I’m not surprised at all to see Viktor Hovland successfully defend his Mayakoba Championship.  He was surrounded by big names on the leaderboard from Justin Thomas to Scottie Scheffler to Joaquin Niemann.  When you look through the players at the top, it really is a mix bag of players, not just one type.  I’d say ball striking was the key ingredient to success over the weekend in Mexico.  

This event between 2007 and 2018 had been the lead up tournament to the Masters.  It was played on a course where golfers could work out the kinks in their game before heading to Augusta.  The Golf Club of Houston and Augusta National do have similar characteristics.  The tournament moved venues and dates in 2019.  This will be the third time we’ve seen Memorial Park Golf Course which is just a few miles west of downtown Houston.  

This public course is a Par 70 and measures out at 7,432 yards.  That is a similar distance to the Golf Club of Houston but where it differs is the layout.  This course features five par 3s and five par 5s.  Players will have to take out the driver this weekend unlike the last two weeks.  Three of the par 5s are longer than 570 yards (holes number 8 stretches 625 yards) which will make those holes more difficult to make birdies.  The longest par 3 tips at about 237 yards.  The par 4s are all over the map from a driveable par 4 13th to four others stretching out longer than 450 yards including a 502 yard finishing hole.  The rough looks to be a little over two inches thick which will put emphasis on accuracy off the tee but length is important as well.  The greens are Bermuda grass but they are known for their bumps, hills and mounds.  That movement will cause balls to fall off the greens into tough collection areas.  Players' short game will be tested at Memorial.  We need players who can get the ball close and deal with tough pin placements. 

Besides some morning showers on Thursday in the forecast, the rest of the weekend in Houston looks to be perfect.  One note being that this event is played in Texas is the wind.  There is just something about those Texas winds that seem different than what you see on the coastline or on an island.  I will have a few players in my playbook who have experience and success in Texas.  The winds look to be in the single digits most of the weekend.  

Good luck this weekend.

Pos
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Player
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DK
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Draft %
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FD
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Draft %
(Click to sort ascending)
GSam Burns1110020.9%1200037.2%

It looks like 2021-2022 will be Sam Burns’ break out season.  He already won at the Sanderson Farms and finished 5th at the CJ CUP in his last start.  He had a terrific 2020-2021 with a win at the Valspar, runner ups at the Bryson Nelson and the WGC-FedEx.  When you talk about driving the ball, there are few better than him off the tee.  He finished 7th at the 2020 Houston Open.  I don’t know when I’ll get used to him being the top priced option.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
GSungjae Im1070018.1%1190029.7%

After a down year in 2020-2021, Sungjae has had a great start to the new season.  He won the Shriners and finished 9th at the CJ CUP.  He ranks 3rd in Strokes Gained: Around the Green, 5th in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, 7th in Strokes Gained: Total, and 26th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee.  Im got a look at this new venue last year and made the cut.  I can only hope that his second look will result in a better finish than 50th.  

Game Type: CASH & GPP
GMatthew Wolff1040025.1%1130022.2%

Wolff opened up about dealing with mental health issues last season and it seems he’s gotten that under control and his game is coming back as well.  He’s started the 2021-2022 season with three made cuts and finishes of 17th, 2nd and 5th last week.  Wolff ranks Top 30 in Strokes Gained: Approach, Around the Green and Tee to Green.  This will be his first trip.  He makes for a nice value this weekend. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
GBrooks Koepka990021.6%1140014.9%

We all know how talented Brooks Koepka is and a missed cut last week won’t keep me from rostering him this weekend.  He came into Houston last year for the first time in four years and finished Top 5.  Brooks finished Top 12 in both Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and Tee to Green last season.  If he brings the “A” game to Texas this weekend, it’ll be another Top 5 for the four time major champ.  

Game Type: GPP
GJoaquin Niemann950017.4%1080011.4%

Joaquin had made the cut in 32 of his 33 starts dating back to August 2020.  He’s the model of consistency and I’m hoping he’s taking the next step now.  He shot a final round 66 at the Mayakoba to finish 5th for the tournament.  Niemann has never been to the Houston but he finished last season ranking Top 15 in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and Top 50 in Strokes Gained: Approach and Putting.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
GTalor Gooch930024.4%1120019.3%

The terrific start to the 2021-2022 season continues for Talor Gooch.  He’s got 2 Top 5 finishes and another 2 Top 12s over his first four events.  He has finished Top 5 at this event in each of the two years that the tournament has been held at this new course.  Not surprising his ranks are stellar with those results, Top 10 in Strokes Gained: Approach, Strokes Gained: Around the Green, Strokes Gained: Tee to Green and Strokes Gained: Total.  He’s also Top 15th in Green in Regulation.  The price tag is high but he’s earned it.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
GMaverick McNealy850018.1%104006.0%

It’s been a really nice start to the new season for Maverick.  He kicked things off with a runner up at the Fortinet.  Maverick made the cut in four of his five events this season.  He’s Top 32 in both Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, Tee to Green and Greens in Regulation.  He finished 17th in the inaugural edition of this event at the new venue in 2019.  McNealy makes for a nice mid tier value this weekend. 

