PGA Drive for Show, DFS for Dough - Cadillac Championship
Our PGA gurus are here to break down the field for the Cadillac Championship! Join Justin Van Zuiden (stlcardinals84) and Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) for Drive for Show, DFS for Dough, your first look at this week’s PGA DFS slate.
Show Highlights
This podcast episode focuses on providing expert strategies and insights for the Cadillac Championship. Hosted by Justin Van Zuiden and Derek Farnsworth, the episode dives into the importance of player selection, course evaluation, and lineup building.
Watch the full video to hear all about the Cadillac Championship PGA DFS slate!
Course Overview
- The Cadillac Championship moves to Trump National Doral, famously known as the Blue Monster, for the first time since 2016.
- This is a Signature Event featuring a limited field of approximately 72 golfers with no cut, meaning every player is guaranteed four rounds of scoring.
- At nearly 7,800 yards, this par-72 layout is the second-longest course on the PGA TOUR, surpassed only by Torrey Pines.
- The course is notoriously difficult, featuring water hazards on 10 of the 18 holes and large greens averaging 7,200 square feet.
- Success at the Blue Monster typically rewards Total Driving and long iron play; while distance is a major advantage, the high volume of water hazards penalizes those who cannot stay accurate off the tee.
DFS Strategy
- The $3,400 salary gap between Scottie Scheffler and the rest of the field on DraftKings is the primary inflection point for roster construction this week.
- A “stars and scrubs” approach is necessary to fit Scheffler, requiring multiple “punts” in the $6,000 range that may feel uncomfortable in hand-built lineups.
- Balanced builds starting in the $9,000 range often look better on paper, allowing for six high-quality players rather than one superstar and five risky options.
- Because there is no cut, DFS players can afford to take more risks on high-upside $6,000 players who can rack up birdies over four rounds without the fear of a Friday exit.
- Total Driving is the number one metric to prioritize, followed closely by long iron proximity, scrambling, and Bogey Avoidance on this difficult scoring environment.
- Consider veteran players who have experience at this venue, as it has not been on the PGA TOUR rotation for a decade.
Player Highlights
$10,000+ Range
- Scottie Scheffler — target — Though expensive and projected for 25% ownership, he is significantly ahead of the field in fantasy scoring models and has regained elite approach form with back-to-back runner-up finishes.
- Cameron Young — target — He excels on long, difficult courses and has shown increased maturity and closing ability in recent signature events and majors.
$9,000 Range
- Si Woo Kim — target — A favorite in this tier who is a top-eight driver in the field; he has been a “top-ten machine” all year with elite approach and around-the-green play.
- Jake Knapp — target — Graded as the top “optimal” play in projections; he offers a high ceiling for those skipping the $10,000 tier.
- Chris Gotterup — target — Specifically targeted for driver-heavy courses, he ranks third in Driving Distance and fourth in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee over the last 36 rounds.
- Collin Morikawa — cautious — While playing well, there is a lingering fear of a mid-tournament withdrawal due to recent health uncertainty, making him a “personal risk avoidance” fade for some.
- Hideki Matsuyama — sprinkle — His driver has improved recently, gaining strokes off the tee in three of his last five starts, which could lead to a “pop” week.
$8,000 Range
- Adam Scott — target — A past winner at this course (2016) who has surprisingly picked up driving distance late in his career and ranks third in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach.
- Harris English — target — Offers a super high floor with nine top-30 finishes in 10 events this year; he also finished in the top ten at this course in 2016.
- Rickie Fowler — sprinkle — A Florida resident comfortable on Bermuda greens and around water; he finished T8 here in 2016 and has two top 10s in his last five starts.
- Maverick McNealy — target — Viewed as the “safe choice” and a solid option in this range for those looking for consistency over volatility.
$7,000 Range
- Kurt Kitayama — target — One of the best values on the board; he ranks seventh in the field in both Good Drive % and Total Driving.
- Gary Woodland — target — A proven winner on difficult tracks who is showing strong form with an eighth-place finish at the RBC Heritage and a 33rd at the Masters.
- Nicolai Hojgaard — target — An elite bomber whose game fits the length of the Blue Monster; he has already recorded several top-six finishes this year.
- Shane Lowry — sprinkle — Despite a poor showing last week, he historically excels in Florida conditions and on courses requiring elite iron play.
$6,000 Range
- Ryan Fox — target — A high-upside driver who seems to have recovered from recent kidney stones; he finished T16 in his last start.
- Patrick Rodgers — target — Preferred as a punt because he has shown the ability to produce spike weeks on long, driver-heavy tracks.
- Corey Conners — target — Unusually cheap for his ball-striking pedigree, making him a strong salary-saver in Scheffler builds.