During the “regular season” (or so I call it), my PGA Punt Plays article was fire for the last month or two. Almost every week near the end I targeted and touted an extremely cheap golfer that wound up finishing in the top 10 (a handful in the top 5!). I now will take that same approach and research and apply it to a handful of golfers who may or may not get a ton of exposure, but who I think match up perfectly with the event’s course and who have decent recent form.
Weekly Recap
Last week I had 3 of my 5 plays finish in the top 18. As for the other two…what other two?
Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
This event is played at TPC Summerlin. It plays as a Par 71 at 7,255 yards with Bentgrass greens.
Patrick Cantlay – $9900 DK | $11900 FD (CASH)
In the last 5 years, Cantlay has only competed in this event once and that was last year, and he took it down. So, in recent history, he is undefeated. That’s all he has going for him right? Wrong. He comes in at 5th overall in total strokes gained. His best stats are 13th in SG: T2G, 4th in SG:BS, and 1st overall in SG: OTT. His SG: ARG is the only abysmal stat of his.
Scott Piercy – $8100 DK | $9400 FD (CASH/GPP)
Piercy was cut at this event in 2014 but has made the cut each of the last 4 years. His 7th place finish is 2015 is the highlight, but he never finished below 32nd place for the other 3. Piercy clocks in at 16th overall in recent form. His SG: SG and SG: P are near the bottom so he sucks on Bentgrass, but his SG: T2G, SG: BS, and SG: OTT are all in the top 9.
Jim Furyk – $7700 DK | $8400 FD (GPP)
Furyk has not competed in this event in the last 5 years. I also have a personal DFS grudge against him, so of course he will win this event. Then why list him here? Well he comes in an article best 4th overall in total strokes gained. He is first overall in BOTH SG: T2G and SG: APP. SG: BS is 2nd overall. He has no recent form stats that scare me.
Whee Kim – $7100 DK | $7600 FD (GPP)
Someone who AP liked a bit during the “regular season”. Each of the 3 times he competed in this event in the last 5 years he made the cut. Last year he was right behind Cantlay in 2nd place. Whee owns Bentgrass, recently anyway. He is 2nd overall in both SG: SG and SG: P. His other stats range between 49th and 70th so there is mild concern there.
Alex Cejka – $6900 DK | $7800 FD (GPP)
Cejka is 4 for 4 on making the cut here in the last 4 years. 27th was his worst finish and he was the runner up here in both 2016 and last year here. Continuing with the number 4, he has 4 stats in the top 8. His SG: P is his worst one at 65th. He comes in at 6th overall in total strokes gained. At $6900 DK, you could do much worse.
Stat Key
SG – Strokes Gained
SG: TOT – Total
SG: T2G – Tee to Green
SG: BS – Ball Striking
SG: SG – Short Game
SG: OTT – Off the Tee
SG: APP – Approach
SG: ARG – Around the Green
SG: P – Putting
