DFS Golf – 10 Stars and 5 Scrubs for the RBC Canadian Open

Many golf analysts and fans are getting geared up for the U.S. Open next week but this week’s RBC Canadian can’t be overlooked as the top of the field is very strong with the world’s top-ranked player Brooks Koepka here, Rory McILroy is making his first ever Canadian Open start, Dustin Johnson is back to defend his 2018 Canadian Open title, Justin Thomas was recently added in his first go around, Matt Kuchar is a mainstay who’s back this year, and there are lots of other A-list caliber players making their way to Hamilton, Ontario, to compete. Living under an hour from the course, I might be making an appearance on Sunday to catch the thrilling conclusion of the tournament!

This year’s edition of the RBC Canadian Open is at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club – an hour or so from downtown Toronto. The course is a short track at just 6,967 yards, it’s a par 70, the greens are Poa Annua with bentgrass that averages 5,000 square feet, and the course boasts 88 bunkers with 9 water hazards. The last time that the Canadian Open was hosted on this course, Scott Piercy reigned supreme with a -17. The keys stats to look closely at this week are Fairways Gained, Strokes Gained: Ball Striking, Par 4s Gained: 400-450 Yards, and Opportunities Gained. The field for the tournament is full at 156 players, so getting all 6 players in a DFS lineup into the weekend this week will be challenging.

Below outlines, 10 stars and 5 scrubs with value (in no particular order) for the Canadian Open this week, and DraftKings and FanDuel salaries are served up as well.

10 Stars To Get In Your Lineups

Dustin Johnson (Salaries: DraftKings – $11,900, FanDuel – $12,600) – His schedule is typically quite light throughout each PGA Tour season but he’s often in the Canadian Open due to his connection to the Gretzky family who are from Brantford, Ontario. He won the 2018 Canadian Open when it was at Glen Abbey and makes a strong case to defend this year on a different course. Had back to back runner up finishes in the first two majors of the season at The Masters and PGA Championship and is likely hungry to get a win under his belt before heading to Pebble Beach next week for the U.S. Open.

Matt Kuchar (Salaries: DraftKings – $10,500, FanDuel – $11,300) – Kuchar loves playing in Canada and why not as the fans sure show him the love and he pulls down lots of strong results! His game was in amazing shape up until last week when he shot 73-74 and missed the cut at The Memorial. This course sets up well for him this week as the focus is on the irons and that’s where he excels. Has 6 top 10’s this season and he is likely chomping at the bit to add a 7th after not playing this past weekend.

Brooks Koepka (Salaries: DraftKings – $11,700, FanDuel – $12,500) – The world’s top-ranked golfer is sizzling right now as his last starts yielded a 3rd, 4th, and he’s coming off the big win at the PGA Championship. Tends to bring his best game when it matters most, in majors, but needs to amp things up in non-majors as well and should this week.

Scott Piercy (Salaries: DraftKings – $9,300, FanDuel – $10,500) – When the Canadian Open was last played on this track, in 2012, Piercy was victorious by a stroke over a couple of other golfers. Is having a very strong season with 6 top 10’s, two of which came in his last four starts, and is poised to make some noise this week.

Rory McIlroy (Salaries: DraftKings – $11,200, FanDuel – $12,000) – Was humbled last week at The Memorial by missing the cut, but otherwise, he has had a very strong season with 8 top 10’s including winning The Players Championship under three months ago. Is making his Canadian Open debut this week – I expect that he will be closely followed by the fans on the course and will deliver lots of birdies to challenge for the trophy on Sunday.

Brandt Snedeker (Salaries: DraftKings – $9,000, FanDuel – $10,300) – Sneds is consistently happy to play in Canada and his past results certainly reflect that as he won in 2013 and has 5 top 10’s in 8 Canadian Open starts – while well representing RBC’s brand along the way. Has a 16th and a 19th in his last two starts and another top 20 should be in the cards for him this week as well.

Sergio Garcia (Salaries: DraftKings – $9,500, FanDuel – $10,700) – Really let me down in the season’s first two majors including at his last start at the PGA Championship but I can’t let that frustration sway me from taking him this week. Was 4th last month at the Wells Fargo Championship and tends to follow up missed cuts with strong performances. Is a strong ball striker and that’s exactly what’s needed on this course.

Webb Simpson (Salaries: DraftKings – $9,700, FanDuel – $10,800) – With the return of his strong putting he’s again relevant on a week to week basis and is a top 20, top 30, and top 40 monster. Had a 5th at The Masters in April and could be gearing up for another big major finish next week by polishing up his game this week in Hamilton.

Bubba Watson (Salaries: DraftKings – $8,900, FanDuel – $10,400) – Is a regular player at the Canadian Open as his wife is Canadian – from the Toronto area and he pays respect to that fact mostly every year by competing in this tournament and usually does well. Missed the cut at the PGA Championship in his most recent start after shooting a 76 in round one – was good in round two with a 69 but that wasn’t enough to play the weekend. Was 12th in his previous start at The Masters and was 14th here in 2006.

Justin Thomas (Salaries: DraftKings – $10,000, FanDuel – $11,500) – Somehow shot an 80 in round two last week to miss the cut but other than that blip on the radar, he has been solid this season with 5 top 10’s in 12 starts. The missed cut last week inspired him to play this week to get his game where he wants it to be for the U.S. Open next week. His wrist injury should be behind him now and I expect JT to have a successful week in his first Canadian Open start.

5 Scrub Value Players To Look At

Erik van Rooyen (Salaries: DraftKings – $7,800, FanDuel – $9,100) – Mostly plays on the Euro tour but when he played at the PGA Championship last month he went off for an 8th and should have another good finish on North American soil again this week – north of the U.S. border this time around. Has 3 top 8’s in his last 5 starts.

Mackenzie Hughes (Salaries: DraftKings – $7,500, FanDuel – $8,700) – The Canadian has played this course numerous times as he’s fairly local to it and is coming off an 8th at the Charles Schwab Challenge in his last start. Some may argue that Hughes has as good of a chance to win this tournament as any Canadian ever has, at least in recent memory. A Canadian hasn’t won his own championship since 1954 when Pat Fletcher pulled off the feat and Hughes will look to end that nasty 65-year drought.

Corey Conners (Salaries: DraftKings – $7,500, FanDuel – $8,900) – Another Ontario-native who is treating this week like it’s a major is Conners who has already won this year at the Valero Texas Open in April. Has only made half of his cuts this season but did make the cut in both majors, at The Players Championship, and was 65th last week at The Memorial so his game is rounding into form.

Danny Willett (Salaries: DraftKings – $7,400, FanDuel – $8,800) – Willett missed 5 out of 6 cuts from March to May of this year, but in his most recent two starts he earned a 41st at the PGA Championship and a 27th last week at The Memorial. This might be just a flash in the pan but throw him in there while it’s hot!

Graeme McDowell (Salaries: DraftKings – $7,600, FanDuel – $9,100) – Has only missed one cut this season in 14 starts and even won not long ago at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship. Added a 7th in April at the Valero Texas Open and had a surprising 29th at the PGA Championship last month. Mark him down for another cut made this week with some upside for a top 20.

Use this knowledge to build some awesome lineups this week, and all the best with your contest finishes on Sunday!