PGA DFS Picks: Showdown Spotlight Round 4 of the U.S. 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 final round of the U.S. 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.

Previous Round

As expected, Winged Foot continued to get the better of the golf on Saturday, and this time including Patrick Reed, who again couldn’t find the fairway, which finally caught up to him. It all fell apart on the 10th hole, when he hit it way, way short, and proceeded to make bogey. After that, it didn’t get any better, making a double and two more bogeys on three of his next four holes, and finished the day at two over. He sits seven back of the new leader, and big mover Matthew Wolff, who also couldn’t find any fairways, hitting 2 of his last 20 fairways!

There are now only three golfers under par.

A couple of other good rounds were out there, though, with Alex Noren shooting 67, and getting himself into a chance at a top 10, or better. Rory McIlroy & Zach Johnson went out to shoot 68 and also moved up the board 16 & 19 spots, respectively. Adam Long & Paul Casey were both able to get it under par, shooting 69 on the day. Casey has played his last 40 holes at one under. If it weren’t for his opening round 76, he’d be right in this tournament.

Stat Review

Birdie or Better Leaders Through Round 3

Wolff (14)
Reed (13)
DeChambeau (12)
Matsuyama, Horschel, Thomas, Berger (11)

Strokes Gained Ball Striking vs. Putting

As good as Bubba Watson’s ball striking has been, his putting let him down today, losing almost four strokes. That along with another two lost in round one gives him an average of 5.21 strokes gained more with his ball striking, than with his putting. Thomas Pieters, Will Zalatoris, & Hideki Matsuyama all are over four strokes difference, with Rickie Fowler falling just short at 3.93.

Strokes Gained Ball Striking Differential

Louis Oosthuizen who relied on his short game in round two, bounced back and found his ball striking in round three. He gained 3.52 strokes today, versus his -2.49 gives him a six stroke differential. Adam Long came in at five strokes better, while Zach Johnson was four. Zalatoris, Wolff, & Lanto Griffin round out the top 5.

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Lock Time

8:00 Am EST

Contest Preview

DraftKings

DraftKings is offering $50,000 to first and $150,000 guaranteed for round 4 showdown contests.

Fanduel

FanDuel is offering $3,000 to first and $15,000 guaranteed for the final round contests.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter for giveaways and promos!

Top 10 Breakdown and PGA DFS Picks

Matthew Wolff’s iron play was nothing short of extraordinary in round three, hitting so few fairways. It could have been the best one day round we’ve seen all year! I know the stats may not show that, but the fact that most if not all of his approach shot were coming from the rough, it was incredible. Bryson DeChambeau will give Wolff fits again in the final round, for the second time this year. The first time DeChambeau beat Wolff at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Smooth swinging Louis Oosthuizen is there, yet again, in a major, as he searches for the second of his career. Hideki Matsuyama really looked as if he was going to challenge for his first major, and the would-be first major champion from Japan,but a shank out of the left rough on 17 leading to a double, knocked him back to even par. Rory McIlroy will try to use his early tee to and go out and post a number. A five-under 65 might just get it done.

Xander Schauffele’s late birdie on 18 gives him a chance tomorrow, sitting just five back. Harris English tried to hold on, and a late birdie has him at even par. In contrast, Viktor Hovland’s ball-striking got him into the top 10.

Zach Johnson ($6,800)

Johnson, surprisingly, has a superb record in U.S. Open’s as highlighted in my Fit & Form article and had also flashed form recently. He chipped in for eagle on nine today, which helped propel him up the leaderboard. He’s two over and seven back, probably too far back to win, but definitely within range to help out the final round contests tomorrow. His putter was good today, but so was the rest of his game, so I’m good betting on that for a second straight day.

Stud or Value Pick Outside of Top 10

Paul Casey ($7,600)

Playing the last 40 holes at one-under-par would put him in the top three of the tournament had he been able to go around at even par in his first 18. He didn’t, but we don’t necessarily care about that for our round four showdowns. We just care that he gained another 3.35 strokes tee to green, and another 2.53 with his irons, the second straight good day with them.

Sneaky Pick Outside of Top 10

Adam Long ($6,800)

One of the few rounds under par on Saturday, Long has got himself a chance at his first top 10 in a major of his professional career. He’s really refined his game and has become one of the better tour players. At 6800, he, along with Zalatoris and Johnson, should give you plenty of salary flexibility to get any three or four studs in you’d like.

Lineup Fill-Ins

Will Zalatoris ($6,500)

Rory McIlroy ($9,200)

Brendon Todd ($8,600)

Lanto Griffin ($7,000)

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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].