RADIO
Corey Conners Could be Intriguing Option in Open Championship
Corey Conners has an up and down history across the pond. The Canadian golfer has had some less than ideal results but two Top 15 finishes at the Open Championship (2021 and 2025). Throwing out the results from the Genesis Scottish Open may be wise (T-52 last week). One worry is his driver accuracy (7% below average). Normally, Conners ranks 13th in driver accuracy at 67.45%. With decent breezes, averaging 303.1 yards off the tee should not be much of a hindrance. The bigger problem is putting. When Conners is rolling, he plays well like at last year's Open. In 2026, he averages 30 putts or worse in Rounds 2 and 3. That has to improve this week for Conners to have a bettor's chance at plus money for a Top 20 or better.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Johnny Keefer Gets His First Glimpse of Royal Birkdale
Johnny Keefer comes off a scintillating T-3 last week at the Genesis Scottish Open. The young American golfer is only 25-years-old but shows flashes of a much more experienced golfer. In four of his previous five events, Keefer has shown plus side driver accuracy. Off the tee, he hits the ball an average of 318.3 yards (10th on Tour). The concern is links golf has its share of dunes and bunkers. Scrambling and scrambling from the rough are not strong suits for Keefer. Overall scrambling ranks 133rd at 56.04%. The numbers get worse with sand save percentage at 34.21% (152nd overall). Keefer could have some moments of brilliance which could make him an early DFS possibility with easier hole placements.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Michael Thorbjornsen Competing in His First Open Championship
Michael Thorbjornsen played well at the Genesis Scottish Open last week. The American golfer finished T-7 and had four rounds all in the 60's. Royal Birkdale is a different course to say the least compared to the Renaissance Club. However, Thorbjornsen has a little momentum and drives well off the tee (314.1 yards - 20th) and 60.51 accuracy (67th). The big concern is those birdie chances. Unfortunately, Thorbjornsen carries a birdie-or-better percentage of only 29.64% (120th). His approaches will have to be better but around the green, Thornbjornson ranks 22nd at 0.295 strokes gained. That may increase his chances from a DFS perspective especially with dry, warmer conditions expected on Thursday and even Friday.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
J.J. Spaun a Concern Heading into the Final Major
J.J. Spaun needs to do something he has not done all year. The American golfer has missed every cut at a major in 2026. Worse, he has had three of his most disastrous putting efforts in 2026 (including the PGA Championship). Variance and volatility have been staples in Spaun's game throughout his career. 2026 has seen even more. Despite a win at the Valero Texas Open and four Top 10 results, Spaun finished T-44 at the Genesis Scottish Open. While last week's event is not an indicator for the Open Championship, Spaun must get off to a better start with his putter (29.89 putts average over first two rounds). If the putter improves, Spaun could be worth a look from a betting perspective on the weekend.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Aaron Rai May Have Challenges at Royal Birkdale
Aaron Rai comes into the Open Championship with a wayward putter. The English golfer lost more than two strokes last week to putting at the Genesis Scottish Open. As a result, he missed the cut. Rai also suffered from a lack of length on drives (-16.6 yards below average). The 7,223-yard, Par-70 Royal Birkdale could present some unique challenges for Rai. Too often, his putts per round are near 30. (29.67 - 147th overall). Rai showed at the PGA Championship and even US Open that he can put together rounds at majors. However, links golf has been a mixed bag for the Englishman (T-19 best in 2021). He may be a golfer too volatile for DFS lineups this week.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
J.T. Poston Attempts to Improve at the Open Championship
J.T. Poston was on a roll in June. The American golfer won a playoff at the Memorial Tournament. If that was not enough, Poston T-4 at the US Open. Then, the up went to down as Poston saw things go south at the Travelers Championship. After another outside the Top 50 finish at the John Deere Classic, Poston does not have the best numbers overseas. He has missed three cuts in four Open Championship appearances. Royal Birkdale expects to be warm with some breezes but nothing heavy. Poston may be a golfer to fade this weekend.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Min Woo Lee Trying to Continue Upswing at the Open Championship
Min Woo Lee got into a bit of a funk in June. The Australian golfer missed consecutive cuts and narrowly missed a third cut at the Travelers Championship. Lee managed to put four very good rounds together at the Genesis Scottish Open. He nearly tied Tom Kim for the lead but ended up one stroke short in a tie for second. Overall, Lee has four Top 10 results in 2026 and one Top 25 result recently at the Open Championship (2023). It has been an unkind run for Lee as six of his last eight majors have seen the golfer on the negative side of strokes gained overall. Royal Birkdale may be a betting fade for Lee this week.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Brian Harman Seeking First Top-10 Result of 2026 in England
Brian Harman has made the cut 15 out of 18 times in 2026. The American golfer, however, has not had a single Top 10 result this season. His best finish was a T-11 at THE Players Championship back in March. Harman does well overseas including his 2023 triumph at Royal Liverpool. He has four Top 20 efforts in his previous five appearances. Harman had a very off week driving the ball at the Genesis Scottish Open (16.4 yards below average) and accuracy was 5% below average. This causes some red flags even with Harman's mostly stellar results. It may be a consideration to even fade Harman from a DFS perspective especially.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Jordan Spieth Returning to Royal Birkdale in Search of his Old Self
