Author: Dom Cintorino
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are great tools to get a gauge for which types of players to target, golf can still be very unpredictable. While you do need to take some players that will be very popular, I am going to look at some value plays on DraftKings might be overlooked.
Many will lock Sony Open favorite, Jordan Spieth, into their lineups and go from there. While I have nothing against Spieth, his price tag of $12,000 will limit your other lineup choices. Another popular pick this week is going to be Brian Harman at $10,600. Being in the mix with a solo third finish this past weekend has him fresh in everyone’s mind. Harman is one player I can’t recommend paying over $10,000 for. I will be avoiding him at all costs.
Season-long Fantasy Golf owners should grab Andrew Landry now. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Looking at the top of the board, the most intriguing name is Daniel Berger at $8,700, with players like Cam Smith, Webb Simpson, and Charles Howell priced ahead of him. The 24-year-old is primed for a breakout year. Why can’t it start here? He’s missed a total of nine cuts in the past two seasons (in 55 starts) yet only has two wins, both at the same course. I will be starting most of my teams with Daniel Berger.
Another player who seems underpriced is Emiliano Grillo ($7,900). After a “down” 2017 season in which he failed to have a single Top 5 finish, Grillio is off most radars. However, I still find him as a very interesting DraftKings play as he only missed five cuts last season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in contention on Sunday.
Since DraftKings shows the number of cuts each player has made so far in the season, most will key in on these numbers as well. One golfer I find interesting, even though he missed all five cuts in the fall, is Harris English. Even though this is a risky, unconventional play, he cannot hurt you at only $6,800. I know there are other options in this range that had better luck in the fall, but he can’t miss every cut, can he?
On the other hand, there are some golfers who got off to a hot start in the fall but will still not be very popular names. Jason Kokrak and Luke List, both priced at $7,500, each made four of their five cuts this fall. With popular plays such as Gary Woodland and Peter Uihlein priced in a similar range, List and Kokrak will be easy to overlook. I like finding a spot in DraftKings pricing near the chalk. It makes players surrounding the chalk that much easier to go under-owned. Kokrak and List are both in a good spot for tournaments and both have the ability to contend.
Mulligans of the Week
For those of you in season-long Fantasy golf leagues, I will be doing this section for every tournament. The “mulligans of the week” will include players who might be available in your league that could potentially be free agents. For the most part these players are longshots, however, they can provide value throughout the season. I will be focusing on high volume players who will be able to make some cuts throughout the year. Obviously, making the cut is critical in Fantasy Golf. The more opportunities your players have, the higher their floor will be. In a league in which total cuts count, it is probably best to be taking players that you know are going to play 25-plus events.
The first few weeks will be the time to add these mulligans. Everyone who is going to be playing in lots of tournaments will be exposed in these upcoming tournaments. Even if you are not familiar with some of these names, it doesn’t hurt to add some golfers early just to be safe. Every season, it seems as if the rookies in the Sony Open field go on to play at high volumes. One would think they are just playing in this as a little vacation in Hawaii, but I don’t think that is the case. On that note, here are some Mulligans for the Sony Open:
Andrew Landry – Most remember Landry for his T15 finish in the 2016 US Open. Even though he had a rough Sunday, he shocked the golf world with a great showing in the final group. However, Landry is a player who will not be available for very long. He is currently second in the reshuffle, and he’s had respectable fall. In his first five tournaments on the Tour thus far, he has made three cuts, two of which resulted in Top 10s. Jump on Andrew Landry now, because if he carries his form over from the Web.com Tour a season ago, he will be a rock-solid addition to your team.
Richy Werenski – I cannot really get a read on Werenski. It feels as if he should be rostered in every league, depending on the size of the league, but I’m not sure where his upside lies. He played in 26 tournaments last season and recorded three Top 10 finishes. The first time most Fantasy Golf owners were exposed to him was probably his T2 finish at The Barracuda in August. I’m not saying that he is a lock for multiple Top 10s this year, but he should play in enough events to be worth a roster spot and make some cuts.
