The PGA TOUR is hosting the Bank of Utah Championship at the Black Desert Resort (par 71, 7,241 yards, bentgrass greens) in Ivins, Utah. At this same course, this fall event made its PGA TOUR debut last season but was called the Black Desert Championship, which was won by three strokes by Matt McCarty (-23). This week’s field consists of 132 golfers and there will be a top-65 and ties cut following the first two rounds.
The PGA DFS Breakdown offers data-driven analysis for each week’s slate, using the FantasyLabs Tools and metrics to highlight notable golfers.
I’ll be highlighting the best cash game/single-entry plays on the DraftKings main slate, but these players are often great options in any contest.
My analysis will frequently reference Strokes Gained, a set of proprietary metrics generated by the PGA TOUR using millions of data points to calculate how many shots, on average, it takes a player to get the ball in the hole from every distance and situation.
Strokes Gained is now available in the FantasyLabs PGA Models.
There are a variety of Strokes Gained-related metrics, but the six main categories you need to know include:
- Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee (SG: Off-the-Tee)
- Strokes Gained: Approach (SG: Approach)
- Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green (SG: Around-the-Green)
- Strokes Gained: Putting (SG: Putting)
- Strokes Gained: Ball-Striking (SG: Ball-Striking), which is SG: Off-the-Tee + SG: Approach
- Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green (SG: Tee-to-Green), which is SG: Ball-Striking + SG: Around-the-Green
Don’t forget to check out two key metrics in our models — Perfect% and SimLeverage. You can find an explainer on those metrics here.
The Cliffs Notes version is that you can use SimLeverage to quickly find leverage plays in tournaments, while Perfect% is great for finding the best price-considered plays for cash games.
And don’t forget to utilize our various PGA DFS tools like our Lineup Optimizer, Lineup Builder, PGA Correlation Dashboard, and our Trends tool.
The following players listed are based on DraftKings scoring and pricing.
PGA DFS Cash Game Thoughts
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 you want to your computer with the click of a button.
- See expert models each week.
DraftKings $10,000 Range
Michael Thorbjornsen ($10,000)
After posting a first-round 4-under 67 at Black Desert Resort last year, Thorbjorsen was forced to withdraw from the event prior to the second round due to a knee injury. This was obviously very unfortunate for the 24-year-old, but he now returns to the par-71 course playing the best golf of his career and sitting 128 spots higher in the world golf rankings. Thorbjornsen has made 10 of his last 11 cuts and has finished inside the top 25 five times during this span, including a T3 finish at the Baycurrent Classic two weeks ago in his most recent start. That week, Thorbjornsen put on a ball-striking clinic, leading the field in SG: Tee-to-Green and SG: Approach, and he posted a final-round 7-under 64. Thorbjornsen thriving at a fall event was no surprise, as he has a knack for playing his best golf this time of year. Thorbjornsen ranks first in Strokes Gained per round when comparing this field’s histories at fall tournaments, and he should contend for his first PGA TOUR win at Black Desert Resort this week, a course that suits his game very well. At last year’s Bank of Utah Championship, 26.4% of approach shots at Black Desert Resort came from 175–200 yards out, and Thorbjornsen ranks 24th in proximity to the hole from this distance this season.
DraftKings $9,000 Range
Kurt Kitayama ($9,600)
Kitayama finished T25 at Black Desert Resort last season, and it’s safe to expect an even better result from him in his second start at the course this week. Kitayama sits 35 spots higher in the world golf rankings now and is riding an eight-made-cut streak with five top-20 finishes during this run, most notably a win at the 3M Open in August, another low-scoring event similar to the Bank of Utah Championship. Kitayama ranks fourth in total Strokes Gained when comparing this field’s last 24 rounds, and he ranks 31st in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 175–200 yards this season. Plus, Black Desert Resort features bentgrass greens, and when analyzing this field’s past 50 rounds at courses with this putting surface, Kitayama ranks fourth in Strokes Gained per round.
Davis Thompson ($9,400)
Thompson has flourished at birdie fests in the past—he won the 2024 John Deere Classic at 28-under by four shots—and the 26-year-old is in great form right now. Thompson has finished T21 or better in three straight events and has shot under par in 11 of his last 12 rounds. Additionally, he has gained strokes on approach and with his putter in two of his past three tournaments. Thompson ranks 17th in proximity to the hole from 175–200 yards this season and is in a great position to contend in his first start at Black Desert Resort this week.
