The First Tee – Ownership Recap and Olympic Preview

Russel Knox won. Now on to the real news of the weekend… Jim Furyk has left the building folks, Mr.58 has ushered in a new era of excellence, as he is the first golfer to shot that score in a PGA Tour sanctioned tournament. If you follow me @DFSgolfer23 you would have seen a few pics from the action as I was able to see him putt for 57 on 18… It was a great go at it if you happened to be watching.

Weekly Roundup– Traveler’s Championship

Well this is one of the first times in a while that I’ve seen a winning lineup in the $3 birdie be composed of only 4 golfers earning a Top 10 finish. This week you needed to find either Jerry Kelley or Patrick Rodgers to be successful in the higher entry GPPs.

My Fantasy Week Recap: It was my first week of giving the $1000 buy in a chance, after a good week last week, but to no avail, only 4/6 made it through for me, and even a Furyk 58 on Sunday couldn’t earn me a cash. Other than that I was pretty low on Russell Knox, zero Jerry Kelly or Patrick Rodgers, I think you guys can kinda figure out that it wasn’t a great week for me.

The Winning Strategy: Knox at 17.5 %, it wasn’t about picking the winner, again it was about picking Jerry Kelly 1.5% owned and Patrick Rodgers 1.5% owned. Finding those low owned players again proved to be the key to victory.

Right & Wrong
• Where I went Wrong- Very little of the top 3.
• Where I went Right- Furyk

Player Ownership Analysis

For the first time ever on this list, we have the big mistake made by one of the best players, a very high ownership on a WD. Check below to see who did it, and how much it affected him.

SaahilSud – Whoops…

o $3- 150 Entries entered: Best Finish- 1692nd
o $33- 150 Entries entered: Best Finish- 121st
o $300+- 25 Entries Entered: Best Finishes- 171st. 0/25 placing this week.

• Players Used-
o $3- 30 Players used
o $33- 30 Players used
o $300+- 21 Players used

• Player Own %-
o Tyrell Hatton-99%
o Lucas Glover*-72% (WHOOPS! A grave mistake from one of the best…Even the best makes mistakes). It goes to show you that if you want to be good at this game you have to be dedicated to an early Thursday morning to check the wires… I have a feeling he slept through his alarm.
o Bubba Watson-59%
o Daniel Berger- 46%
o Keegan Bradley- 44%
o Justin Thomas-43%
o Matt Kuchar- 42%
o Smylie Kaufman*-30%
o Luke List*-23%
o Louis Oost/ZJ-21%
*Denotes MC

Jetblackx – Back to max entries, last week he just must not have had the time or forgot or simply didn’t like the contests. Regardless, let’s see how this week went.

• Results:
o $3- 150 Entries- Best Finish: 813th
o $33-150 Entries-55th, 67th
o $300- 25 Entries- Best Finishes: 4th, 31st

• Players Used-
o $$3- 52 Players used
o $33- 30 Players used
o $300+- 21 Players used
o
• Player Own % 3$- 33$
o Shane Lowry*-86%
o Louis Oost-85%
o Russel Henley-59%
o Branden Grace*-54%
o Justin Thomas-50%
o Smylie Kaufman- 24%
o Kevin Chappell*-22%
o Russel Knox-14%

*Denotes MC

PriestsApp– After an unparalleled run, the hot streak faded a bit last week. Let’s see if he could get back on track this week. His top 13 golfers all made the cut…Pretty good picking, let’s see if that helped his results.

Results:
o $3- 150 Entries entered: Best Finish- 652nd
o $33- 150 Entries entered: Best Finish- 45th, 87th, 97th
o $333- 25 Entries Entered: Best Finish- 7th, 21st, 25th, 29th, 41st, 45th, 60th, 62nd

• Players Used-
o $3- 45 Players used
o $33- 45 Players used
o $300- 30 Players used

• Player Own %-
o Bubba Watson-44%
o Matt Kuchar-38%
o Alex Cejka-36%
o Tyrell Hatton-34%
o Chez Reavie-29%
o Patrick Reed-28%
o Daniel Summerhays-25%
o ZJ-23%
o Knox/Thomas-18%
o Russell Henley-17%
*Denotes MC

REDCAOT85: First time we’ve seen this user, but he was maxed out across the board, and even in the bigger buy in’s we don’t follow as well. Let’s see how the first time participant faired.

Results:
o $3-150 Entries entered: Best Finish- 3088th
o $33- 150 Entries entered: Best Finish-100th
o $300+- 25 Entries Entered: Best Finish-32nd, 33rd

• Players Used-
o $3- 57 Players Used
o $33- 57 Players Used
o $300- 25 Players used

• Player Own %-
o Jon Rahm-62%
o J.B. Holmes*-33%
o Branden Grace*-31%
o Tyrell Hatton-30%
o Paul Casey-28%
o Matt Kuchar-27%
o Brooks Koepka-20%
*Denotes MC

JAE686– After back to back second placed finishes in the 300 contest, this user skipped out on the dog leg contest this week. I’m sure with the results in the 3$ he would have wished he had.

