GOLF

3M Open: Top PGA DFS Picks, Values, and Sleepers for Large-Field GPPs on DraftKings

The PGA TOUR has just two tournaments remaining before the FedExCup playoffs begin, so points are at a premium as the pros tee it up this week for the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities. The event is a relatively new one on the PGA TOUR schedule and has been held in Blaine, Minnesota, since it began in 2019. All the golfers in the field have plenty to play for as they battle to secure or improve their status on the PGA TOUR for the playoffs and ultimately for next season.

After all the biggest names in the sport played The Open Championship last week, there’s a little bit of a letdown this week in field quality. However, several big names are playing for a second consecutive week, and the field opens plenty of potential for a fringe golfer to come to the forefront. For more info on the field, the course, the weather, and some key stats to track, check out this First Look from RotoGrinders.

Especially in large-field GPP tournaments, you’ll want to make sure to target players who have lower ownership projections than their potential performance.  Finding high-leverage plays is critical for GPP success, so the picks here go against the grain, looking for under-owned options.

All Strokes Gained metrics referenced are from the Rabbit Hole.

Usually, I rely heavily on the Strokes Gained Model in FantasyLabs, which is very predictive of results. I also tend to lean toward players who excel in Strokes Gained: Approach, which is more sustainable week-to-week than a hot putter.

Since these are GPP picks, we can accept more risk in exchange for getting a higher ceiling. High-risk, high-reward options with low ownership create the “boom-or-bust” style lineups that often lead to large-field success. To find guidance for all contest types, check out our full Daily Fantasy Golf coverage each week.

No matter what type of format you prefer, be sure to use the FantasyLabs PGA Models to help you make the best choices. These models use stats and simulations to highlight different players’ strengths and weaknesses. A few critical new stats for GPP play are Perfect% and SimLeverage, which are further explained here.

As you dig into the numbers, you can enjoy the many tools FantasyLabs offers, including the Lineup Optimizer, which effortlessly creates up to 300 lineups. Alternatively, you can use the Lineup Builder if you prefer a more hands-on approach.

Check out my top picks in each price range listed below.

Editor’s note: SimLeverage and Perfect% numbers may change after this piece is published. Be sure to check the PGA Models for any updates to the sims.

Become an All-Access Member Today

Lineup builder and optimizer

Real-time DFS models & projections

Data-driven analysis & tutorials
Become a PRO Member

High-Priced PGA DFS Picks

Note: FantasyLabs has partnered with Betsperts Golf and the Rabbit Hole! Sign up for the biggest database of golf stats available on the internet and get 25% off a yearly sub with our link! 

Unless otherwise noted, all Strokes Gained metrics referenced in this article come via the Rabbit Hole.

Tool Highlights

  • Build unlimited custom stat models with official PGA TOUR data.
  • Hundreds of filters to find the exact data split you’re looking for.
  • Save custom reports and run them again with next week’s field.
  • Download anything right to your computer with the click of a button.
  • See expert models each week.
 

Maverick McNealy $10,300

Ten golfers in the field have salaries over $9,000, and several of them bring good leverage since the ownership seems to be settling more heavily in the middle tiers. McNealy is one of the best sources of leverage near the top since his ownership projection is lower than Sam Burns ($10,500) or Chris Gotterup ($10,000).

McNealy has the third-highest Perfect% in the field along with the third-highest median, ceiling, and floor projections, behind just Burns and Gotterup. Of the trio, though, McNealy has the best previous finish at TPC Twin Cities and the longest track record at the venue. He has made the cut in all three of his previous stops at the 3M Open and finished T3 last season.

That T3 was part of a very successful close to the season for McNealy that culminated in his first PGA TOUR win at The RSM Classic last fall. This year, he made 17 cuts in 20 events while logging nine top-25 finishes and six top-10 finishes. He was runner-up at The Genesis Invitational earlier this season and has also been heating up lately with three straight top-25 finishes.

