Congratulations to Jason Kokrak ($8,600 DK $9,000 FD) who entered the winner’s circle last week for the first time in his 10-year career as a PGA Tour member at the The CJ Cup 268 (-20) 1stplace at Shadow Creek over Xander Schauffele ($11,200 DK $11,600 FD) by two strokes.
This week at (Sherwood Country Club ) the Jack Nicklaus designed course will play to a Par of 72 at 7,100 yards, with three inches of rye grass rough, with oak tree lined fairways, along with undulating, and a combination of fast bent/poa- annua grass greens as its defense. Sherwood CC has five par 5 (three on the back nine) and five par 3 holes (three on the back nine) on this scenic Thousand Oaks, California, golf course that should see good scoring amongst this limited field of 78 competitors, with no 36-hole cut. Tiger Woods ($9,000 DK $10,300 FD) is the 2019 defending champion when it was last played at Narashino Country Club in Chiba, Japan. Due to Covid-19 restrictions Sherwood CC will be hosting (The ZOZO Championship ) only for this year, filling in for Narashino CC. For this week Xander Schauffele ($11,200 DK $11,600 FD) and Jon Rahm ($11,000 DK $12,000 FD) headline DraftKings and FanDuel salary rankings respectively, with Dustin Johnson still out with Covid-19.
DFSExperts will provide two value picks in the B and C categories that will be competitive to make the cut and quite possibly to be a contender for the win. Then exclusively for DFSExperts members, Iwill make additional predictions and recommendations to build a roster of six with supporting statistical and trending analysis from each of the A, B, and C, categories. Last week at The CJ Cup my B-List value pick stars were Russell Henley 271 (-17) T-3rd place and Joaquin Niemann 275 (-13) 6th place.
This week’s free choices in the B-List are Talor Gooch ($7,100 DK $8,200 FD) who has had a hot hand of late 272 (-16) 5th place finish last week, has been strong in overall strokes gained, around the greens and with the putter. Sherwood CC should be a good course for Gooch to have a top 20 finish and possibly contend for his first win on Tour. The other B-List value is Lanto Griffin ($7,000 DK $8,100 FD) who also had a strong finish last week 276 (-12) T-7th who has consistent strokes gained throughout his stat categories and seems to be a momentum guy that when he is hot you can look for him to have a top 5 to 10th place finish. In the C-List category Corey Conners ($6,600 DK $7,800 FD) is a great value and I believe is under the radar in this strong field. Conners is strong in strokes gained off of the tee and on approach, with this being a shorter golf course he should be able to take advantage of the five par 5 holes, especially when starting on the back nine holes where there are three reachable par 5’s. A consistent competitor that was over matched last week at Shadow Creek but should thrive this week on a shorter golf course, that will emphasize strokes gained on approach and with the putter is Brendan Steele ($6,500 DK $7,500 FD). Look for Steele to have a top 10-20 finish this week.
Thereare severalquality picks that are very undervalued throughout the field, but especially in both the B and C-List groupings, which is deeper than usual with a limited field of high performers. Many have stellar performance records, have played well recently on similar style golf courses, and will emerge as players to watch to win. I have picked the winner in four of the last ten weeks and many of my B-List picks are finishing in the top 5 to 10 and C-List picks are placing in the top 10 to 20, including a win for Stewart Cink at the Safeway event. Beyond the obvious, pay attention to my free picks, combined with the more in-depth analysis exclusively for DFSExperts members and you could be cashing a three to six figure ticket. Join me on the members side and be enlightened.
A-List DFS Picks for The ZOZO Championship at Sherwood CC: 2020
This week more of the top-rated PGA Tour players are joining in on the competitive 2020-’21 PGA Tour Season. This will allow you to build a winning and unique roster with players down the A-List, B-List and yes, even down into the C-List category. DFSExperts will add to the obvious statistical analysis, with deeper research and the eyeball test. These details and trends from the entire field are only possible to come from someone that is intimately familiar with competitive golf, that is willing to go beyond the numbers and reaches the depth and breadth of the competitor and person to be out in front of positive results.
I believe in the top 25 salary range at and above $8,000 DK, at or above $8,900 FD, Jon Rahm ($11,000 DK $12,000 FD), Xander Schauffele ($11,200 DK $11,600 FD), Justin Thomas ($10,600 DK $11,800 FD) Rory McIlroy ($10,400 DK $11,700 FD) Matthew Wolff ($9,100 DK $10,200 FD) and Collin Morikawa ($9,800 DK $11,100 FD) are the most likely to find the victory circle this week based on a combination of their ball striking, recent form, and short game skills. I have not been high on Tiger Woods ($9,000 DK $10,300 FD) prospects priced as an A-List roster choice, but this week is an exception and I feel he will be a strong second choice amongst the A-List roster choices. Providing confidence in this opinion is his strong history and familiarity with Sherwood CC, having a two month lay-off where I am certain he is motivated to prepare to defend his 2019 Masters victory, with honor and distinction. I expect Woods to come out sharp, focused, and prepared to contend this week. Any one or two of these top salary players are good cornerstones to your lineup this week. Most of the top 25 are appropriately priced and should be competitive for a top 5 to 10 finish. However, I do feel Jason Kokrak ($8,800 DK $9,000 FD) is a fade this week due to a big win last week and he will have a little hangover this week from the extra hoop-la that comes with winning for the first time on the PGA Tour. I believe Kokrak will still have a top 30 finish this week but will not be what you are looking for in an A-List pick.
B-List DFS Picks for The ZOZO Championship at Sherwood CC: 2020
Abraham Ancer ($7,800 DK $8,900 FD), Talor Gooch ($7,100 DK $8,200 FD) and Lanto Griffin ($7,000 DK $8,100 FD) all have consistent strokes gained across the board which should serve them well at Sherwood CC this week. With a hot putter, all have the potential to win this week, but certainly will be amongst the top 10-20 finishers. I actually think there are many good third or fourth roster selections in the B-List and don’t have an obvious fade in this category this week in this limited, but talented field.
C-List DFS Picks for The ZOZO Championship at Sherwood CC: 2020
I believe Corey Conners ($6,600 DK $7,800 FD) and Brendan Steele ($6,500 DK $7,500 FD) are great roster choices for your last spot or two. These quality competitors are not normally in the C-List category, but with a limited field this week and not performing up to their normal standards last week, they are priced more reasonably this week and will match up better on a course that will emphasize their strengths. They both are solid choices for a top 10-20 finish and are an excellent value at these prices. Mark Hubbard ($6,400 DK $7,200 FD) is also an excellent bargain at this price, as he has had many top 10 and 20 finishes on Tour with a 281 (-7) T-17 finish last week at Shadow Creek. He has the skillset to excel and to be a contender this week at Sherwood CC. No-go’s in the C-List category this week are the $6,000 DK players and $7,000 FD players with just a few exceptions. Too many cuts missed and poor recent form throughout this group.
While these are a few teasers for this week, more in depth analysis and justification for my recommended lineup plays, or don’t play this week, are exclusively available for members of DFSExperts.com. Send us any fodder for the “Wall of Fame” including screenshots. We will put them up on social and proclaim you the DFS champion of the world. Good luck, and Golf On!
