The TOUR makes a new stop this week as the COVID19 pandemic necessitated a switch from the traditional RBC Canadian Open down to South Carolina for this week’s Palmetto Championship. Congaree Golf Club will host it’s first TOUR event, and we have you covered across our platforms to set you up for what to expect this week
My course preview breaks down the course on the whole, but it seems weather may impact the way it plays this week for the tournament. Matt Vincenzi also targets his stats that matter for the event, and Landon Silinsky puts in his favorite cash game plays in a field that is lacking overall strength.
The early returns around Congaree Golf Club are that recent rain has the course playing softer than intended, making fairways and greens receptive. This kind of impact is usually a recipe for low scoring on TOUR and it will have me building a few more lineups to the birdie makers rather than my original thoughts of those that can save par around the greens.
This week, our target GPP will be back to the traditional $15 buy in DraftKings for the $700,000 Flop Shot with $200,000 to first place. There are nearly 55,000 entries in this huge contest, making our build process an important factor for us to finish at the top.
Let’s take a look at my top plays heading into the week in South Carolina.
Top Tier
Sungjae Im ($9,700 DK/$11,600 FD)
This is a really interesting week from a DFS perspective because no matter how you build, you’ll have to click on a name or two that may feel a little uncomfortable. By starting with Sungjae Im, I can be a little more balanced in my build. Im is a known bermuda specialist, which will benefit him this week at Congaree.
I expect he will bounce back from his consecutive missed cuts, and he has played well in these weaker field tournaments. I like the price tag, especially in this field for the South Korean and he has plenty of winning upside to anchor my lineups.
Patton Kizzire ($9,100 DK/$10,400 FD)
I will lean a bit at times on the territorial background of players this week and give a little boost to the guys from/or living in the southeast. Kizzire fits that mold and despite his missed cut at the Memorial, he was rolling pretty well prior to that event. I expect him to bounce back at the Palmetto, with a course that will allow him to get away with his weakest aspect, which is his off the tee game.
Hector Vivas/Getty Images. Pictured: Patton Kizzire.
Kizzire will have large fairways to help him keep it in the short grass more than normal, and put him in position to attack with his good approach play and strong putter. He’s checking in at a decent ownership this week, and will be a core play to my lineups especially if the soft conditions continue to be a theme in interviews.
Pivot: If the talk gets back to firm and fast, I will transition some shares in this range to the Euros. Ian Poulter ($9,200 DK/$10,600 FD) is a player who can fit the mold whether its a grind or a low scoring affair this week. He is currently projected near the same about 15% ownership, but will bring a little different skillset.
Mid Tier
Harold Varner III ($8,500 DK/$9,700 FD)
HV3 will be a popular pick this week, but it looks like he is going to be good chalk. He is just too difficult to fade and is arguably underpriced in this field. He has all of the narratives regardless of how this tournament goes — he’s had some success in Australia and he’s a southeastern guy who can go low if it becomes a shootout. I’ll be in on Varner and just look for opportunities to be different elsewhere.
Doc Redman ($8,000 DK/9,500 FD)
Staying in the southeast, I’m going to Doc Redman this week. He’ll be playing in the home state of his alma mater Clemson, and he should find some comfort around Congaree. We have seen him in contention a few times over the past few weeks, but he’s faded a bit on the weekends. If this turns into a scoring event, that’s where I like Redman, and this is a field where he absolutely has win equity if he can put together four good rounds.
Camilo Villegas ($7,600 DK/$8,800 FD)
One player I expect to help me get different is with Camilo Villegas. He had a great run of golf to start the beginning of the year, and he really hasn’t faded off that much. He missed the cut last week at the Memorial, but that is not something that will deter me especially as I see he gained 1.8 strokes on approach in that elite field.
I know he will be motivated this week as he looks to secure his status on TOUR and get into the top 125 for the playoffs, and he’s shown time and again that he can contend at the top of fields like the on this week at the Palmetto.
Values
Davis Thompson ($7,200 DK/$8,000 FD)
In fields like this I really like to take a stab at young talent. Davis Thompson fits that mold as he makes his first TOUR start since turning pro this week. The Georgia Alum reeled in plenty of accolades in his time as a Bulldog and he is a player who has upside not dissimilar to the young stars that we have seen make a near immediate impact on TOUR.
Roger Sloan ($7,000 DK/$7,900 FD)
I really shouldn’t be surprised by any names flashing this week, but Roger Sloan was one who popped inside of my Top 20 this week. He comes in with a couple of back to back made cuts, and may be finding some form that can be useful this week. We really just need a made cut at this price point, but he actually has a decent amount of upside as well.
Sleepers
Kevin Chappell ($6,700 DK/$7,800 FD)
There are a ton of darts you can throw in this range and just hope you hit on the guy or guys that will find a Top 20 this week. We will almost undoubtedly see some of these cheap players on the first couple of pages of the leaderboard, and it will be what puts some lineups near the top.
For me, I am going to mix and match with talent I know exists like Kevin Chappell or even Chez Reavie, then throw in some of the young guys who may find this week to break through. Chappell posted a Top 15 on the Korn Ferry here recently and has had some decent starts on TOUR earlier this season, which is enough for me to grab some shares in this field.
Kris Ventura ($6,400 DK/$7,100 FD)
I am a bit of a sucker for Ventura as I may believe he has more talent than even he does. I keep going back here expecting a top finish to come through at some point and frankly if it doesn’t happen this week, it may never happen. He’s got the length off the tee to take advantage and is a really solid putter, if he can dial in the irons he can contend. If he doesn’t, it may be time to put him on my personal blacklist.
Pictured above: Harold Varner III
Photo credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
