As we took a brief hiatus from golf DFS last week, we are back to building rosters on DraftKings with the Hero World Challenge this week. Even though we have the top golfers in the world like Colin Morikawa, Rory McIlroy, and Bryson Dechambeau teeing it up this week, this is not a normal PGA Tour event.
The Hero World Challenge is a reduced field, no-cut charity tournament hosted by none other than Tiger Woods that benefits his foundation. No FedEx cup points will be awarded, and the purse is reduced but there is still a lot to play for this week.
The event is hosted at the Albany Golf course in the Bahamas. The course is a 7,309 yard, par 72 that has held the top golfers in the world for the past five years. This is a coastal resort course that yields many birdies and should produce a winner around the score of -18.
If you want to get a better feel for the type of shots these golfers will be hitting here is the defending champion, Henrik Stenson’s winning highlights, and here is a link to the course website.
This week I am looking for golfers in great form, golfers that make a lot of birdies, putt well on Bermuda, and have shown success on similar courses. So without further ado, let’s get into my picks for this week.
Hero World Challenge DraftKings: Best Golf DFS Plays in Each Price Range
$10,000 Range
Justin Thomas $10,200
Thomas is a player that I think is going to have an excellent 2022 PGA Tour season and I believe that this event can be an excellent stepping stone to ride the momentum into the new year. What I like most about Thomas this week is that he has been playing well this swing season, coming off a third-place finish at the Mayakoba a few weeks ago.
JT gained over ten strokes and would have given Viktor a run for his money if not for a slow Thursday start. Thomas ranks third in approach over the past fifty rounds in this field and has gained over two strokes on approach in seven of his last eight measured starts. For all these reasons Justin Thomas is a great DFS play this week.
$9,000 Range
Viktor Hovland $9,300
Coming off this third PGA Tour victory at the Mayakoba, I like Hovland to continue his momentum in Albany this week. Hovland showed that when his putter gets hot, he is a hard man to beat. Ranking fourth in the field in strokes gained total over the past 50 rounds and coming to another coastal resort-style course, I think Hovland possesses the talent and current form to contend this week.
What I also like about Hovland is his Birdie or Better Percentage as he ranks 5th in this field over the past 50 rounds. Also, there is no one more humble on tour, check out this tweet as he was spotted in a local airport in the Bahamas.
$8,000 Range
Xander Schauffele $8,700
There are a few rules in golf betting and DFS and one of them is that you play Xander Schauffele in no-cut events. Four of his five wins have come at these no-cut events along with many other high finishes. Xander is truly as complete of a golfer as they come. He is strong in every facet of his game and one of the most consistent players on tour. I have to back him over the other 8K golfer in Spieth here for that exact reason.
Xander also has good course history here with a 10th and 8th place finish in his first two appearances here. Ranking both sixth in approach and putting in this field over the past 50 rounds in this field, I think Xander makes a great DFS play this week. Make him a fixture of your Hero World DraftKings lineups.
$7,000 Range
Sam Burns $7,500
This is easily my favorite play of the week. Sam Burns has the best chance to win this event in my opinion and should be in every single one of your DraftKings lineups. Burns is easily the MVP of the swing season with a win, and three top twenties in the four events he played. Burns gains the most strokes putting on Bermuda, ranks first in bogeys avoidance and fourth in birdies or better percentage over the past fifty rounds.
There is just so much to like about Sam Burns this week. Excellent recent form, Bermuda putting, the amount of birdies he makes, and at $7,500 this is just a no-brainer for me. He has emerged as one of the best golfers on tour. I think that he proves it this week with a win in the Bahamas.
$6,000 Range
Justin Rose $6,100
Let us head to the bottom of the DraftKings board. Defending champion Henrik Stenson is getting a lot of attention but I am choosing another European here. Justin Rose is coming off a twelfth palace finish at The RSM Classic. Rose has shown the potential to contend at this event.
Rose has three top-five finishes here at The Hero World Challenge. This might have to do with the fact that he lives on the Albany complex. Justin really checks all the boxes for me, recent form, course history, and a cheap price. He should be a staple in your Hero World DraftKings lineup this week.
Ideal DraftKings Lineup
Justin Thomas $10,200
Viktor Hovland $9,900
Xander Schauffele $8,700
Sam Burns $7,500
Abe Ancer $7,300
Justin Rose $6,100
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