoge (6400) – Maybe not the guy to lean on in a cash game or single entry tournament, but has the APP game to make some noise at RBC and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him finish inside the Top 25. However, with Top 25 equity comes a similar amount of MC equity, but that’s what you pay for when you dip into this range.

Secret Weapon (less than 7k/less than 5% owned) – See you in Discord.

Don’t forget to tune into the PGA Livestream at 8:00 EST on Tuesday and don’t forget to subscribe to Win Daily Sports on YouTube and at the Apple Store.

4 years ago 0 comments

Daily Fantasy Sports PGA

PGA DFS Picks: The 2021 Masters

jason mezrahi 4 years ago

written by jason mezrahi

In this edition of PGA DFS picks, we’re looking for a big payday at The Masters and helping you find some winning teams to boost your bankroll!

PGA DFS Course Notes:

Reduced field of 88 golfers with all the big names
36-hole Cut: Top 50 and ties (10-stroke rule NOT in effect)
Last year’s champion: Dustin Johnson (November)
The course: Augusta National (Donald Ross design)
- Par 72: 7,475 yards
- Bentgrass greens
- Tournament is back to its usual April date, so the course will play differently than it did five months ago
- Patrons are back at Augusta National
- Winners typically come from PM Thursday/AM Friday groups
Wind will blow, course should play tough if it doesn’t rain at all
Focus Stat Categories: Course History, Strokes Gained: Approach, SG: Off the Tee, Driving Distance, Birdie or Better %, SG: Around the Green, Par 5 scoring

The Picks:

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

Dustin Johnson (DK $11,500) – Because of this week’s soft pricing and slew of viable golfers in the $7K range, getting DJ into your teams won’t be that much of a hassle, even with one more $9K and up player in the mix. Despite two less-than-stellar finishes at the WGC-Workday and Players Championship, DJ still offers the most consistent upside at this venue, where he won in November. It’s playing differently now, but he knows that. Don’t overthink this – get exposure to DJ in all formats.

Jon Rahm (DK $11,000) – The Rahm/DJ combo leaves you with $6,875 per golfer for the remaining four slots on DK, and with some of the talent in this field, even those stars-and-scrubs teams don’t look too scrubby. But there are some key golfers I like in the $7.5-$8.5K range that I won’t be able to get if I use the top two salaries – so most of my teams will feature one or the other, and in some cases, neither. Rahm, a new father, seems a little more cash-viable than the next two guys, and he’s fine for single-entry GPPs.

Bryson DeChambeau (DK $10,800) – I know he’s in Sia’s initial picks column and Joel loves him – and I agree he has plenty of upside – but Bryson’s aggressive approach on Par 4s worries me a bit. He tends to attack those holes and try to create his own scoring chances instead of treading water and waiting for his opportunities. If it didn’t work in November, when he finished T34, it may not work in April, even with the new driver that he says will mitigate the shot dispersal. I’ll tread lightly with him, but I think he’s fun to watch and root for.

Rory McIlroy (DK $10,100) – Rory may very well be the same golfer who was dominating before the pandemic, but it’s hard to see that in his results. Still – he managed to finish T5 here in November and certainly has enough Top 10 finishes at Augusta (and no finish worse than T21 in his last five tries) to land in the Top 5 again. He’s never won here, but he’s guaranteed for low ownership relative to the rest of this bunch and that really intrigues me.

Patrick Cantlay (DK $9,800) – Like Sia, I like the price on Cantlay and think he’s about as solid an overall golfer as you can find in the field, without any glaring weaknesses and sporting a game face for the ages. Much like Patrick Reed, Cantlay is not here to make friends, and Augusta National is a fine a venue as any for his first major win. Ownership will probably end up between 15-20%, but I really like him for single-entry GPPs and I’ll have exposure in all formats.

Also consider: Justin Thomas (GPP), Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa

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

Jordan Spieth (DK $9,400) – Fresh off a win at the Valero, folks will be dying to play Spieth at the site of his greatest triumph and most epic collapse. He knows the course, he’s playing great golf (even if he’s still a little erratic off the tee and on some approaches), and I’ll have a hard time fading him, even when his ownership spikes. Last week I said I was excited to play him, and I clearly didn’t play him enough. My single-entry team had 5/6 make the cut and cash in every instance, but it earned about one-hundredth of what it should have because I had Tony Finau (the lone MC) instead of Spieth as my big spend.

