This column is a quick-hitter article to give you the stats you need to make informed PGA DFS picks for your DraftKings and FanDuel daily fantasy lineups. We’re in search of a few recommendations for the second round of the Tournament of Champions. In a typical Showdown GPP, DraftKings will offer upwards of $50,000 to first place for second and third round tournaments and sometimes up to $100,000 for the final-round contests. They also provide weekend-long contests that have been offering $25,000 to first place on average. FanDuel has also tried to get into the weekend-long and final-round contests, offering $10,000 and $5,000 to first place in their PGA DFS showdown contests.
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Tournament of Champions Round 2 PGA DFS Showdown
Previous Round Recap
Robert Streb set the tone early, carding birdies on both the second and third holes as part of one of the first groups out. Those holes yielded only eight birdies each last year. It was pretty clear from that start that if the wind stayed away, scoring would be rather easy in round 1. Surprisingly, however, no one pulled away, and the field is rather bunched. That makes for a fun tournament, with plenty of different outcomes available. Streb wasn’t the only one of the first guys out or the only lower-priced option to shoot 6 under, as Nick Taylor was able to get there as well.
Sergio Garcia righted the ship after two early bogeys, also matched that 6-under number, while chalk Ryan Palmer had two eagles and a birdie in a row, crushing the hopes and dreams of faders like me. We will need a day without a birdie from Palmer in one of the next three to make up for his first-round excellence.
Continuing with the chalkier golfers that I faded, Harris English is quickly turning me, as he continues his run of great form here in round 1 with a stellar 65. Justin Thomas, however, won’t just hand this tournament to English, who by and large shouldn’t even be here. Thomas was able to also go out in 65 on Thursday. The big difference I see from Thomas is his putting; it looked very good in round 1, as he gained over a stroke and a half on the greens. He has been working with a new putting coach, so maybe that’s starting to pay off.
There are plenty of other options within striking distance as well, with 21 golfers within 4 strokes of the lead at 3 under or better.
PGA DFS Showdown Picks: Slate Preview
Lock Time
2:10 P.M. EST
Fantasy Golf Contest Preview
DraftKings
- DraftKings is offering $20,000 to first and $70,000 guaranteed for the second-round slate.
FanDuel
- FanDuel is offering $2,000 to first and $8,000 guaranteed for the second-round slate.
General Strategy and Tournament of Champions PGA DFS Picks
Seeing both Brendon Todd and Bryson DeChambeau in the top 11 after round 1 leads us to a wide variety of golfers we get to choose from. To help identify some top PGA DFS picks, here are the top five in strokes gained ball striking and strokes gained via short game on the day. There were also 10 bogey-free rounds and plenty of birdie streaks, so it seems like a lot of bonus points will be handed out this week if trends continue.
Top 10
Sungjae Im ($8,100)
Im looked on point with his irons in round 1 and actually looked poised to get to the lead at one point. Unfortunately, his putter abandoned him on 15 and stayed away for the final four holes, and Im missed quality birdie looks on each. I’m OK betting on that changing throughout the week, and maybe it’ll happen here in round 2. With plenty of studs up here, Im may go a bit over looked. He provides a nice second or third piece to the lineup.
PGA DFS Picks Outside the Top 10
- Viktor Hovland ($9,500): Coming into the week as one of the hottest golfers on the planet, Hovland went around Kapalua course for the first time, doing it in style with no bogeys. That includes putting his second shot on 18 out of play and proceeding to hit his next one from 275 yards out to within five feet, following the spectacular shot with a putt to save par. If there is such thing as carry-over momentum, it has to be that.
- Collin Morikawa ($8,500): Toying with a new putter was unbearably frustrating for DFSers, and I’m sure for Morikawa as well. In round 1 he lost 2.72 strokes. The rest of his game was there, and had he matched field, he’d be sitting just 1 back of the leaders. His price has come down even more than his week-long price, so I’ll continue to buy.
- Joaquin Niemann ($8,000): Niemann is the third of my core players to make it on the list for tomorrow’s slate. They are all in a great position to make a run up the board, sitting just 4 back of the leaders. Given the fact that they aren’t in the top 10 yet, the ownership shouldn’t be sky high.
- Stewart Cink ($6,500): All was well through 14 holes, but then an out-of-bounds tee-ball sent Cink’s round awry. His approach game looks really solid, gaining over a stroke in round 1; he simply struggled on the greens. That’ll correct itself over the next three days, and now we just need to catch him on the right day.
Lineup Fill-Ins
Justin Thomas ($10,600)
Patrick Reed ($9,700)
Patrick Cantlay ($8,900)
Robert Streb ($6,300)Â
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