RADIO
The last tournament was played two weeks ago and now golf is back! Wait, is that a good thing? I really wish there were a little golf break as to really make me miss the game. Unfortunately there is none. Watching golf on weekends will become immensely more difficult with football in the mix. Golf in the winter is also such a tease. Having to watch golfers play in beautiful Napa will only make me want to go out to the range. But no, it is too cold for that. Enough complaining. Onto golf.
The PGA wrap-around season begins this week in Napa, California. It is a six week run where player's who are not so well-known can gain confidence and earn early FedEx Cup points. This is the second year golfers will play on this course, Silverado Country Club North. Last year Sang- Moon Bae won at 15-under (he is now serving his military service in South Korea). Most holes on this course have doglegs and the greens as Johnny Miller says are, "Augusta-like." Last year strokes gained tee to green and scrambling were big factors. The field surprisingly has several notables, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Hideki Matusyama, Brooks Koepka, and Robert Streb.
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PGA DFS Advice – Stats To Look At
Stats are from last season
-Driving Accuracy
-Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green
-Strokes Gained Putting
-Scrambling
PGA DFS High-Priced DraftKings Picks ($9,000-$12,800)
Hideki Matsuyama $10,800
-Driving Distance: 57
-Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green: 8
-Strokes Gained Putting: 85
-Scrambling: 30
-2014 Result: T3rd
Matsuyama had a very good President's Cup showing, going 2-1-1 in match play. He played all four FedEx Cup playoff events, including a top ten finish at the BMW. His third place finish last year on this course will give him the confidence to win the Frys.com Open this year.
Tony Finau $9,200
-Driving Distance: 7
-Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green: 34
-Strokes Gained Putting: 109
-Scrambling: 149
-2014 Result: T12th
Finau had a very impressive rookie campaign. In the two majors he played, U.S. Open and PGA, he finished T14th and T10th, respectively. Down the stretch of those majors he messed up on a couple of holes to eliminate himself from the running. With his rookie year now over, look for Finau to have enough confidence and poise to play much better.
PGA DFS Mid-Priced DraftKings Picks ($7,500-$8,900)
Daniel Berger $8,900
-Driving Distance: 18
-Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green: 32
-Strokes Gained Putting: 142
-Scrambling: 59
-2014 Result: MC
Berger came from nowhere to become the hottest player on tour. He missed consecutive cuts at the PGA, Wyndham and Barclays, then somehow finished T12th at the Deutsche Bank and Tour Championships with a runner-up finish in between those at the BMW. Berger must be going in to this tournament with a ton of confidence. Don't let the missed cut last year question your pick of him. I expect a top 15 showing from Berger.
Steven Bowditch $8,200
-Driving Distance: 18
-Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green: 76
-Strokes Gained Putting: 66
-Scrambling: 3
-2014 Result: 2
Bryce Molder $7,500
Driving Distance: 169
-Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green: 152
-Strokes Gained Putting: 14
-Scrambling: 20
-2014 Result: T3rd
I like both of these players. With only one year of stats on this course, it is hard to find a running theme. I think the safest method is to choose players who played well last year. They are accustomed to the course and know the ins and outs. Bowditch also beat Jimmy Walker in singles play at the Presidents Cup.
PGA DFS Low-Priced DraftKings Picks ($5,000- $7,400)
Jim Herman $7,200
-Driving Distance: 62
-Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green: 51
-Strokes Gained Putting: 118
-Scrambling: 118
-2014 Result: MC
Another mainstay pick in my column. I can only remember picking him and being disappointed one time of the many last season. That was at the Deutsche Bank Championship where he was cut. Prior to that Herman had top 20 finishes at the Wyndham and Barclays. I think he will regain his form on this course and prove me right.
Ollie Schniederjans $6,800
-2014 Result: DNP
His stats cannot be used because he did not play in enough tournament to rank him. If you've read my column before, you probably came across this crazy name. He is one of my favorite golfers, partly because he doesn't wear a hat, and his name is great. He had an out-of-nowhere T12th place finish at the British Open this past year. If there's a name to watch this season it's his.
Jhonattan Vegas $5,600
-Driving Distance: 27
-Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green: 144
-Strokes Gained Putting: 83
-Scrambling: 89
-2014 Result: MC
Picking a player this cheap is troublesome to begin with. I would highly advise of not going below Vegas, but would also recommend choosing a more balanced lineup. Vegas should be picked only if you need him to save salary. I really like how he can drive the ball past the dog legs, but besides that he is at best a flier.
