PGA DFS: DraftKings Showdown Round 3 Houston Open

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 third round of the Houston Open. 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.

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Houston Open Round 3 DraftKings Showdown Picks

Previous Round Recap

After a brutal first round with the scoring average north of 72

Morning Wave

Sam Burns was one of the first ones out in the morning and didn’t disappoint, continuing his strong play to start the PGA Tour season. He matched his opening round 68 with the round of the day at five-under 65. No one would catch him, and in fact, no one would catch Jason Day, who sits two back of Burns at five under. He relishes in these conditions, as he gets to shine how good he is with his short game, and speaking about Day. His irons seem to be in control. Now the question is can he play all four days.

Overnight leader Brandt Snedeker couldn’t keep pace with his first-round score but did battle back and posted a one-over 71 and sits three back of the lead heading into the weekend. Other notables from the morning wave include Francesco Molinari, in just his second start back to professional golf, has a chance at a top 10, and maybe more, sitting at two-under and just five back of the lead. He’ll be interesting to watch as the weekend unfolds, sitting at just $6,700 for next week’s Master’s tournament. Lastly, sponsor invite Dawie Van Der Walt, who for all intents and purposes took Will Zalatoris’s sponsor invite away, has got himself to earn a big-time paycheck as he sits just three back heading into Saturday.

Dustin Johnson also bounced back with a 67 and sits just outside the top 10 as he looks to continue his good run of form in preparation for next week. Adam Scott joins him as a few studs are within striking distance, which should make it a pretty good weekend of golf.

Afternoon Wave:

For a while there, it looked like no one would challenge Burns’s lead, but Tony Finau got it to four under with a scorable par 4 and a par 5 to play. But, some wayward drives cost him big, making a double on a scorable hole, and finish out at two-under. Carlos Ortiz got it to five under before falling back as well, and with a late birdie did end up finishing there. Corey Conners had the best shot at -5 but ended up missing a five-footer on 18 for par, which would have been a bogey-free 65, but instead, it was one bogey 66. Aaron Wise yesterday’s sneaky play also got himself into the top 10 with a good round, as his form does seem to be coming into its own here lately.

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PGA DFS Cut Sweat:

An epic one today, one that saw me, yet again, on the wrong side of it with Jordan Spieth. He just continues to break my heart. Here’s what he did to me this week. As you can see, lineup currently leads a mega milly satellite and sits in 20th in the $5. Brutal beat. In addition to that, Sungjae Im made a fifteen footer at 30% owned to play 36 more holes as well to add to the frustration. At least Scottie Scheffler was able to stop the freefall and make the weekend, as I have a couple of live 6/6s with him in it.

Here’s the 6/6 for the week: via @cutsweats

Houston Open PGA DFS

Strokes Gained Ball Striking vs. Putting:

A few of the names may surprise you on this list, and others may not. First, the ones that won’t surprise you including Adam Scott & Harold Varner. The name that may surprise you a lot? Maverick McNealy. He came into the week as one of the hottest putters on the tour. If the ball striking stays hot, and his putter wakes up, watch out for him to make a weekend run.

Strokes Gained Ball Striking Differential

Brooks Koepka was able to put together a really solid day ball striking, and such finds himself through the weekend and another two days of competition to work on the short game a bit more. His off the tee game needs a bit of work as well, still a few wayward ones, but he isn’t far. That’s for sure. Justin Harding also found a little something in the second round.

PGA DFS Slate Preview

Lock Time

Around/Estimated 8:30 a.m. EST

Contest Preview

DraftKings

DraftKings is offering $20,000 to first and $80,000 guaranteed for the second-round slate.
DK is also offering $10,000 to first and $50,000 guaranteed for the weekend-long slate.

FanDuel

FanDuel is offering $1,000 to first and $5000 guaranteed for the weekend-long slate.

General Strategy and Houston Open PGA DFS Picks

Short game prevailed over ball-striking today yet again, or at least it seemed that way besides the ones that didn’t miss many greens today, which included Sam Burns & Corey Conners.

Top 10

Corey Conners ($8,500)

With a win in Texas already under his belt, Conners has been trending in the right direction for a couple of starts now. He had a chance at a bogey-free round, but a missed five-footer kept him from that, which would have been the only one besides Sam Burns earlier in the day. He’s got the game for this course, steady eddy, and just needs to make a few putts over the weekend, and he’ll be right there. A good piece to pair up with whatever studs you want to roster for round 3 and the weekend-long contests.

Stud or Value Pick Outside the Top 10

Dustin Johnson ($10,100)

I know this may be a bit of an obvious pick, but sometimes the obvious ones are the right ones. I think we have that situation here, as DK decided not to price him as the most expensive golfer; that honor went to Tyrrell Hatton. Priced $200 above DJ, for who knows what reason, likely pushes even more ownership to DJ, so if you want to hedge it, look to Hatton.

Sneaky Pick Outside the Top 10

Chris Kirk ($6,300)

After a hole-out eagle in round one, Kirk matched that with another nice showing in the second round with his irons. He matched that up with a good putter, easily getting him to the weekend. Hitting the ball as nicely as he is and putting well, that’s a good combo for him to make a run over the weekend.

Houston Open Lineup Fill-Ins

Viktor Hovland ($9,400)

Tony Finau ($9,200)

Max Homa ($6,700)

Will Gordon ($6,800)

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Author

Jason Rouslin

Jason established his roots in the littlest state that could...Rhode Island. But after 29 years of bitter cold, and only being able to play golf 4 months a year, upended those roots and moved to Florida. Now four years later, Jason is a husband to Sarah and father of two boys, James & Myles. A dog and more specifically Lab lover (Bella), he dedicates his time to serve as the lead of PGA content at Awesemo.com. In the time he is not diving into the PGA stats and covering this week's current tournament, you can find him researching and trading stocks, on the golf course, at Disney World, on a hike, or somewhere in between. Want to chat? Have a question about Golf/Stocks or anything else? Hop on twitter and give him a message @dfsgolfer23. You can also contact Jason by emailing [email protected].