PGA First Look: DEAN & DELUCA Invitational

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The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.

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Event Preview

We have had two unlikely winners on tour at the last two events in Si Woo Kim and Billy Horschel. It’s not that they aren’t talented golfers, but neither one flashed any sort of form before breaking out with their wins. We can look at this in two ways – golf is either very random (which has some truth to it) or that these professionals are all so talented that it just takes one thing to click for them to put it all together and compete at the highest level. We’ll see if that the surprise winner trend continues this week as we head to Colonial Country Club for the final event of the Texas swing.

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This is one of the most iconic tournaments on the PGA Tour. The Colonial Country Club is set to host the 72nd edition of this tournament, which is the second longest tenure of any course on tour behind Augusta National. This course is Par 70 that stretches just over 7,200 yards. It is now known as the Dean & Deluca Invitational, but it was formerly the Crowne Plaza Invitational if you are wondering why you can’t find course history before last season. This course has some similarities to the TPC Four Seasons (last week’s course) in that they are both short, Par 70 courses in Texas. However, the similarities end there. Colonial is a tight, tree-lined track with much faster greens. The fairways and greens are both smaller in size and this course features more doglegs, which can take the driver out of the hands of many golfers.

This is more of a Pete Dye type of course where you have to be strategic off the tee and accurate with your approach shots. Water is in play on six of the holes and golfers will have to avoid the strategically-placed fairway bunkers in order to have a shot at reaching the green. Rather than looking for an accuracy type or a bomber off the tee, we want to look for strategic golfers that are good with their approaches. There are only two par fives on the course and only one of them is reachable in two by most of the field. Most of the par fours measure between 400-450 yards, so approaches from 150-175 yards will be important. We also want to emphasize par four scoring anytime we have a Par 70 layout.

The last two notes that I have for you are about course history and the size of the field. Ten of the last 11 winners of this event have had a top 15 prior to their win here and we consistently see the same players perform well here year in and year out. I will be giving a boost to course history this week and will be shying away from golfers making their first appearance at the event (at least the ones not-named Jon Rahm). The second note is that there are less than 125 golfers in the field this week and we still have the same top 70 and ties cut rule in play. This means that a much larger percentage of the field will make the cut. Getting 6/6 through the cut on DraftKings and getting at least six golfers through the cut on FantasyDraft is critical. FanDuel has decided to revamp their PGA product and will not be offering golf contests this week.

Cut Rule:Top 70 and ties will move on after the first two rounds. The MDF rule is in effect if more than 78 golfers make the initial cut.

Recent Winners of this Event:Jordan Spieth (2016), Chris Kirk (2015, Adam Scott (2014), Boo Weekley (2013), Zach Johnson (2012)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Approach
2) Good Drive Percentage
3) Birdie or Better Percentage
4) Par 4 Scoring
5) Strokes Gained Around the Green

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2012-2016)

