Baycurrent Classic: Top PGA DFS Picks, Values, and Sleepers for Large-Field Tournaments on DraftKings

The PGA TOUR is headed to Japan for this week’s tournament, which is the third of the eight events that are part of the FedExCup Fall. The Baycurrent Classic is unique not only in its location but also in its format. The no-cut, 72-player event is co-sanctioned by the PGA TOUR and the Japan Golf Tour, giving players from both circuits the opportunity to compete at Yokohama Country Club.

Last year was the first stop at this venue for the PGA TOUR, and Xander Schauffele emerged with the win. He’s back to defend his title this year at the top of a very strong field compared to the rest of the events in this part of the schedule. Critical FedExCup points will be awarded to those still looking to improve their status for next season, and there is plenty on the line for the 72 players teeing it up. For more info on the field, the format, and the course for this week, check out this First Look from RotoGrinders.

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

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 tournament 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 tournament 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.

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

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.

High-Priced PGA DFS Pick

Jacob Bridgeman $9,800

For the FedExCup Fall, we’ll focus on just one pick in each price range, and at the bottom of the section, we’ll list out a few more plays that stand out in that price bracket. This week, Jacob Bridgeman has the highest SimLeverage in the field. He has the fourth-highest Perfect% in the field behind only the three most expensive players on the board, and he has an ownership projection under 10%, placing him well outside the top 20.

Three weeks ago, Bridgeman started the FedExCup Fall with a win at the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville. It was his second PGA TOUR win of the season after claiming his breakthrough victory at the Genesis Invitational early this season. Before his win at the Biltmore, Bridgeman posted a ninth-place finish at the BMW Championship and a T4 at the TOUR Championship to round out the FedExCup Playoffs.

He’s locked in to full-time exempt status for next year, but the 26-year-old will still take the trip to Japan this week to make his tournament and course debut. While he doesn’t have experience at this week’s venue or in this tournament, he does come in with great form.

Over the last three months, he leads the field in SG:P and ranks 14th in SG:APP, leaving him second in the field in Total Strokes Gained. His game should be a solid fit for the style of play at Yokohama Country Club, and if his putter stays hot, he’ll be lined up for another good week.

His extremely low ownership projection makes him a solid pay-up option to build around for tournament lineups, although his lack of course experience does raise his risk.

Other High-Priced Picks from the Model: Xander Schauffele ($11,000), Wyndham Clark ($10,600), Doug Ghim ($9,200)

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Mid-Priced PGA DFS Pick