Daily Fantasy Golf Tips
Last week’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open didn’t disappoint as we were treated to a playoff where hometown hero, Kevin Na, was victorious over Patrick Cantlay on the second playoff hole to win his second career Shriners event. This PGA Tour season is off to a fantastic start, and hopefully, the momentum can keep going with the players heading east from California to Texas to play in the Houston Open.
Ian Poulter is the defending champion when the Houston Open was last played some 18 months ago, but he isn’t in the field this week to defend his honor. Other past winners in recent memory at the Houston Open include 2017 champ, Russell Henley, Jim Herman took the cake in 2016, 2015 saw J.B. Holmes win, and Matt Jones reigned supreme in 2014. The 2019 field has some notable players including Henrik Stenson, Keegan Bradley, up and comer Scottie Scheffler, and Jason Dufner as some of the most recognizable names in this year’s field.
Golf Club of Houston is the host course for this week’s Houston Open, and the track has hosted 13 PGA Tour events now, but this year will be its last for the foreseeable future with the Memorial Park Golf Club taking over starting next year. The course is a 7,441-yard par 72 track with Bermuda greens. 140 golfers are currently in the field to play the Houston Open this week, and the top 65 plus ties after round 2 on Friday will get the opportunity to play all four rounds. Some of the key stats to look at this week are Strokes Gained: Ballstriking, Birdies or Better Gained, Strokes Gained: Par 5s, Greens in Regulation Gained, and Proximity Gained (200+ yards). Also, keep an eye on the wind conditions for this week’s event, as strong gusts have played havoc in the past to run up player’s scores.
Let’s get to my picks this week – my 10 top players to pay the piper for are included for the Houston Open and 5 value picks (in no particular order), plus I include player salaries for DraftKings.
10 Players Who Are Worth Paying Up For This Week
Daniel Berger (Salary: DraftKings – $10,400) – Has a good track record at the Houston Open as he was 18th here last year, 5th in 2017 and in 2016, and 25th in 2015. He’s also off to a good start this season with a 23rd in his debut at the Safeway Open and was 18th last week at the Shriners.
Keegan Bradley (Salary: DraftKings – $9,000) – Can be counted on to regularly finish in the money as he’s a cut making machine. He had a poor Sunday last week to finish 70th but was 24th in the season’s opening event at The Greenbrier. Was 5th here in 2015, 10th in 2013, 4th in 2012, and has only missed the cut once here in 8 appearances.
Cameron Champ (Salary: DraftKings – $10,800) – Is having a breakout season on the PGA Tour as he won just two weeks ago at the Safeway Open. Missed the cut last week and is making his tournament debut this week, but I really like what we’ve seen out of Champ since opening his season with a 28th at the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Brian Harman (Salary: DraftKings – $10,600) – Harman is putting up a
Scottie Sheffler (Salary: DraftKings – $9,900) – He’s 3 for 3 on the season and had a 7th and 16th to open the campaign, before opening with a couple of 67’s last week but only to stumble on the weekend to settle for a 74th. The talent is there to put up a win on the PGA Tour, and this week he is well-positioned to do so in this mediocre field.
Henrik Stenson (Salary: DraftKings – $11,400) – The supreme ball-striker had a 6th here last year, was 2nd in 2016 and in 2013, and was 3rd in 2009. He has competed in this tournament numerous times and his game fits it very well. He is making his season debut and has a soft landing spot at the Houston Open.
Harris English (Salary: DraftKings – $8,900) – Is playing some mighty fine golf right now as he has gone 3rd-6th-33rd to open this new season, and has already put up a couple of 65’s. He has only one top 20 in his few years of playing this event, but the way he’s playing right now he has
Lanto Griffin (Salary: DraftKings – $8,000) – He’s the only golfer to finish in the top 20 in every one of the four events this season, and has finished anywhere from 11th to 18th so his consistent play is admirable. Missed the cut in his only start at this tournament last year, but I see no reason why he can’t make it five top 20’s in a row this week as he’s playing the best golf of his career.
Denny McCarthy (Salary: DraftKings – $9,500) – Is certainly trending in the right direction as he started the season off at The Greenbrier with a 33rd, then he took home an 18th at the Sanderson Farms Championship, and followed that up last week with a 9th. He finished 43rd in his only event start here last year and should do much better than that this year.
Russell Henley (Salary: DraftKings – $10,100) – Finished 8th here last year, won it all in 2017, was 5th in 2016, 4th in 2015, 7th in 2014, and 45th in 2013. Safe to say he’s poised to make some noise this week again and keeps bettering his finishes this season with a 57th-54th-37th to open things up. He’s a certified horse for the course and is a co-favorite of mine along with Stenson this week.
5 Good Value Pickups
Cole Hammer (Salary: DraftKings – $6,400) – It’s Hammer time! 19-year-old Cole Hammer has only played in one PGA Tour event, that was at the U.S. Open in 2015 where he missed the cut as a 15-year-old. So what gives with his guy making my list? He’s the 2nd highest ranked amateur in the world, is from Houston, and has certainly played this course a few times with success. He’s a good low-cost pickup if you want to have two or three high-priced players, and could be a fantastic story this week if he plays up to his potential.
Roberto Castro (Salary: DraftKings – $6,700) – Also from Houston, Castro finished 27th here in 2016 and was 36th in 2012. Has a 57th and a 52nd so far this season, and if you’re looking for a low-cost guy to make the cut with some upside, then he’s a decent option.
Shawn Stefani (Salary: DraftKings – $6,800) – Had a 24th here last year, was 25th in 2015, 5th in 2014, and 36th in 2012. Is coming off a 28th at the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Mark Hubbard (Salary: DraftKings – $7,100) – Earned a 19th here in 2016, is playing some quality golf this season with just one missed cut in all four starts, and two have gone for top 13th’s.
Stewart Cink (Salary: DraftKings – $6,900) – Came in 28th in his only start of the season at the Sanderson Farms Championship, was 23rd here in 2017, 33rd in 2016, 6th in 2013, and has a few other good finishes on this course. The veteran can be counted on to perform and comes in at an attractive price point.
Have fun putting together your DFS lineups this week, enjoy the week of golf in Texas, and all the best with having amazing contest results on Sunday!
Recapping my 15 pick’s finishes from last week
My Top Picks
- Brooks Koepka – Cut
- Patrick Cantlay – 2nd
- Bryson DeChambeau – T4th
- Webb Simpson – T7th
- Adam Scott – T42nd
- Scottie Scheffler – T74th
- Tony Finau – T9th
- Joaquin Niemann – Cut
- Collin Morikawa – T42nd
- Cameron Champ – Cut
My Value Picks
- Lanto Griffin – T18th
- Jim Furyk – T55th
- Sebastián Muñoz – Cut
- Cameron Percy – Cut
- Robby Shelton – T42nd
