Author: Matt Rumack
Join AccuScore now using the code SALE50 for $50 off an annual All-Sports premium membership. For all others this is $349, but as you are reading this article, it is only $299... Join Today
on Sunday for his first major victory. At 16 under par, Koepka tied Rory McIlroy’s U.S Open record for most shots under par. Koepka simply overpowers golf courses and his putter was rock-solid on Sunday. Everyone knew Koepka had the ability to win on the biggest stage, it was just a matter of him staying consistent for four days. It all came together for him this week, and there was nothing anyone else could do about it. I heard some complaints about how low everyone was going, and that this was a crappy U.S Open because of that. Yes, the conditions were softer than usual, and a generally windy venue had very little wind this week, but there’s not a lot the USGA can do about that. When you have a 670-yard par 5 that Justin Thomas can hit with a pair of 3-woods, I think you just have to tip your hat to the players who played unbelievable this week. Or start making 9,000 yard courses, I guess.
Justin Thomas is boom or bust but has a real shot at winning the Travelers Championship. Photo Credit: Khris Hale/Icon Sportswire
The Travelers Championship is our post U.S Open event this week, hosted in Cromwell, Connecticut. Normally, you’d expect the week after a major to be a very mediocre field with few recognizable names. Surprisingly, we have a nice group of guys to choose from at the top. Three of the top six golfers will tee it up this week. Those three would be Rory McIlroy (3), Jason Day (4), and Jordan Spieth (6). Joining them from the Top 50 are Justin Thomas (12), Paul Casey (16), Patrick Reed (17), Brian Harman (27), Daniel Berger (28), Brandt Snedeker (32), Marc Leishman (37), Bubba Watson (40), Russell Knox (41), Emiliano Grillo (42), Wesley Bryan (43), and Charley Hoffman (49). That’s a pretty good crop of players to choose from. Aside from those guys there are some more trendy picks to consider such as Tony Finau, William McGirt, Brendan Steele, Adam Hadwin, and Webb Simpson.
TPC River Highlands is another Pete Dye designed course. Playing at 6,841 yards this week, driving distance is irrelevant as every player has the ability to hit mid-iron or less into greens all day. Instead of driving distance, value good drive percentage. Guys will tee up with everything from iron to driver, so players who can keep the ball in playable position off the tee will have a lot of good looks at the green. Eight of TPC River Highlands’ ten par 4s play between 400-450 yards. Players who score well from that distance can get in a zone. The 17th and 18th are 420 and 444 yards, so the most important shots will be on that length of hole.
The bent grass greens at TPC River Highlands are some of the slowest on Tour. Slower greens generally even the field out a bit, so strokes gained: putting, isn’t as important as last week. Instead, put great value on strokes gained: approach and greens in regulation. With most of the par 4s playing between 400-450 yards and two par 3s playing between 150-175 yards, there should be a number of shots in that range. Players who rank high in approach proximity from 150-175 yards will be able to hit in from that distance almost anytime they want. If the player you choose averages over 300 on their drivers, then proximity from 125-150 yards may be more relevant. TPC River Highlands has 119 bunkers scattered about the course, so a player who fares well out of bunkers is necessary to preserve the birdies they’ve gathered. Finally, look at players who play well on Pete Dye designed courses, or who’ve played well at this event in the past; feeling comfortable at a course can get a struggling player out of a slump.
Recent Champions
2012: Marc Leishman
2013: Ken Duke
2014: Kevin Streelman
2015: Bubba Watson
2016: Russell Knox
DFS Golf Picks for The Travelers Championship
Justin Thomas ($10,200) Justin Thomas showed exactly why I called him a boom or bust pick last week with his weekend performance. He shot an incredible nine-under 63 on Saturday setting a U.S Open record for score under par in a round, followed by the almost inevitable letdown (75) on Sunday. Still T-9 was a very good finish for him, even with the tough finish on Sunday. Thomas is just a 24-year-old so the ups and downs, especially at Majors are all part of the growing process. Winning a major at 24 is extremely rare. Winning something like the Traveler’s Championship should be more his speed. He finished T-3 here last year, so he has the blueprint to this course. Striking it well at TPC River Highlands will be rewarded. All you have to do is watch Thomas’ two shots on the 15th and 18th on Saturday to know this guy is one of the greatest ball strikers in the world already. He smashed two 3-woods from 288 and 299 yards that wound up a combined 15 or so feet. This guy is unbelievable when he turns it on.
