3 months ago2023 Farmers Insurance Open champion Max Homa has every reason to like his chances again just 12 months later. He's recorded nine consecutive top-15 finishes around the world over the last six months, he started the new year with the best tee-to-green performance he's logged since last March's Arnold Palmer Invitational, and he's back on a putting surface on which he's won four of his six career PGA Tour titles. Homa's California track record is one of the more remarkable runs currently going in the sport -- four wins and six additional top-10s over the last four seasons -- and with this year's Farmers Open field devoid of its usual top dog (Jon Rahm), Homa's expectations are as high as they've ever been around Torrey Pines.
--Ian McNeill - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
3 months agoChris Gotterup has generated plenty of hype over the last several years and is looking to become a household name in his first year on the PGA Tour. The 24-year-old certainly has the pedigree to do so; in his final year of college at the University of Oklahoma, Gotterup won both the Fred Haskins Award and the Jack Nicklaus Award as the nation's top collegiate golfer. Since then, he's littered the Korn Ferry Tour leaderboards with top-25 finishes week-in and week-out. He has also made the cut in nine of his 14 career PGA Tour starts, highlighted by a T4 at the John Deere Classic in 2022 where he averaged 335 yards per tee shot. Gotterup's driving distance and clubhead speed should be a huge differentiator for him this week, and fantasy managers should consider getting exposure to him at his mere $6,500 price tag on DraftKings.
--Ryan HickeySource: PGA Tour
3 months agoDavis Thompson may be a tempting option for fantasy managers this week given his $7,200 price tag on DraftKings. The 24-year-old Georgia Bulldog is off to a solid start in his second PGA Tour season, having made the cut in all seven of his starts and picking up three top-25 finishes during that span. Unfortunately, Thompson does not appear to be a great course fit for Torrey Pines. While he does excel in driving accuracy and approach play from 200+ yards, he ranks 74th in driving distance, 68th in overall approach play, 75th in scrambling, and almost dead last in putting on Poa annua over the last 36 rounds. In his only start here last year, he lost over four strokes around-the-green and over three strokes putting en route to a T69 finish. Thompson may not have the upside fantasy managers are seeking at this week's Farmers Insurance Open.
--Ryan HickeySource: PGA Tour
3 months agoDespite coming off back-to-back missed cuts, Justin Suh may be a golfer for fantasy managers to target this week. The second-year PGA Tour pro played solid golf in the fall swing, finishing the 2023 calendar year with five-straight made cuts, including a T10 at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP and a fourth-place finish at the World Wide Technology Championship. His skill set should lead to a solid showing at Torrey Pines, just as it did with his 20th-place finish at this event last year. He's one of the best total drivers of the ball in the field, and he's the 10th-best putter on Poa annua over the last 36 rounds. Fantasy managers looking for value plays with high-upside in the low-$7,000 range on DraftKings would be wise to get their fair share of Suh this week.
--Ryan HickeySource: PGA Tour
3 months agoChristiaan Bezuidenhout was on a mission at The American Express last week, shooting back-to-back 65s on Saturday and Sunday and almost picking up his first PGA Tour win. That runner-up finish comes on the heels of excellent form in recent DP World Tour events, namely a T9 at the Joburg Open, a T17 at the South African Open Championship, and a solo-third finish at the Alfred Dunhill Championship to close out 2023. The 29-year-old South African will not fit the bomber narrative this week, but he looks to be a solid course fit otherwise. Over the last 36 rounds, Bezuidenhout ranks inside of the top 40 golfers in a number of key metrics, including approach play, around-the-green play, bogey avoidance, putting on Poa annua, and par 5 scoring. Fantasy managers should roster Bezuidenhout with confidence this week.
--Ryan HickeySource: PGA Tour
3 months agoTyler Duncan has been a solid value play for fantasy managers as of late, but he is likely in for a tough week at the Farmers Insurance Open. The 34-year-old Purdue University alum has only missed the cut once in his last six starts, a stretch of golf that has included three top-20 finishes, all of which he was priced in the $6,000-range on DraftKings. Unfortunately, his skill set does not appear to line up well for Torrey Pines. Over his last 36 rounds, Duncan ranks 81st in driving distance, 123rd in approach play, and 111th in putting on Poa annua. He has also missed the cut in all four of his starts on this course. Fantasy managers should not be tempted by Duncan's recent form at the Farmers Insurance Open.
