The 3M Open: Initial Picks

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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. 

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