McNealy ranks fourth in the field in Total Strokes Gained over the last 20 rounds and ninth in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee. This course is especially demanding off the tee, and throughout its history, players who excelled with their driver have tended to finish near the top. We’ll lean into Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee a little more as a result, and McNealy checks that box, which helps explain his strong history.

He has the third-highest SimLeverage of players over $7,500 and the fifth-highest in the entire field.

Max Greyserman $9,300

Greyserman has the second-highest SimLeverage in the field and will look to build on his recent momentum on a course where he has had success in the past.

Greyserman lost in the playoff at the Rocket Classic before missing the cut in the two events in the UK. Before his disappointing two-week trip across the pond, he had made 10 straight cuts, including each of the previous three majors.

Greyserman ranks 12th in the field in Total Strokes Gained, 15th in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green, and 25th in Strokes Gained: Approach over his last 24 rounds, even after his tough weeks at the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open Championship.

Returning to the states and the more typical parkland-style courses, Greyserman should be set to bounce back in the Twin Cities. He finished runner-up at this event in his debut last year, finishing with a sizzling 63. He gained more than seven strokes putting in the tournament last year, and if he can get his flat stick rolling like that again this week, he could be right in contention once again.

After several close calls, Greyserman seems ready to post his breakthrough win, and his struggles abroad keep his ownership projection low enough to make him a great leverage play this week.

Now available: our PGA DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.

Mid-Priced PGA DFS Picks

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Shriners Children’s Open Top PGA DFS Picks, Values and Sleepers for Large-Field GPPs THE CJ CUP in South Carolina Top PGA DFS Picks, Values and Sleepers for Large-Field GPPs on DraftKings PGA DFS: Top Cash Game Picks and Conviction Plays for the Shriners Children’s Open PGA DFS: Top Cash Game Picks for the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP on DraftKings

The PGA TOUR has just two tournaments remaining before the FedExCup playoffs begin, so points are at a premium as the pros tee it up this week for the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities. The event is a relatively new one on the PGA TOUR schedule and has been held in Blaine, Minnesota, since it began in 2019. All the golfers in the field have plenty to play for as they battle to secure or improve their status on the PGA TOUR for the playoffs and ultimately for next season.

After all the biggest names in the sport played The Open Championship last week, there’s a little bit of a letdown this week in field quality. However, several big names are playing for a second consecutive week, and the field opens plenty of potential for a fringe golfer to come to the forefront. For more info on the field, the course, the weather, and some key stats to track, check out this First Look from RotoGrinders.

Especially in large-field GPP tournaments, you’ll want to make sure to target players who have lower ownership projections than their potential performance.  Finding high-leverage plays is critical for GPP success, so the picks here go against the grain, looking for under-owned options.

All Strokes Gained metrics referenced are from the Rabbit Hole.

Usually, I rely heavily on the Strokes Gained Model in FantasyLabs, which is very predictive of results. I also tend to lean toward players who excel in Strokes Gained: Approach, which is more sustainable week-to-week than a hot putter.

Since these are GPP picks, we can accept more risk in exchange for getting a higher ceiling. High-risk, high-reward options with low ownership create the “boom-or-bust” style lineups that often lead to large-field success. To find guidance for all contest types, check out our full Daily Fantasy Golf coverage each week.

No matter what type of format you prefer, be sure to use the FantasyLabs PGA Models to help you make the best choices. These models use stats and simulations to highlight different players’ strengths and weaknesses. A few critical new stats for GPP play are Perfect% and SimLeverage, which are further explained here.

As you dig into the numbers, you can enjoy the many tools FantasyLabs offers, including the Lineup Optimizer, which effortlessly creates up to 300 lineups. Alternatively, you can use the Lineup Builder if you prefer a more hands-on approach.

Check out my top picks in each price range listed below.

Editor’s note: SimLeverage and Perfect% numbers may change after this piece is published. Be sure to check the PGA Models for any updates to the sims.

