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The DraftKings PGA: 2019 Genesis Open Picks and Analysis

By Benjamin Main

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - FEBRUARY 17: Derek Fathauer plays his shot from the 15th tee during the third round of the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club on February 17, 2018 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - FEBRUARY 17: Derek Fathauer plays his shot from the 15th tee during the third round of the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club on February 17, 2018 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Derek Fathauer plays his shot from the 15th tee during the third round of the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club on February 17, 2018 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) DraftKings PGA
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Derek Fathauer plays his shot from the 15th tee during the third round of the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club on February 17, 2018 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) DraftKings PGA /

The DraftKings PGA: 2019 Genesis Open Picks and Analysis

Paul Casey lived up to his moniker as a lovable loser. A 5 shot lead going into Sunday (and Monday) at Pebble Beach was not enough for Casey, as Phil Mickelson grabbed the victory from Casey. Phil’s fortitude from behind is admirable, and I love to see a near-50 year-old Phil Mickelson playing great golf. Another oldie-but-goodie will be in the field this week for the Genesis Open: TIGER WOODS.

The Tour stays in California again this week, moving from Pebble to Riviera Country Club, just outside of LA. Riviera has hosted the tournament 56 times. And lucky for all of you reading this, this is one of my favorite events of the season! Riviera is a very difficult course. Its long (7,349 yards), there are trees lining most of the small fairways, the Poa greens are small and fast (56% GIR in 2018), the field is very strong, and the Kikuyu grass can fluster even the best short games. Riviera is a par 71, boasting 3 par-5 holes all over 550 yards.

The 2018 edition of the Genesis Open saw Bubba Watson capture his 3rd victory at the Genesis Open (he  won in 2014 and 2016). Bubba finished at -12, two strokes better than Finau and Na. Dustin Johnson captured the 2017 title, shooting a -17 and blitzing the field by 5 strokes.

Riviera favors bombers and ball-strikers. Around the green on this Kikuyu grass is extremely difficult, so you better be sticking your approaches. Shorter hitters that can keep the ball in the fairway have also had some success at Riviera.

Key Stats

Approach Gained

Ball-Striking Gained

Fairways Gained

Around the green Gained

Poa Gained

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan plays his shot on the 13th hole during the second round at the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club on February 17, 2017 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan plays his shot on the 13th hole during the second round at the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club on February 17, 2017 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

DraftKings PGA – Genesis Open Picks

9,400 Hideki Matsuyama

Hideki will go under-the-radar in terms of ownership this week. He is sandwiched between guys like Tony Finau, Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods. I will take Matsuyama over all of those guys! He has stellar course history (T4, T11, T23 with one MC) and he is playing good golf (4/6 top-20’s and 6/6 on cuts in 2019). He is one of the best ball-strikers in the field, and hopefully he practiced that new putting stroke after sitting out of Pebble last week.

8,400 Cameron Smith

Cam Smith’s game is on point to start the 2019 season. The golfer ranks 5th in the PGA tour in Strokes Gained Approach and he ranks in the top 20 in the field in Strokes Gained Tee-To-Green, Putting, and Around-The-Green. He is playing the best golf of his career and, being from Australia, loves Kikuyu grass. Cam is my pick to win the tournament. Cam has played this tournament 3 times in his career, finishing T63, T28, and T6 last year.

7,800 Rafa Cabrera Bello

RCB played really well at Pebble, and I will go back to the well this week for another course that RCB has played well on. He played the Genesis Open for the first time last year, finishing T26. RCB ranks top 20 in the field in SG Off-The-Tee, Approach, and Putting. Around-the-green is the only aspect of his game that is questionable, but everyone will be struggling around the green this week, so that may be mitigated. At this price, RCB makes a lot of sense in your lineup.

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Keegan Bradley and his wife exit the course as play is called due to heavy rain during the second round at the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club on February 17, 2017 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Keegan Bradley and his wife exit the course as play is called due to heavy rain during the second round at the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club on February 17, 2017 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

DraftKings PGA – Genesis Open Values

7,500 Scott Stallings

Stallings will not come cheap in terms of ownership. Stallings checks all the boxes at this course and in form. The guy mashes it off the tee and is striking it pure. Stallings had a T4 here last year and just finished 3rd at Pebble. I think its safe to say that he will be popular, but I don’t think I want to fade him this week.

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7,300 Keegan Bradley

This price is criminal! Bradley has 17 straight made cuts going back to last year. His game seems to be tailored to this course, he hits long drives with incredible accuracy and he is a true 2nd shot golfer, boasting some of the best strokes gained approach numbers year-after-year. Bradley will be a staple in my lineups. His course form is not ideal, but not terrible. From 2018 on he has went MC, T36, MC, T4, T20, T16. If DraftKings is going to give Bradley away for basically free, then I will roll with him.

6,400 Cameron Davis

Davis is just a dart throw. First, he is an Aussie and fits into my Aussies crush Kikuyu grass theory. Second, I like what the stats are telling me. He mashes it off-the-tee (11th in PGA in DD in 2019) and is solid on approach, ranking in the top 20 in the field SGA. Davis has never played this event, but I like how it sets up for him.

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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.