Now available: our PGA DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.
DraftKings $8,000 Range
Christiaan Bezuidenhout ($8,900)
Bezuidenhout is on fire right now and a tough fade for cash games this week, regardless of this being his first start at Black Desert Resort. Bezuidenhout has made seven consecutive cuts worldwide, and this month he’s finished T6 at the Sanderson Farms Championship and T10 at the Baycurrent Classic. He gained strokes on approach at both events and has shot under par in eight straight rounds, including a 5-under 66 to close out the Baycurrent Classic in his last start. Ranking 11th in SG: Putting this season, Bezuidenhout has the tools to thrive in the low-scoring conditions at Black Desert Resort, and a top-five finish is well within reach for the South African this week.
William Mouw ($8,100)
Mouw is a stellar bargain at this salary. The 25-year-old has finished first, T7, T38, and T18 in his last four starts, in that order, and he ranks second in Total Strokes Gained when comparing this field’s last 24 rounds. Specifically, Mouw ranks third in 550–600-yard par-5 efficiency during this span, which sets him up well for his debut at Black Desert Resort, as all three par 5s on the par-71 course fall between 550 and 600 yards.
Updated on 12/6/25
DraftKings $7,000 Range
Sahith Theegala ($7,800)
After an ugly run of golf during the summer, Theegala has regained his form this fall, finishing T38 at the Procore Championship and T27 at the Baycurrent Classic. He gained strokes from tee to green and on approach at both tournaments, which is very encouraging, as before this, he hadn’t achieved that feat since the Masters in April. Theegala was a top-15-ranked player in the world at the start of this year, and $7,800 is a very low price for a player of his talent in a field this weak.
Doug Ghim ($7,600)
Ghim posted a T25 finish at Black Desert Resort last season and has made five of his last seven cuts, with four of those results being T31 or better. He ranks top 20 in both SG: Tee-to-Green and SG: Approach this season, and the superb ball striker is a great bargain at this salary, showing real upside if he can find some luck with the putter.
Taylor Montgomery ($7,400)
Montgomery is the best value on the board this week and a cash-game staple at this price point. The 30-year-old is coming off a T6 at the Sanderson Farms Championship earlier this month, marking his sixth made cut and third top-12 finish in his last seven starts. At the Country Club of Jackson that week, Montgomery posted a tournament-low 9-under 63 in the second round—his third straight event gaining strokes on both approach and the greens. Montgomery ranks first in Total Strokes Gained when comparing this field’s last 24 rounds and second in SG: Putting this season. Strong putting is essential at the score-friendly Black Desert Resort, where five of the top 10 finishers last year ranked top 12 in SG: Putting. Montgomery brings clear top-10 upside at a very affordable price.
DraftKings $6,000 and Below Range
Trey Mullinax ($6,800)
Mullinax is the best sub-$7,000 target for the Bank of Utah Championship. The bomber finished T25 at Black Desert Resort a year ago and has made three straight cuts, improving in each of those starts—most recently with a T29 at the Sanderson Farms Championship. Mullinax has gained over 4.0 strokes on approach in his last two starts and ranks 35th in proximity to the hole from 175–200 yards this season. His best putting splits also come on bentgrass greens, and a top-20 finish isn’t out of the question for the Alabama graduate.
Kevin Streelman ($6,400)
Streelman hasn’t competed much this season, but he’s been a solid cut-maker, making 4 of 5 cuts in 2025, including two this fall. In his last start earlier this month, the veteran gained strokes on approach during his T48 finish at the Sanderson Farms Championship and shot under par in three of his four rounds at the Country Club of Jackson that week. Streelman now heads to Black Desert Resort, where he finished T3 last season after posting rounds of 64 and 63. While another high finish like that is unlikely, Streelman should be able to grind out at least a made cut in his return to Utah this week.
Interested in more PGA action? Check out the pick’ems on Underdog with our Underdog promo code.
Pictured: Michael Thorbjornsen
Photo credit: Imagn
