Move over birdie fests, par is at a premium this week. The PGA Tour is headed to Torrey Pines for this week’s Farmers Insurance Open DraftKings picks. You may recognize this course as it was host to the previous U.S Open that took place in June.
This week is unlike most PGA Tour events we have seen in a long time. For the fact that we have some of the top golfers in the world teeing it up, it features a cut and the winning score is set to be in the mid to low teens.
The most IMPORTANT thing to note this week is that this event runs from Wednesday to Saturday instead of the normal Thursday to Sunday, so get your lineups in tonight!
Torrey Pines South is a long and tough golf course that has produced elite-caliber winners in years past. This week, three rounds will be played on the longer South Course, while all golfers will get one round in on the North Course.
South Course Specs:
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,765
Greens: Poa
Architect: William Bell
Key Stats:
Driving Distance
SG: Off the Tee
Bogey avoidance
Proximity from 200+
SG: Around the Green
Par 5 Scoring
10,000 Range
Hideki Matsuyama $10,600
Coming off the best putting performance of his life, Deki is set to be the forgotten elite at the top of the board. I think that the prevailing narrative in the industry is that you fade golfers off their latest win, but I don’t see that with Deki.
Hideki has been elite from the tee to green, has made the last five cuts at this event which includes a 3rd and a 12th. He has also proved he can putt on these tricky greens as he gained 6 strokes putting in 2018. With Rahm and Xander controlling the ownership at the top, Deki is a great pivot.
$9,000 Range
Sungjae Im $9,300
There is just so much to like about Sungjae Im this week. I wrote him up at TOC as my most confident play and he notched an 8th place finish for us. My confidence this week is even higher.
Sungjae is 2nd in my model, ranking 6th in the field in proximity from 200+ yards, 4th in bogey avoidance, and 1st in Par 4 scoring 450-50. Im has never missed a cut here and is poised for a top finish this week.
$8,000 Range
Maverick McNealy $8,200
Elite tee to green game excels on small Poa greens, excellent in California. Give me Maverick McNealy at $8,200. It certainly hasn’t been his ball-striking that has held him back recently. He gained over 4 strokes tee to green in his last two starts, only to be held back by his putting.
He now returns to his native poa greens and if he keeps the ball striking up, he will for sure be in contention. Maverick always plays in California well and I see no difference this week.
$7,000 Range
Luke List $7,600
Luke List is a model darling this week. Highlighted by his driving distance, strong around the green game and Poa putting. Almost every single stat you look at this week, List excels in it. Now just because he in theory should contend here, it does not always translate. The good thing about List is that he has great finishing positions here.
12th, 40th, 36th, 10th in his last four starts here, gaining off the tee in all four outings. This will be a popular Farmers Insurance Open DraftKings play but i’m willing to eat the chalk here.
$6,000 Range
Joesph Bramlett $6,700
As seen on the final round coverage of the AmEx, Joseph Bramlett can absolutely bomb the ball. He hit a 340 drive on 16, which stood as the longest drive of the day on that hole. With his distance mixed with his excellent Poa putting, Torrey Pines is set to be an excellent spot for him. Coming off an 18th place finish here last year, I expect another good finish.
Ideal Farmers Insurance Open DraftKings Lineup:
Hideki Matsuyama $10,600
Sungjae Im $9,300
Maverick McNealy $8,200
Luke List $7,600
Aaron Wise $7,500
Joseph Bramlett $6,700
