RADIO
Joe Nicely breaks down the FanDuel slate for the 2021 3M Open, providing information of not only who will come into the week under-owned but also who should be avoided for your lineups.
Hello RotoBaller PGA crew! It's great to be back with you guys and I appreciate you joining us here at RotoBaller for the 3M Open!
In this article we'll discuss some of the standout PGA DFS plays available on FanDuel for the 2021 3M Open. While it's impossible to hit on every player, we'll touch on some different plays across all price ranges, breaking the groups down into "High", "Mid", and "Low" price options that are worth considering.
Like always, the purpose of this piece is to help you put together your optimal daily fantasy golf lineups for FanDuel, whether that be from a GPP perspective or a cash-game mentality. Be sure to also read all of our other top-notch weekly PGA DFS and betting articles to help you win big!
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2021 3M Open - PGA DFS Overview
TPC Twin Cities
7,483 Yards - Par 71 - Greens: Bentgrass - Designer: Arnold Palmer
It seems like we've been here several times over the last few weeks...a golf course that will produce TONS of birdies. TPC Twin Cities is, like other TPC facilities, geared towards exciting, fan-friendly golf and while that's not a bad thing for fans, it does make things difficult from a DFS perspective, as basically anyone in the field that gets hot with the putter and the irons over four days can win this event.
As it is seemingly every week, Approach play is paramount at TPC Twin Cities, as both 3M winners, Matt Wolff & Michael Thompson, gained over seven strokes with their irons en route to their respective victories in Minnesota. These fairways are massively wide, which does make me bump up driving distance a notch this week, though length isn't totally necessary for success. While we're likely to see a winning score of at least 20-under par this week, there are some big numbers lurking with water in play on 14 holes.
For an in-depth breakdown of this week's course, check out RotoBaller's PGA Premium Course Breakdown by Josh Bennett!
Let's Look At The Stats
| Stat | TPC Twin Cities | Tour Average |
| Driving Distance | 289 | 282 |
| Driving Accuracy | 64% | 62% |
| GIR Percentage | 73% | 65% |
| Scrambling Percentage | 55% | 57% |
| Average Three-Putts Per Round | 0.42 | 0.55 |
Key Stats
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- Proximity: 175-200 Yards
- Driving Distance
- Birdies or Better Gained
- Overall Proximity
- Par-5 Scoring
Fantasy Golf Lineup Picks for FanDuel (PGA DFS)
We have tons of great weekly PGA articles, DFS analysis, tools and DFS advice. Be sure to read our other fantastic articles regarding this week's event including DFS lineup picks for DraftKings/FanDuel, betting advice and DFS prop picks.
High-Priced FanDuel DFS Plays
Dustin Johnson ($12,200)
You can never really count out Dustin Johnson in any field, but that's especially the case in a field such as this week's 3M Open. Johnson is simply a different class of player than anyone that will be teeing it up in Minnesota this week and his "winnability" has been demonstrated repeatedly over the years. He logged a WD in last year's 3M after dropping multiple balls in the water to end his first round with a score of 78 and then proceeded to go on a historic run over the following months. Maybe he's looking for a little redemption this year?
Tony Finau ($11,500)
In a vacuum, I'd be interested in Louis Oosthuizen here, but I'm still not 100% sure that we don't have a WD incoming from the South African that just lost a heartbreaker at the Open last week. Speaking of the Open, it was Tony Finau's best outing in quite some time. Finau managed a T15 at Royal St. George's, a result that was a bit surprising considering he'd lost strokes T2G and missed the cut in each of his last two starts in the U.S.. Hopefully, it's a sign that he's back on track as he heads to a TPC Twin Cities layout on which he's went T3-T23 in a pair of 3M appearances. The recent form isn't good, but if we take a long-term view of Finau's stats he ranks second in this week's field in SG: T2G and sixth in Birdies or Better Gained.
Cameron Tringale ($10,900)
Cameron Tringale has played excellent golf throughout 2021, making the cut in 13 of 17 starts, while posting a top-five with a pair of top-10s among those. He's ranked ninth in this week's field in SG: Total over the last 24 rounds. He's also been sharp in two prior starts at TPC Twin Cities, recording a T3 last year and a T42 in 2019. I'm honestly not in love with this price tag, but if it depresses his ownership he'll be an interesting GPP option.
Matthew Wolff ($10,200)
Since its inaugural edition in 2019, the young star has gained more total strokes in the 3M than anyone (+22.04) and by following up his 2019 win with a T12 last year he demonstrated that he certainly has an affinity for TPC Twin Cities. If you follow golf at all then you know this has been a strange year for Wolff, as he elected to step away from the game for almost four months. The 22-year-old reminded us just how explosive he could be when he finally did return for the U.S. Open and logged a T15. Wolff racked up a Birdie Or Better total of 17 at Torrey Pines, a total that was tied for the most in the field. He's now gained strokes T2G in two of his three starts since returning to golf and he heads to the 3M rested and relaxed after electing to skip the Open last week. Yes, he's an extremely unpredictable player, but Wolff's elite course history suggests he warrants serious DFS consideration on this spotty slate.
