Top DraftKings PGA DFS Plays for the PGA Championship 2022

Top DraftKings PGA DFS Plays for the PGA Championship 2022

The predictable birdie barrage in Texas last week was a respite between the Wells Fargo and the looming major. In fact, the contrast in scoring from TPC Craig Ranch to the legendary Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma might set records for starkness.

The PGA Championship used to be the fourth and final major on the calendar. Now it is the second, wedged between the Masters and the daunting summer soiree of the US Open and Open Championship.

Southern Hills is among the most legendary golf courses on the globe and certainly on the short list here in the United States. The track is stretched beyond 7,500 yards and converted to a predatory par-70. The two par-5 holes (5 & 13) are both well over 600 yards and will take an arduous three-shot trek for everyone in the field.

This stern, yet fair course will be exponentially more difficult this week because of the wind. Thursday and Friday will be affected by warm temperatures and gusts over 30 miles per hour. Toward the end of the day on Friday, temperatures will plummet and the winds will completely change direction while still gusting at a hurtling clip. An over-par champion is definitely in the realm of plausibility this week.

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The field is over 150 golfers this week, with the top-70 (and ties) advancing to the weekend. My player pool for 20-entry tournaments will contain 20-25 golfers who meet my criteria for value, leverage, and statistical viability. I focused on a broad set of advanced stats for this event, with heavier weight put on Strokes Gained Off the Tee (SG: OTT), Strokes Gained Around the Green (SG: ATG), and Strokes Gained Putting.

Approach shots will be critical as well, but Southern Hills will demand excellence from the entire bag to stay above water. Missing fairways and not scrambling well will be a death knell this week. With an eye on golfers who perform decently in brutal conditions, let’s tee off.

Stick it Close: Studs to Target

Scottie Scheffler (DK: $11,400; FD: $12,000; Y!: $49)

The best player in the world is always worth rostering in a major test such as this. I found it rather easy to build a desirable lineup with two expensive players because of the litany of great values available, especially on DraftKings. Scheffler is the best scrambler in the world by far. He will need to put on another clinic to win the Wannamaker Trophy this year.

Collin Morikawa (DK: $10,400; FD: $11,600; Y!: $49)

Excellence in ball-striking translates to any golf course. Morikawa also has a knack for going low in spite of brutal conditions, making birdies when they are scarce. The 2020 PGA Champion is as safe a bet as anyone in this field to win it again, especially if the putts are falling.

Cameron Smith (DK: $9,700; FD: $11,400; Y!: $45)

The last time the PGA Tour was at a difficult venue with howling winds, it was the mulleted man from Down Under that took home the PLAYERS with a short game master class. He may struggle here and there from the tee box, but there isn’t a more lethal technician in the world on and around the greens than Smith.

Other Studs in My Pool: Patrick Cantlay, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry, Joaquin Niemann

No Gimme: Tap-In Values

Tommy Fleetwood (DK: $7,600; FD: $9,600; Y!: $28)

The commonalities with all of these top plays is short game. The Englishman with the flowing golden locks and fiery temper is a wizard with two magic wands: the wedge and putter. He is also the type of golfer that can make birdies in the most dire playing conditions. He is one of many great plays under $8k on DraftKings, but carries a projected roster percentage well under 10%.

Sergio Garcia (DK: $7,200; FD: $9,000; Y!: $26)

I have rooted against Sergio for more than three-quarters of my life. The whiny, waggling Spaniard still irks me. He still has an undeniable ability from tee to green and is a miraculous scrambler like his Spanish predecessor, Seve Ballesteros.

The areas around the greens at Southern Hills have been mowed extra short this week to accentuate deep collection areas with very tight, tricky lies. Garcia has a perfect 100% scramble rate from the fringe this season.

Harold Varner III (DK: $7,000; FD: $8,800; Y!: $29)

Why would I take a chance on one of the worst wind players in the world in a major championship with gale-force winds in the forecast? First of all, I’m not right in the head. Secondly, Varner is playing phenomenal golf this season. His best metric is SG: ATG, ranking 30th on Tour. He also finished T-6 at the PLAYERS in very blustery conditions, only eliminated with a fateful dunk in the lake on the famous 17th. Call it a gut feeling, but my gut is always well-fed.

Other Values in My Pool: Abraham Ancer, Cameron Young, Maverick McNealy, Seamus Power, Aaron Wise, Davis Riley, Matt Kuchar, JJ Spaun

I will be with you for an entire PGA Tour season of DFS picks. I hope you join me in victory throughout 2022 and beyond. I promise to be a better DFS golfer than an actual golfer. You can find all of my musings on Twitter. Good luck and hit ’em straight!