2 weeks agoIt's always difficult to know exactly what to do with a guy who has shown a liking for Augusta National but is coming into the week in terrible form. Tom Kim is that guy. After a T16 in his debut here a year ago, the South Korean is returning to the hallowed grounds on the heels of a missed cut at the Valero Texas Open where he lost an average of -2.61 strokes over the first two rounds. Fluky finishes aren't as prevalent at Augusta National as other events in professional golf, and this isn't insinuating that last year was for Kim, but, if he should post another solid finish this week, no one would have seen it coming.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
2 weeks agoComing into the first major of the season, Sahith Theegala has been a permanent fixture near the lead on a weekly basis with two top-10 finishes in his last three starts. From a fantasy perspective, there is nothing to dislike about where his game is, as he ranks in the top 50 in all strokes-gained metrics other than around the greens (109th at minus-0.046). Theegala's first crack at The Masters last season concluded with a ninth-place finish in 2023. If he can keep from giving everything back around the greens, his stellar ball-striking and advantageous lines off the tee make him a necessary fantasy commodity at $9,700 on FanDuel.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
2 weeks agoIt's well-documented that previous experience at Augusta National is paramount to success at The Masters. It's also well-documented a Masters debutant hasn't won since Fuzzy Zoeller did so 45 years ago in 1979. So why should fantasy managers consider Wyndham Clark for their rosters? The current OWGR No. 4 is the reigning US Open Champion and a big-game hunter with an additional Signature Event victory among his three Tour victories. He's also in excellent recent form, having posted back-to-back runner-up finishes in March, including at The Players Championship where he was a lipped-out putt away from forcing a playoff with eventual winner Scottie Scheffler. Clark enters the week ranked sixth in weighted tee-to-green performance and second in par 5 scoring over the last 24 rounds, both of which are massive indicators that golf fans may have a chance to witness history on Sunday. While it may feel strange to see Clark priced ahead of the likes of Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland, and Patrick Cantlay on DraftKings, rostering him may pay fantasy managers enormous dividends on Sunday.
--Ryan HickeySource: PGA Tour
2 weeks agoWill Zalatoris will be a fantasy darling this week based on his recent history at The Masters. Prior to his back injury withdrawal at the 2023 Masters, the 27-year-old Tour star posted consecutive top-10 finishes while unexpectedly gaining over five strokes putting in both years. But his return from since back surgery nearly one year ago has produced inconsistent results, with his 2024 calendar year results reading cut, T34, T13, T2, T4, cut and T74. Zalatoris has certainly shown flashes of his pre-injury form, but recent short game performances and finish positions should have fantasy managers questioning his candidacy for their rosters this week. Limited exposure may be the sensible decision, as a missed cut or an outright victory could both be in the range out outcomes for Zalatoris at the 2024 Masters.
--Ryan HickeySource: PGA Tour
2 weeks agoTony Finau will be a popular pick at The Masters this week, and rightfully so. In his six career appearances at Augusta National, the 34-year-old Tour star has three top-10 finishes and has yet to miss a cut. He's also entering the week on the heels of a runner-up finish at the Houston Open last week, an event where he gained a massive 14.4 strokes from tee-to-green. Finau can be a little wild off the tee, but Augusta National's wide fairways and non-penal rough should negate that weakness. And despite being the 17th-highest priced golfer on DraftKings, Finau ranks 7th in weighted approach play over the last 24 rounds, which is typically a recipe for success at a course where the second shot is an immense premium. Fantasy managers should roster Finau with confidence this week, and it would come as no surprise to see him donning the Green Jacket on Sunday.
--Ryan HickeySource: PGA Tour
2 weeks agoShane Lowry is enjoying an excellent stretch of golf ahead of his ninth Masters appearance. The 37-year-old Irishman has made the cut in his last five PGA Tour starts, including two top-five finishes at the Cognizant Classic and Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. He's also gained over six
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2 weeks agoThe Masters stage is set with 88 of the world's best ready to vie for their shot at the Green Jacket. There are 13 LIV golfers in the field this week, and impressively, that group includes seven former Masters champions. All the LIV attention is seemingly set on Brooks Koepka, Joaquin Niemann, Cam Smith and Dustin Johnson, but fantasy managers may want to consider Tyrell Hatton for their lineups as well. While yet to claim a Major victory, the 32-year-old Brit does have six European Tour victories to go along with his lone PGA Tour victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational back in 2020. He's also been playing solid golf since joining LIV, having gained strokes from tee-to-green in all five of his starts to go along with finish positions of T8, T12, T15, T21, and T4 last week at Trump National Doral. Although his best finish at the Masters was a T18 back in 2021, Hatton's win equity and recent form should warrant plenty of roster consideration at a mere $7,600 salary on DraftKings.
