DraftKings PGA: 2019 Sony Open Picks and Analysis

DraftKings PGA: 2019 Sony Open Picks and Analysis

The Sony Open signals the beginning of the 2019 for the PGA Tour. Yeah, last week we had golf, but this week is real golf! A full field with only the top-70 golfers getting paid. This is a really solid field this week, with 19 of the top 50 OWGR teeing it up. 21 golfers will spend a 2nd straight week in Hawaii after trying their luck at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Maui. Get pumped, DraftKings PGA is finally back!

The Sony Open is played in Honolulu, Hawaii at the Waialae Country Club. This event has been played at Waialae for the past 20 years, so it’s safe to say we have good course data. The 7,044 yard par-70 is not the most challenging tract, but coastal courses are always susceptible to the elements. Patton Kizzire concurred the course in 2018, fending off James Hahn in a playoff. The duo finished 72 holes knotted at 17-under. Justin Thomas blitzed the course in 2017, finishing 7 strokes better than Justin Rose with a 27-under. The course, such as any coastal course, can play difficult if the winds pick up. But typically this event plays on the easier side. The biggest challenge for these golfers is the fact that most of the field has not played a competitive event in months.

In order to master Waialae, golfers will have to keep the ball in front of them. The fairways are tight and the winds are swirling. The greens are slow and will hold, but it is important to be attacking them from the short stuff. The course is very straight forward if you are executing. Bermudagrass can challenge the best golfers in the world around the greens, but is one of the truest putting surfaces. Golfers who are extremely accurate off the tee and those who are plus putters do well at Waialae. I will be leaning heavily on ball-striking this week.

Key Stats

Approach Gained

Tee-to-Green Gained

Driving Accuracy Gained

Difficult Fairways Gained

Bermudagrass Greens Gained

DraftKings PGA – Sony Open Picks

11,400 Justin Thomas

Yes he is the most expensive golfer on the board, but he deserves to be. Thomas is the best golfer in this field and he showcased his talent last week at Kapalua finishing in 3rd place. Justin Thomas appears to like this course, finishing T14, 1st, MC, T6 in his 4 appearances. His stats also line up really well for this course, finishing top 5 last year in SG:Approach, SG:TTG, and SG:Total. The only stat that scares me is Justin Thomas’s lack of accuracy off-the-tee, ranking 138th last year in driving accuracy.

10,800 Gary Woodland

Woodland is on a tear. He had a strong finish to the 2018 PGA season, and now he has made it 5/6 in top-10 finishes for the 2019 season. Woodland is one of those big hitters that excels on shorter courses. Woodland’s track record at Waialae is really good, finishing T7, T6, T13 and T3 since 2015. He is familiar with the course, and his game is firing on all cylinders and nearly won last week at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. I am projecting Woodland’s ownership around 40%, but he is a difficult fade. Note: it is rumored Woodland may WD due to a death in the family – follow me on twitter for the latest tournament updates. 

9,300 Hideki Matsuyama

Hideki’s 2018 campaign was marred by a lingering wrist injury. Matsuyama is one of the best golfers in the world when healthy, and I am expecting big things from the former number one ranked amateur in the world. Matsuyama’s OWGR climbed to as high as 12 in 2016-17, and I expect his ranking to settle around that number during the 2019 season. Matsuyama is no stranger to Waialae, playing this event every other year since 2013. Matsuyama finished T27 in 2017 after struggling his first 2 starts (MC, 78). Matsuyama is one of the best wind players in the world, so I have no problem taking him at projected sub-10% ownership.

DraftKings PGA – Hero World Challenge Values

8,700 Kyle Stanley

Calling Kyle Stanley at 8,700 a value may be a stretch, but I am confident he hits value despite this price-tag! Stanley is one of my favorite fantasy golfers. The kid is no stranger to making cuts. He keeps the ball in the fairway, dials in on approach, and does not bleed strokes on the green. This kid is going to win an event this year, and I see no reason it cannot be this one. In 6 appearances, Stanley is 6/6 in made cuts with a 10, 36, and 13 in his last 3.

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7,800 Ian Poulter

Poulter is the perfect golfer for this course. He hits every fairway, is solid on approach, and is one of the best putters on tour. Poulter has the benefit of playing in Hawaii last week, so he is acclimated and ready. Poulter has never played this event before, which scares me, but he should love the slow greens and the accuracy over power layout.

7,600 Scott Piercy

Piercy is an elite ball-striker that shook off some rust last week at the Sentry Tournament of Champions (T19). His circadian rhythm is accustomed to Hawaii, and he will look to build on his previous success at this tournament. After a missed cut in 2014, Piercy has finishes of 2nd, T13, T57, and T25. Piercy sets up brilliantly for this course, as he is extremely accurate off the tee and exceptional on approach. Piercy will look to continue the success he achieved during the swing season into 2019.

Check out more PGA and NFL 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.