PGA DFS Targets: Hero World Challenge
The Hero World Challenge is one of the most unique events on Tour (although it’s not even an official Tour event), and will host just 18 golfers this week in the Bahamas. The tournament will benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation. Due to the extremely small field, we’ll have an abbreviated writeup this week. Also, this seems like a week to go for GPPs and qualifiers instead of playing cash games. I don’t think there are reliable enough options and missing out on one player could mean missing out on a cash.
Bubba Watson
Jordan Spieth is the clear favorite in this event, but he is priced accordingly, coming in at $1,200 more than the next closest golfer. Rostering Spieth leaves you an average of about $7,800 (Zach Johnson), whereas someone like Watson leaves you $8,100 per player (Paul Casey). This may not seem like a big difference, but it’s difficult to put together a quality lineup with Spieth. This course features five Par 5s (!), which should suit long hitters like Johnson and Watson. Watson has also has some decent success at past events in the Hero World Challenge, including a 3rd place finish.
Adam Scott
If you’ve followed my articles for very long, you know that I rarely target Adam Scott. His inconsistencies (especially with the putter) are generally not worth my time (and salary) and generally fade him week in and week out. That being said, I think Scott is in a good spot here. First, he is coming into this event in nice form. If not for Matt Jones, Adam Scott would have won the Australian Open last week. Second, Scott is a notoriously good links player playing on a links style course. Last, he is extremely cheap for his talent, coming in at just the 8th most expensive golfer. Scott isn’t safe for cash games (although please don’t play cash this week), but makes for a high-upside play at a good price.
Paul Casey
Paul Casey always seems to be underpriced to me. Maybe it’s the fact that he’s rarely in contention to win and doesn’t possess too much upside. That being said, he seems about as consistent at anyone on Tour. His first two events are perfect examples of this, as he has finished 23rd and 24th to start the year. Equate that to such a small field size, and I can see Casey contending for a Top 5 spot, even in such a talented field. He has moved up to 24th in the Official World Golf Rankings, and will look to continue the momentum this week.
Brooks Koepka
Everyone’s DFS darling rounds out the picks this week and comes in at just $7,500, making him the 7th cheapest golfer. Of those at $7,500 or below, Koepka is really the only one in my opinion with a good chance to win the event. Could he finish dead last? Absolutely. But Koepka has shown the upside he possesses when playing well. So far this year, he’s off to a dreadful start, but he’s too talented to stay down for long. His length with come into play on the multitude of Par 5s and his putting ability is always top notch. Koepka might be one of the highest owned players this week, but that won’t stop me from getting him in my lineups.