PGA DFS Playbook: Open Championship

While his last two trips to the Open Championship have not been great, but right now, he’s playing on a completely different level.  He seems to be a man on a mission right now and he has a chance to show up all the LIV Tour players and I feel like he’s going to take full advantage.  In his last five starts since the Masters, he’s finished 2nd-5th-8th-18th-1st-19th.  2014 was a long time ago when he took him his one and only Claret Jug, but he’s been turning back the clock.  He currently ranks 1st in Scoring Average, 2nd in Tee to Green, 3rd in Off the Tee, 6th in Birdie Average, 13th in Approach, and 40th in Greens in Regulation.  The biggest change has been ranking inside the Top 10 in Putting.  I believe in Rory. 

There is no doubt that Justin’s track record at the Open and on Scottish soil has not been good.  I am not going to let that stop me from playing him because of his current form.  He’s the reigning PGA Champion and followed that up two weeks later with a third place at the RBC Heritage.  He ranks 1st in Birdie Average, 4th in Tee to Green, 5th in Scoring Average, 6th in Approach, 15th in Off the Tee, 28th in Around the Green and 30th in Greens in Regulation.  I feel like you’ll get a better ownership number on him compared to the other guys at the top. 

If Xander was red hot coming into the Scottish Open last weekend, it’s on fire heading into the Open Championship.  I will eat the chalk with this one because it's impossible for me to ignore his current form.  Xander has finishes of 5th, 13th, 18th, 14th, and back to back wins at the Travelers and Scottish.  Schauffele has also never missed the cut at the Open with a runner up finish in 2018 at Carnoustie.  He ranks 4th in Birdie Average, 7th in Scoring Average, 8th in Tee to Green, 9th in Approach, 10th in Greens in Regulation and Top 40 in both Putting and Around the Green.  The fact that he’s under 10K, it’s almost a crime not to play him at that price point. 

I feel like Cameron is getting overlooked this weekend.  Yea, I know he came down to earth a bit after his incredible start to the season but who cares?  The Scottish Open was his first start since a missed cut at the U.S. Open and finished Top 10.  He has made the cut at the Open Championship his last three trips and finished Top 20 in 2019.  I have talked at length about the importance of playing in the wind and few are better than Austrailans.  He knows how to play along gusty coastlines.  He ranks 2nd in Scoring Average, 4th in Birdie Average, 5th in Approach, 16th in Putting, 27th in Tee to Green, and 32nd in Around the Green.  All the focus and ownership will be on Will Zalatoris because of his great play in majors but I’ll take him at basically the same price.  

I may be crazy for this but I’m going to put Cantlay into my playbook for a major championship.  When you look at his track record, it has been pretty bad on the biggest stages.  In his last six starts, he has three Top 5s, two Top 15s and a missed cut.  He comes into this weekend on the heels of a Top 5 at the Scottish.  When you look at this game, you’d think he’d have a better record on links but I believe that can change this weekend.  He finished 12th in his Open debut in 2018 but missed the cut last year.  Cantlay currently ranks 5th in Birdie Average, 8th in Scoring Average, 20th in Putting, 23rd in Off the Tee, 29th in Tee to Green and 40th in Around the Green.  This could be the week he breaks through with that major victory. 

We all know why I’m recommending him this weekend.  He won the 2010 Open Championship at St. Andrews.  He didn’t just win it, he ran away with the Claret Jug winning by 7 strokes over Lee Westwood.  Oh and did I mention that he finished runner up in 2015 at St. Andrews to Zach Johnson as well?  Louis also finished third last year.  After struggling to start the season, he’s played well since starting on the LIV Tour with Top 10 finishes at both the London and Portland events.  It really is hard to ignore him at the Old Course.    

It is shocking to me that he has not won a PGA Tour event with his skill level, also knowing that he’s won six times internationally.  He comes into this weekend on the heels of a 4th place finish at the Scottish Open and also scored a Top 5 at the PGA Championship.  Tommy has made the cut in his last four trips to the Open with a runner up finish at the 2019 edition at Royal Portrush.  The Englishman is more than capable of playing in these Scottish conditions and would actually prefer to see more winds.  While he hasn’t had a great season, he still ranks 10th in Scoring Average, 10th in Around the Greens, 39th in Putting, and 43rd in Tee to Green.  I feel like he makes for a safe mid-tier option with obviously upside.  

Finau actually has a really good track record playing on links courses.  He has never missed the cut at the Open in five trips with two Top 10s and another two Top 20 finishes.  Over his last nine events dating back to the end of March, he made eight cuts with three Top 5 finishes, most recently at the RBC Canadian.  Tony ranks 9th in Tee to Green, 15th in Approach, 19th in Off the Tee, 20th in Greens in Regulation, 30th in Scoring Average, and 36th in Birdie Average.  He’s another guy I don’t feel like is being talked about enough for his skill set and track record.  

