January 27, 2026
Most people wouldn't have had this sentiment a few years ago, but Maverick McNealy has grown his golf game to the point where playing well at one of the PGA Tour's longest venues seems much more attainable. He's now averaging over 300 yards off the tee while maintaining the strength of being lights out with the putter and a respectable wedge and iron player. His time spent at Torrey Pines has been acceptable, with only one missed cut in seven previous appearances. It's only translated into one top 20 finish, but his ability to consistently make cuts here is admirable. As long as his long iron game and his average of -0.075 strokes gained around the green from last season have improved, he should be a safer play this week, even if his ceiling appears limited.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
After a turbulent couple of weeks, Brooks Koepka is the first--and so far the only--player to return to the PGA Tour since leaving for the rival LIV Golf League. It will be his first tour-sanctioned event that he's played in since May of 2022. From a DFS perspective, Koepka is still on a heavy "wait and see" approach. For starters, Torrey Pines was never a good spot for the 35-year-old, as he has three missed cuts in four appearances. The only outlier was the 2021 U.S. Open, where he finished T4. However, course conditions and field strength are hardly comparable between the two. Secondly, the short game and putting statistics needed to produce good rounds here don't exactly work in his favor. Koepka hasn't played a competitive round since October, so while most are glad to see him return, it's best to let him get reacquainted with PGA Tour golf before inserting him into DFS lineups.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
January 21, 2026
Adam Scott put together four solid rounds at the Sony Open, shooting 67-70-70-68 to finish T40. He will look to carry some momentum into The American Express, where he has yet to compete in his career. Success at this multi-course event typically hinges on putting and precision with short irons and wedges. In 2025, Scott ranked 122nd in strokes gained putting (-0.100 per round), 66th on approach (+0.170), and 70th in birdie or better conversion percentage. At the Sony Open, he lost strokes with both putting and around the green, though he excelled off the tee, hitting 46 of 56 fairways and finishing as the most accurate driver in the event. His struggles on the greens continue to hold him back, and in a week often decided on putting, it may be tough for him to keep up. At $7,900 on DraftKings, fantasy managers will be hoping he can improve with the flat stick to provide strong value.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 21, 2026
Billy Horschel made the cut at the Sony Open but struggled over the weekend, shooting 74-71 on Saturday and Sunday to finish 74th. He will look to rebound at The American Express, where he has nine career starts, three top-25 finishes, and five missed cuts. Success here typically hinges on putting and precision on approach and with wedges. Horschel has historically excelled in these areas, though he was just 81st in strokes gained around the green and 78th in putting last week. Expect some bounce-back, but his inconsistency over 2025 and into 2026 makes him a risky fantasy option, even at only $6,800 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 21, 2026
Russell Henley started his 2026 season with a solid T19 at the Sony Open, shooting 67 or better in three of four rounds. A rough Friday derailed a higher finish, but he'll look to build on that at The American Express. Henley has historically struggled at this multi-course event, with four missed cuts and only one finish better than T49 in seven trips, though his elite ball-striking and putting should play well on what is typically a birdie-heavy week. At the Sony Open, he ranked sixth in strokes gained on approach, 31st in putting, and 10th in birdie or better percentage, with his only weak spot being off the tee, losing -0.532 strokes per round. A bounce-back can be expected in this area, as he ranked 12th in driving accuracy in 2025. At $9,600 on DraftKings, Henley is a strong consideration despite his past results here.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 21, 2026
After an up-and-down 2025 season that included nine top-30 finishes in 17 starts, including four top 10's, Jason Day will look to start 2026 on the right note at The American Express. He has played this event four times with some success, including two top-20 finishes and a T3 last year. Success at this multi-course event typically hinges on putting and precision with wedges and short irons. Day ranked just 125th in strokes gained on approach (-0.113 per round) last year, but was a solid putter at 58th (+0.171). He also ranked 15th in proximity from 125-150 yards, a distance that could prove to be key at this event. If Day can put together a strong week ball-striking, his game should be well-positioned to contend again in the Coachella Valley.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 21, 2026
2025 was a step in the wrong direction for Wyndham Clark after his breakout season the year prior, when he recorded a win and eight top-10 finishes. He followed that up with just two top-10 results last year and struggled to find consistency. Clark will look to start 2026 on a better note at The American Express, an event where he has played seven times but finished inside the top 20 only twice. Success here often leans on solid short-iron play and putting, two areas where Clark struggled last season. He ranked 154th on approach at -0.284 strokes per round, 66th in putting at +0.142, and sat in just the 31st percentile in greens in regulation from 100 to 150 yards. At $7,600 on DraftKings, fantasy managers may be better off waiting to see signs of a turnaround before buying back into Clark.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 21, 2026
