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Hello RotoBaller PGA crew! It's great to be back with you guys and I appreciate you joining us here at RotoBaller for your PGA DFS research. This week we head to one of the most fun stops on the PGA Tour schedule for the WM Phoenix Open. Can't wait to dive in!
In this article, we'll discuss some of the standout PGA DFS plays available on FanDuel for the WM Phoenix 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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WM Phoenix Open - PGA DFS Overview
The Course: TPC Scottsdale
Par 71 - 7,261 Yards, Greens: TifEagle (Overseed) w/ Bent & Poa mix, Designed By: Tom Weiskopf & Jay Moorish
A lot will be made of the famous Par-3 16th hole this week, and rightfully so, as it's unlike any other hole we see on the PGA Tour, but players will have to tame the other 17 holes at TPC Scottsdale if they want to win this week. The Stadium Course isn't difficult by PGA Tour standards and the winning score in each of the last five years has been between 17 and 19-under par with the 36-hole cut line normally falling around Even par.
Players will need to take advantage of three gettable Par-5s, as well as the driveable Par-4 17th hole, so distance is a nice bonus this week. Perhaps more important than distance is iron play...strokes gained on approach are a consistent trait of players that fare well in Phoenix, as four of the last five winners of this event have finished inside the top-two in SG: Approach for the week. We have a nice sample size of course history to draw from this week and I feel comfortable making strong iron play with good proximity numbers my top priority for this event as I narrow down my potential player pool.
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 Scottsdale | Tour Average |
| Driving Distance | 294 | 282 |
| Driving Accuracy | 59% | 62% |
| GIR Percentage | 67% | 65% |
| Scrambling Percentage | 59% | 57% |
| Average Three-Putts Per Round | 0.53 | 0.55 |
Key Stats
- SG: Approach
- SG: T2G
- Total Proximity
- Proximity (150-175 Yards)
- Par-4 Efficiency
- Par-5 Birdies or Better Gained
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
Jon Rahm ($12,100)
Jon Rahm is an elite DFS option every time he tees it up. That's especially true this week, as the world's current No. 1 player has a special connection with the WM Phoenix Open. An Arizona State University alum, the Scottsdale area has become a second home for the Spaniard and is where he currently resides with his family. Rahm teed it up in the WMPO while still an amateur at ASU and logged a head-turning T5. He's never really looked back, as he's never finished worse than T16 over six starts in this event and has amassed a career WMPO scoring average of 68.17.
Rahm has yet to find the winner's circle in 2022 but has been firmly in the mix in two of his three starts this year, ultimately settling for a runner-up finish at the Sentry (despite finishing the week at 33-under par) and a T3 at the Farmers (he missed a playoff by one stroke). The Spaniard has, unsurprisingly, been fantastic statistically to this point, gaining strokes T2G, OTT, on Approach, and Putting in each of his three starts this year.
Jordan Spieth ($11,600)
The WM Phoenix Open marked a true turning point for Jordan Spieth last year, as his electrifying third-round 61 sent golf fans into a frenzy and propelled him to a 2021 "Comeback Tour". His eventual T4 result last year marked the third top-10 of his career at TPC Scottsdale.
The Texan returns the WMPO carrying tons of positive momentum from his runner-up performance in last week's AT&T. Spieth led the field in SG: Approach (+5.8) for the week and it feels like a significant stat, as sharp iron play has always been a true harbinger of success for him. He's a streaky player that is capable of winning - or posting very high finishes - in bunches and I'm willing to ride the good mojo this week.
Hideki Matsuyama ($11,500)
If you're looking for a "Course Horse" this week, Hideki Matsuyama is your man. The Japanese star is a two-time WM Phoenix Open champion (2016 & '17) and has accrued a 67.97 scoring average over eight career starts in this event. Iron play is critical to success at TPC Scottsdale, as four of the last five WMPO winners have finished top-two in SG: Approach during the week of their victories. That bodes well for Matsuyama, a player that is a genius with the irons. He's gained strokes on Approach in six of seven starts in the new 2021-22 season and has registered two victories since October (ZOZO Championship & Sony Open). An in-form Hideki should be a scary thing for the rest of the field this week.
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Mid-Priced FanDuel DFS Plays
Russell Henley ($9,900)
It would have been understandable for Russell Henley to have a hangover after a tough loss to Hideki Matsuyama at the Sony Open. However, after falling to Matsuyama in a playoff at Waialae, Henley rebounded nicely with a T14 showing at the AmEx the following week in an event where he's historically struggled. It all adds up to me being higher-than-expected on the UGA alum's prospects this week in Phoenix.
Henley's course history is a little rocky, though we must take into account that his game has been through lots of ups and downs over the last five or so years. When he's been in good form, he's played well at TPC Scottsdale, notching three top-16 results over six career WMPO starts. Iron play is of huge importance to me this week and Henley's ball-striking has been off-the-charts good for an extended period of time, as he grades out second in this elite field in SG: Approach over his last 50 rounds. He's gained a combined 10.1 strokes on Approach over his two 2022 starts.
Luke List ($9,600)
Success can be a funny thing on the PGA Tour. Sometimes "the floodgates open" for a player after their first victory (see: Jason Kokrak) and sometimes they fall off the face of the map (see: a bunch of guys). So, it will be interesting to see how Luke List handles success, as he'll be making his first start since a breakthrough victory at the Farmers Insurance Open two weeks ago.
Sure, there's the possibility of a hangover for List in this start, but if we go strictly by the numbers, he's a terrific play. The Vandy product has been tremendous from tee to green, both during the Farmers and in weeks prior. He ranks FIRST in this elite field in SG: T2G over the last 24 rounds and has gained strokes on Approach in each of his last four starts.
Low-Priced FanDuel DFS Players
Keith Mitchell ($8,800)
One of the benefits of a really strong field such as this week's WMPO is that we can find some real quality options at the low end of the salary scale. One of my favorite sub-$9k plays is Keith Mitchell, a player that's off to a nice start in 2022. Mitchell is coming in off a T12 in the AT&T and also has a T7 at the Sony on his new year's resume.
He grades out third in this stout field in both SG: OTT and in Bogey Avoidance over his last 12 measured rounds, traits that should serve him well this week at TPC Scottsdale. Mitchell does have a T16 on his WMPO resume (2020) and has the type of upside that we're always looking for when searching for viable salary savers.
Nick Taylor ($7,800)
I was all-in on Nick Taylor last week and he paid off with a strong T14 outing at Pebble Beach. While TPC Scottsdale isn't as great a fit for Taylor - as evidenced by his checkered WMPO track record - I'm willing to stay onboard the train at this too-cheap $7.8k price point. The Canadian grades out 27th in this week's field in SG: T2G over his last 12 rounds, gaining an average of 1.8 strokes in that statistical category over his last five tournaments, while also making the cut in all five.
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