PGA FanDuel picks: The 2019 Greenbrier
PGA FanDuel Picks – Top Tier Picks: ($11,000+)
Viktor Hovland – $12,100 – (Cash)
First of all, the more I dig this week the more I think this is a GPP week only. Making a cash lineup that feels comfortable is nearly impossible, but I will still ride it out with my top three plays and whatever I can fit with it, and it starts here with Hovland.
Over $12K here might be enough to scare some folks off this week, but the combination of consistency and the natural ability to run away with a win here in this field makes Hovland a very tough fade regardless of price. The 21-year-old rookie finished the PGA Tour season with a solo 4th place finish at the Wyndham Championship and then took to the Korn Ferry Tour to secure his PGA tour card for this season successfully. This will be Hovland’s first crack at The Old White TPC, and he is coming in off of a T-2 in his last action at the Boise Open on the KFT.
Bryson DeChambeau is the favorite here with Hovland right behind him according to the odds, but the volatility of DeChambeau as of late has me taking a bold stance and fading him here. For the most part, with a weaker field, we need to take some stands, and while Bryson is obviously still a great GPP play, the risk for the price just is not my modus operandi. Hovland is my top overall play this week, and he will anchor my stars and scrubs cash game build.
Joaquin Niemann – $11,000 – (Cash/GPP)
I should state the obvious here before we get to Niemann, Jason Kokrak needs to be on your radar as well, as he is an elite cash play with his consistency. However, when you compare Niemann at this price to Kokrak for $500 more and Sungjae Im for just $200 more, my thought is that he may go a bit overlooked.
We know we can’t pay up for all of these guys in this range over $11K, and even squeezing three of them in can be extremely risky considering your other three roster spots. Niemann seems like he will be the odd man out here when it comes to ownership, and while he will likely not be a popular cash play, I am still on board.
I thought about saving this for GPP only and pivoting down to Marc Leishman who we will talk about on the next slide, but I am going to ride a gut feeling with this one. Niemann is certainly cash safe don’t get me wrong here, I just think a more popular name like Leishman at a lesser price will attract more ownership.
However, Niemann has missed just one cut in 11 events since the PGA Championship in May, with three top-tens along the way. The win is coming for this kid, and the entire industry feels like one of these kids is going to break through and get a win this week. It’s Hovland or Niemann for me, so both along with Kokrak will be the core for my main lineup this week.