Webb Simpson (DK $9,000) – Simpson’s course history is a lesson in perseverance and scholarship, as he’s learned how to “master” Augusta in recent years. Now in his tenth year playing the Masters, he’s in position for another Top 10 and continued, under-the-radar success. I’ll have Simpson at about 25% in my GPPs and he’s on the short list for my single-entry player pool. I may even play around with some Milly builds that have him as my only $9K and up player, and everybody else on the team is $7,700 and up.

Viktor Hovland (DK $8,700) – The experts are giving Hovland no love this week, and while he’s in the Top 20 of my model, I can understand why – as a really strong short game seems like a must to win at Augusta. Hovland may not be the best around the greens, but he’s awesome on Par 5s and that’s where most of the scoring is done at this golf course. If his ownership dips a little bit from the early projections, I’ll increase my shares.

Hideki Matsuyama (DK $8,300) – I normally don’t play a lot of Matsuyama because of his erratic putting, but he has a bunch of Top 20 finishes at Augusta because of his amazing ball-striking and performance “around” the greens. His overall short game still ranks in the Top 40 of the field for Augusta and its closest course comps, and he seems to know where to miss in off the tee here, since he’s navigated his poor tee shots well in the past.

Matthew Fitzpatrick (DK $8,100) – Fitzpatrick could have been priced at $9K and I’d have interest, because this is a course where he could win – if he can just elude the one bad round he seems to have at every major. His form is alarmingly consistent, with five straight Top 20s internationally and four straight within the Top 11 since the Genesis. He’s a fine play in all formats and there’s always the chance he finally breaks through.

Sergio Garcia (DK $7,900) – Garcia still hits it like a beast off the tee (long and straight) and he’s got the requisite experience at Augusta to tackle this difficult layout and win – or at least contend – again. He’s one of my favorite value plays in the mid-range and while there’s inherent risk with him because of his volatility, it’s a week without too many guarantees.

Paul Casey (DK $7,700) – A missed cut in 2019 (which started out with an uncharacteristic 81) is just about the only recent blemish on Casey’s record at Augusta, which includes a T6 in 2015, T4 in 2016 and solo 6th in 2017. He’s had a monster resurgence in 2021, with six straight finishes inside the Top 12, including a win in Dubai and T5s at both Pebble Beach and the Players.

Also consider: Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka (GPP), Tyrrell Hatton (GPP), Lee Westwood, Daniel Berger, Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Smith, Bubba Watson (GPP)

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

Louis Oosthuizen (DK $7,500) – As long as his back doesn’t lock up before his tee time, Louis should be a solid pick this week at Augusta, where he almost always plays well. In many ways, Oosty is like the still-under-40, cheaper version of Lee Westwood. The South African has one thing that Westwood doesn’t – and that’s a major championship victory. He’s among the top golfers in this value range.

Will Zalatoris (DK $7,300) – What Zalatoris lacks in experience he makes up for in talent and fearlessness, and he proved in the U.S. Open at Winged Foot he can take whatever a golf course and extremely windy conditions has to offer. He’s a solid bet to make the cut, and even though he’s a first-timer at Augusta, he’s played casual rounds and seems to understand (from quotes and interviews) how to play the course.

Max Homa (DK $7,100) – The fact that Homa won at Riviera factors into his inclusion in the value picks, because he’s got minimal experience here (just a missed cut at the November event) and finishes just inside the Top 40 on my model. But if I’m looking for GPP plays with confidence and upside, he’s a solid pick.

Corey Conners (DK $6,900) – If you’re looking to avoid chalk in GPPs and assume more risk, then maybe you’d prefer to spend the extra $100 and grab Victor Perez, who should come in under 5% ownership. But Conners is a much safer pick, with two made cuts in two tries and a top 10 in November. Granted, we could see a few three-putts and greenside abominations from the Canadian ball-striking sensation, but he’s so good tee-to green it might not matter. A staple in cash games for his low price and a guy to watch this year.

Si Woo Kim (DK $6,700) – The more I dig into the windy weather and the mixed model, the more I like Kim as a GPP risk-reward play. He’s made three straight cuts at Augusta after missing in his 2017 debut, and he’s got oodles of Top 25 upside this year. He already has one 2021 win (at the AMEX) and while he missed some cuts in February and withdrew at Bay Hill, his last two finishes are a T9 at the Players and T23 at the Valero last week. I’ll be massively overweight on the field and I’m thinking about using him on my largest field single-entry GPP.