Become an All-Access Member Today

Lineup builder and optimizer

Real-time DFS models & projections

Data-driven analysis & tutorials
Become a PRO Member

High-Priced PGA DFS Picks

Note: FantasyLabs has partnered with Betsperts Golf and the Rabbit Hole! Sign up for the biggest database of golf stats available on the internet and get 25% off a yearly sub with our link! 

Unless otherwise noted, all Strokes Gained metrics referenced in this article come via the Rabbit Hole.

Tool Highlights

  • Build unlimited custom stat models with official PGA TOUR data.
  • Hundreds of filters to find the exact data split you’re looking for.
  • Save custom reports and run them again with next week’s field.
  • Download anything right to your computer with the click of a button.
  • See expert models each week.
 

Maverick McNealy $10,300

Ten golfers in the field have salaries over $9,000, and several of them bring good leverage since the ownership seems to be settling more heavily in the middle tiers. McNealy is one of the best sources of leverage near the top since his ownership projection is lower than Sam Burns ($10,500) or Chris Gotterup ($10,000).

McNealy has the third-highest Perfect% in the field along with the third-highest median, ceiling, and floor projections, behind just Burns and Gotterup. Of the trio, though, McNealy has the best previous finish at TPC Twin Cities and the longest track record at the venue. He has made the cut in all three of his previous stops at the 3M Open and finished T3 last season.

That T3 was part of a very successful close to the season for McNealy that culminated in his first PGA TOUR win at The RSM Classic last fall. This year, he made 17 cuts in 20 events while logging nine top-25 finishes and six top-10 finishes. He was runner-up at The Genesis Invitational earlier this season and has also been heating up lately with three straight top-25 finishes.

McNealy ranks fourth in the field in Total Strokes Gained over the last 20 rounds and ninth in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee. This course is especially demanding off the tee, and throughout its history, players who excelled with their driver have tended to finish near the top. We’ll lean into Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee a little more as a result, and McNealy checks that box, which helps explain his strong history.

He has the third-highest SimLeverage of players over $7,500 and the fifth-highest in the entire field.

Max Greyserman $9,300

Greyserman has the second-highest SimLeverage in the field and will look to build on his recent momentum on a course where he has had success in the past.

Greyserman lost in the playoff at the Rocket Classic before missing the cut in the two events in the UK. Before his disappointing two-week trip across the pond, he had made 10 straight cuts, including each of the previous three majors.

Greyserman ranks 12th in the field in Total Strokes Gained, 15th in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green, and 25th in Strokes Gained: Approach over his last 24 rounds, even after his tough weeks at the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open Championship.

Returning to the states and the more typical parkland-style courses, Greyserman should be set to bounce back in the Twin Cities. He finished runner-up at this event in his debut last year, finishing with a sizzling 63. He gained more than seven strokes putting in the tournament last year, and if he can get his flat stick rolling like that again this week, he could be right in contention once again.

After several close calls, Greyserman seems ready to post his breakthrough win, and his struggles abroad keep his ownership projection low enough to make him a great leverage play this week.

Now available: our PGA DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.

Mid-Priced PGA DFS Picks

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Shriners Children’s Open Top PGA DFS Picks, Values and Sleepers for Large-Field GPPs THE CJ CUP in South Carolina Top PGA DFS Picks, Values and Sleepers for Large-Field GPPs on DraftKings PGA DFS: Top Cash Game Picks and Conviction Plays for the Shriners Children’s Open PGA DFS: Top Cash Game Picks for the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP on DraftKings

About the Author

Zach Thompson writes NBA, MLB, NFL, golf and soccer content for Fantasy Labs. Zach's fantasy experience dates all the way back to high school when he would manually tabulate fantasy football scores using Tuesday morning's newspaper. Even though he was raised on the island of Guam on the opposite side of the world, Zach is a hardcore Boston sports fan who loves playing fantasy sports in almost any format. He's always in search of a great bargain play and keeps a close eye out for rising talent that can provide leverage. Zach joined the FantasyLabs team in 2022 and is also a contributor for DraftKings Network.