--Ryan HickeySource: PGA Tour
2 weeks agoMin Woo Lee has been a model of inconsistency leading into his third Masters appearance. The 25-year-old Aussie opened his 2024 calendar year with a T21 at The American Express, and followed that up with finishes of T43, T71, T2, T44, T54 and a missed cut at the
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2 weeks agoSergio Garcia has not played a PGA tournament in the United States since the 2023 US Open. The Spanish golfer has won 11 times on the PGA Tour including the 2017 Masters. Garcia has missed the cut at Augusta in four of his past five appearances. However, there was that T-23 in 2022. Again, one never quite knows when the Spaniard will turn back the clock. Even at 44 years old, Garcia can hang around especially if rainy and/or breezy conditions persist well into Friday. Shot making and putting have always been keys to success for Garcia at Augusta.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
2 weeks agoJ.T. Poston enjoyed a great start to 2024 with five top-20 results in six tournaments. The American golfer contended at both The Sentry and the Sony Open. However, March roared in like a lion and disturbed Poston's form. Since then, he has struggled in the final rounds, posting a 75, 76, and a 78 (The Players). That will not keep a golfer in contention. All it takes is a hot start to jolt Poston back into form, though. Another concern is his putts per round. Poston ranks 144th with 29.33 putts per fourth round. Breezy conditions (15-20-plus mph) on Thursday and Friday will test Poston.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
2 weeks agoCam Davis has been up and down this 2024 season. The Australian golfer has missed two cuts but also has not been able to play consistently. Davis fired a 62 at the Sony Open, then puttered around the 70 mark the rest of the tournament. There are plenty of red flags in his game. Augusta does require some precision in approaches and around the greens. If the conditions worsen, scrambling is a huge issue as Davis ranks 155th overall on tour. From the rough, that rank drops to 182nd. It is why the Australian must be precise this week and early.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
2 weeks agoChris Kirk can make birdies as his -29 suggests from The Sentry. That win has been followed up by consistent results (only one missed cut). The American golfer has finished inside the Top 50 in every event he played the weekend. Kirk needs to get the putter going early (148th in strokes gained putting). His putts per round are higher early and late in tournaments (73rd and 76th respectively). Kirk drives the ball at 294.4 yards which is less than ideal on a 7,555 yard Par-72 layout. His fortunes could simply come down to keeping the ball in play and making putts.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
2 weeks agoMatthieu Pavon is more of an unknown quantity for The Masters. The French golfer took a few weeks off from the PGA Tour after missing the cut at The Players Championship. Pavon played well in his first four PGA tournaments entered. That included a win at the Farmers Insurance Open and a third at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Now, the Arnold Palmer was more troubling a Pavon missed putts and shots. Combine that with a 76-76 weekend and the red flags were raised. His 69.6% (28th on tour) Greens In Regulation could be vital but Pavon has lost strokes gained the past three events. That is a concern.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
2 weeks agoBesides a missed cut at TPC Sawgrass, Max Homa has been playing decent golf over the last month and a half with two top 25s and one top 10. His most recent outing last week at the Valero Texas Open saw him have positive strokes gained metrics across the board, though none of them were particularly high. The biggest question mark this week is whether he can get anything going on the greens at Augusta National, as he has yet to gain strokes putting in four attempts. The noteworthy correlation between winners here and the Genesis Open that is near and dear to Homa has not come to fruition yet, and, until he shows some comfortability on the greens, he isn't an intriguing play at $9,500 on FanDuel.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
2 weeks agoComing off a withdrawal at LIV Golf Miami due to food poisoning, Cameron Smith returns to an event where he has done everything but secure a green jacket in seven career starts. The Australian has finished no worse than a T55, which was in his first attempt. Like other LIV players, not much is known about the state of his game from a statistical perspective other than he leads the breakaway league in putting average (1.49) and has a total strokes-gained average of only 0.29 through the league's first five events. The undeniable fluctuation of ball-striking certainly simmers some of the expectations, and at $9,900 on FanDuel, it's possible he doesn't live up to them this week.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
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