Sebastian Munoz (DK $6,600) – It’ll be interesting to see how well Munoz makes the adjustment form his Masters debut in November to a much harder and faster course this week, but his recent form is solid (aside from a MC at the Players) and the price is fair. The Colombian golfer sports solid metrics on most of the course comps (excluding TPC Sawgrass) and could be an option as a last piece.

More value golfers to consider: Joaquin Niemann (GPP), Justin Rose (GPP), Billy Horschel, Victor Perez (GPP), Brian Harman, Matt Kuchar, Christian Bezuidenhout, Danny Willett, Phil Mickelson, Cameron Champ (GPP)

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

Carlos Ortiz (DK $6,500) – He’s a Masters virgin but has been practicing this week with Jordan Spieth and Sergio Garcia to learn the ropes of this famously difficult risk-reward layout. He seems to play the comp courses well and can get insanely hot with his short game, so I’m very interested in using him in a bunch of GPPs.

Kevin Na (DK $6,500) – Playing Na is always a bold move because he’s so prone to withdrawing due to injury and his game can be erratic, but his short game is elite and he’s underpriced for his upside here. He’s the ultimate GPP punt this week and he’s never all that popular because he scares the crap out of people.

Charl Schwartzel (DK $6,300) – A former Masters champion who placed third here in 2017, I’ll be using Schwartzel on a few of my GPP teams where I need salary relief from one or two spots because I’m playing two $10K+ studs. He’s in the top 50 of my model, so at this price we’re looking for a made cut and a couple birdie streaks during the weekend to land him a Top 25.

Additional punts: Robert Macintyre (GPP), Ryan Palmer (GPP), Zach Johnson, Jimmy Walker, Stewart Cink, Bernhard Langer

4 years ago 0 comments

PGA

The Masters: Initial Picks

Sia 4 years ago

written by Sia

Hello Friends and Welcome to the Masters: Initial Picks. The entire Win Daily PGA Team will have plenty of the usual content coming so stay tuned for that and stay tuned to Discord and the Win Daily Podcasts and Livestreams. Content related to course dynamics will come out later in the week (i.e. – The Insight Sheet), but I can tell you that I’m looking for ball strikers (OTT and APP) with a greater emphasis than usual OTT. Having the all-around game is certainly a bonus. One additional thing to keep in mind is that there are only 89 golfers in this field so ownership percentages will look a little higher than normal. More on that on our PGA show and in the Win Daily Sports Ownership Breakdown. Now let’s get to The Masters picks.

Dustin Johnson (11500) – The best in the world has been a little off lately, but he’s had a couple weeks to gather himself and even if the entire game isn’t pristine, he should do well. Pricing is soft as expected so there’s no issue with paying the heavy price and making a lineup you are comfortable with. Since 2015, DJ has finished 6^th, 4^th, 10^th, 2^nd and 1^st at the Masters. No, that’s not a typo.

Bryson DeChambeau (10800) – Certainly a great course fit and the recent play checks out with a 3^rd at the Players and a 1^st at the API (match play struggles don’t worry me at all). Bryson’s finishes in previous Masters appearances are not great, but then again, most of those efforts he was literally a different player/species. I’m happy to take the upside at the heavy price.

Xander Schauffele (10000) – It’s early but I get the sense Xander is going to carry a slight ownership discount relative to big names right next to him like Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. The truth is that Xander has been very mediocre as of late, but we know he has the all-around game to compete with the best, as he illustrated in 2019 with a 2^nd place finish.

Patrick Cantlay (9800) – When you actually watch Cantlay play, nothing jumps off the screen relative to the Bryson’s and DJ’s of the world, but don’t be fooled as he is truly great in every area (OTT, APP, ARG and PUTT). A very fair price here.

Collin Morikawa (9600) – In 2020, Morikawa finished tied for 46^th in his Masters debut. Now that he’s got some Masters experience under his belt, I’ll go ahead and lean on the ball striking and hope for a decent putting performance. Collin rates out as the best in the ball striker department (OTT and APP combined) since the beginning of this calendar year.

Viktor Hovland (8700) – Didn’t play in 2020, but did finish 32^nd in his debut in 2019. Hovland’s ball striking is elite and his short game is coming along. If he were coming in with better recent form (3 below average tournaments in a row) then he’d be in the mid-9k range. I’m willing to take a chance on him in spite of the bad recent stretch.