Marc Leishman ($9,300) Leishman was another pick of mine last week who had a good three days and a tough fourth. Despite the $2,600 increase, I think he’s worth the pick again this week for a number of reasons. He’s been rock-solid steady this year, only missing one cut since February. He won this tournament in 2012, and he’s solid in all the ball-striking categories. Leishman is Top 40 in the field in SG: Approach, GIR, approach proximity:125-150 yards, and sand save percentage.
Kyle Stanley ($8,600) If it’s a ball-strikers course, then it’s a Kyle Stanley type of course. Stanley is No. 2 on tour in Good Drive percentage at 87.5. That’s seven out of eight drives that he puts in good enough position to hit the green. From there he ranks fifth in SG: Approach and hits the second-most greens on Tour. The slow greens should help Kyle do better than he usually does relative to the field. If he has a regular ball-striking week and can actually gain on the field putting, he could be a great value even in the mid-8,000s.
Charley Hoffman ($7,300) This price seems too low for Hoffman. He’s playing well this year with three Top 10s, no missed cuts since the Heritage, and he has a good recent history here, finishing 25th in 2016. I’m not so sure why the disrespect regarding his price after he just shot every round under par at the U.S Open, but I’ll happily take him at $7,300. Hoffman is very strong tee-to-green, gaining nearly a shot per round. He’s one of the best in the field from 150-175 yards, and ranks Top 50 in the field in SG: Approach and GIR.
Emiliano Grillo ($7,200) Emiliano Grillo is coming off a tough week at the U.S Open. You’d think that his ownership would be low because of the disappointing play last week, but this is an extremely low price for him, especially in a mid-tier event, so he will probably still be a popular pick. My choice of Grillo stems from the same principle as my Stanley pick. If it’s a course where the putting disparity could be a little closer, it suits the weaker putters. Grillo has been known to be a weak putter and a gifted ball striker. Recently, he’s actually gained enough strokes on the greens to move from negative to positive in the strokes-gained: putting category. He is Top 40 in the field in Good Drive percentage, SG: Approach, and GIR. I expect him to bounce back from his poor performance at Erin Hills.
Webb Simpson ($6,900) Once again, I’m intrigued that Webb Simpson’s price is what it is. Yes, he’s not at the level he was at back in the early part of the decade, but he’s still a major winner, who seems to be getting back on track this season. Simpson ranks 11th on Tour in SG: Approach, and 5th on tour in sand save percentage. TPC River Highlands has numerous bunkers to contend with so even when he misses the green which is rare (66.7%), his smooth bunker game should pick him up. 175 yards and in is Webb’s game, and that should be the distance all week long. Any shot inside 175 yards, he ranks between fifth and 44th on Tour in proximity, so he should be feeling comfortable over every approach shot this week.
Also consider:
Patrick Reed ($9,500)
Brandt Snedeker ($9,400
Bubba Watson ($8,400)
Russell Knox ($7,800)
Jamie Lovemark ($7,700)
Byeong Hun-An ($7,100)
Listen to the only FREE 24/7 Fantasy Sports Radio channel on the go! Get the FNTSY Sports Radio Network app now in the iTunes store or on Google Play. Listen to Cincotta and Engel, the RotoExperts in the Morning, Fantasy Best Friends Forever and the award-winning On Target. Plus a whole lot more from all of your Fantasy favorites for FREE!