Golfer DK Salary FDRFT Salary OWGR Odds DK Odds FDRFT Odds Cuts 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
Jordan Spieth $12,000 $18,300 7 12 -100% 0% 4/4 1 2 14 7 500
Jon Rahm $11,800 $18,400 12 12 50% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Sergio Garcia $10,800 $18,000 6 13 0% 0% 1/1 500 500 500 500 13
Paul Casey $10,200 $16,700 14 24 0% 0% 1/2 500 43 76 500 500
Matt Kuchar $10,100 $16,700 18 25 -20% -50% 3/4 6 500 76 2 26
Zach Johnson $9,800 $16,200 62 34 -83% -38% 5/5 17 19 73 3 1
Kevin Kisner $9,700 $16,200 45 31 -14% 0% 2/3 10 5 88 500 500
Bud Cauley $9,500 $16,400 103 30 13% 0% 2/3 500 500 21 14 80
Marc Leishman $9,300 $16,000 36 37 -56% -8% 5/5 13 27 21 46 57
Webb Simpson $9,100 $15,900 65 38 -50% 0% 1/1 3 500 500 500 500
Jason Dufner $9,000 $16,700 64 25 55% -25% 5/5 6 43 2 46 2
Phil Mickelson $8,800 $16,100 21 35 0% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tony Finau $8,700 $16,200 67 34 23% -25% 2/2 34 19 500 500 500
Brian Harman $8,500 $15,200 54 49 -57% -5% 3/4 25 10 30 500 112
Adam Hadwin $8,400 $15,800 49 39 -7% 0% 2/2 22 5 500 500 500
Chris Kirk $8,200 $15,500 94 46 -25% 0% 5/5 15 1 14 35 5
Brandt Snedeker $8,100 $15,600 32 42 -12% 0% 3/3 17 2 45 500 500
Si Woo Kim $8,000 $15,000 29 53 -33% 4% 0/1 71 500 500 500 500
Ryan Palmer $7,900 $16,200 89 33 53% -13% 4/5 3 81 5 14 5
Billy Horschel $7,900 $16,000 44 36 32% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Graham DeLaet $7,800 $14,200 127 80 -81% -3% 3/4 500 53 14 22 80
Emiliano Grillo $7,800 $15,700 37 42 14% 0% 1/1 55 500 500 500 500
Cameron Smith $7,700 $14,700 129 66 -39% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ollie Schniederjans $7,700 $14,600 111 64 -35% 3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jason Kokrak $7,600 $14,000 95 89 -64% -3% 2/3 55 112 500 18 500
Pat Perez $7,600 $15,800 40 39 32% -6% 2/3 500 5 96 500 63
Lucas Glover $7,500 $14,400 96 70 -30% 3% 1/4 71 43 96 500 117
Sean O’Hair $7,500 $13,700 82 91 -56% 2% 2/4 34 81 63 108 500
David Lingmerth $7,400 $13,600 123 98 -59% -5% 3/3 500 33 5 18 500
Kyle Stanley $7,400 $15,200 110 49 28% 0% 1/4 71 500 68 108 95
Graeme McDowell $7,400 $14,900 87 61 0% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Sung Kang $7,400 $15,000 84 58 3% -12% 1/2 85 500 500 500 37
James Hahn $7,400 $14,500 71 73 -24% -9% 0/3 500 81 102 78 500
Kyle Reifers $7,300 $13,800 198 95 -32% -7% 4/4 5 80 500 54 13
Nick Taylor $7,300 $14,200 197 80 -9% 0% 2/2 47 27 500 500 500
Harris English $7,300 $13,200 107 120 -50% 0% 3/4 2 500 30 108 5
Steve Stricker $7,300 $13,900 98 89 -18% 2% 2/2 47 27 500 500 500
Charley Hoffman $7,300 $15,200 53 50 32% -10% 5/5 42 10 51 18 13
Ben Martin $7,200 $14,100 225 87 0% 0% 3/3 29 10 21 500 500
JT Poston $7,200 $12,600 185 151 -62% 9% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chad Campbell $7,200 $13,500 178 95 -13% 2% 3/5 10 81 30 78 41
Morgan Hoffmann $7,200 $12,700 165 145 -54% 0% 1/1 500 500 500 69 500
Ryan Moore $7,200 $15,000 35 57 31% -8% 1/2 500 500 500 121 26
Kevin Tway $7,100 $15,100 200 55 43% -4% 0/1 500 500 109 500 500
John Huh $7,100 $13,300 195 107 -9% 0% 3/5 107 18 96 11 5
Daniel Summerhays $7,100 $12,700 92 148 -39% -2% 4/5 47 58 51 35 89
Jhonattan Vegas $7,100 $13,500 63 104 -7% -4% 1/2 115 53 500 500 500
William McGirt $7,100 $15,000 48 56 41% -4% 4/5 47 33 21 115 63
Nick Watney $7,000 $12,800 305 137 -14% -2% 1/2 500 500 96 500 72
Cody Gribble $7,000 $11,700 226 265 -104% -6% 0/1 500 98 500 500 500
J.J. Spaun $7,000 $12,500 116 161 -47% 1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Scott Piercy $7,000 $12,600 60 136 -12% 20% 3/3 67 43 500 26 500
Wesley Bryan $7,000 $14,500 38 67 33% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Curtis Luck $6,900 $11,900 416 231 -67% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chris Stroud $6,900 $12,000 369 215 -59% 0% 4/5 13 92 14 7 13
Blayne Barber $6,900 $12,700 206 152 -22% -10% 1/1 34 500 500 500 500
Danny Lee $6,900 $14,800 115 62 44% 0% 3/3 22 10 38 500 500
Bill Haas $6,900 $14,500 43 68 37% -3% 3/3 47 500 21 500 55
Hunter Mahan $6,800 $11,100 764 363 -92% -3% 4/5 85 53 60 26 37
Jason Bohn $6,800 $11,600 389 265 -69% -2% 3/4 34 2 119 500 57
Tyrone Van Aswegen $6,800 $11,400 261 298 -78% -3% 1/1 42 500 500 500 500
Matt Jones $6,800 $12,500 203 163 -24% 0% 1/3 71 500 45 94 500
Cheng-Tsung Pan $6,800 $11,600 156 253 -64% 1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Whee Kim $6,700 $11,300 289 328 -70% -2% 1/1 500 65 500 500 500