Sungjae Im (8600) – Sungjae has been very consistent and has the game to succeed here, as evidenced by his 2^nd place finish in his debut in 2020. His game translates to this course and his price gives you an easy and relatively safe mid-tier option to roster.

Sergio Garcia (7900) – Sergio has missed his last two cuts at The Masters, but he did win in 2017. He’s great OTT and great on APP and fits into my BS mold (Top 10 this Calendar year), but perhaps more importantly, his putting has picked up lately and I see no reason why he can’t contend here on Sunday.

Abraham Ancer (7400) – Granted, the 2020 track at the Masters is going to play differently than what we will have in 2021 (October versus April), but Ancer should come in with plenty of confidence as he finished T13 in 2020 in spite of a horrific 76 on Sunday. I like Ancer’s all-around game and expect him to outscore his price.

Joaquin Niemann (7400) – Plenty of upside with Neimann as he has been striking the ball very well in 2021. Those performances have translated into Top 30 finishes over his last 4 tournaments, which is good, but frankly I think he’s on the cusp of turning those Top 30’s into Top 15’s. Niemann has one appearance at The Masters which resulted in an MC in 2018.

Victor Perez (7000) – Very risky play who certainly won’t be in my core lineups, but his last two PGA Tour events he’s been very good with the ball striking and I’m hoping he may have found something to give your lineups big time ownership leverage as potential pivots from guys like Corey Conners.

Corey Conners (6900) – A great ball striker who is likely to be chalky so be prepared to pivot if needed. Conners is a touch underpriced here so I see value, particularly in cash game lineups. As for GPP’s, we will have plenty of pivots as the week progresses so stay tuned for those options as the content comes pouring out.

Si Woo Kim (6700) – Your ultimate hit or miss golfer who has had plenty of missed cuts in his recent play. With that said, he’s had some good showings as well with a 9^th at the Players and some solid play at the Valero Texas Open. Add to that he’s got 3 Top 35’s his last 3 years at the Masters and you’ve got some upside here.

Ryan Palmer (6500) – Hasn’t played here in a long while but he does have plenty of experience at The Masters (his last appearance was a 33^rd place finish in 2015). His ball striking game is too good to be this low in the pricing and he’s great value here.

Secret Weapon (less than 7k/less than 5% owned) – See you in The Win Daily Sports PGA Discord.

Don’t forget to tune into the PGA Livestream at 8:00 EST on Tuesday and don’t forget to subscribe to Win Daily Sports on YouTube and at the Apple Store.

4 years ago 0 comments

Daily Fantasy Sports PGA

PGA DFS Picks: Valero Texas Open

jason mezrahi 4 years ago

written by jason mezrahi

We’re getting ready for some winning PGA DFS picks for the Texas Valero Open and helping you win big money this week and bloat those bankrolls!

PGA DFS Course Notes:

Solid field of 144 golfers
Cut: Top 65 and ties play the weekend
No 2020 Winner, but Corey Conners won in 2019 (-20)
The course: TPC San Antonio – Oaks Course (Greg Norman design)
- Par 72 (7,494 yards)
- Wider fairways in spots but trouble off the tracks
- Long course with ball striking and second shots at a premium
- Par 5s are long, not guaranteed birdies
- Scrambling will help because bad approaches will run off greens
- Tough, Bermuda greens (overseeded with mixture)
- Wind is always an issue in Texas but we’re in the 10-12 MPH range for most of the play this week
Correlative courses include Colonial CC, Silverado, Waialae CC, Bay Hill and the Pebble Beach courses
Focus Stat Categories: Strokes Gained: Ball Striking, SG: APP, SG: OTT, SG: ARG, Driving Distance, GIR, Opps Gained

The Picks:

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

Tony Finau (DK $11,000) – Playing a chalky Tony Finau – a guy who has burned me so many times I’ve lost count – doesn’t make me feel all that comfortable as I lead off the most expensive tier, but I don’t think I can fade this guy. Eventually I’ll get him right and there’s no discernible reason to leave him off my core builds other than bad feelings and high ownership. He’s No. 1 overall on my model, even including Dustin Johnson, who has already withdrawn from the Valero.

