The Marine layer subsided early on Friday, and the US Open was able to get back on schedule, set up for Round 3, teeing off in just about 2 hours. We’ve got your PGA DFS preview for Round 3, as players who just made the cut will look to cash in on their good fortune and move up the leaderboard in today’s third round. With the help of Awesemo’s industry leading PGA DFS golf projections, we’ll find some of the top PGA DFS picks for DraftKings and FanDuel single-game and Showdown lineups for Saturday, June 19.
Historically, when this event has been played in June, and typically the summer sun has its way with the courses, the course gets harder and harder as the day matures, giving plenty of chances to the chasing pack to try and improve its position. In fact, even sometimes at this tournament, specifically Shinnecock Hills a few years ago, the leaderboard flipped on its head, with golfers just sneaking through the cut and ending up in the final groups come Sunday. Tony Finau, Tommy Fleetwood and Daniel Berger were the huge benefactors then. Who will it be this year? Let’s try and find out.
Be sure to check out U.S. Open Round 3 Awesemo’s expert PGA DFS Showdown projections and ownership.
PGA DFS Showdown Picks: U.S. Open Round 3
Previous Round Recap
Morning Wave
With this wave having to finish a lot of their round, there was a slight delay in starting in Round 2. But, when it did, one of the first golfers on the course for his second round would lead the way the entire day. The biggest surprise through two rounds of the event, by far, is 48-year-old Englishmen, NOT Lee Westwood, but Richard Bland. Having a win and a tie for third in his last couple events, this shouldn’t be all that surprising, but given that this is one of his first US Open starts in quite some time, it is all the more appealing.
Louis Oosthuizen would continue his good form on Friday, but his putter went rather cold and would shot an even-par 71 to sit just one stroke behind Bland. Bubba Watson caught fire with the putter and jolted up into a tie for fifth place, with Jon Rahm, who continues his solid form recently. Kevin Streelman would be the last one from this wave to end up in the Top 10 after Round 1.
Notables
Only 16 rounds yesterday were under par, and many of them came from this morning wave. Chez Reavie holed out his first shot of the day and proceeded to make 16 straight pars before finishing with a birdie. Martin Kaymer, also spurred on by an eagle, managed his best round in a while, and made the cut here this week. Others turning in good scores were Bryson DeChambeau, Jordan Spieth, Joaquin Niemann and Scottie Scheffler.Â
Afternoon Wave
When the afternoon wave started and Brooks Koepka got off to a fast start, I thought he’d post 7-under, and the tournament would be all but over. But he lost it in the middle of the round, and ended up shooting over par. Xander Scahuffele also had a few chances to catch Bland, but only Russell Henley from this wave would be able to do so. A silly three-putt from inside 15 feet on his 18th hole would give him a share of the lead, rather than the outright lead, as Henley is using his strong approach to play to head the field. Matthew Wolff and Collin Morikawa had possibly the rounds of the day, shooting 3-under and 4-under, respectively, in the difficult afternoon conditions.
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Round 2 Stat Recap
Here are the Top 3 performers over the first two days in each Strokes Gained stat category
Strokes Gained Tee to Green
- Branden Grace
- Guido Migliozzi
- Xander Schauffele
Schauffele projects as the fourth-highest on the slate, with 36.76 points. Click here to view the full projections.
Strokes Gained Off the Tee
- Wilco Nienaber
- Bryson DeChambeau
- Matthew Wolff
Strokes Gained Approach
- Guido Migliozzi
- Rikuya Hoshino
- Shane Lowry
Strokes Gained Around the Green
- Matt Jones
- Brian Harman
- Harris English
Strokes Gained Putting
- Scottie Scheffler
- Richard Bland
- Rick Lamb
PGA DFS Showdown Picks: Slate Preview
Lock Time
10:10 a.m. EST
Fantasy Golf Contest Preview
DraftKings
- DraftKings is offering $50,000 to first place and $200,000 guaranteed for the third-round slate.
US Open PGA DFS Picks
I said it before, and I’ll say it again, the morning has been significantly easier than the afternoon in terms of scoring, so I’ll try to stack golfers that I think have a chance to pop off today — and are going out early.
PGA DFS Picks for Round 3 of The US Open
- Jordan Spieth ($9,000) — Quite possibly the easiest pick for me, as he’s one of the first few guys out on the golf course today. After Thursday, where absolutely nothing went right, Spieth was able to find the form we’ve seen over the last few months and gain strokes in every category in Round 2. I’ll take one more good round from him to get into the Top 15 by the end of the day and a chance at a Top 10 Sunday.
- Paul Casey ($7,900) — Casey finds the weekend again here at a major, but like The Masters, hasn’t really found his form yet. But, as he did at The Masters, it was only one good round, that time on Sunday, to move up the board and post a respectable finish. Here this week, though, if he goes out and fires a 3-under 68, that could end up pushing him inside the Top 15 by day’s end. He had an awful day on the greens in Round 2, losing over two strokes, but the other parts of his game look solid.
- Gary Woodland ($7,300)— Woodland’s Form has been simmering lately, but the big number seems to keep coming. Nine bogeys through two rounds are not what you’d expect from a previous US Open Champion. But, His off-the-tee game looks incredibly solid, ranked fourth among golfers that made the cut. If we can get another day like that today, pick up the iron play a bit, and make a few putts, Woodland will be on the first page of the leaderboard in no time.
Sneaky Pick for Round 3 Showdown
- Chez Reavie ($6,600)Â I already talked about Reavie’s second round, and now I can talk about him being a “form” golfer again. In case you missed live before lock with Ben Rasa and I, Ben explained how I always allude to the fact that Reavie is a form golfer. When he’s in it, there are big finishes, and when he’s not, it’s missed cut after missed cut. His ball-striking form had been coming around of late, but his short game was atrocious. That finally broke at US Open qualifying as he was able to earn medalist honors, parlay that into a Top 20 at Congaree and ride that to a very solid bogey-free second round. That form should continue today in Round 3.
Bonus DraftKings Captain Pick for Late Round 3 PGA DFS Contests:
Matthew Wolff ($8,100 Captain’s salary): Turning in one of the best rounds in the afternoon, Wolff seems to be in a great spot and has taken time off needed to find joy out of the game again. He had one of the most candid interviews of the week after shooting a 3-under 68, where he was asked point blank about his struggles. He took it and ran with it, explaining in great detail where his struggles have been. I’m ready to give him my captain’s spot and build a strong team with him leading the way.
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