DraftKings PGA first round showdown picks: The Players Championship

The Players is set to start to on Thursday morning! Let’s take a look at the DraftKings PGA showdown contest for round one!

Before I discuss my DraftKings PGA player selections I want to clearly emphasize that this article is focused on the first round showdown contest. The single round showdown contest offered by DraftKings is vastly different with regard to scoring than the traditional classic contest that DraftKings currently offers for fantasy golf.

For those readers that are not aware, the classic contest offered by DraftKings focuses on an entire golf tournament. In direct contrast to the classic contest, the showdown contest is focused on only one round. This article is specifically focused on the first round of the 2020 Players.

If you have additional questions regarding the single round showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the DraftKings website for more details.

Here are my player selections for the first round showdown contest!

Rory McIlroy $11,200

The key to taking down any single round showdown contest is locating golfers that have the ability to fire a very low round. Additionally, I like to identify golfers that can avoid placing any bogeys on the scorecard and have the real potential of getting my showdown lineups multiple eagles and birdies.

Well, I think I have a golfer that certainly fits the above mentioned criteria! That golfer’s name is Rory McIlroy. The current number one ranked golfer in the world has been jumping out of the gates quickly in tournament play this season. In his last five opening rounds on the PGA Tour, McIlroy has an average score of 66.6! In last week’s first round at the API, Rory had one eagle, five birdies and one bogey en route to a first round 66.

Webb Simpson $9,100

Simpson has six top ten finishes in his last seven tournaments on the PGA Tour, including a win at the Waste Management Phoenix Open six weeks ago. Webb currently ranks 16th in first round scoring average (69.20) on the PGA Tour. It should also be noted that Simpson won the 2018 edition of The Players.

Sungjae Im $8,700

The 2019 PGA Tour rookie of the year has played outstanding golf in the two Florida swing events. He won the Honda Classic two weeks ago and finished third at the API last week. Im has played 14 first rounds in the new PGA Tour season that began in September. In those 14 first rounds played, Im has an average first round score of 69.3. I fully expect that Im will continue his outstanding play in the first round of The Players on Thursday.

Harris English $7,200

Harris English has put together an outstanding run of quality golf over the last two months. More specifically, he has a very impressive three consecutive top 17 finishes on the PGA Tour, including a ninth place result at the API last week.

Yes, I know that English does not have the greatest of career records at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course. In my opinion, a golfer playing this well can overcome poor previous performance on a specific golf course. English certainly checks the box for me when it comes to recent first round scoring. His last three first round scores are: 65, 66 and 69.

Tom Hoge $6,600

Hoge has played seven PGA Tour events in 2020. In those seven tournaments played, Hoge has five top 25 finishes, including a fifth place result at the Farmers Insurance Open in January. In the seven event span just mentioned, Hoge has also played very well in the first round. He fired a first round 66 at the American Express in January and a first round 65 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February.

If you utilize the five golfers noted in this article, you will have $7,100 to use on your sixth and final golfer to complete your unique first round showdown lineup!

As always, good luck!