Jordan Spieth (DK $10,700) – He loves this course and its correlated venues and with his game shaping up considerably over the past couple of months, I think he might be ready for a win. His scrambling and short game will come in especially handy this week, and it’s the most excited I’ve been to play Spieth in PGA DFS in a long, long time.

Hideki Matsuyama (DK $10.100) – Hideki’s ownership might be the lowest of anybody in this top tier, so that’s one reason to jump on this ball striker extraordinaire in tournaments. Putting is always an issue, but he’s so surgical with his irons (and is a good enough scrambler at No. 37 in the field) that he’ll probably be gaining enough strokes on the field to offset his typical mediocrity with the flat stick.

Corey Conners (DK $9,500) – Second overall on my model, Conners is the defending champion here and has played well recently with 7 of his last 9 finishes among the Top 20, excluding a missed cut at the Genesis and T37 at the Farmers. He’ll be a near-lock for cash games and should be considered a core play for single-entry GPPs.

Also consider: Scottie Scheffler (GPP), Abraham Ancer

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

Ryan Palmer (DK $9,400) – Palmer has stepped up his PGA DFS game in 2020-21 with nine straight made cuts after missing the weekend at the U.S. Open. This week he comes in at No. 7 on my model, and his dominance of Par 5s (No. 1 in the field) should help him solve these longer-than usual examples. A fine play in all formats.

Charley Hoffman (DK $9,200) – Hoffman’s numbers at TPC San Antonio might be the best in the field, with a win and eight finishes out of 10 (all made cuts) in the Top 15. If they ever build a new clubhouse, they should fashion a gargoyle on top of the roof in his honor. Fading him could be a mistake, but I’m not sure I’m in love with his price and projected popularity in large-field GPPs.

Brendan Steele (DK $9,100) – With a made cut in every event he’s played in 2021, Steele is starting to look like a solid cash game play in addition to his dynamic role as one of my favorite GPP plays. This week he comes in at No. 14 on my model and sports solid numbers across the board in the focus stat categories. His T3 at the Honda Classic means he’s got plenty of Top 5 upside.

Chris Kirk (DK $8,600) – Kirk (who’s made nine out of his last 10 cuts) sometimes struggles to find the fairway, but that should be mitigated a bit by these larger-than-normal target areas. He’s a solid scrambler, is excellent around the greens (No. 4 in the field in SG:ARG) and has a Top 10 (2018) and Top 15 (2016) straddled by two missed cuts at this event in 2019 and 2017. I’ll have exposure in GPPs, though I probably won’t have him in my single-entry builds.

Adam Hadwin (DK $8,300) – Nick and Sia discussed Hadwin in the breakdown, and he’s clearly doing some things right around the greens lately, making six out of his last seven cuts and spiking a T8 at the Honda Classic a couple weeks ago. Nick’s model has him much higher than mine, but nobody’s model is perfect. I’m hoping it could be a good week for Canadians, as both he and Conners seem to be shaping up well for this Texas venue.

Harold Varner III (DK $7,900) – I’m a little wary of investing too much in Varner this week because he’s popped on my model before (he’s No. 10 overall this week) and when that’s happened I seem to remember him finishing poorly and only fair to middling among the other players I liked ta his price point – which is not really where we want to go in GPPs. But he’s a solid ball striker who’s fine for cash games – and my large-field GPP ownership depends largely on where the field is projected to land on him.

Charles Howell III (DK $7,800) – Chucky 3 isn’t the greatest ball-striker around, but he gets it done off the tee and has the shops to get it done around the fast Texas greens. If I had to narrow my player pool down to about 20-25 players, he’d be in there, and the price is eminently affordable for his upside.

Danny Willett (DK $7,700) – I’m not hearing too many folks lauding the prospects of Willet this week outside of out crack team at WinDaily, which makes me feel all squishy and titillated in my gamblin’ bones. The Englishman finished solo eighth last week at the Corales Puntacana, and while my model isn’t in love with him, he’s definitely a guy that shows up a few spots better at windy venues and places where there’s some green run-off and crafty approaches to finagle. Get some exposure in your large-field GPPs, as it won’t be hard to get ahead of the field.

Sebastian Munoz (DK $7,600) – Munoz also seems to have gone overlooked a bit this week and that’s fine with me, because he’s No. 22 on my overall model and sports no glaring weaknesses heading into this venue. His game log isn’t too exciting, but Munoz is a guy that grinds away and gives you some exciting finishes when you least expect them – like a quiet assassin waiting to pounce.