Jonas Blixt $6,700 $12,800 279 142 9% -5% 3/4 55 118 500 11 10
Zac Blair $6,700 $12,400 232 169 -17% 0% 1/2 71 62 500 500 500
Stewart Cink $6,700 $13,100 208 123 16% -2% 0/2 109 500 500 108 500
Kelly Kraft $6,700 $12,100 186 222 -39% -7% 1/1 500 500 500 500 57
Vaughn Taylor $6,700 $12,300 157 186 -22% -3% 2/3 55 500 500 70 80
Brian Stuard $6,700 $11,900 148 241 -45% -4% 2/3 500 62 76 22 500
Fabian Gomez $6,700 $11,400 141 308 -66% -4% 1/2 500 27 500 103 500
Luke List $6,700 $13,100 126 122 19% 2% 0/1 500 500 500 115 500
Mackenzie Hughes $6,700 $12,700 106 154 -6% -13% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tim Herron $6,600 $10,700 607 570 -59% -1% 3/5 29 81 63 65 89
Rory Sabbatini $6,600 $11,300 522 338 -50% -4% 2/4 500 10 88 78 47
Ricky Barnes $6,600 $11,700 330 260 -32% -4% 2/4 42 500 60 90 89
Derek Fathauer $6,600 $11,100 229 363 -53% -3% 1/1 62 500 500 500 500
David Hearn $6,600 $12,700 221 163 1% -22% 4/5 17 33 21 94 13
Michael Kim $6,600 $12,600 217 156 7% 0% 0/1 118 500 500 500 500
Seung-Yul Noh $6,600 $13,300 189 113 34% -2% 3/4 42 500 109 62 31
Bryson DeChambeau $6,600 $12,200 134 211 -11% -5% 0/1 85 500 500 500 500
Scott Brown $6,600 $12,800 130 140 23% -4% 1/4 109 33 88 94 500
Billy Hurley $6,600 $12,800 114 150 16% -13% 2/3 500 53 30 500 112
Martin Laird $6,600 $13,500 108 92 42% 4% 3/4 71 43 30 54 500
Anirban Lahiri $6,600 $13,200 88 122 28% -4% 1/1 6 500 500 500 500
Beau Hossler $6,500 $11,500 1083 271 -20% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Xander Schauffele $6,500 339 211 6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Camilo Villegas $6,500 $12,200 316 183 10% 1% 1/3 94 500 88 26 500
Scott Stallings $6,500 $11,800 265 214 2% 9% 1/4 102 500 76 4 107
Brian Gay $6,500 $12,800 253 144 31% -7% 1/2 500 500 57 500 95
Michael Thompson $6,500 $12,000 223 220 -1% -1% 3/4 500 98 10 46 47
Robert Streb $6,500 $12,200 173 203 7% -3% 3/4 70 19 38 103 500
Patrick Rodgers $6,500 $12,700 162 151 27% -5% 1/1 500 74 500 500 500
Rod Pampling $6,500 $12,100 151 214 2% -1% 0/2 500 500 76 500 89
Harold Varner $6,500 $12,700 132 157 19% -17% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Aaron Baddeley $6,500 $12,600 121 153 22% 3% 3/5 55 101 51 121 63
Yuta Ikeda $6,500 $12,100 52 220 -1% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jamie Sadlowski $6,400 $10,600 863 -22% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Angel Cabrera $6,400 $11,100 674 348 -14% -2% 2/4 113 65 76 31 500
Martin Piller $6,400 $11,700 457 248 3% -1% 1/1 6 500 500 500 500
J.J. Henry $6,400 $11,900 375 238 6% -3% 2/5 85 101 57 42 80
Cameron Percy $6,400 $11,400 359 278 -6% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Boo Weekley $6,400 $12,700 354 151 36% -5% 4/5 85 33 75 1 31
Brandon Hagy $6,400 $12,200 268 200 19% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Bryce Molder $6,400 $11,800 246 244 4% -2% 5/5 10 58 45 65 31
Jazz Janewattananond $6,400 $11,100 218 323 -10% 2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Cameron Tringale $6,400 $13,300 214 113 49% -4% 4/5 62 43 63 54 95
Kevin Streelman $6,400 $12,300 155 180 22% 0% 1/4 102 58 500 78 95
Chez Reavie $6,400 $12,700 150 160 28% -18% 1/3 71 500 500 11 107
Matt Every $6,300 $10,800 515 -6% -1% 1/3 500 500 114 4 107
Keith Clearwater $6,300 $10,600 1763 -10% -2% 0/5 119 122 123 130 122
Steven Bowditch $6,300 $10,700 736 770 -8% -2% 1/4 22 101 88 128 500
Davis Love $6,300 $11,000 556 423 -5% -1% 1/3 500 500 70 108 95
Ryan Blaum $6,300 $11,400 352 313 3% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Sam Saunders $6,300 $11,400 317 263 10% 3% 0/1 500 112 500 500 500
Greg Chalmers $6,300 $10,900 304 433 -5% -1% 2/3 500 500 109 65 47
Johnson Wagner $6,300 $11,600 249 265 9% -2% 1/4 34 92 500 78 95
Martin Flores $6,300 $11,300 248 333 0% -3% 3/3 500 53 500 14 26
Geoff Ogilvy $6,300 $12,000 214 233 17% -6% 2/4 115 43 88 500 19
Patton Kizzire $6,300 $12,200 163 211 25% -5% 0/1 109 500 500 500 500
Dominic Bozzelli $6,300 $11,700 149 253 13% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500

Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside of the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.

Legend

Term Description
Site Odds The percentage differential between a golfer’s salary rank and odds rank. The higher the %, the better.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons.
2012 – 2016 Columns Course history at this event in the last five seasons.

About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on Twitter – @RG_Notorious