fThe Sony Open has begun, but the PGA DFS action is just getting started as showdown action takes over. DraftKings is offering up a slate best $50,000 to first place for round two. An early trend is developing on the PGA Tour, as the defending champion of the current event is making noise on the leader once again, Kevin Na.
PGA DFS Golf Picks: Round 2 Sony Open
Sony Open Round 1 Recap
Morning Wave
The first few holes on each side of the golf course, outside of the 10th hole, ended up being some of the most challenging holes on the day. Therefore, at first, it looked like the course would be getting the better of the golfers, but that woudln’t be the case. On day one, Jim Furyk would turn back the clocks, having a four-hole five-under stretch that included an ace on the 17th hole. He would hold the lead for much of the day until Na would birdie the 18th hole to take the lead. Others with good rounds in round one from the morning wave include Patton Kizzire, Kevin Chappell and Michael Thompson.
Afternoon Wave
Na woudln’t be the only one to get to eight under as Russell Henley would regain top form in round one, gaining strokes everywhere you’d want to, except his last shot of the day, around the green on 18. He failed to get up and down for birdie, and cost him a share of the lead and a chance to gain strokes in all four categories. Seamus Power also maintained good form and caught fire with the putter in round one gaining just shy of two strokes. Jason Kokrak would find a spot of form her in round one, gaining almost three strokes putting, and another two strokes off the tee, and is in position for a nice bounce-back week. Others that had a good first round include Corey Conners, Matt Kuchar and Haotong Li.
Sony Open Round 1 Stat Recap
Strokes Gained Off the Tee
Average Position: 14.8
- Russell Henley
- Jason Kokrak
- Kevin Na
- Kyle Stanley
- Greyson Sigg
Strokes Gained Approach
Average Position: 18.2
- Patton Kizzire
- Kevin Na
- Corey Conners
- Justin Lower
- Trey Mullinax
Strokes Gained Around the Green.
Average Position: very high
- Bo Van Pelt
- Andrew Novak
- Brian Harman
- David Lipsky
- Dylan Wu
Strokes Gained Putting
Average Position: 31
- Jim Furyk
- Andy Ogletree
- Harry Higgs
- Brian Harman
- Sahith Theegala
DraftKings Fantasy Golf Preview: Round 2 Sony Open
- Lock Time: 12:10
- Grand Prize: DraftKings offers $50,000 to first place and $150,000 guaranteed for the second-round slate.
Best PGA DFS Golf Picks Today for DraftKings Showdown
A mixture of elite golfers of this field and a few surprises should provide plenty of variance among ownership for the second-round slate. The 9K range tomorrow is ripe with some of the best plays of the slate, including Russell Henley, Corey Conners and Kevin Na. They will all likely be among the highest owned of the slate, along with Seamus Power. That’ll leave golfers like Talor Gooch and March Leishman under-owned. I’ll pick a few outside of these golfers I’ll be focusing on tomorrow.
- Maverick McNealy ($8,300): Nothing was wrong in today’s game with McNealy, who continues his strong form from the fall swing. The only thing missing was a hot putter. If he continues to gain over three strokes ball-striking, he’ll be among the top scorers of the day when the putter does warm up. With a ton of ownership concentrated in the 9K range and to Power, McNealy shouldn’t come in more than 20% owned.
- Erik Van Rooyen($7,900): A bogey-bogey start will get the juices flowing for just about any good golfer in the world, especially one on the PGA Tour. But, Van Rooyen would play his remaining 16 holes at six under, including an eagle and five other birdies. His around the green game needs some work this week or just hit more greens, and Erik should continue to climb the leaderboard this week.
- Keita Nakajima ($6,800): In his second start on the PGA Tour, the #1 amateur in the world, set to turn pro at some point this year, played admirably in round one, shooting a 67. His irons don’t look great, but when you dig a little deeper into his stats, he lost almost a full stroke on one iron swing, his tee shot on the par-three 11th, which found the hazard to other night of the green. Similar to that off Talor Gooch. He missed four birdie putts inside of 12 feet on the day, which would suggest his iron play is a bit better than the 1.19 strokes he lost in round one. Someone to keep an eye going forward, and what better way to do that than in showdown.
- Haotong Li ($6,400): This week’s highlight of the long shot section on the PGA DFS Strategy show, Ben Rasa, discussed the pure talent we’ve seen from Haotong in the extended past. A terrible 18-24 months for the once top 50 golfer in the world, Li, still only 26 years old, is back and seemingly in good health. He was sporting know shades on the golf course, maybe helping his eyesight, as he posted one of the best rounds in the afternoon. He did so by gaining strongly with his putter, irons, and tee-ball, while only losing very slightly around the green.
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