PGA FanDuel Picks: The 2019 Northern Trust
PGA FanDuel Picks – Mid Tier Picks: ($10,000 – $11,000)
Xander Schauffele – $10,800 – (GPP)
I have a feeling the 25-year-old Schauffele might be going a tad overlooked here this week after recent struggles at the Open Championship and at the St. Jude Invitational.
He hasn’t been in great form since his T-3 at the U.S. Open, but I think this is a pretty fair price for a young star who has proven he can win at any given time.
Schauffele finished 15th in the FedEx Cup standings last year, and that was without a win and just seven top-tens in 27 total events. This season, he took care of his spot in the top ten early, with his wins at the WGC-HSBC Champions and the Sentry TOC. He heads into the playoffs currently 4th in the standings, with his two wins, and three additional top-tens in just 18 events.
I flirted with him as a cash play, but the fact that I can get someone in a little better form seems more ideal. Again, I want to stress that the $9-10K range is absolutely loaded this week, and rostering four potential top-ten guys there with two studs seems like it will be a popular build. I will have a little Schauffele, but he will not be in my cash game lineup this week.
Tony Finau – $10,200 – (GPP)
In the same form as McIlroy, I really want to be a little different this week, so I am going to welcome Tony Finau back to my DFS life for the first time in a very long time.
I am almost 100% certain that I have not recommended him here in these picks all year long, but his overall game and ball-striking seems to be getting back to where he was a threat to contend week in and week out.
I don’t think it is relevant because it was at a different golf course, but for what it is worth, Finau captured one of his many runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour at the Northern Trust last year. Although he has been solid since breaking his slump at the 3M Open with a T-23 finish, the fact remains that he missed three straight cuts prior to that, and is still a pretty risky play because of it.
However, Finau took his solo third-place finish at the Open Championship into Sedgefield C.C. last week and was pretty decent once again with a T-27 finish. I don’t think he is a cash play this week, but I also feel like he could make a run soon and finally catch that elusive first victory on tour.
It’s getting close to now or never for the now 29-year-old, and I would love to have a piece of his first win at low ownership in a GPP. Finau has the ability and is playing better as of late, and I am jumping on board for this playoff run while he is still cheap.