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 DrafKings)
Golfers Valued $8,000-$8,900
- Bryson DeChambeau – $8,900
- Gary Woodland – $8,800
- Adam Scott – $8,700
- Louis Oosthuizen – $8,600
- Henrik Stenson – $8,500
- Rory Sabbatini – $8,300
- Jason Kokrak – $8,200
- Phil Mickelson – $8,100
- Marc Leishman – $8,000
Henrik Stenson likely won’t be a popular own in DFS this week, but he should be with how well he’s struck his irons. He’s gained over 1.6 shots per round on the field with his approach shots over his last six ShotLink measured tournaments. Strong ball-strikers with a good command of their irons normally rise up the leaderboard at the Memorial, and Stenson should be in line to a good finish this week.
Jason Kokrak does not have a good track record at Muirfield Village, and in twelve career rounds there he’s lost on average almost two strokes to the field. That might help depress his ownership a bit this week from the high levels they were at in the last few tournaments. Despite his weak history, Kokrak is playing some of the best golf of his life and that should be enough to carry him to a better finish than he’s seen at the golf course.
There’s not a lot of ways I can put lipstick on the pig when talking about Marc Leishman’s form heading into this event. He hasn’t had a finish in a stroke play event better than T23 since February and his ball striking has been highly mediocre since then. He showed some signs of life with his irons at Bethpage Black, and his ownership should be very low for this tournament. When on, his ceiling is very high and he can turn it around in an instant. You’ll have to close your eyes to play him in DFS this week, but he could offer a big reward.
Golfers Valued $7,500-$7,900
- Kevin Kisner – $7,900
- Emiliano Grillo – $7,900
- Kyle Stanley – $7,800
- Lucas Glover – $7,800
- Tyrrell Hatton – $7,700
- Sung Kang – $7,700
- Billy Horschel – $7,700
- Matthew Fitzpatrick – $7,600
- Luke List – $7,600
- Keegan Bradley – $7,600
- Hao-Tong Li – $7,500
- Jim Furyk – $7,500
- Rafa Cabrera Bello – $7,500
Kyle Stanley has started to turn things around of late. Over his last four ShotLink measured tournaments he’s averaged just under a stroke gained on the field tee-to-green, which is a significant improvement from where he was to start the year. He also has a good history at Muirfield Village, where in his career he’s gained over 1.5 strokes on the field per round. He may get overlooked by those who aren’t doing their homework when they see he’s only averaged 49 points/contest in DFS in 2019. Based on recent trends, he should fare better than that.
Ride Sung Kang while he’s hot. Over his last four tournaments he’s gained over a stroke on the field tee-to-green and has put together a string of strong finishes on the PGA Tour in 2019. His popularity is growing, but there are other attractive names around him at his price point to keep his ownership levels in check.
The only thing that will hold Keegan Bradley back from a good finish this weekend is with his putter, which has been an abject disaster in 2019. But given how the fast greens levels the playing field at Muirfield Village, he should have a chance with how well his ball-striking is. Bradley has gained over 1.3 strokes per round on his approach shots over his last seven ShotLink measured tournaments, and never losing strokes to the field in that category in a tournament over that stretch. He’s overdue for a good finish, and if he has an average-to-the-field putting week that’s well within reach.
Bottom of the Barrel (Golfers <$7,500)
Aaron Wise – $7,300: Things have turned around for Wise of late. He’s averaged 1.63 strokes gained tee-to-green over his last three tournaments, yet hasn’t been able to parlay that into a good finish. A better result is coming for him should he display that level of ball striking, and he should be overlooked in DFS this week.
Corey Conners – $6,900: Conners hasn’t been too good since his victory at the Valero Texas Open, but he’s still posting respectable ball striking numbers since then. It’s been his putter that’s let him down, but he shouldn’t lose too much ground to the field as the quick greens will make it difficult for everyone. A better showing should be in order for Conners this week.
Matt Every – $6,800: Matt Every claim to fame on the PGA Tour was going back-to-back at Bay Hill back in 2014 and 2015, and since then he’s done next to zero on the PGA Tour. But he’s now posted two consecutive Top 20’s, including a runner up finish at the Byron Nelson three weeks ago. He’s also gained almost twelve strokes on the field tee-to-green over that stretch, ten of which have come from his approach shots. He could crash and burn at any moment, but no one else in his price point is playing as well as he is.
Others to Consider – Peter Uihlein ($7,200), Keith Mitchell ($7,100), Russell Knox ($7,100), Bud Cauley ($6,700), Max Homa ($6,700), Matt Jones ($6,500), Joost Luiten ($6,500)
