March 17, 2026
After the rustbucket of a golf game that was on display at Bay Hill, Justin Thomas looked a few weeks away--if not a few months--from being able to really become a factor again inside the ropes. Cut to a short few days later, and he was one of the promising names looking to win at TPC Sawgrass last week. This fickle game works on its own clock. Now it's a matter of which one to believe going forward. He looked to be in total control of his golf ball at The Players, gaining over four strokes putting and over five and a half strokes on approach. He also has an incredible history around the Copperhead Course. The driver will be the biggest concern come Thursday, but his affinity for this course should help him visualize tee shots better than the last two venues. It's too early to say if he's officially back, but last week's performance has certainly given him a more optimistic outlook than he had before. Stay on the JT train at Valspar.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
March 17, 2026
As an event that experiences a ton of churn in the field from year to year, Jordan Spieth is on the short list of names that have made it a priority spot on the schedule for many seasons. He won this event in 2015 and has compiled several quality finishes on top of that, but recent struggles in his golf game have weakened his ability around this property. His recent form suggests a return to glory on the Copperhead Course is in the cards for the former Texas Longhorn. He is averaging 0.98 strokes gained on approach over his last three events, and while his putter is still a bit streaky, it has been a real weapon for most of the season. Play the 32-year-old with full confidence.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
March 17, 2026
After a slow start in his return to the PGA Tour, Brooks Koepka has now posted finishes of T9 and T13 over his last two starts. His most recent tournament was last week's Players Championship, where he ranked fourth in the field in strokes gained on approach (1.69). The putter has let him down in all four of his starts this season, and even with it calming down since the putter switch, he isn't doing anything exciting or helpful to lower his scores much. He's back in action this week at Innesbrook, where the 35-year-old last competed in a stroke-play event before the start of his LIV Golf stint. He finished T12 that week in 2022, and given the way his game has come back to him, it wouldn't be surprising to see him back in the mix like old times.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
March 17, 2026
It is a title defense for Viktor Hovland this week at the Valspar Championship. He won a clutch event last season after holding off several good players, and is in great form ahead of Thursday's opening round. The 28-year-old is coming off back-to-back T13 finishes at The Players and the API, which are both approach-heavy tests similar to what it takes to win at the Copperhead Course. Ranking 16th in strokes gained on approach (0.648) and averaging a career-best 0.314 strokes gained around the green, it's perhaps the most well-rounded form that we've ever seen the Norwegian in. It wouldn't be surprising to see him put up a valiant defense, if not win again. And this event has been notorious in recent memory for having repeat champions.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
March 17, 2026
It has been a rough two weeks for Rasmus Hojgaard, who has been unable to put two rounds together to make the cut in his last two starts. As the guys out there know, it only takes one hole to ruin your week. One round of poor scoring is certainly enough to send you home early. In terms of metrics, the 25-year-old has performed well in most areas. He ranks 19th in total strokes gained average (1.110) and seventh in driving distance. Accuracy is a slight issue given the tightness around the Copperhead Course, but his length should allow him to take less than driver some if it isn't cooperating. If the ownership percentage takes an understandable step back because of recent form, Hojgaard should be a steal.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
March 17, 2026
Things have been off for Tony Finau and have shown few signs of changing. The 36-year-old finished T70, shooting a combined eight over par over the last three rounds after posting a 69 on Thursday. It was another event on the growing list of forgettable performances since the beginning of last season. He's been wildly inaccurate off the tee, which has created a trickle-down effect for other parts of his game. Through his first seven starts this season, Finau ranks 124th in strokes gained off the tee (-0.282) and 100th in strokes gained on approach (-0.146). When it comes to this week's event at Innisbrook, he has only made the cut once in five tries. It resulted in a top-5 finish, but the Utah native is currently playing nowhere near the same level. Continue fading him until he shows some signs of life.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
March 17, 2026
This week at Innisbrook is another Blades Brown attempt at proving himself among the tour's best players. We last saw him in Puerto Rico, where he again contended for a tournament title after rounds of 69-67-69-69 got him in a solo third. A much better performance than the last time he was in a similar position earlier this year. Stats are limited due to his limited starts and mainstay on the Korn Ferry circuit, but what can be gathered is a real ability on the greens. His small sample size ranks him 31st in strokes gained putting (0.502). The 18-year-old, despite ranking poorly in strokes gained metrics for ball striking, has shown elite accuracy. He's still a flyer DFS option, but if you've taken a chance in his first three starts, it's been a pleasant return in two of them.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
