DFS Golf Picks for the 2019 Charles Schwab Challenge

DFS Golf Picks for the 2019 Charles Schwab Challenge

When filling out a DraftKings lineup, picking among the favorites is a fairly safe proposition. It’s when you have to choose between a pool of golfers down the line is where you make or break your chance to win big.

Here’s the critical decisions you’ll face as you fill out your lineup this weekend (values courtesy of DraftKings).

Golfers Valued $8,000-$8,900

  • Rory Sabbatini – $8,800
  • Emiliano Grillo – $8,700
  • Scott Piercy – $8,600
  • Matthew Fitzpatrick – $8,500
  • Ryan Palmer – $8,400
  • Chez Reavie – $8,300
  • Joel Dahmen – $8,200
  • Billy Horschel – $8,100
  • Kevin Na – $8,000

Scott Piercy had a rocky stretch of golf a few months back. Between the Honda Classic and the Players Championship he finished no higher than T56 and lost an average of 0.34 shots to the field tee-to-green. But over his last three tournaments he’s gained over 1.5 shots on the field tee-to-green per round and has two Top 5 finishes in that stretch. Most of his scoring has come via his approach shots and putting, and that should be a good combination at Colonial this weekend.

Matthew Fitzpatrick is overdue for a good finish. Since the WGC Mexico Championship he’s averaged over a stroke gained tee-to-green, yet he only has one Top 10 finish to show for that. Surprisingly, it’s his putting that’s been letting him down, as he’s lost strokes to the field on the greens in four of his last six tournaments. That will need to improve if he wants to post a good finish at Colonial this weekend, but given his history the turnaround may just be around the corner.

Like Piercy, Chez Reavie also went through a rough patch of golf when he missed three of four cuts between the Genesis Open and the Valspar with a high finish of only  T65. Since the Masters, though, Reavie has been very good, posting three consecutive Top 30 finishes while averaging just under a stroke gained on the field tee-to-green per round. He also showed well on two tracks that wouldn’t be described as Chez Reavie golf courses – Quail Hollow and Bethpage Black. Now on a track that should suit his game more adequately, he’s in line for another good finish.

Golfers Valued $7,500-$7,900

  • Zach Johnson – $7,900
  • Brandt Snedeker – $7,900
  • Graeme McDowell – $7,800
  • Tyrrell Hatton – $7,800
  • Pat Perez – $7,700
  • Si Woo Kim – $7,700
  • Sungjae Im – $7,700
  • Daniel Berger – $7,600
  • Abraham Ancer – $7,600
  • Charley Hoffman – $7,600
  • Byeong Hun An – $7,500
  • Kevin Tway – $7,500
  • Branden Grace – $7,500
  • Kiradech Aphibarnrat – $7,500

Zach Johnson returns to Colonial on a track he feels comfortable at, gaining 1.70 shots per round on the field in his career there. He comes in once again in good shape with his ballstriking, gaining over 1.3 shots on the field tee-to-green per round over his last four ShotLinked measured events. He’s surprisingly struggling on the greens this year, as he ranks 138th on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained – Putting. While he likely will be a popular play in DFS and there are red flags on the greens with him, he should still be a solid addition to a DFS lineup this weekend.

Brandt Snedeker proved me very wrong last week at the PGA Championship. On a golf course that did not play to his strengths, he recovered from a poor first round to finish T16 and continue his streak of solid ball-striking over the last few months. Snedeker appears on the upswing ahead of a tournament that more adequately suits his game.

Since returning from injury, Pat Perez is showing flashes of the form he displayed at the end of 2017 when he climbed inside the Top 20 in the world rankings. He showed poorly at Bethpage Black, a golf course that just was too big for him. In his previous two tournaments leading up to the PGA Championship, however, he had a pair of Top 12 finishes while gaining just under two strokes per round tee-to-green over the field. Colonial sets up well for Perez’s game, so a better showing for him should be in order this weekend.

Bottom of the Barrel (Golfers <$7,500)

Jim Furyk – $7,300: Furyk brought a knife to a gun fight last week at Bethpage Black and was overwhelmed by the golf course’s length. He should come into this weekend fresh after missing the cut at the PGA Championship and play much better at a golf course that better suits his strengths. Despite missed cuts in back-to-back starts, he’s shown enough quality ball-striking and putting in 2019 to be a worthy of consideration in DFS this week.

Vaughn Taylor – $6,700: It’s not often when the phrase “Horses for Courses” can be applied to Vaughn Taylor, but he has a good recent track record at Colonial. Vaughn Taylor has two consecutive Top 20’s at Colonial and has the prototype of a golfer who should fare well there – accurate off the tee and a good putter. He comes into the event having made seven of his last nine cuts, including four Top 20 finishes. There are worse options at his price point than Taylor this weekend.

Nate Lashley – $6,400: It’s not often where you can find a golfer ranked respectably in key statistical categories of a tournament at $6,400. On the PGA Tour this year, Lashley ranks 71st in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green, 20th in Strokes Gained – Approach, 25th  in Strokes Gained – Putting and 28th in Driving Accuracy. Considering a top heavy field and some very pricey golfers up near the top, Lashley would slot well at the end of a lineup should someone find themselves in a budget crunch.

Others To Consider: Brian Stuard ($7,100), Michael Thompson ($6,800), Adam Schenk ($6,500)

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