Game Type: GPP
GRussell Henley89005.3%980013.4%

He is currently number one on tour in Strokes Gained: Approach and 4th in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green.  Henley owned this event when it was played at the Golf Club of Houston scoring five Top 10s (including a win in 2017) over his last six trips before the change in venue.  He finished 29th in his first trip to the new course.  Henley’s got two Top 25s in his first three events this season.  

Game Type: CASH & GPP
GSeamus Power84003.8%980011.2%

After a missed cut in his first start of the season at the Sanderson but he’s got a Top 25 and 2 Top 12s since.  He has never been to this venue but has made the cut at Houston in his one trip.  Power has been finding the fairway consistently, and if that continues he’ll make a statement this weekend.  Power finished Top 25 in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, Top 40 in Strokes Gained: Approach and Greens in Regulation last season. 

Game Type: GPP
GLanto Griffin81007.0%99002.7%

He won the inaugural edition of this tournament at its new home in 2019.  He started this season very up and down with a 66th at the Fortinet, Missed Cut at the Sanderson followed by a 6th place finish at the Shriners and 7th at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP.  I like him this weekend because of his approach ability (37th in 2021) and putting (34th in 2021) to put himself in the mix come Sunday.

Game Type: GPP
GMackenzie Hughes790016.2%960014.2%

Hughes has improved his finish each week that he’s started this 2021-2022 PGA Tour season.  Finished 35th at the Sanderson Farms, 25th at the CJ CUP and then 4th at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP.  That’s all while not putting up to his typical standard (finished Top 20 last year).  Hughes finished 7th at this event on this course in 2020. This course will challenge the putter and that’s where he’ll stand out.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
GHarold Varner III770012.0%960010.5%

Varner missed his first cut of the young season last week at the Mayakoba.  Prior to that, he had a Top 20 and a Top 15 over his first three starts.  In his first trip to this course last year, he finished 15th.  He finished 2020-2021 41st or better in Strokes Gained: Approach, Around the Greens, Tee to Green and Total.  I think he makes a solid lower tier stable option. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
GJason Day74007.2%94005.9%

I know he doesn’t deserve to be higher but I just can’t believe how cheap he is in daily fantasy.  Day has been battling injuries and has only teed it up three times since his Top 15 finish at the Rocket Mortgage back in July.  He returned to action at the CJ CUP but finished 64th.  I’m interested in him this weekend because of his 7th place finish here last year and that he’s so low priced.  His talent can’t be ignored at this price tag.  

Game Type: GPP
GGreyson Sigg67001.3%79001.8%

He made his name last season on the Korn Ferry Tour with two victories and another eight Top 10 finishes.  He has made three straight cuts coming into his debut at the Houston Open.  This 26 year old has a ton of talent and what stood out to me on his profile was 4th in All Around, 7th in Scoring Average, 15th in Greens in Regulation, and 25th in Putting Average.  He’s young and full of confidence coming into this weekend.

Game Type: GPP
GDenny McCarthy66001.4%81001.4%

Seems to be one of my favorite value options especially when the course requires a good putter.  He flashed that putter last weekend in Mexico finishing Top 20, it’s his second of the young 2021-2020 season.  McCarthy finished 9th at this event in the inaugural edition at this venue in 2019.  I think he makes a safe tournament value option this weekend.

Game Type: GPP
G
11100
12000

It looks like 2021-2022 will be Sam Burns’ break out season.  He already won at the Sanderson Farms and finished 5th at the CJ CUP in his last start.  He had a terrific 2020-2021 with a win at the Valspar, runner ups at the Bryson Nelson and the WGC-FedEx.  When you talk about driving the ball, there are few better than him off the tee.  He finished 7th at the 2020 Houston Open.  I don’t know when I’ll get used to him being the top priced option.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
G
10700
11900

After a down year in 2020-2021, Sungjae has had a great start to the new season.  He won the Shriners and finished 9th at the CJ CUP.  He ranks 3rd in Strokes Gained: Around the Green, 5th in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, 7th in Strokes Gained: Total, and 26th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee.  Im got a look at this new venue last year and made the cut.  I can only hope that his second look will result in a better finish than 50th.  

