Round 4 of the Charles Schwab Challenge gets underway Sunday morning and DraftKings loaded up a massive $400K GPP with 100K up top for this weekend’s return to golf, so let’s dive into a quick breakdown.
Studs
Rory McIlroy ($10,800) shot a very pedestrian-like 69 on Saturday with 3 birdies and 2 bogeys to leave himself 3 shots off the lead and sqarely within striking distance. His 63 on Friday proves he can go really low and pile up DK points at this track and he ranks 4th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 13th in Strokes Gained: Approach after the first three rounds. Look for McIlroy to make a move on Sunday, especially if he can improve upon his below average putting.
Speaking of pedestrians, the rather bulky Bryson DeChambeau ($10,200) carded an eagle, 2 bogeys, and no birdies on Saturday and like McIlroy, finds himself three shots off the lead. Dechambeau leads the field in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking but ranks 47th in Strokes Gained: Putting. If the putter gets hot in the final round, big Bryson will be dangerous.
Sungjae Im ($10,000) is 13th in the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green, but similar to Rory, he’s struggled with his putter, ranking 39th in SG: Putting. im doesn’t pop off the page in SG: Approach which likely means he’ll be low-owned on Sunday. but don’t sleep on Sungjae.
Golfers to Buy
Gary Wooland ($9,800) is my Brooks Kopeka Lite — he’s got that DGAF kind of swag that makes him a favorite of mine when he’s in striking distance on Sundays and he leads the field in SG: Approach by nearly two strokes. If Gary is able to dial in the driver on Sunday, big things are happening.
Scottie Scheffler ($8,600) has been locked in with his iron game and off the tee this entire tournament but he has been horrific on the greens, losing a massive 3 strokes putting. Scheffler ranks 11th in SG: Approach and 10th in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, so if he can roll a few in on Sunday — watch out! He’s burned his backers during the first three days of this tournament so despite his statistical sexiness, Scottie still may go low-owned in GPPs.
Abraham Ancer ($8,900) is striking the ball like a gawd this week: 9th in SG: Off the Tee and 7th in SG: Approach. He had 7 birdies in the first round and another round like that on Sunday might just be the Ancer to your prayers.
Viktor Hovland ($7,700) came out hot Saturday with 4 birdies and no bogeys in the first 15 holes but finished with 2 bogeys in his final 3 holes which may help him fly under the radar a bit for Sunday. Hovland ranks 24th in SG: Ball Striing and 58th in SG: Putting. If he can clean up the bogeys in the final round, he could post a solid DK total and I love him as a low-owned cheaper option to pair with some of the big dogs.
Golfers to Sell
I typically love Rafa Cabrera Bello ($9,800) in Showdown contests but not this Sunday. RCB has been a mess off the tee this week and below average with his irons. It’s been a really hot putter that has allowed him to score so well this week. RCB has lost strokes putting in 3 of his last 5 tournaments and has lost an average of -0.3 strokes putting in his last 10 tournaments so I’m not buying him.
Quick Hits
- Xander Schauffele ($9,200) is a stud and will sleep on the lead tonight. He’s been elite tee-to-green, leading the field this week, and I don’t see any reason why he can’t win this thing. He has shot 66 or better in each of the first three rounds.
- Justin Thomas ($10,500) ranks 10th in SG: Approach and 7th in SG: Putting — if he maintains those type of numbers in the fourth round, he could post a slate-breaking number.
- If you want to pony up only $7,600 for a player that has shot 66 in each of the first three rounds and once shot a legendary 62 at The Open Championship, then Branden Grace is your guy. Plug and play. Grace has been shaky with the driver (51st SG: Off the Tee) but his Approach (14th) and Putting (4th) has been lit.
- Speaking of lit, if you’re not rooting for Harold Varner III ($8,000) to win this thing on Sunday than you are some type of inhuman cyborg with no emotion. HV3 ranks 14th in SG: Off the Tee, 3rd in SG: Approach, and 4th in SG: Tee to Green. A win this week would be monumental.
- If you’re not rooting for Jordan Spieth ($8,800) to blow this thing on Sunday, than you are some type of inhuman cyborg with no charisma… or maybe that’s just me. Jordan’s putter is locked in — he ranks 1st in SG: Putting and surprisingly he’s currently 7th in SG: Off the Tee. It will be interesting to see how that driver holds up on Sunday.
- Tyler Duncan ($6,400) ranked sixth in SG: Approach in Saturday’s round and he shot 65 here on Thursday. T-Dunc is an intriguing salary saving option if you need him.
Good luck, and be sure to check out The Action Network if you’re looking for more golf coverage!
Strokes Gained data via Fantasy National
