The FedExCup Fall continues this week with the Baycurrent Classic – formerly known as the ZOZO Championship – which will be played at Yokohama Country Club (par 71, 7,315 yards, bentgrass greens) in Yokohama, Japan. This is Yokohama CC’s debut at the PGA TOUR level and for this week, there will be 78 golfers competing and no cut.
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
Xander Schauffele ($11,000)
Schauffele has a knack for winning in Asia. The 31-year-old won the 2018 WGC-HSBC Champions in China and Schauffele won the gold medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The two-time major champion has had a lackluster season by his standards, but Schauffele’s game has looked strong recently, with two top-10 finishes in his last four solo starts and finishing with a 3-1-0 record at the Ryder Cup two weeks ago. Schauffele finished in a tie for the most points for Team USA and looking to build off this showing, the No. 4 ranked player in the world is the unquestioned favorite to win the Baycurrent Classic at Yokohama CC. This par 71 presents bentgrass greens and when we compare this field’s last 50 rounds at courses with this type of putting surface, Schauffele ranks second in Total Strokes Gained.
DraftKings $9,000 Range
Alex Noren ($9,800)
Noren has been on fire. After finishing T7th and T3rd in his final two starts on the PGA TOUR in the summer, Noren went on to win twice in three starts while competing over in Europe. These two victories have moved the Swede up 41 spots in the world golf rankings to No. 18 and Noren has shot under in 16 of his last 18 rounds, including an 8-under 62 at the Wyndham Championship in August, which is one stroke shy of his career low. Noren heads to Yokohama CC in arguably the best form of this entire field and he is a worthwhile spend this week.
Kurt Kitayama ($9,400)
Kitayama finished T5th at last year’s Baycurrent Classic and the veteran has similar upside this week. Kitayama has made seven cuts in a row and five of these finishes have been top-20 results, including a win at the 3M Open in July. Kitayama ranks first in Total Strokes Gained when we compare this field’s last 24 rounds and he ranks fourth in Total Strokes Gained when we compare this field’s last 50 rounds at venues with bentgrass greens.
Now available: our PGA DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.
DraftKings $8,000 Range
Garrick Higgo ($8,700)
Higgo has gotten off to an excellent start this fall. After finishing T7th at the Procore Championship, the 26-year-old finished runner-up at the Sanderson Farms Championship last week. Higgo gained strokes on approach and with his putter at both these events and he has shot 69 or better in seven of these past eight rounds. For the season, Higgo has made 10 of 12 cuts with three top-12 finishes, including a win at the Corales Puntacana Championship. The South African ranks second in Total Strokes Gained when we compare this field’s last 24 rounds and Higgo is a cash game staple at this sub-$9,000 salary.
Vince Whaley ($8,000)
Whaley has been very consistent, making 14 cuts in a row with seven top-30 finishes during this run, most recently with a T3 finish at the Sanderson Farms Championship last week. The 30-year-old has shot under par in seven straight rounds and Whaley’s stellar form makes him a difficult play to overlook at this reasonable price tag.
Updated on 12/5/25
DraftKings $7,000 Range
Patrick Fishburn ($7,600)
Fishburn has only missed one cut in his last nine starts and he has finished inside the top 20 three times during this span. Fishburn’s irons have been great, with gaining strokes on approach at three straight events and he ranks 15th in par four performance this season, making him an excellent match for Yokohama CC, which is an untraditional par 71 that features 13 par fours. Plus, when we compare this field’s results at fall events, Fishburn ranks eighth in Strokes Gained per round.
Austin Eckroat ($7,500)
Eckroat finished T11th at the Procore Championship last month in his last start and that week, he gained strokes in every major category at Silverado CC, except around the greens. This marked Eckroat’s 10th made cut in his last 13 starts and third top-25 finish during this stretch. Most notably with a win at the World Technology Championship last November, Eckroat has flashed some huge upside at fall tournaments and he should flourish at the vulnerable Yokohama CC this week.
Mac Meissner ($7,100)
Meissner is arguably the best value available this week. After finishing T14th at the Sanderson Farms Championship last week, the 26-year-old has made four straight cuts with three top-20 finishes during this time, including a runner-up at the Wyndham Championship. Meissner has gained strokes in every major category in three of his four starts during this cut streak and he ranks fourth in SG: Tee-to-Green when we compare this field’s last 24 rounds. In this type of form, Meissner has top-10 upside.
DraftKings $6,000 and Below Range
Sahith Theegala ($6,800)
With a top-20 finish at two of the last three Baycurrent Classics, Theegala has prowess for competing in Japan and after a rough stretch of missing four cuts in a row, the 27-year-old’s game came alive at the Procore Championship last month. At this event, Theegala finished T38th while gaining strokes in every major category, except with his putter. Seeing Theegala finally thrive again as a ball striker was extremely encouraging and he needs to produce some high finishes this fall, as Theegala currently ranks 151st on the FedExCup Fall list and only the top 125 following these next five fall tournaments will earn conditional status on the PGA TOUR for next season. Theegala should be extremely motivated this week and this is an awesome time to buy low on the former top-12 ranked player in the world.
Sam Ryder ($6,600)
Ryder finished T7th at the 2021 Baycurrent Classic and following his T29 finish at the Sanderson Farms Championship last week, Ryder has generated three top-30 finishes in his last five starts. At the CC of Jackson this past week, Ryder opened the event with a 7-under 65 and he gained strokes across the board, outside of around the greens. Ryder ranks sixth in SG: Putting this season, and his terrific work on the greens should translate into a solid finish for him at the susceptible Yokohama CC this week.
Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with Sleeper promo code FL55.
Interested in more PGA action? Check out the pick’ems on Underdog with Underdog promo code LABS.
Pictured: Xander Schauffele
Photo credit: Imagn
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
PGA DFS: Top Cash Game Picks and Conviction Plays for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship
Sanderson Farms Championship: Top PGA DFS Picks, Values, and Sleepers for Large-Field GPPs on DraftKings
PGA DFS: Top Cash Game Picks for the Black Desert Championship on DraftKings
PGA DFS: Top Cash Game Picks for the World Wide Technology Championship on DraftKings