Game Type: CASH & GPP
G
10400
11300

Wolff opened up about dealing with mental health issues last season and it seems he’s gotten that under control and his game is coming back as well.  He’s started the 2021-2022 season with three made cuts and finishes of 17th, 2nd and 5th last week.  Wolff ranks Top 30 in Strokes Gained: Approach, Around the Green and Tee to Green.  This will be his first trip.  He makes for a nice value this weekend. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
G
9900
11400

We all know how talented Brooks Koepka is and a missed cut last week won’t keep me from rostering him this weekend.  He came into Houston last year for the first time in four years and finished Top 5.  Brooks finished Top 12 in both Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and Tee to Green last season.  If he brings the “A” game to Texas this weekend, it’ll be another Top 5 for the four time major champ.  

Game Type: GPP
G
9500
10800

Joaquin had made the cut in 32 of his 33 starts dating back to August 2020.  He’s the model of consistency and I’m hoping he’s taking the next step now.  He shot a final round 66 at the Mayakoba to finish 5th for the tournament.  Niemann has never been to the Houston but he finished last season ranking Top 15 in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and Top 50 in Strokes Gained: Approach and Putting.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
G
9300
11200

The terrific start to the 2021-2022 season continues for Talor Gooch.  He’s got 2 Top 5 finishes and another 2 Top 12s over his first four events.  He has finished Top 5 at this event in each of the two years that the tournament has been held at this new course.  Not surprising his ranks are stellar with those results, Top 10 in Strokes Gained: Approach, Strokes Gained: Around the Green, Strokes Gained: Tee to Green and Strokes Gained: Total.  He’s also Top 15th in Green in Regulation.  The price tag is high but he’s earned it.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
G
8500
10400

It’s been a really nice start to the new season for Maverick.  He kicked things off with a runner up at the Fortinet.  Maverick made the cut in four of his five events this season.  He’s Top 32 in both Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, Tee to Green and Greens in Regulation.  He finished 17th in the inaugural edition of this event at the new venue in 2019.  McNealy makes for a nice mid tier value this weekend. 

Game Type: GPP
G
8900
9800

He is currently number one on tour in Strokes Gained: Approach and 4th in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green.  Henley owned this event when it was played at the Golf Club of Houston scoring five Top 10s (including a win in 2017) over his last six trips before the change in venue.  He finished 29th in his first trip to the new course.  Henley’s got two Top 25s in his first three events this season.  

Game Type: CASH & GPP
G
8400
9800

After a missed cut in his first start of the season at the Sanderson but he’s got a Top 25 and 2 Top 12s since.  He has never been to this venue but has made the cut at Houston in his one trip.  Power has been finding the fairway consistently, and if that continues he’ll make a statement this weekend.  Power finished Top 25 in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, Top 40 in Strokes Gained: Approach and Greens in Regulation last season. 

Game Type: GPP
G
8100
9900

He won the inaugural edition of this tournament at its new home in 2019.  He started this season very up and down with a 66th at the Fortinet, Missed Cut at the Sanderson followed by a 6th place finish at the Shriners and 7th at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP.  I like him this weekend because of his approach ability (37th in 2021) and putting (34th in 2021) to put himself in the mix come Sunday.

Game Type: GPP
G
7900
9600

Hughes has improved his finish each week that he’s started this 2021-2022 PGA Tour season.  Finished 35th at the Sanderson Farms, 25th at the CJ CUP and then 4th at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP.  That’s all while not putting up to his typical standard (finished Top 20 last year).  Hughes finished 7th at this event on this course in 2020. This course will challenge the putter and that’s where he’ll stand out.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
G
7700
9600

Varner missed his first cut of the young season last week at the Mayakoba.  Prior to that, he had a Top 20 and a Top 15 over his first three starts.  In his first trip to this course last year, he finished 15th.  He finished 2020-2021 41st or better in Strokes Gained: Approach, Around the Greens, Tee to Green and Total.  I think he makes a solid lower tier stable option. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
G
7400
9400

I know he doesn’t deserve to be higher but I just can’t believe how cheap he is in daily fantasy.  Day has been battling injuries and has only teed it up three times since his Top 15 finish at the Rocket Mortgage back in July.  He returned to action at the CJ CUP but finished 64th.  I’m interested in him this weekend because of his 7th place finish here last year and that he’s so low priced.  His talent can’t be ignored at this price tag.  

Game Type: GPP
G
6700
7900

He made his name last season on the Korn Ferry Tour with two victories and another eight Top 10 finishes.  He has made three straight cuts coming into his debut at the Houston Open.  This 26 year old has a ton of talent and what stood out to me on his profile was 4th in All Around, 7th in Scoring Average, 15th in Greens in Regulation, and 25th in Putting Average.  He’s young and full of confidence coming into this weekend.

Game Type: GPP
G
6600
8100

Seems to be one of my favorite value options especially when the course requires a good putter.  He flashed that putter last weekend in Mexico finishing Top 20, it’s his second of the young 2021-2020 season.  McCarthy finished 9th at this event in the inaugural edition at this venue in 2019.  I think he makes a safe tournament value option this weekend.

Game Type: GPP