DraftKings PGA: Bridgestone Invitational Picks and Analysis

AKRON, OH – AUGUST 06: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan speaks to media after winning the World Golf Championships – Bridgestone Invitational during the final round at Firestone Country Club South Course on August 6, 2017 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

DraftKings PGA: Bridgestone Invitational

Dustin Johnson showed that he is the best golfer in the world. We were on him, but so was everyone else. It was apparent that Glen Abbey is tailor-made for DJ, allowing him to showcase his excellent off-the-tee and wedge game.

Firestone Country Club is a similar style of course to Glen Abbey, but on steroids. The 7,400 yard par-70 challenges the world’s best by many different means. Bombers will be challenged by the bending tree-lined fairways and immaculate rough if a drive strays from the fairway. Short-hitters will be swallowed by the length of the course, boasting 7 par-4’s over 460 yards and a 667 yard par-5. The greens will be small and fast, challenging excellent ball-strikers and putters respectively. All things considered, this should be a fun one.

We have the top 50 OWGR golfers, international president’s cup members, and this year’s tournament winners. Now you know why you see Ted Potter Jr. in a field composed of the best golfers on the planet.

Hidecki Matsuyama took home the trophy last year, separating himself from the field by tying the course record with a fourth round 61 to finish -16. 35 golfers were under par last year, compared to only 9 in 2016 (Dustin Johnson, -6) and 24 in 2015 (Shane Lowry, -11). The winning score will likely land somewhere around -10, meaning that much more emphasis will be placed on finishing position than scoring this week.

Key Stats

The keys stats that I am focusing on this week for Bridgestone Invitational DraftKings PGA GPP contests:

Tee to Green Gained

Off the Tee Gained

Scoring Gained

Bogey Avoidance Gained

Long Courses Gained

Difficult Courses Gained

As always, you should be building your own models. FantasyNational.com and FutureOfFantasy.com are great tools to use.

AKRON, OH – AUGUST 05: Zach Johnson and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland shake hands during the third round of the World Golf Championships – Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course on August 5, 2017 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Bridgestone Invitational – Picks

$11,700 Dustin Johnson

Dustin Johnson was major chalk at the RBC Canadian Open, but you needed to roster him to have a shot at a major payday. He will be chalk again this week, considering that he won this tournament in 2016. It is difficult to pass up on DJ this week. He is now 14/15 on cuts, has 3 wins, and has 9 top 10’s this year. DJ leads the field in Tee-to-Green, Off-the-Tee and Scoring Gained. Johnson has great course history and possesses the length necessary to dominate Firestone.

$11,300 Rory McIlroy

Rory ranks as the 2nd best golfer in the field based on my model. Although his form leaves something to be desired, he did just finish T2 at The Open. Rory is excellent off-the-tee and loves putting on fast greens like what we will see this week. The past 5 times McIlroy has gamed this course, he has finished T9, T6, T5, T27, 1st (2014), and T5.

$9,000 Henrik Stenson

Despite this course not being the ideal setup for Stenson, he has broken the top-20 in each of his last four attempts. Stenson ranks 3rd in my model behind only Johnson and McIlroy. Stenson may be harboring a mild wrist injury that kept him out of the Scottish Open, so keep an eye on that as the week progresses.

AKRON, OH – JULY 30: Adam Scott of Australia hits a shot during a practice round for the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course on July 30, 2014 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Bridgestone Invitational – Values

$8,600 Paul Casey

I love Paul Casey in DFS. The guy is extremely consistent, amassing 11 top 20’s in 14 PGA events this season and he even won at The Valspar this year. Casey ranks top 10 in the world in Tee-to-Green and Scoring gained, and has yet to finish outside of the top 20 at this event since a T27 in 2013.

$8,500 Bubba Watson

Bubba has been magnificent this year, and his price drops just because of a slip up at the RBC Canadian Open. Firestone is the perfect place to exploit Watson’s soft pricing. The past three years at this course, Watson has finished T17, T14, and 2nd. This is a prototypical Bubba course and reminds me a little of Riviera, where Bubba won earlier this year. Bubba ranks top 6th in the field off-the-tee gained, a stat that has correlated with success at this tournament.

$7,600 Adam Scott

Ever since Adam Scott went back to his patented cheater putter, his golf game has been solid. Add in the fact that this course sets up perfect for his bombing and ball-striking mantra, and we have ourselves a great value play. I doubt Scott will go too overlooked though. He posted a T17 at The Open, and has 4 top 15 finishes at The Bridgestone Invitational since 2013 and won the event back in 2011.

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Check out more articles by the author and make sure to follow @Mystery_Main for up-to-date injuries, withdrawals, and ownership projections up until the tournament. Also, follow @FantasyCPR for your daily fantasy fix.