March 17, 2026
It was another great week for Jacob Bridgeman, who was a major part of the conversation last week at TPC Sawgrass. He finished in a tie for fifth after posting rounds of 71-70 over the weekend. It was another strong performance on the greens, averaging 2.56 strokes gained putting. However, this was his first outing of the season losing strokes on approach (-0.62 average). He'll now go to the Valspar Championship, where he finished third in 2025. He'll certainly need to sure up his ball striking, but everything else in his game is still trending in the right direction. The downside is that ownership will be fairly high. If that is a concern, there are plenty of pivot options to choose from, but Bridgeman will be a key DFS asset for many.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
March 17, 2026
Akshay Bhatia added to his impressive start to 2026 with a T13 finish at THE PLAYERS, marking his fifth straight finish of T16 or better this season. He now looks to keep the ball rolling at the Valspar Championship, where he has competed three times, recording a T17 finish here in 2024 along with two missed cuts in prior years. Success at Innisbrook requires precise iron play, and those in contention are often separated by elite putting. Bhatia ranks fifth in total strokes gained (+1.646 per round), ninth on approach (+0.792), and 10th in putting (+0.730). He also sits in the 87th percentile in proximity from 150-200 yards, a range that accounted for 41.2% of all approach shots here last year. Bhatia is in excellent form and showed no signs of slowing down after his victory at the API two weeks ago. He is a very solid play, even at his higher-than-usual price of $10,000 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 16, 2026
Patrick Cantlay finished tied for 32nd at last week's PLAYERS Championship and will now prepare for this week's Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Florida. Cantlay has had mixed results so far this season, missing the cut twice in six starts. However, he also has two top-15 finishes. Cantlay is playing in the Valspar Championship for the first time since 2017, when he finished second. Over the past 12 months, Cantlay ranks in the 97th percentile in greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth mentioning because over 41% of approach shots came from this distance at last year's Valspar Championship.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 16, 2026
Keegan Bradley finished tied for 50th at last week's PLAYERS Championship, and that was followed by a missed cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago. Bradley gained strokes for only the second time in 2026 last week and has lost strokes on approach in four of his six starts. Bradley has had inconsistent performances to start the year and has missed the cut in three of his six starts. Over the past 12 months, Bradley ranks in the 41st percentile in greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is important because, last year at the Valspar Championship, over 41% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 16, 2026
Matt McCarty would like to toss last week away. The American golfer missed the cut at THE PLAYERS Championship after a 75-72 opening. He did play much better golf on Friday but some putts just did not fall. McCarty did gain 0.85 strokes to putting but it was not enough. Around the green was more of an issue as he lost 0.79 strokes. Sand scrambling has been an issue at 48.89% (113th). Greens in regulation have been worst at 65.08% (130th). The key for McCarty is avoiding bunkers and getting on greens easier. His putts per round rank 21st at 28. His worst rounds are on Fridays at 28.5. Getting his irons and woods closer could make McCarty a sneaky DFS choice because of his putting ability this week.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 16, 2026
Michael Kim heads into the Valspar Championship trying to erase that 81 from last Friday. The American golfer has made four of seven cuts in 2026 and has one Top 25 result (WM Phoenix Open). Kim has played a mix of PGA and European Tour events. His last Top 10 in the United States came last August at the BMW Championship. Last week at THE PLAYERS Championship, Kim could not get on the greens. He lost 2.57 strokes to approach. That was his worst effort in almost seven years (Houston Open - 2019). Kim could be an intriguing Top 40 wager in a less than world best field.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 16, 2026
Max Homa is making cuts and enjoying golf again. The American golfer has only missed one cut in six events this 2026 season. He only has one Top 25 result but overall, Homa is improving gradually. While he is not on his 2023 form, Homa is in the green in several major metrics. He ranks 57th in strokes gained overall and strokes gained to putting. Off the tee, Homa has improved to 76th. Furthermore, Homa has gained almost 5.5 yards a drive compared to 2025 while staying close accuracy wise (60.39%). While things could be better, the golfer is showing signs that may warrant a look from a DFS perspective for this event.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 16, 2026
Nick Dunlap has only made one cut in four events this 2026 campaign. The American golfer is still only 22 but has not fired a 72 or worse in seven of his last eight rounds. Missing the cut at the Puerto Rico Open would have dampened most spirits but not Dunlap's. He will be in the field at the Valspar Championship. Dunlap has been woefully off with his driver. He ranks 167th in yardage (285.4) and 170th in accuracy at 40%. With a scoring average of 72.1 (165th), Dunlap is just not a golfer to utilize from any DFS or betting standpoint for the foreseeable future.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
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