After our first dabble into DFS fantasy golf in the St Jude Classic last week we are back for another go for the US Open. Just a reminder that all of our fantasy content on the site is done in relation to our partners at DraftKings.
Profile
With the US Open being arguably the toughest test in golf we are looking for both statistical and character profiles this week. The players most likely to survive this challenge are the ones who don’t get too down when things are going tough, who can enjoy it for what it is and think their way around the golf course.
Statistically this is largely a second shot golf course but I’m focusing more on what goes on around and on the greens. Birdies are going to be rare commodities this week and that is factored in. Here are our three key statistics:
- Scrambling
- Bogey Avoidance
- Strokes Gained Putting
Star men
As ever this section consists of the players who cost $8,000 and higher and there are a few more of them this week than there were last which emphasises the strength of the field.
PICK – Jason Day $12100
This one doesn’t need much elaboration. He is the best player in the world. The best player in the world has already won the USPGA Championship and has been in the top 10 of this tournament in four out of the last five years. Leads the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting and is a world class scrambler. He’s hot right now.
PICK – Jordan Spieth $11900
You probably can’t choose Spieth and Day but there isn’t much between the two. Spieth is the defending champion and has only been beaten by five golfers in the last five majors combined. Spieth is 56 under par for majors since the start of 2015 and is the best putter in the world. He’ll bank the points this week.
PICK – Danny Willett $9600
The Masters champion should be suited to this track. He doesn’t spray it all over the place but is bang on it into and on the greens. Scrambles with the best of them and is underrated with the putter too. Showed at Augusta he has a major temperament on tough tracks. Gives good value to par so another to score well.
AVOID – Rickie Fowler $10700
Oakmont isn’t a course to be playing when your game isn’t in sync and three cuts in his last five outings have been very costly to followers of the American. Don’t be surprised if that is four cuts in six this week. An easy one to swerve on current form.
AVOID – Brooks Koepka $8100
Oakmont doesn’t set up well to Koepka. He’s far too erratic off the tee and doesn’t inspire much confidence around the greens. 89th in scrambling and 67th in bogey avoidance aren’t the statistics of a man who is going to score well this week.
Mid-Range Players
This section is for those priced between $6.500 and $8,000. This is quite a packed section this week so we have a few picks and fades.
PICK – Russell Knox $7600
An ideal pick this week. Has a great temperament and a great game too. Ranks second in bogey avoidance and he’s in the top 20 for scrambling. We saw at Sawgrass how well he putts on fast greens. Bank the pars and escape the mistakes with this solid Scot.
PICK – Marc Leishman $7300
Probably the pick of the field in statistics this week. He ranks well in all the key stats. Fifth in bogey avoidance, 13th in scrambling, 17th in strokes gained putting. Not only is the Australian a genuine contender for the title but he could be racking up plenty of points this week.
PICK – Billy Horschel $7300
The bigger the stage the bigger the performance from this man. He loves it tough too. Has a great mentality for this test and a solid game for it too. Accurate off the tee and never over aggressive. He’s a solid pick at a relatively cheap price this week.
PICK – Luke Donald $6800
Relentless cut maker when he’s at his best. Never one to blow the field away but knows how to hang around and tough it out which is perfect for this week. Ranks in the top 10 for bogey avoidance and scrambling on Tour and is solid from inside 10 feet. He’ll turn the bogeys into pars around here.
PICK – Patton Kizzire $6600
The PGA Tour rookie is worth taking a chance on this week. A dream putter who keeps the ball in play. Isn’t adverse to toughing it out either. Worth including to see how many points his red hot putter can bank in a tough week.
AVOID – Jim Furyk $7700
He’s a pick for some and a fade for others. At this price he’s a fade for us. Jim is a home gamer this week and was second at Oakmont in 2007 but he’s still coming back to form after his wrist injury. This isn’t the place to go searching for form. Better options around than him at this price.
AVOID – Kevin Kisner $7300
Solid player at his best but the form has deserted him completely. Missed three out of the last four cuts and barely featured in the tournament before that either. Don’t go searching for form this week because you won’t find it. Strugglers coming into the tournament will struggle during it. Swerve KK this week.
AVOID – Bernd Wiesberger $6700
We’re actually big fans of the Austrian but at this price? No thank you. Much better on tracks where you have freedom off the tee. He doesn’t have it here so we don’t have him.
Bottom End Players
This section is for the rest of the field who cost less than $6,500. With the strength of the field this week that is still full of handy players.
PICK – Soren Kjeldsen $6400
Showed at Augusta he can handle firm and fast tracks and should be ideal for this. Loving golf at the minute. He’s straight as a die solid around the greens and lags it well on the greens. May not be full of birdies but should make the weekend and won’t be full of dropped shots. Very cheap for his ability.
PICK – Andrew Johnston $6100
Courses don’t come many tougher than Valderrama and ‘Beef’ tamed that beast. He showed all of his qualities that week. Fairways, greens and solid putting but he has a competent short game when he needs it. America don’t know about the beard to be feared yet but they’ll know a little more at the end of this week.
PICK – Thomas Aiken $6100
Hasn’t set the world alight on the PGA Tour yet but another one who will keep the ball in play and with the ball in play he can bank up the points even by making pars. If the putter gets streaky he could score very nicely. Good pick at a cheap price.
PICK – Jaco van Zyl $6000
Solid South African who has no real weakness in his game. Full of belief in himself and isn’t one to go chasing things that aren’t there. Should see it through to the weekend and can be consistent from there.
PICK – Tim Wilkinson $5800
Another one who can make the weekend on the stats alone. 10th in bogey avoidance, fifth in scrambling and 19th in strokes gained putting. This isn’t the longest course off the tee so the Kiwi should go under the radar nicely.
AVOID – Andy Sullivan – $6400
Shades in recent weeks that the game isn’t completely there. Did a masterclass at the BMW PGA and was a bit wayward even on the range. This isn’t a course that is likely to fit so he’s a few hundred bucks too much for our liking.
AVOID – Matteo Manassero $6100
If this was in Europe we’d consider him cheap if at top form but there’s two problems there. It isn’t in Europe and he’s not in top form. His form is coming back but he’s not tip top and not tip top around here is of no interest to us.
We hope that has given you some good pointers to get stuck into the many excellent value games at DraftKings this week. If you want to play DFS sports and fantasy golf in particular but haven’t got an account you can sign up to DraftKings and get a 100% deposit bonus and FREE entry into a tournament when you deposit by clicking the banner below.
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