After failing to finish inside the top 50 in any of his last four starts, hopes for Jordan Spieth aren't high coming into the year's final major. There isn't a single part of his game performing with any consistency, especially his chipping and putting, both of which are averaging negative strokes gained over his last three starts. The 32-year-old is returning to Royal Birkdale, where he won his Claret Jug in 2017. However, this is a very different player now than when he won back then. The ball striking isn't as crisp, the short game isn't as tight, and the putts aren't falling. Unlike the level he was at nine years ago, there are better options this week.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Tom Kim Hoping to Take Winning Momentum to Royal Birkdale
The good course history and solid play as of late culminated in Tom Kim winning his fourth career PGA Tour title. It was a great week from tee to green, as he led the field in strokes gained average at 3.05. Most of that success came with the irons that have been hot all year. Most of his early-year struggles came on the greens, but he has found traction as of late with gaining strokes in four of his last five events. His solo third at the US Open is proof that he doesn't mind being in the thick of things on the biggest stage. There is plenty of reason to like Kim going into the Open Championship this week. Just be aware that most of his solid performances at the Renaissance Club have rarely transitioned over to the host site of the year's fourth major the following week.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Ben Griffin Aiming to be in the Mix at Open Championship
Ben Griffin took a little time off after the John Deere Classic. The American golfer has several Top 10 results in 2026 highlighted by solid finishes in the first three Majors. The T-14 at the PGA Championship and T-17 at the US Open indicate even more upside. Griffin heads to Royal Birkdale where significant chances have occurred since 2021. Several holes including the 5th, 7th, and 14th have seen quite a renovation. Griffin's ability to putt is big here where he has gained 0.432 strokes (19th). A good start is key at England and Griffin averages a tour best 27.37 putts per opening round. Griffin could easily have good numbers to lead Round 1 and/or be a DFS standout.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Matt Fitzpatrick is a Must-Play DFS Asset at Open Championship
Even with three wins already this season, Matt Fitzpatrick has been knocking on the door for a while. With three top 5s in his last four starts and firmly taking hold of the lead in average strokes gained on approach for the season (0.846), it's only a matter of time before he lifts another trophy. His time at the Open Championship hasn't been as fruitful as at other majors, mainly due to spotty short-game play. That was also the reason for his shortcomings at the Renaissance Club. The 31-year-old continues to grow as a player, and his age and maturity have made him a gritty, resilient competitor. Play him with confidence this week.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
Wyndham Clark Primed to Contend at Open Championship
It was a flat Sunday for an otherwise strong showing at the Scottish Open for Wyndham Clark, who finished T13. The ball striking both on approach and off the tee seems to be working in unison, as he's gained strokes in both areas in two of his last three appearances. His usual steady short game was the main undoing of his week at the Renaissance Club. He lost an average of -0.11 strokes around the green over four days, but it's better to have this hiccup the week before a major championship than the week of. Nonetheless, with his incredible putting output this season, he should be one of the most reliable scorers ahead of this week's Open Championship.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
J.J. Spaun a Boom-or-Bust Option at Scottish Open
After missing the cut in his U.S. Open title defense, J.J. Spaun bounced back nicely with a T7 finish at the Travelers Championship, his seventh top-25 result in his last 10 starts. He now turns to the Scottish Open, where he has a missed cut and a T59 in two previous appearances. This season, Spaun ranks eighth in strokes gained tee to green (+1.124 per round), fifth on approach (+0.710), 34th off the tee (+0.283), and 45th in total driving, all key stats at The Renaissance Club. The biggest concern remains the putter, where he ranks 128th on Tour, losing -0.367 strokes per round. He also lacks elite length off the tee, ranking 103rd in driving distance. Spaun is playing great golf right now, but at $8,500 on DraftKings, is a boom-or-bust candidate given his shaky history at this tournament.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
Aaron Rai Looks to Continue Strong Run at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai continued his impressive stretch of golf at the Travelers Championship, recording a T30 finish, his eighth result of T30 or better this season. He now turns to the Scottish Open, where he has three missed cuts and three top-10 finishes, including a win in 2020. On the year, Rai ranks 21st in strokes gained tee to green (+0.716 per round), 51st off the tee (+0.183), 26th on approach (+0.394), and second on Tour in driving accuracy. His biggest inconsistency remains the putter, where he has been average, ranking 83rd and losing just -0.005 strokes per round. His long-iron play has also been a concern, ranking only 111th in proximity from over 200 yards, a distance that accounted for more than 36% of approach shots at The Renaissance Club last year. At $7,800 on DraftKings, Rai still offers strong value for fantasy managers looking for a player in excellent form who should consistently find fairways.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
