DraftKings fantasy golf picks: PGA Championship 2016
7,000-6,500
Steve Stricker (7,000): The veteran Cheesehead is a solid play this week after a t2 at the St Jude and a solo-fourth at The Open. Sticker really was only two disastrous holes from contending with Phil and Stenson at Troon. He’ll look to avoid big numbers at Balustrol where he didn’t play in 2005. He has played in every PGA Championship since then, though, making nine of ten cuts with seven top-25 finishes and top-10’s in 2012 and 2014.
Emiliano Grillo (6,900): Grillo was a popular pick at the RBC Canadian Open but he ended up an unremarkable t43. He has been having a great summer before that including a t12 at The Open, a t14 at the Bridgestone, and a runner-up finish at the ISPS HANDA Global Cup in Japan. The Argentine has made the cut in all four of his career Majors including last year’s t61 at the PGA Championship.
Tony Finau (6,900): Similarily to Grillo, Finau came into last week’s Canadian Open with momentum after a good finish at The Open (t18). He didn’t have a great week either finishing t70 despite a nice 68 to get under the cut line. Last year, Finau was right in the mix at Whistling Straits finishing a very solid t10. He has higher upside than Grillo, but he also brings a little more risk to your lineup.
Alexander Noren (6,700): Noren missed the cut at the U.S. Open in his last start stateside, but he went back to Europe and finished eighth in the Open de France before winning the Scottish Open. He played well at The Open Championship until a final round 75 saw him drop to t46. Like his countryman Henrik Stenson, Noren is reliably a good ball-striker, but his success comes when his putter doesn’t hold him back too much.
Tyrell Hatton (6,600): Hatton finished runner up to Noren at the Scottish Open and played exceptionally well at Royal Troon where he posted a t5 after a week of 70-71-71-68. At just 24, he’s one of the young stars on the European Tour who comes in a bit under the radar to the PGA Championship, but he has plenty of game to show off if he can stay in form this week at Balustrol.
Andrew Johnston (6,500): Johnston was the other young English player to make a name for himself at The Open as “Beef” became know to golf fans on his way to a solo-eighth. Johnston picked up his first European Tour win at the Open de Espana this spring, but he has been less consistent lately. I’d definitely take Hatton over Johnston if you can afford either, but “Beef” has shown he has some nice upside to watch going forward as well.
Jhonattan Vegas (6,500): Vegas’s win at the RBC Canadian Open came as a surprise as he charged from back in the pack with a finishing 64 to qualify for the PGA Championship at the last minute. He definitely comes in with momentum after the win following a t4 at the Barbasol Championship (event played opposite The Open) where he shot a 60 in the second round. Vegas played the PGA Championship for the first time in his career last year finishing t51, and he’ll look to carry over his great play from the last two weeks. It’s hard to know how valuable Vegas will be until he gets into the DraftKings system for this week, so check bak tomorrow to see if his price gets him into any of my lineups.
Next: Under 6,500