After a strong 2025 season that included six top-10 finishes and a Ryder Cup appearance, Sam Burns opens his 2026 campaign at The American Express looking to pick up where he left off. He has been consistently solid in the Coachella Valley, posting four top-20 finishes in six starts at this event, including T6 finishes in both 2020 and 2024. Burns' strengths line up well with this multi-course setup, where success often hinges on putting and converting birdie chances. Last season, he ranked first in strokes gained putting (+0.983 per round) and 16th in birdie-or-better conversion, a profile that sets up extremely well in what is typically a low-scoring birdie-fest. Given his history here and his elite performance on the greens, Burns sets up as a high-ceiling play at $9,800 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 21, 2026
After a strong 2025 with 10 top-25 finishes, Akshay Bhatia will kick off his 2026 season at The American Express. He hasn't had much luck here before, missing the cut in 2020, 2021, and 2024, but the course setup should fit his game, which favors precision and putting over power alone. Last year, he ranked 14th in strokes gained on approach, 35th in putting, and 17th in birdie or better conversion. His biggest issue is off the tee, where he was just 103rd in strokes gained and 155th in total driving, but if he can keep it in play, he has a chance to finally turn things around here. Despite his history, at $7,800 on DraftKings, he's worth a long look in fantasy lineups.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 21, 2026
Christiaan Bezuidenhout kicks off his 2026 season after a strong fall stretch, where he recorded two top-10 finishes in his last three starts. He heads to The American Express, an event he knows well, including a runner-up finish in 2024. This multi-course setup rewards short-game play more than raw power, which suits Bezuidenhout. Last season, he was 13th on tour in strokes gained putting (+0.458 per round) and 19th around the green (+0.313). He's also been strong from 100-150 yards, sitting in the 95th percentile in greens in regulation over the past year. At $7,700 on DraftKings, he's trending in the right direction and should be considered for lineups.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 21, 2026
Kurt Kitayama finished tied for 40th at last week's Sony Open in Hawaii. He gained strokes across the board except for putting where he lost 0.53 strokes over the week. Kitayama will hope to continue playing well but will need to find his stroke on the greens in order to have a shot at winning this week. Kitayama finished tied for 58th at last year's American Express and could've finished higher had he not lost 1.24 strokes on approach. Kitayama closed out the 2025 strongly and after a strong showing last week he could continue building momentum early in the 2026 season. Over the past 12 months, Kitayama ranks in the 26th percentile in greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 50-100 yards in the fairway. This is worth mentioning because at last year's American Express over 15% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 21, 2026
Scottie Scheffler will make his debut appearance for the 2026 season at this week's American Express in La Quinta, California. Scheffler missed last year's edition due to unfortunate injury where he cut his hand open while cooking dinner. However, in 2024 Scheffler finished tied for 17th. Scheffler had an outstanding 2025 season with six wins including two major championships. He'll look to springboard his 2026 season with a strong showing this week. Over the past 12 months, Scheffler ranks in the 48th percentile in greens in regulation percentage from approach shots 50-100 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's American Express over 15% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 21, 2026
Robert MacIntyre finished tied for fourth at last week's Sony Open in Hawaii and showed that his form hasn't dipped after finishing the 2025 season strongly. MacIntyre will look to continue his hot streak at this week's American Express in La Quinta, California. The last time MacIntyre played in this event was in 2024 where he missed the cut. MacIntyre hasn't finished worse than tied for 12th in his previous five starts dating back to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last October where he emerged as the eventual winner. Over the past 12 months, MacIntyre ranks in the 89th percentile in greens in regulation percentage from approach shots 50-100 yards in the fairway. This is worth mentioning because at last year's American Express over 15% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 21, 2026
Brian Harman finished tied for 61st at last week's Sony Open in Hawaii and will look to bounce back at this week's American Express in La Quinta, California. At last year's American Express, Harman gained 1.76 strokes putting but lost 0.12 strokes on approach which ultimately led to him missing the cut. Last week, at the Sony Open in Hawaii, Harman gained strokes putting but lost strokes on approach and he'll need to get his approach play dialed in if he wants to be near the top of the leaderboard come Sunday. Over the past 12 months, Harman ranks in the 89th percentile in greens in regulation percentage from approach shots 50-100 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's American Express over 15% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 21, 2026
Ben Griffin finished tied for 19th at last week's Sony Open in Hawaii and doesn't appear to have missed a beat following his strong finish to the 2025 season. Griffin ended the 2025 season by winning the World Wide Technology Championship last November. In addition to his win at the World Wide Technology Championship, he rattled off five top-15 finishes in his last seven starts to close out the 2025 season. Over the past 12 months, Griffin ranks in the 50th percentile in greens in regulation percentage from approach shots 50-100 yards in the fairway. This is worth pointing out because at last year's American Express over 15% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
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