The Approach: Daily Fantasy Golf Picks & Expert Rankings for the Mayakoba Golf Classic This Week | DraftKings & FanDuel

There are only three official events left on the fall schedule for the PGA, and the third-to-last stop for 2021 heads to Mexico for the Mayakoba Golf Classic — also called the Worldwide Technology Championship at Mayakoba. This event has been around since 2007 and used to be played in springtime. It was moved to November after a couple of years, as the weather is much nicer this time of season (and the wind is less present), and that has been reflected in the scoring. Over the last five years only one winner (Patton Kizzire in 2017) has managed not to get to 20 under par or better. That will also be reflected in daily fantasy golf lineups for DraftKings and FanDuel this week, which is explained in the DFS golf advice sections that follow.

This event has been played at El Camaleon since its inception, a Greg Norman design that plays as a short par 71 at barely over 7,000 yards. The course is unique in that it is one of the few on tour that feature paspalum greens, a blend that typically runs slower than other green surfaces. The course is not overly difficult, with easier-to-hit greens and fairways than the average tour venue, but it does require precision and the ability to hit it close with short irons on almost every hole. Viktor Hovland led the field in greens-in-regulation percentage last year, while 2019 winner Brendon Todd was third in that same stat for the week of his win. Looking for players trending well in approach and proximity will be key this week.

El Camaleon Stats and Info

  • Par 71, 7,017-yard venue; uses paspalum grass on the greens and runs along the ocean on several holes.
  • Five of the par 4’s on the course measure in over 450 yards, and past winners have typically carried solid par-4 scoring with them.
  • The biggest trend in winners has been their recent form (five of the last six had recorded a top-15 or better in their last two starts) and their ability to hit fairways and greens — Hovland and Todd both ranked top 20 in fairways hit and top three in greens hit for the week).

Daily Fantasy Golf Picks: Mayakoba Golf Classic

*Grades are ordered DraftKings, FanDuel. Initial grade indicates a player’s strength of output for the week, with the value grade indicating their strength as a play in relation to their salary.

Scottie Scheffler: Grades: A | Values: D, C

The Mayakoba Golf Classic saw a young star dominate last season, and the projections this week like a young American on the upswing to potentially rise up with a good week too. Scottie Scheffler came close to grabbing his first win on multiple occasions last season, but he remains winless in two years on tour. He enters this week off a couple of mediocre outings, including a 38th-place finish at the CJ Cup where he lost 5.9 strokes off the tee. Scheffler looked fine in the rest of his game that week, though, gaining over two strokes on approach and putting, so do not read much into his off-tee woes; he is generally very consistent in that area.

In terms of long-term form, Scheffler still ranks eighth in DraftKings points over the last 50 rounds and has shown improvement in his approaches this year. He ranks 31st or better in three of the four main yard categories for proximity purposes over the long term and is 14th from 125 to 150 yards, which is key considering the short yardage on this course. Scheffler was 18th last year his first time playing the venue and has performed well at other low-scoring events/venues, like the American Express. He is the sixth-ranked player in the Awesemo projections this week and has the best value score on the site of anyone with a salary of $9,700 or greater on DraftKings. Starting lineups with Scheffler provides good flexibility on a week where there are more mid-tier names to choose from.

The Stats:

  • Finished 18th at this event last year; has recorded four top-10s in his last 12 starts on the PGA.
  • Ranks eighth in DraftKings points over the last 50 rounds and top 10 in proximity from 125 to 150 yards.

Projected PGA DFS ownership: DraftKings: 12.3%

Ian Poulter Grades: B | Values: C

There are quite a few interesting veterans in this event, including a couple from overseas. Ian Poulter was last seen on tour at the CJ Cup a few weeks ago, where he landed a solid 18th-place finish. Poulter is the classic veteran player who does not leap off the chart anymore with his ball striking but can get red hot with his putter. El Camaleon has typically catered very well to those with Poulter’s profile as we have recorded wins coming from the likes of Graeme McDowell, Brendon Todd and Patton Kizzire all over the last six years.

From a DFS perspective, Poulter rates well in the Awesemo Model, which has been recognizing his consistency as a bonus in the last few events. He has the 14th-best points projection on the slate for play on DraftKings this week — despite being salaried in the mid-$7,000 range. Poulter has one of the best value ratings on the entire slate and is the only player above $7,000 to get a value score higher than 10 this week. With a perfect setup and his consistency in these full-field events, now is the time to keep targeting Poulter at reasonable prices.

The Stats:

  • Has five finishes of 26th or better in his last 10 PGA starts; has only missed one cut in his last 10 PGA starts.
  • Ranks top 20 in the field in strokes gained putting, short game and DraftKings points over the last 50 rounds.

Projected PGA DFS ownership: DraftKings: 8.3%

Low-Owned Daily Fantasy Golf GPP Flier

Gary Woodland

It has been a hard fall from grace for Gary Woodland since his 2019 U.S. Open triumph. He has struggled with consistency ever since and comes into this week ranked just 90th in the OWGR. There have been signs that his game may be getting ready to peak again soon though. He enters this week with three finishes of 11th or better over his last six starts and is coming off a seventh-place finish at the CJ Cup, which is surprisingly his sixth finish of 15th or better over his last 16 starts. Woodland has been very boom or bust for DFS usage but does come in having gained strokes on his approaches in three straight events and has performed well at these shorter, accuracy-driven venues over his career — he finished second at this event/venue in 2016.

If paying a premium on Woodland, he is a stay-away, but even at just $7,600 on DraftKings, his ownership levels are still hovering around 5-6% projected ownership (which is less than Rickie Fowler, who is $1,000 more expensive). Woodland seems to be building confidence and is coming off a strong performance in his last outing. He is a solid large-field GPP target and feels likely to be well under 10% owned in most contests on DraftKings.

Projected PGA DFS ownership: DraftKings: 5.5%

DraftKings Top three Under 5%

I am targeting two players that will end up under (or close) to 5% ownership in larger DraftKings GPPs. This section is searching for boom/bust players with an almost 100% focus on upside.

Jimmy Walker ($6,600)

Before taking a multiple week break, Jimmy Walker had started to show improved ball striking. He enters this week off a 24th place at the Shriners Open event and has gained over two strokes on approach in each of his last two PGA events. He still ranks top 40 in this field in short game and putting and is the kind of player that has popped at this event in the past. With improved play of late, he makes for an interesting GPP punt target.

Davis Riley ($6,500)

Davis Riley was a prolific and multi-time winner on the Korn Ferry Tour the last couple of seasons. He heads into this week off a seventh-place finish last week in Bermuda and has gained strokes on his approaches in four straight events. He is a worthy upside play at this price as long as his form keeps flashing improvement.

Henrik Stenson ($7,100)

Henrik Stenson has shown some sharpness of late and looks like he is finally broken out of a yearlong slump. He put together back-to-back top-five finishes on the European Tour last month and has finished 30th or better in each of his last four starts. This accuracy-driven course is a good setup for him, and he is trending with around 2% projected ownership for the week.

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