--Ryan HickeySource: PGA Tour
3 months agoLuke List won at Torrey Pines two years ago in a playoff over Will Zalatoris. The American golfer did not do quite so well last year and did struggle early in 2023. He closed well but it does appear List is not having an easy start to 2024. Finishing 22nd and 66th in his first two tournaments does not inspire much confidence. Torrey Pines values good approaches and clutch putting. List does seem to putt above average in San Diego compared to his season average of 99th (-0.384 strokes gained) in putting. List is an up and down golfer (11 missed cuts in 2023) but when he is on, he can contend.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
3 months agoTaylor Montgomery did not have the best of weeks at The American Express (T61). However, hope springs eternal for the American golfer. Montgomery was in contention after two rounds last year at the Farmers Insurance Open. Then things went bust after back-to-back 75s. Can Montgomery put four rounds together in San Diego? With expected tranquil conditions from Thursday on, the fortunes for Montgomery rise a little. This week could be interesting for Montgomery.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
3 months agoKeegan Bradley enjoyed quite a resurgence last year with two victories. The American golfer nearly won last year at Torrey Pines. He lost in a playoff with Max Homa. However, that spurred Bradley on and he has not looked back. Bradley did not always have the best metrics but he wound up 20th in putting at 0.447 strokes gained. It will be interesting to see how the golfer fares in a comfortable surrounding. If Bradley gets off to a better start, he very well has a chance to win in San Diego. His 70-73 was a big reason why he had to battle uphill so hard. The Sony could be a nice springboard after all.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
3 months agoSepp Straka has seemingly improved every time he plays at Torrey Pines. Now last season saw the Austrian golfer not play at the Farmers Insurance Open. However, the year before he finished a solid 16th. Straka has two wins in his PGA Tour career. Also, he was a solid 12th at The Sentry earlier this month. Typically, Torrey Pines is not a birdie-laden course. However, expect improving conditions on Thursday into the weekend. That might boost Straka's fortunes a little and his putting.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
3 months agoCollin Morikawa came a few strokes from winning The Sentry earlier this month. The American golfer settled for a top-5 finish. Last year saw Morikawa follow up a runner-up in Hawaii with a third-place result at the Farmers Insurance Open. This tournament starts on Wednesday and it seems like Morikawa enjoys this. Torrey Pines will be interesting as temperatures and conditions expect to improve. Do not expect a bevy of birdies but a few more than last year. If Morikawa makes a few putts then look out. His approach game to the green is fourth-best on tour early in 2024.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
3 months agoJustin Suh missed the cut at last week's Sony Open and will hope to bounce back this week when he tees it up at The American Express. This will mark his second appearance at The American Express and he will hope to best last year's finish of T54 where he ranked 14th in driving accuracy and 18th in strokes gained with his putter. Suh will be tough to trust in DFS lineups this week.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
3 months agoChristiaan Bezuidenhout is set to make his first start of the 2024 PGA Tour season. He last played in the Alfred Dunhill Championship on the DP World Tour where he finished third. His last three appearances of 2023 were on the DP World Tour and he finished in the top-25 in all three of those appearances. At last year's edition of The American Express, Bezuidenhout finished T11 where he finished ninth in driving accuracy and 15h in total strokes gained. Bezuidenhout is an intriguing play for DFS lineups this week.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
3 months agoRickie Fowler has just one top-20 finish in his last seven starts dating back to 2023. He opened the season at the Sentry, finishing 56th in the 59 man field. The recent form has not exactly been inspiring but it wasn't that long ago that Rickie Fowler was proclaimed "back." Last summer the 35-year-old went through a stretch of nine T15 or better finishes in ten starts. This stretch was capped off with a win at the Rocket Mortgage in early July. While Fowler has fallen off since, The American Express may be a good opportunity to regain some confidence given it is a fairly easy event with a ton of birdies available.
--Matt Miller - RotoBallerSource: Fantasy National
3 months agoEric Cole is looking for his first PGA Tour win this weekend at The American Express. Cole continued his hot streak last week at the Sony Open with a 13th place finish. Cole has now finished inside the top 15 in five straight starts dating back to 2023. In that stretch he has gained at least 6.7 strokes total against the field in four of the five events. The numbers suggest he is close to breaking through and this may just be the week.
--Matt Miller - RotoBallerSource: Fantasy National
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