When filling out a DraftKings lineup (use promo code SGP), 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 for the 2019 3M Open (values courtesy of DraftKings).
Golfers Valued $8,000-$8,900
- Kevin Streelman – $8,900
- Keegan Bradley – $8,800
- Ryan Moore – $8,700
- Kevin Na – $8,600
- Phil Mickelson – $8,500
- Charles Howell III – $8,400
- Nate Lashley – $8,300
- Scott Piercy – $8,200
- Adam Hadwin – $8,100
- Daniel Berger – $8,000
- Brian Harman – $8,000
Full disclosure – Kevin Streelman is probably going to be the most popular pick from this tier. His ownership eclipsed 20% in most GPP’s on DraftKings last week, and though he only finished T35 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic it’ll likely be around there again this week. The stats back up his popularity – over his last seven tournaments he’s gained over 1.6 strokes per round tee-to-green on the field, and it’s been about equally divided off the tee, on his approach shots and around the greens. His putting has been a little up and down, but with ball striking this hot it’s hard to exclude him from a lineup even with all the extra attention from DFS contestants.
Likely the last time fans saw Kevin Na was his total meltdown during the 2nd round of the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, where he posted a miserable 77 to take a disappointing missed cut. Before that he had been striking the ball beautifully tee-to-green, so the missed cut was a huge let down. After Pebble Beach, Na flew over to Korea to play in their national open and bounced back with a T6, so he likely got a bit of his confidence back. Na is one of the better iron players in the field this week and is riding a hot putter, which is the recipe to posting low scores at TPC Twin Cities.
The 3M Open is expected to be another birdie fest, so a solid all around player like Scott Piercy has a chance to put up low numbers this week. There’s not a lot of weaknesses in Piercy’s game right now – he’s been good off the tee, with his approach shots and his scrambling, and he’s shown over the last few months he can get hot with the putter to post good finishes on the leaderboard. With the winning score likely in the high teens again this week, he’s capable of posting double digits under par with his well rounded game.
Golfers Valued $7,500-$7,900
- Collin Morikawa – $7,900
- Nick Watney – $7,900
- Charley Hoffman – $7,800
- J.J. Spaun – $7,800
- Peter Malnati – $7,800
- Lucas Glover – $7,700
- Cameron Tringale – $7,700
- Jason Dufner – $7,700
- Talor Gooch – $7,700
- Danny Lee – $7,600
- Pat Perez – $7,600
- Cameron Champ – $7,500
- Sung Kang – $7,500
- Sepp Straka – $7,500
- Jimmy Walker – $7,500
Viktor Hovland is the recent NCAA graduate that’s grabbing all the headlines on the PGA Tour, but Collin Morikawa has also enjoyed instant success in his first taste of professional golf. Morikawa hasn’t missed a cut in any of his four starts on the PGA Tour in 2019, and has gained just under 0.9 strokes on the field per round tee-to-green since turning pro at the RBC Canadian Open. Morikawa is also rolling the rock well on the greens, and between that combination and a weak field it should mean he’s primed to add another solid finish to his young career.
Peter Malnati is on a roll. Over his last five tournaments he’s gained over 0.8 strokes per round on the field tee-to-green and parlayed that into five consecutive Top 40 finishes. He also is putting very well at the moment, where he’s recorded positive strokes gained with the flatstick in nine of his last 10 tournaments. While the ceiling might be a bit limited, he’s capable of putting up a lot of birdies this week at TPC Twin Cities with how solid he’s playing tee-to-green and with his putter.
Like Malnati, Cameron Tringale is also on a roll. He’s gained strokes on the field tee-to-green in six of his last seven tournaments and has gained just under 0.7 strokes per round in that metric over that stretch. Tringale has mostly done this with his irons over that stretch, and he’s putted the ball very well over his last few tournaments. On the heels of a good finish at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, he should be ready to go for another birdie fest this week.
Bottom of the Barrel (Golfers <$7,500)
Doc Redman – $7,200: Redman earned special temporary membership on the PGA Tour with his runner up finish last week at the Detroit Golf Club, and he has the talent to do what Joaquin Niemann did with his last year and string together a series of good finishes. Redman won the 2017 U.S. Amateur and was a force at Clemson during his collegiate career, and elite college players generally have a strong trajectory for their career path on the PGA Tour. Redman has posted great ball-striking stats over his lone two PGA Tour starts in 2019, and there’s a lot to like about him both in the immediate and in his distant future.
Max Homa – $7,000: Homa has churned out eleven made cuts in his last 13 starts on the strength of solid ball striking, including good command with his irons from over 150 yards. Scrambling has been his bugaboo this year, but with another good ball striking week that shouldn’t be too big of an issue for him at a gettable TPC Twin Cities. Look for his 12th appearance on the weekend in 14 starts.
Trey Mullinax – $6,900: Mullinax has missed the cut in four of his last five starts, so his ownership should be very low this week. But Mullinax is a guy who at his best hits it long and straight and hits greens at a good rate, and TPC Twin Cities is a perfect venue for that type of golfer this week. You’ll have to hold your nose to include him in a lineup, but he could pay off big.
Others To Consider: Dylan Fritteli ($7,200), Hank Lebioda ($6,900), Kramer Hickok ($6,400), Adam Svensson ($6,300)
