January 27, 2026
With the first two events of the new season behind him, Billy Horschel comes to Torrey Pines looking to keep the momentum going. He's managed to make the cut in both starts, but neither of the tournament venues compares to what awaits at the Farmers Insurance Open this week. The 39-year-old is performing terribly off the tee, averaging -0.785 in strokes gained over his last four starts. Putting and short game have kept him in the fight, as well as a decent approach game. 200 yards or more is where ironplay breaks down for the former Florida Gator, who is middle of the pack in strokes gained approach numbers from 200 or more (approximately +0.002). Horschel might do enough to see all four days, but the ROI will more than likely be less than ideal.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Will Zalatoris finished tied for 18th at last week's American Express, and this followed a top-15 finish at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player back in December. Zalatoris looked like he had brushed off the rust after an injury-riddled 2025 season by gaining 1.20 strokes on approach at the American Express last week. Zalatoris missed last year's Farmers Insurance Open but finished tied for 13th at last year's edition. Over the last 12 months, Zalatoris ranks in the 90th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Adam Scott finished tied for 24th at last week's American Express, following a tied for 40th finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii two weeks ago. Scott has had a sizzling start to the 2026 season with three top-25 finishes in four starts. The last time Scott made an appearance at the Farmers Insurance Open was in 2021, when he finished tied for 10th. Over the past 12 months, Scott ranks in the 38th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth mentioning because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Keith Mitchell finished tied for 44th at last week's American Express, and that followed a tied for 66th finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii two weeks ago. Following a rough finish to the 2025 season, Mitchell has started the 2026 season on the right foot by making the cut at both of his starts. Mitchell missed the Farmers Insurance Open last year but missed the cut in the 2024 edition. Over the past 12 months, Mitchell ranks in the 29th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Hideki Matsuyama missed last week's American Express but finished tied for 13th at the Sony Open in Hawaii two weeks ago. Matsuyama's finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii continued a strong run of form dating back to the end of the 2025 season. Matsuyama finished the 2025 season with five straight top-20 finishes and included a win at the Hero World Challenge in December. Matsuyama finished tied for 32nd at last year's Farmers Insurance Open. Over the past 12 months, Matsuyama ranks in the 97th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth pointing out because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Tom Hoge finished tied for eighth at last week's American Express after finishing tied for 40th at the Sony Open in Hawaii two weeks ago. This has been a welcome start to the 2026 season for Hoge, especially after his 2025 season was a forgettable one. Hoge missed last year's Farmers Insurance Open but finished tied for 56th in his previous appearance in 2024. Over the past 12 months, Hoge ranks in the 92nd percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Harris English finished tied for 27th at last week's American Express and will return to this week's Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California, as the defending champion. English has been in great form since the end of the 2025 season, with three top-15 finishes in his last six starts. At last year's Farmers Insurance Open, English gained over two strokes putting and 1.29 strokes on approach. Over the past 12 months, English ranks in the 79th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth mentioning because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Patrick Cantlay finished tied for 13th at last week's American Express and will look to continue playing well at this week's Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California. Cantlay skipped last year's Farmers Insurance Open but finished tied for 56th in 2024. Going back to the end of last season, Cantlay has three top-25 finishes in his previous five starts. Over the past 12 months, Cantlay ranks in the 90th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Ludvig Aberg was forced to withdraw before his third-round tee time at last week's American Express due to illness. He appears to have recovered enough from his illness that he is in the field for this week's Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, La Jolla, California. Aberg finished tied for 42nd at last year's Farmers Insurance Open. Aberg will look to bounce back and continue showing the form he was in to end the 2025 season. Over the past 12 months, Aberg ranks in the 95th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth pointing out because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open, over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
After a let-down season in 2025, Xander Schauffele is back to play at perhaps the most-loved course on the entire schedule for the two-time major winner. After missing in his first three appearances, the X-Man has posted finishes of T9, T13, T34, and T2 over his last four tries. He's the second-highest player in the field in terms of average total strokes gained in the previous five seasons (+1.966). He's one of the best long iron players in the world, ranking 32nd in proximity over 200 yards (47' 8") in 2025. Schauffele also ended the season ranked third in par-5 scoring average (4.46), which is where most of the ground is made up on the South Course. Assuming he is ready to start his new campaign, he could get an early win like we saw Scotty Scheffler do a week ago.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
It was a rough showing this past week for Justin Rose, who posted a three-round total of eight-under par to miss the cut by two at the American Express. It was a horrible showing from a putting and short-game perspective, as he averaged nearly 2 shots lost across the two strokes gained metrics over the three rounds. That doesn't inspire confidence heading to a long and difficult test like Torrey Pines. However, it should be noted that weighting will be much different this week compared to the birdie fest at PGA West. The 45-year-old has displayed plenty of ability in his approach play, but isn't quite as strong once you reach 200 yards and more. In 2025, Rose ranked 119th in proximity to the hole from beyond 200 yards (151' 3"). The former U.S. Open winner has a chance to pop anywhere, but this doesn't exactly feel like the right place at this point in his career.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
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
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