Homa is going to be a very chalky play this weekend.  He seems to be everyone’s favorite mid-tier option, especially sitting at only $7,900.  The only thing that actually scares me about him is seeing that he’s paired with Tiger Woods for the first two days and that can be intimidating.  Max has not missed a cut on the PGA Tour since the Farmers back in late January.  Over that run, he won at the Wells Fargo and picked up another six Top 20 finishes including last week at the Scottish Open.  Max doesn’t excel in just one or two areas of his game, he ranks Top 50 in Off the Tee, Approach, Putting, Tee to Green, Birdie Average and Scoring Average.  He will be a very popular pick.  

The old handsome Aussie can still get it done on occasion.  Scott played in the last two Open Championships at St. Andrews finished 10th and 27th.  I’ve already mentioned the success that Austrailians have had on these Scottish courses with the gusty coastal winds.  The 41-year-old ranks 33rd in Approach, 38th in Putting and Birdie Average.  He has not played since the U.S. Open but finished inside the Top 15 at that championship.  I’m not saying he’s going to go out and win but he could score a Top 20 and that’s giving you value at this price point.

Do I really need to give you a bunch of reasons to play Tiger Woods?  You were probably going to play him even if I recommended him or not.  He’s won here twice and knows this place inside and out.  If he’s going to win another major, this is the place he could do it.  

The 35-year-old Irishman will play in his first Open Championship this weekend and I could see him making noise.  Does it scare me that it’s his first one?  No because he grew up playing in these conditions in Ireland.  He has made the cut in four of his last five starts and all of those paydays were finishes of 25th or better.  Those include a 9th at the PGA Championship and 12th at the U.S. Open, another reason I’m not afraid to fire him up on the biggest stage.  He ranks 7th in Greens in Regulation, 20th in both Scoring and Birdie Average, 27th in Putting, 52nd in Tee to Green and 60th in Off the Tee. 

I really hate Patrick Reed.  The fact that he went to the LIV Tour just cemented it for me.  I did not want to push him this weekend but it was hard for me to stay away.  If the winds really do get high, he’s a guy you will want on your roster.  Reed has been very boom or bust at the Open Championship over his career.  He either misses the cut or finishes inside the Top 25 which he did in 2015 at St. Andrews.  Reed does have two Top 10s in his last four starts across the PGA and LIV Tour.  This is the type of play that could help you win a GPP if he finds himself inside the Top 15 at the end of the weekend.  

This guy crushed my soul at the Masters earlier this year but I’m willing to jump back in this weekend.  Since that missed cut at the Masters, he has been crushing it on the DP World Tour.  Pieters has two wins since November and nearly got a third at the BMW International.  He has never missed the cut in four trips to the Open Championship but his best finish was 28th in 2018.  His stats are strong across the board ranking 2nd in Total, 5th in Off the Tee, 13th in Approach, 16th in Around the Green, and 32nd in Putting.  

Yea, I know Danny isn’t playing terrific right now.  He’s missed the cut in four of his last five starts but he’s a proven winner.  The dude has a green jacket and seven wins on the DP World Tour.  Danny has made the cut in the last six Opens including a 6th place at the Old Course in 2015.  All you need to know is he makes for a terrific tournament play this weekend.  

Hughes made his debut at the Open Championship last year and finished sixth.  His game just fits the links style, especially his abilities on and around the greens.  I am a little depressed that he missed the cut at the Scottish but if anything that will bring down his ownership.  That was his first missed cut in his last five starts.  He ranks 7th in Putting, 24th in Around the Greens, and 43rd in Scoring Average.  This good Canadian boy has shown the ability to step up on the biggest stages, 15th at the 2021 U.S. Open, 6th at the 2021 Open, made the cut at the Masters, and 24th at the 2022 U.S. Open.  

This 25-year-old Englishman made the jump from the DP World Tour to the LIV Tour.  I don’t love that such a young guy has made that decision but it’s hard to turn down that money.  Before he left the DP World Tour, he was sitting 1st in Approach, 1st in Total, 9th in Putting, and 37th in Around the Green.  He won the Soudal Open on the European Tour, 5th at the London LIV event and followed that up with an 11th in Portland.  Horsfield did make the cut in his first Open Championship last year.

I bet you didn't know he was ranked inside the Top 40 in the World Golf Rankings.  He has been making the transition to a bigger tour and it’s been slow grind but making progress.  In his last four starts on the PGA Tour since the beginning of May, he’s made the cut in three of those events with finishes of 17th, 23rd and a third place last week at the Scottish Open.  I love the price tag because this came out before his finish at the Renaissance Club.    

The man, the myth, the legend himself, John Daly.  I mean, he's min priced across the board and he's won here.  I know he's basically a caricature of himself these days but why not take a shot in a GPP with him to help fit an extra top tier player in your lineup.