Well, we have a real big boy course and tournament this week, where pars will be valuable on any hole. DFS point totals will likely be much lower, with not as many birdies being made and more double bogeys likely being recorded than eagles. This will be a test of the complete golfer. All skills, including patience and mental fortitude will be important to score well this week. As in all past traditional U.S. Open set-ups, there will be more of an emphasis on hitting fairways and strokes gained on the greens than all other weeks on the PGA Tour. The sixth (U.S. Open ) at Winged Foot’s West Course is headlined by Dustin Johnson ($11,500 DK $12,100 FD), Jon Rahm ($11,000 DK $11,800 FD), Justin Thomas ($10,700 DK $11,600 FD), Rory McIlroy ($10,500 DK $11,700 FD), Xander Schauffele ($10,100 DK $11,400 FD), and Collin Morikawa ($10,000 DK $11,100 FD) above the $10,000 DK and $11,000 FD range. Two of the above competitors of the six, will likely be part of a winning lineup. FantasyDFSExperts.com will provide two value picks in the B and C groupings that will be competitive to make the cut for the top 60 scores after 36 holes, plus ties, and quite possibly to be a contender for the win.
This week (Winged Foot West ) will be playing to a Par 70 at 7,477 yards. Both of these fabulous golden era gems, West and East courses, were designed by A.W. Tillinghast, Hall of Fame architect, they debuted in 1923 and the West hosted its first U.S. Open in 1929 won by Bobby Jones. Gil Hanse restored and updated the West Course in 2017. The greens will be firm and fast, severely sloped from back to front, and are a combination of poa annua (80 percent) and bent grass (20 percent). On a course of this layout I believe it will favor the competitors that average 10 of 14 fairways daily, play precise hybrids and mid iron approaches below the hole, and putt their best on fast poa annua/bent grass greens. In other words, those that play their best this week, will have a well-rounded game and they will be comfortable and confident on a big course that will require a deft safe-crackers touch on these slick greens.
The weather forecast for Thursday through Sunday calls for temperature highs between 78 – 65 degrees. The chance of precipitation is only 10 to 20 percent throughout the event and if seen at all, it will be in the form of a quick moving thundershower. The wind will likely be a factor this week as it will range from nine to twelve miles per hour out of the SW, N, and NNE. Gary Woodland($7,800 DK $9,500 FD) is the defending champion when it was hosted at Pebble Beach in 2019. This week will be important to pick a strong B and C roster to have a unique and winning team. Sleeper picks from DFSExperts can make your lineup unique and turn it into a winner, adding to the obvious statistical analysis choices, with deeper research and the eyeball test. These details and trends from the entire field are only possible to come from an experienced golf coach that goes beyond the numbers and reaches the depth and breadth of the competitor and person to be out in front of positive results.
This week’s free choices come mainly from my B-list in that many are so good that I could give them an A-. While not crazy-long, he is is a great iron player and an even better putter, Abraham Ancer ($7,800 DK $9,200 FD), is a good bet to make the cut at a good price. For about the same price you can get the defending champion in Gary Woodland ($7,800 DK $9,500 FD). Woodland is tough mentally and should be good to make the cut and possibly better. A super-deep pick comes from the European tour in England’s Sam Horsfield ($6,800 DK $8,300 FD) as he is a great ball striker who’s game will translate to well to Winged Foot with its deep rough and ultra-tricky greens. (Publisher’s Note – Sam Horsfeld is out with a positive COVID test on 9/16/20)
There are several quality picks that are very undervalued throughout the field, but especially in the B-List grouping that have stellar performance records, have played well recently on similar style golf courses and will emerge as players to watch to win, not just to make the cut. Pick two of these, as I did last week, with Stewart Cink (-21 1st Place) and Sahith Theegala (-15 T14) you could be cashing a three to six figure ticket. Come to the other side of the Paywall and be enlightened.
A-List DFS Picks at the U.S. Open: 2020
I believe one of the top six players will be victorious this week, with Dustin Johnson ($11,500 DK $12,100 FD) being the odds-on favorite, for good reason. Based on Xander Schauffele’scombination of strokes gained putting and greens hit proximity to the hole, he is a solid choice and is capable of heading a roster or being a complementary player to one of the top three. I would not choose Bryson DeChambeau ($9,900 DK $11,300 FD) at this price, he is missing too many fairways. He will likely make the cut, but not finish in the top 10 to justify his salary.
B-List DFS Picks at the U.S. Open: 2020
Tyrrell Hatton ($8,100 DK $9,800 FD) and Matthew Fitzpatrick ($8,000 DK $9,600 FD) fit the model of success for Winged Foot as leaders in strokes gained putting, on approach, and off the tee. Chez Reavie ($6,900 DK $8,100 FD) is a good value to make the cut and to possibly contend if his putter is on fire. Not feeling many of the Euro’s in this category for this U.S. Open.
C-List DFS Picks at the U.S. Open: 2020
I think Jim Herman ($6,200 DK $7,000 FD) is a good value here with having played Winged Foot many times, being from nearby New Jersey, and knowing the greens like the back of his hand. I also believe Danny Lee ($6,200 DK $7,700 FD) will be competitive at Winged Foot and is a good value at this price based on his solid all-around game.
Who Not To Pick U.S. Open: 2020
We covered Bryson and some of the Euro players who I think won’t do well at Winged Foot. Also don’t fall in love with a lot of the bottom C-List guys around $6,000 unless you’ve got a lot of money to invest in ultra-long-shot GPP tickets. To make the cut at a U.S. Open you need to play well on tough courses such as Olympia Fields for the BMW Championship. Eddie Pepperell ($6,300 DK $7,600 FD) is a no go for me this week.
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!
