PGA DFS

The PGA Tour is in Minnesota this week for the 3M Open. This is a relatively watered down field which should provide some opportunity for 2nd and 3rd tier golfers to go out and rack up the DFS points. I’ll be looking for ball strikers (OTT and APP) with an emphasis on APP. I’m also going to put a slight bump on PUTT as these greens are big and may be fast as the tournament progresses. More on the 3M tournament course and the players during tonight’s Win Daily PGA Livestream. We will also be discussing Joel’s $100,000.00 hit and his near outright for one million dollars! Now, onto the Initial Picks for the 3M Open.

Tony Finau (10700) – I have no issue if you want to skip this range altogether, but I do like the upside of Finau.  He placed a very respectable 15^th at The Open Championship after missing two cuts in a row.  Prior to the two missed cuts he was striking the ball very well.  The putter may be an issue but he can get hot in that department.  A GPP play only.

Emiliano Grillo (9300) – I’m looking for ball strikers at The 3M and Grillo certainly fits that description.  His ARG game is terrible but that shouldn’t hurt him here.  His PUTT can get him into trouble, but he’s just about average in this field and that’s fine with me.  Tied for 3^rd here last year, and oh by the way, he was 12^th at the Open last week. 

Bubba Watson (9100) – I’m not a Bubba guy in general, but his ball striking has been great after a recent slump with the APP game.  Bubba finished 6^th at the Rocket Mortgage and 19^th at The Travelers and is in a weak field where he has to think he can win a tournament.  A GPP play only.

Stewart Cink (8700) – A great ball striker who has been great on APP as of late.  He’s coming off an MC at The Open which doesn’t bother me too much.  Prior to that he was your consummate cut maker and he made the cut at the 3M Open last year as well (finished an underwhelming 46^th).  I think the good year continues for Cink.

Maverick McNealy (8400) – This will be a birdie-fest and Mav is a birdie-maker.  He’s got 4 Top 30s in a row due to good ball striking and a good putter.  A very fair price here.

Charl Schwartl (8200) – The PUTT worries me as he’s just outside the Top 100 in this field last 24 rounds.  But his BS is Top 10 and his BOB% (‘Birdie or Better) is 35^th.  Charl isn’t usually on my radar, but these metrics are very solid.  He finished T3 last year at the 3M last year.

Luke List (8100) – Another bad PUTT on my 3M list (extremely lazy pun right there), but another guy who is really striking the ball and closing well.  He’s got two Top 5’s over his last two tournaments and finished 32^nd here last year.  I prefer List as a GPP play.

Doug Ghim (7900) – He gained almost 9 strokes T2G at the JDC which is insane.  Problem has always been the PUTT for Ghim, but the good news is he hasn’t been quite as bad in that department over the last three tournaments and he’s a better putter on Bentgrass. 

Hank Lebioda (7900) – Well, hello old friend.  Lebioda’s ball striking has been excellent for almost six weeks and he’s also killing it with the putter.  This has resulted in made cuts and Top 10 finishes.  Is this the new kid on the block or a flash in the pan?  I’m not sure to be honest, but there’s not chance I’m jumping ship in this field and at this price.

Mito Pereira (7600) – Haven’t rostered this KFT monster yet, but I think now is the time to dive in.  It appears that it has taken him a couple of tournaments to adjust to the PGA Tour, but last week’s 5^th place finish has him on the upward trajectory that I’m looking for.

Jhonattan Vegas (7500) – Great OTT and great on APP with an erratic putter than can get hot (albeit not very often).  In every GPP you need to be chasing upside and I think Vegas fits the description. 

Chez Reavie (7400) – You don’t need to be a bomber on this 3M Open track (but it certainly helps), but Reavie is really striking the ball well and he should be a very good course fit.  He’s made 5 out of 6 cuts.

Secret Weapon (less than 7k/less than 5% owned) – Current record is 40-12. See you in Discord. 

If you haven’t already, subscribe to Win Daily Sports on YouTube and at the Apple Podcasts and check out all the content at windailysports.com. It’s also important to be in Discord Wednesday night for all The Open Championship late tips, lineup changes and weather reports.

The year’s final major is upon us and it is at Royal St. George’s Golf Club in England for The Open Championship.  This is a Links style course characterized as a coastal course, with no protection from the elements and filled with deep bunkers and sand dunes.  Wind is likely to be big factor and we may need to wait until Wednesday night to determine where the edge is in that regard.  Note that this tournament locks around midnight Wednesday evening. Make sure you check our Discord Wednesday night before lock for all of the last minute information.  And check out the PGA team Tuesday night for our Live PGA Livestream for notes on all of the players and the course itself.

Brooks Koepka (10700) – I think Brooks and Jon Rahm have the best chance for an outright win at The Open, and therefore, I’ll take the slight discount that Brooks offers (I clearly like Rahm as well).  He has plenty of Links experience and a great track record at Opens and majors in general.  Over the last two tournaments, which included the US Open, he’s finished Top 5. 

Jordan Spieth (9700) – Great finishing positions, great strokes gained metrics, great Open experience and great price.  Spieth epitomizes the idea of value.  No one is a lock in this tournament, but can’t deny the value of Spieth.

Louis Oothuizen (9300) – Speaking of great track records in majors, there’s no disputing that Louis is usually completely dialed in at majors and this week should be no different.  He’s also been in good form with 2^nd place finishes in his last two majors (US Open and PGA Championship).

Patrick Cantlay (8900) – He’s been very solid after his slight slump and this feels like one of many value plays in this tournament.  Cantlay won the Memorial (kinda, Rahm WD) and he has Open experience. 

Patrick Reed (8800) – We’ll need to wait and see how ownership plays out, but I think Reed is very sneaky as he’s the type of golfer that will map out and navigate this course easier than most.  His recent form is average, but his Open experience is very strong.

Matt Fitzpatrick (7900) – If he ends up being chalky, I’ll likely pivot as I’m never “inlove” with Matt Fitzpatrick, but he’s another guy that shouldn’t have trouble navigating tough conditions and he just had a great showing in a tough Scottish Open field. 

Jason Day (7700) – A GPP play only and this write up assumes four days of health, but Day could be a great play if people are shy to use him.  His Open and Links experience are great and he’s coming in with good form.

Daniel Berger (7400) – This price is pretty eye-popping and while he lacks some of the experience on Links style courses that I’m looking for, the value is too good to ignore.  Berger rates out very well for me and belongs in the 8k range.

Garrick Higgo (7400) – He’s been great on the Euro Tour and the adjustment to the PGA Tour has also been easier than expected.  I don’t think he’ll be intimidated by this major.   

Harris English (7300) – He has middling results in Opens in the past, but he has made 4 of 5 cuts.  His recent form is excellent (1^st, 3^rd and 14^th over his last three tournaments) and I think he’s another guy in the low 7k range that can offer plenty of upside.

Branden Grace (7200) – He’s been pretty dialed in lately and that shows in improving SG metrics and impressive finishing positions.  He also has the requisite Links experience.  A good course fit at a good value. 

Lucas Herbert (6800) – He’s 3^rd on the European Tour in SG: Total and that’s shown in his finishing positions.  He’s coming off a T4 at last week’s Scottish Open so the form is there.  His Open experience is limited but he certainly has Links experience.

Secret Weapon (less than 7k/less than 5% owned) – Current record is 38-12. See you in Discord. 

If you haven’t already, subscribe to Win Daily Sports on YouTube and at the Apple Podcasts and check out all the content at windailysports.com. It’s also important to be in Discord Wednesday night for all The Open Championship late tips, lineup changes and weather reports.