Daily Fantasy Golf Helper: THE NORTHERN TRUST
By now, you've probably dabbled in daily fantasy sports, but if not, don't worry. Now is a great time to start, especially with FanDuel's daily fantasy golf offering.
Golf can be one of the most exciting DFS sports to follow, as tournaments span four days and allow ample time to prepare each week. It's a great balance between time to research and time spent tracking your team.
But whether you're brand new to the PGA or daily fantasy sports in general, we have you covered -- and we have daily fantasy golf projections and lineup building tools, too.
Let's take a look at some golfers to target this week.
Key Stats for THE NORTHERN TRUST at Liberty National Golf Club
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
- Strokes Gained: Around the Green
- Bogey Avoidance
- Strokes Gained: Putting on Bentgrass
For a more detailed breakdown on the course, check out my course primer.
Daily Fantasy Golfer Picks for THE NORTHERN TRUST at Liberty National Golf Club
All stats cited below originate at FantasyNational. Strokes gained data includes stats from the past calendar year and is adjusted based on my field strength and recency tweaks. Putting surface splits also come from FantasyNational and include the past 50 rounds when possible, unless noted. All ranks and percentile ranks are among the field.
Best of the Best
Jon Rahm (FanDuel Salary: $12,000 | Golf odds Win Odds: +1100) - My win simulation model loves Rahm, as expected, and while the betting odds are weighted heavily toward Rahm, the FanDuel salary isn't substantially different from the rest of the field. Rahm ranks in the 99th percentile in adjusted tee-to-green strokes gained over the past year, once accounting for recency and field strength. He finished fourth here in 2019 while ranking 8th in strokes gained: off the tee and 13th in strokes gained: approach.
Viktor Hovland ($10,500 | +3100) - Hovland should benefit at a course that hasn't always required elite putting to pull off the victory. He ranks in the 70th percentile in adjusted strokes gained: putting over the past year, a viable rating, and he's also in the 93rd percentile in bogey avoidance. Additionally, Hovland's in the 93rd percentile in adjusted tee-to-green strokes gained over the past year and has had strong finishes lately despite some weak chipping.
Others to Consider:
Jordan Spieth ($11,900 | +1800) - Back to his old ways and has two top-20s here in two tries.
Patrick Cantlay ($10,900 | +3300) - Is quietly back in form and has 98th-percentile tee-to-green data over the past year.
Webb Simpson ($10,300 | +3600) - Three straight top-20 finishes and has three top-20 finishes in three tries at Liberty National.
Mid-Range Picks
Patrick Reed ($9,900 | +3500) - I wasn't going to feature Reed, but he's just too good for the salary. And he wins at a high rate. Speaking of wins, he won at Liberty National in 2019, so he's still the defending champion at the course. Overall, Reed finished fourth in strokes gained: tee to green in that victory -- and an abnormal second in strokes gained: off the tee. Reed's recent form isn't flawless, but it's solid: he has finished top 34 in seven of his past eight starts. He always brings the short game, and that's good for an event that should feature a winner around 10-under rather than 20-under.
Jason Kokrak ($9,100 | +7500) - Kokrak's improved putting has led to good overall form -- and two wins -- this season. Kokrak's wedge play is bad (21st percentile), but he's in the 81st percentile in strokes gained: ball striking. Kokrak finished top-16 in 2013 and 2019, and he did so by ranking top-10 in strokes gained: tee to green in each of those starts.
Others to Consider:
Tony Finau ($9,700 | +6000) - Salary is down to where it should be, yet still 87th percentile in adjusted strokes gained: tee to green.
Tyrrell Hatton ($9,500 | +6000) - Best value in this salary tier when combining long-term form and key stats.
Joaquin Niemann ($9,400 | +7500) - Another name in a loaded tier; 88th-percentile ball-striking stats.
Low-Salaried Picks
Cameron Tringale ($8,700 | +15000) - Tringale's long-term adjusted form really rates out well at the salary, and he's pretty clearly the best player in this salary tier. His data includes just 36th-percentile adjusted strokes gained: off the tee numbers but 74th-percentile-or-better numbers in the three other strokes gained categories.
Charley Hoffman ($8,300 | +15000) - Hoffman is one of four golfers to make all three cuts at Liberty National since 2009. That's digging back pretty far (2009, 2013, and 2019), sure, but Hoffman is also really good right now outside of one area: around-the-green play. While Hoffman is just a baseline putter on bentgrass over the past 100 rounds, that's definitely different than being terrible with the putter. And lastly, Hoffman ranks in the 93rd percentile in adjusted approach play, always the most important stat.
Others to Consider:
Russell Henley ($9,000 | +7500) - Will have to shake off a blown 54-hole lead from last week but a fair salary for the tee-to-green data.
Kevin Streelman ($8,600 | +12000) - Has 78th-percentile ball-striking data; one of six to rank as such below $9,000.
Keegan Bradley ($8,500 | +14000) - Is eighth in adjusted tee-to-green strokes gained over the past three months.
Talor Gooch ($7,800 | +24000) - Third-best long-term golfer below $9,000 but a true value.