Results:
o $3- 150 Entries entered: Best Finish- 57th, 95th
o $33- 0 Entries entered.
o $300- 25 Entries Entered: Best Finishes- 10th,22nd,58th *Third Straight top ten.

Player’s Used:
o $3- 59 Players used
o $300- 45 Players used

• Player Own %-
o Matt Kuchar-45%
o Jim Furyk-33%
o Bubba Watson-26%
o Zach Johnson-23%
o Justin Thomas-21%
o Jon Rahm-20%
o Russel Knox-15%

FlavorFlav

Results:
o $3-121 Entries entered: Best Finish- 2877th
o $33- 20 Entries entered: Best Finish- 102nd
o $300- 25 Entries entered: 50th, 52nd

• Players Used-
o $3- 47 Players Used
o $33- 47 Players used
o $300- 30 players used
–
o Molinari-35%
o Rahm-32%
o Kuchar-31%
o Keegan Bradley-29%
o Leishman-28%
o Grace*-27.3%
o Gary Woodland/Campbell*- 26%
o Swafford-24%
o Henley-22%
o Reed-20%

*Denotes MC

PSBC22– Three straight? Let’s find out.

o 3- 150 Entries entered: Best Finish: 1844th
o $33- 55 Entries entered: Best Finish- 125th
o $300+-25 Entries: Best Finishes-28th, 45th

• Players Used-
o $3-44 Players Used
o $33- 44 Players used
o $300-42 Players Used

• Player Own %-
o Rahm-52%
o Watson-46%
o Reavie-40%
o Berger/V.Taylor-39%
o Lieshman-35%
o Harman*-30%
o Stroud-28%
o Steele-27%
o Simpson-26%
o Casey-25%

Bushler22000C– Well our newest millionaire either didn’t have time to make lineups because he was partying, maybe he isn’t that type of player.
Results:
o $3- 19 Entries entered: Best Finish: 2877th
o $33- 19 Entries entered: Best Finish- 210th

• Players Used-
o $3-55 Players Used
o $33- 55 Players used

• Player Own %-
o Kuchar-53%
o Grace*-48%
o Berger/Campbell*-26%
o Leish/Johnson-21%
o Knox-16%
*Denotes MC

The Olympics

So my pick this week at the Olympics? Aly Raisman, no seriously, she’s get the whole package. She’s good looking, like really good looking, she’s fantastic at her sport and looks good doing it. I’ve got her beating out Simon for the all-around gold… Oh… You want golf. Right. Let’s get our mind on the correct sport here. Par 71 just over 7100 yards long par 4’s mixed with very short par 4’s. 3 Par 5’s. 4 par 3’s. Par 5’s are pretty long. Let’s check out the stats I like this week. (**Also rooting for US Swim team captain Liz Beisel in swimming as she’s from my hometown in Rhode Island)

1. Approach shots 175-200 & 200-225 – Participating in this Tournament- I’m combining the two distances here. You’ll see two numbers per golfer – Byeong Hun- An- 6th/ 14th, Watson- 13th/130th, Lingmerth- 16th/89th, Vegas-24th/70th, Hearn- 24th /149th, Reed- 91st/9th, Kjedlsen-74th/11th, Grillio- 57th/18th, Rose- 44th/ 32nd

2. Total Driving– Need accuracy and distance here – Players Participating in this Tournament – Grillo-2nd, Stenson-6th, Garcia-18th, DeLaet-23rd, Fowler-24th

3. Sand Save %– 79 bunkers on the course – Players Participating in this Tournament – Harrington- 17th, Garcia-21st, Rose- 22nd, Reed-27th, Stenson-29th

4. Strokes Gained Putting – Players Participating in this Tournament. Seems like no one in this tourney is a good putter – Kuchar-19th, Kjeldson-44th, Fowler-57th, Hearn-67th, Reed-74th

5. Birdie or Better % – Players Participating in this Tournament – Stenson-4th, DeLaet-14th, Garcia-16th, Kuchar-19th, Watson-20th

Player Focus: The Olympics

As I sit here writing and complaining to my wife about not playing Knox enough, EVEN WHEN I WROTE ABOUT HIM. UGH!! I hope you all picked him! Back on the straight and narrow… After a tough week at the PGA I found the winner and went 7/10 at the Traveler’s. Not a bad showing at all. The only thing I’ll note is the designer of this golf course in Rio is the same designer as Castle Stuart where the Scottish Open was played a few weeks back.