Also consider: Cameron Tringale, Si Woo Kim, Cameron Davis, Lanto Griffin, Zach Johnson, Keegan Bradley (Cash), Sam Burns (GPP), Ryan Moore, Matt Wallace, Gary Woodland (GPP)

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

Sepp Straka (DK $7,300) – I tend to view Straka and Higgs as almost interchangeable in DFS, and it’s almost hilarious to see where they land this week on my model and how much they align in the focus stat categories. Straka gets the nod in tournaments because he’s a lot less popular this week, but I’ll have shares of Harry as well.

Look at these two (outlined in red). Get a room, fellas!

Lucas Glover (DK $7,300) – I’m fine with Glover in large-field GPPs where you have to get a little bit different, and he’s on my short list for single-entry consideration given his T14 finish here in 2019 and decent SG:APP numbers at this and correlated venues. If anything he’ll give you a wild ride.

Denny McCarthy (DK $7,300) – Speaking of wild rides, McCarthy usually gets it done with elite putting and scrambling, but his ball striking has improved considerably in 2021 and he looks like he could be a decent value in this group, which if I’m being honest is pretty appealing for their upside. He, Glover, Kizzire and Laird all seem to be underpriced.

Patton Kizzire (DK $7,200) – Kizzire is another player who’s made big strides in the 2020-21 season, and his normal SG:OTT woes fall under the same category as Kirk. In effect, we can consider him to be kind of a “poor man’s Kirk” this week given the disparity in pricing and odds. I like him for GPPs and he’s in consideration for my SE.

Martin Laird (DK $7,100) – Laird is 30thoverall on my model and while his game is a tad finicky for my liking, he’s three for his last three at the VTO including two top 20s. I won’t go heavy, but coming in around the 5-10% range along with the field shouldn’t kill too many lineups if he doesn’t smash.

Matthew NeSmith (DK $7,100) – NeSmith will be more popular than Laird because he’s easily more recognizable; his solid February stretch made him a profitable play at the Pebble Beach AT&T and Waste Management Open. He’s No. 39 overall on my model and while the windy Texas venue might be a problem for him, he’s a decent enough ball striker to come out okay.

Tom Lewis (DK $6,800) – Lewis is my wild card play this week, but I’ll be careful not to exceed 10% ownership in my GPPs and probably can’t get behind him in single-entry. Still – he’s a guy who can go low and could make his mark in single-day, so stay tuned.

Chesson Hadley (DK $6,600) – Hadley’s not the best scrambler around, but if he can keep his head on straight and not melt down on the Par 5s, I’ve got confidence he can place well enough this week to help your teams. Expectations should remain relatively low at this price, but Hadley could surprise this weekend.

More value golfers to consider: Erik van Rooyen, John Huh, Doug Ghim (GPP), Harry Higgs, Tom Hoge, Jim Furyk, Will Gordon

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

Jason Dufner (DK $6,500) – As we’ve discussed before,we should never be going all-in on this range of golfers unless there’s a glaring pricing error at play, but I don’t mind using some Dufner given the fact he’s made three out of his last four cuts and has some upside.

Bo Hoag (DK $6,400) – He’s missed the cut in his last two but Hoag offers plenty of Top 35 upside for his excellent scrambling numbers and overall finish in my model, where he’s No. 28 (just ahead of Si Woo Kim and Laird). He’s a 1/10 GPP play at most but I’ll have shares.

D.J. Trahan (DK $6,000) – Trahan is an awful putter but ranks No. 32 on my model and will find his way onto one or two of my cheap 20 max “studs-and-scrubs” lineups because…why not? At $6K if the other guys fare really well, all he needs to do is make the cut.

Additional punts: Kyle Stanley, Danny Lee (GPP), J.B. Holmes, Akshay Bhatia (GPP)

4 years ago 0 comments

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PGA DFS Picks

PGA DFS Course Notes:

The Picks:

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

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

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

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

PGA DFS Course Notes:

The Picks:

Elite PGA DFS (DK $11,000 and up):

Mid-Range PGA DFS (DK $9,500 to $10,900):

Value PGA DFS (DK $8,000 to $9,400):

Longshot Punts PGA DFS (DK $7,900 and under):

PGA DFS Course Notes:

The Picks:

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

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

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

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

PGA DFS Course Notes:

The Picks:

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

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

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

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

The Picks:

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

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

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

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

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