This column is a quick-hitter article to give you the stats you need to make informed PGA DFS picks for your DraftKings + FanDuel daily fantasy lineups and give you a couple of recommendations for The BMW Championship. On a typical showdown contest, DraftKings will offer upwards of $50,000 to first for rounds 2 and 3 showdown and sometimes up to $100,000 for the final-round contests. They also provide weekend-long contests that have been offering $25,000 to first for most weekends. Lastly, FanDuel has also tried to get into the weekend-long and final round contests, offering $10,000 and $5,000 to first.
Previous Round CommentaryÂ
I write to you from atop of a mountain, the Shenandoah Mountain range in Virginia, to be exact, and even though I’m almost four thousand feet above sea level, closer to all of those satellites that bring us internet, that sadly doesn’t help gain a connection! But, finally, I found one that gives me the ability to post. As expected, the golfers had a much easier time getting around East Lake than they did Olympia Fields last week. The scoring average was about 1.3 under par, or 68.7, with two 64s, turned in, shot by Abraham Ancer, & the new dad Rory McIlroy. They both made up the most ground, obviously, and sit within striking distance of Dustin Justin. Speaking of Johnson, the two-shot lead is gone, and now he’s joined by Jon Rahm at the top. Justin Thomas was able to gain one stroke on Johnson and sits just two back of them as well. This should be an enjoyable weekend of golf ahead. The best of the best are here to play for fifteen million.
Previous Round Stat Review
Abraham Ancer was bogey-free in the first round, and while I can’t pull up my hole by hole scoring with this internet, I’m pretty sure he was the only one.
BOB Leaders in Round 1
- Rory McIlroy (8)
- Jon Rahm & Lanto Griffin (6)
Strokes Gained Ball Striking vs. Putting
Cameron Champ is a bit frustrating right now. When he gets his ball-striking going, leading the field in said category, in fact, gaining 3.49 on the day, lost almost as much in his short game, 2.8. Ouch. If he matches the field, he likely shoots the round of the day, or close to it. Justin Thomas still can’t find the putting touch either, losing another stroke on the day, or just over. Webb Simpson, Collin Morikawa, & Bryson DeChambeau, three big names, all find themselves on the wrong side of this category, all gaining at least two more strokes with their ball striking than with their putting.
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Lock Time
11:45 EST
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DraftKings:
- DraftKings is offering $50,000 to first and $175,000 guaranteed for tomorrow’s slate.
FanDuel:Â
- n/a
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Top 10 Breakdown and PGA DFS Picks
I’ve mentioned half of the top 10 in the first section, or thereabouts, with a few of the big names right there. Xander Schauffele comes to mind, granted he didn’t make up any ground on the leaders today, he still sits only six back and has some excellent feel around these parts. Sungjae Im also found his iron game, at least for one round, gaining 1.34 on the day. He struggled off the tee, which hasn’t been his MO lately, so I expect that to get better in round two. For Sungjae, it’s all about those irons. Brendon Todd is in the top ten again, this time after losing .68 strokes tee to green in round one. No worries, he’s taking over the Spieth crown, putting his way around each and every course. Webb Simpson has a late day resurgence after a rocky start, and Marc Leishman flashed some form from the doldrums, with Ty Hatton, Tony & Lanto Griffin also sneaking their way into the top 10 after round 1. Watch out for Webb’s ownership tomorrow. It could get pretty high given the fact that he led the field on his approaches, but lost two strokes putting.
Justin Thomas ($10,100)
His tee to green game is in shape, 100%. He gained 3.85 on the round tody, gaining over .90 in all three of the tee to green aspects. The good putting day will come this week, and if the other parts stay where they are, he’ll have a great chance to take out Rahm/Johnson by Sunday. If, and when, he gets that putter going, with his tee to green game as good as it is, 64 is not out of the question.
Stud or Value Pick Outside of Top 10
Collin Morikawa ($9,500)
The putter went ice cold today, losing almost two and a half strokes, nearly as cold as I am up on this mountain top. I had forgotten what it’s like to be cold living in Florida, especially thru these last few months. His ball-striking was fine, gaining almost 1.5 on the day. I guess if im betting on Thomas’s putter to get going, I should do the same for Collin? Or maybe Collin just isn’t a good Bermuda putter. Time will tell here.
Sneaky Pick Outside of Top 10
Cameron Smith ($6,100)
I like both Cameron’s down here, but I think Smith should come in lower owned than Champ since his(Champ’s) stats were superb today. Smith was outstanding around the green today, which is typically a good sign for him, as he likes to lean on his short game to do the damage.
PGA DFS Lineup Fill-Ins
Cameron Champ ($6,400)
Xander Schauffele ($8,200)
Tyrrell Hatton ($7,300)
Rory McIlroy ($9,200)Â
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