On the Rise

• Aly Raisman– $…- I would so play DraftKings gymnastics if they had it…and she’d be in every single lineup. She’s at the top of my “on the rise Olympians” as she beat out teammate and reigning Olympic champ Gabby Douglas for a spot in the all-around competition. Oh, she’s also a native New Englander…

• Henrik Stenson-$12,400 Highest priced guy this week in terms of salary, but you know what it might just be the year of the Stenson. Open Championship winner, in contention on Sunday at the PGA, I like him to get on the podium come Sunday.
o Target Finish-top 3

• Patrick Reed– $10,700 Decent week at the Traveler’s, 10th at Castle Stuart, one of the top ranked players playing in this tourney, I like him this week. Does not have a defining win in his career, but maybe this is it!
o Target Finish- Top 5

• Jhonattan Vegas– $8,300 The last time he was a part of this list he won at the RBC. Big stage playing for a country that is really struggling right now, I like him to come out with a good story to bring home.
o Target Finish- Top 10

• Padraig Harrington– $7,700 Decent week at the Traveler’s. Padraig has really had a great decorated career, and comes in with good form. I’d love to see him with the gold medal around his neck come Sunday.
o Target Finish- Top 10

• Matteo Manassero– $7,200 Streaky player that I thought really found his form after the 13th and the BMW international. However, he followed that up with an MC and then a third place finish at Castle Stuart, then another MC at the British.
o Target Finish- Top 10

• Gregory Bourdy– $7,000 Coming off a top 20 at the PGA, Bourdy comes in with good form. He’s been a trending player this year out of France, I like him for a chance at the podium.
o Target Finish-Top 15

• Nicolas Colsaerts– $6,900 The Belgian Bomber enters this list because of his third place finish at the Scottish open and 22nd at the Open De France. He hits the ball a long way and doesn’t have to worry about a cut. I like him to score a plethora of Draft Kings points this week.
o Target Finish- Top 20

• Alex Cejka– $6,600 Recent form is really good here. 11th and 5th in his last two starts, it seems like really good value here. No worries about a cut, so I like him for a top 20.
o Target Finish-Top 20

• Cheng-Tsung Pan– Recent stats on the Web.com tour look really stellar. 11th 6th, 10th, 16th, 2nd… Really solid. He attended Uof Washington where he won 8 events. Could be a rising star from Taiwan, look for him to contend for a top 20 this week.
o Target Finish- Top 20

• Radalfo Cazaboun– $5,900 Only 5 golfers below 6000 this week so I’m really shooting darts here. I took Cazaboun because of his third place finish at the Puerto Rico Open this year, so he has top 5 potential. We’ll see how this dart throw pans out.
o Target Finish-Top 25

Pick To Click: A little addition here this week thanks to you readers! This is my high priced guy that I think has the best to chance to win, AND is not mentioned above.

• Matt Kuchar– $10,100 Really not a bad price for him here, and he really has no Marquee win on tour, so why not win the Olympics right? Him and Patrick Reed fit that mold, and I could absolutely see one of them coming away with Gold.

Golfers you may not know a lot about:

• Jaco Van Zyl– $7,900 Oddly enough, he WD from his previous tournaments to actually focus on winning gold. Contrary to almost every other golfer out there, Jaco comes in possible the most prepared for this event. From South Africa, this young up and comer is poised to make noise this weekend.

• Yuta Ikeda– $7,200 From Japan, we most recently saw him place 33rd at the PGA, so we know he’s got the game to compete at the highest level. 14 wins on the PGA Japan, and 1 on the Asian tour, Yuta comes in looking for a spot on the podium.

• Brandon Stone-$6,900 Another young up and comer from South Africa, he has busted on the scene this year, and played well recently placing 5th at the Open De France. He did struggle at both majors (MC’s at both PGA and The Open) he is well rested coming into the Olympics.

• SSP Chawrasia– $5,500 Cheapest guy in the field, and possible the best name. SSP standing for Shiv Shankar Prasad, this Indian golfer along here with his country mate Anriban Lahrir, has won 3 times on the European so we know he can win at the highest level. I like this play with a no cut event.

Heading South – Fades

Well, Louis Oost placed 22nd and Willett placed last, so I’ll call that a push maybe favoring me. Louis is here for the second straight week.

• Sergio Garcia-$11,900 So he fits the Kuchar/Reed never won a big tournament model, but he looked hurt at the PGA so I’m nervous to spend all this money on him. Honestly though, he could win, I just won’t be playing him that much.

• Byeong-Hun An– $8,800 His stat’s look good, his price though is a bit high and he hasn’t done anything since losing out to Stuard at the Zurich. Just not an overweight for me, will be below 10%. I think it’s interesting to note that both of his parents won Olympic medals for table tennis at the Seoul Games in 1988.

John Deere Classic

Here is a little bonus this week for you readers this week. Obviously I wanted to really focus on the big contests and this week Draft Kings wants you to be more focused on the Olympics, which I’m cool with. However, the Tour doesn’t stop as it sets up for the John Deere Classic. I’m going to give you my top 4 picks for this weekend.

• Zach Johnson– $13,000 Um… 2,1,3,21,9 in his starts here? Yea worth 13k IMO.

• Steve Stricker-$11,800 Um… 35,10,5,1,1,1 in his starts here? Yea worth 11,800 IMO. (I know those sound the same but how can you go against the history here WOW!)

• Brian Harman– $8,700 A really disappointing MC last weekend at the Traveler’s Harman comes back to the spot of his 2014 victory. I like him to rebound this week.

• Johnson Wagner– $6,900 Great last two years here (5,7) and coming in with decent from, I like the price point here.

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A little change in the Twitter handle for me this week. Its @DFSgolfer23. Find me, follow me, tweet me, message me. GO USA (and Aly Raisman)!