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Mid-Priced FanDuel DFS Plays
Emiliano Grillo ($9,900)
In true Emiliano Grillo fashion, he logged an impressive T12 at the Open Championship fresh off a missed cut at the lowly Rocket Mortgage. Basically...we never know what we're gonna get with the Argentine golfer, which puts him in the "GPP Only" category for me. However, there's some undeniable explosiveness to his game. Grillo is a superb ball striker that grades out first in this 3M field in SG: Approach over the last 24 rounds. He also ranks third in overall Proximity, while standing first (150-175 yards) and 23rd (175-200 yards) in Proximity from two of our key target ranges. The putter is a constant mystery, but Bent is the only surface on which he actually gains strokes putting on average, and he posted a T3 in last year's 3M.
Maverick McNealy ($9,900)
Simply a ride-the-hot-hand play here with Mav McNealy, a young player that's finally finding a level of comfort on the PGA Tour after being a highly-touted amateur prospect. McNealy heads to Minnesota on the heels of four consecutive made cuts with three top-25 finishes among those. Confidence can be an important aspect for a young player and the Stanford alum brings plenty of positive momentum to a TPC Twin Cities layout that should be a nice fit for him. He grades out ninth in the field in Birdies or Better Gained and 30th in Driving Distance over his last 24 rounds.
Hank Lebioda ($9,700)
Speaking of hot players, Hank Lebioda rolls into the 3M as one of the hottest on the PGA Tour. Yep, it sounds pretty crazy if you say it out loud, but Hammerin' Hank has unquestionably been dazzling as of late. The little-known lefty has went T5-T4-T8 over his last three starts on the PGA Tour on the strength of overall excellence that helps him to grade out second in this week's field in SG: Total over the last 24 rounds. He brings that white-hot form to a TPC Twin Cities layout on which he's played well in his two previous 3M appearances.
Doug Ghim ($9,100)
A lot of our Emiliano Grillo rules also apply to Doug Ghim, a player that's a talented ball striker and horrendous putter. Ghim checks all the approach boxes we're looking for this week - sixth in overall Proximity and first from the key 175-200 yard range - but we're simply always at the mercy of what he does - or doesn't do - with the flatstick. He managed to log a T18 in last year's 3M and is also coming in off an encouraging T18 outing at the John Deere Classic in his last start. I won't go near him in cash games, but can't resist in large-field GPP formats.
Low-Priced FanDuel DFS Players
Charles Howell III ($8,400)
This selection contains zero excitement, but sometimes boring can be effective. Charles Howell III has made a whole bunch of money in his career in basically a handful of select tournaments. In other words, he plays well repeatedly on the same golf courses and collects big paychecks for doing so. TPC Twin Cities is proving to be one of those ATM spots for the veteran, as CH3 has went T3-T23 over his two 3M starts. He also comes in off a top-25 at the John Deere Classic in what was his best SG: T2G performance since March.
Jhonattan Vegas ($8,300)
Vegas fits into the same mold as several of the players I'm targeting this week...explosive, but volatile. He's looked sharp over the last couple of months and notched a T11 in his most recent start at the John Deere, an event in which he gained an eye-opening FIVE strokes on Approach. It shouldn't be surprising, as Vegas has gained strokes T2G in nine of his last 10 starts dating back to March, a feat that helps him to grade out second in the field in SG: Ball Striking over the last 24 rounds. He's no stranger to making birdies and stands 17th in Birdies or Better Gained. We're getting a shot at tons of upside for a mere $8.3k. I'm in.
Pat Perez ($8,000)
On a salary scale with plenty of bloated price tags, there are also some surprisingly good values. Pat Perez sticks out as one of the best salary savers of the week at just $8k. Perez has quietly put together a solid stretch of results that includes a T14 at the Rocket Mortgage and a T10 at Palmetto over his last four starts. The downside? He's missed the cut in those other two starts. However, he's a player that ranks eighth in Birdies or Better Gained over his last 24 rounds and grades out fifth in Proximity from the key 175-200 yard bucket.
Troy Merritt ($7,900)
We'll close out this week with a little hometown flavor, as Troy Merritt comes in with tons of Minnesota ties. Merritt played his high school golf in Minny and also attended Winona State University for a time. He's missed the cut in his last two starts, but I'm willing to give him a pass on both, as last week was the Open and two weeks ago at the John Deere he was coming off a gutting playoff loss at the Rocket Mortgage. Merritt logged a T7 in the 2019 version of the 3M and this presents a great opportunity for him to get back on track. Prior to his last two starts he'd made seven of eight cuts with three top-10s in addition to the aforementioned runner-up result in Detroit. He feels like a sneaky-good value on this slate.
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