Dissecting the DraftKings golf picks for the WM Phoenix Open this week with plays and fades for each pricing tier in addition to building a winning lineup.
There’s no argument that the WM Phoenix Open remains one of the best events on the PGA Tour every year. As the next stop is TPC Scottsdale this week, though, we could be seeing an even more electric (and well-lubricated) crowd than normal given the fact that we have one of the strongest fields playing this tournament in recent memory. And that makes deciphering the DraftKings golf picks and PGA DFS slate for the week that much more intriguing.
Six of the top-10 ranked players in the world are in the field this week at Phoenix, which means there is some great value to be had across the DraftKings slate. With that said, it also makes it that much more important that you find your proper picks to build your lineup and stick with it.
Admittedly, last week can go kick rocks from a DFS perspective because I fumbled the bag hard. We’re bouncing back from that, though, as we dive into the DraftKings board for the WM Phoenix Open as we roll through plays and fades at each pricing tier and then build a winning lineup.
DraftKings Golf PGA DFS picks for WM Phoenix Open: Top Plays in Each Pricing Tier
$10,000: Viktor Hovland ($10,200) – Full transparency, Hovland was my pick to win this week in Phoenix, so I obviously like him. But how can you not? The Norwegian has won three of his last five starts and has a game suited to thrive at this venue. There truly isn’t a bad option in the $10K range, but getting a guy with Hovland’s upside at the bottom of the tier is great value in my mind.
$9,000: Sam Burns ($9,300) – Burns is another guy it’s hard not to love. Yes, he missed the cut at Torrey but had three top-10 finishes and another top 20 in his four starts prior to that tournament. He also won back in September. His ball-striking should play well in Phoenix and I like him to pop back up and really thrive at this course. Also consider: Jordan Spieth ($9,900), Xander Schauffele ($9,700), Bubba Watson ($9,000)
$8,000: Corey Conners ($8,300) – If you aren’t sensing a patter here, the iron play and ball-striking is going to be critical and there are few better in that capacity than Corey Conners. He might be slightly contrarian after missing two cuts but those feel like anomalies given his overall game and form over the past year. I again like the bounce-back potential and upside at this price. Also consider: Tony Finau ($8,900), Webb Simpson ($8,600), Adam Scott ($8,500), Seamus Power ($8,400)
$7,000: Talor Gooch ($7,800) – Frankly, Gooch is mispriced and, if possible, you have to take advantage of that in your DraftKings lineup. This guy has been in terrific form over the past six months or so, including a win at the RSM, two additional top-five finishes, and three more top-15 finishes. His ball-striking has improved dramatically and, though his course history is less than stellar, I love this spot for him. Also consider: Luke List ($7,700), Max Homa ($7,600), Rickie Fowler ($7,600), K.H. Lee ($7,300), Aaron Wise ($7,100), Branden Grace ($7,100)
$6,000: Austin Eckroat ($6,200) – We’re getting close to the dead minimum price here, which is highly intriguing. But Eckroat has a ton of game, especially off the tee. He’s one of BetSided’s Iain MacMillan’s dark horse picks and here’s what he had to say.
Austin Eckroat doesn’t have his PGA Tour card, but the Korn Ferry Tour member has received an exemption to compete for the third straight week. Why I like him at 400/1, is that has has absolutely deadly off the tee last week, and that will go a long way at TPC Scottsdale. He only has two measured rounds, but those two rounds puts him first on the PGA Tour stat sheet in strokes gained: off-the-tee, which is mighty impressive.
He was part of the 2018 national champion Oklahoma State team along with Viktor Hovland and Matthew Wolff, so the talent is there. I probably wouldn’t actually recommend you taking him to win outright, but a top 20 (or top 40 bet if you can find it), is extremely intriguing.
In this price range, you’re looking for upside like what Eckroat has. He’s well worth getting in your lineup, especially if you’re trying to play guys in the $10K and $9K range. Also Consider: Adam Hadwin ($6,900), Michael Thompson ($6,700), Matthew NeSmith ($6,600), Harry Higgs ($6,300)
DraftKings Golf PGA DFS picks for WM Phoenix Open: Top Fades in Each Pricing Tier
$10,000: Nobody – Call this a copout if you want, but I have no arguments against anyone in the top pricing tier if you want to play them. I might shy away from Justin Thomas slightly because of his price right below Rahm, who I prefer, but you really can’t go wrong in this five-player range.
$9,000: Daniel Berger ($9,200) – I was all saddled up to play Berger last week before he withdrew on Wednesday with a back injury. And that’s why I’m fading him this week. It’s hard to trust a player, even one of his caliber, coming off an injury that took him out of a tournament to bounce back the next week and contend. Surrounded by the upside he is, I’m passing on Berger for my lineups.
$8,000: Louis Oosthuizen ($8,800) – If you’re trying to remember the last time you saw Oosthuizen play, you aren’t alone. He last teed it up at the RSM Classic in November and missed the cut. That rust factor is enough to scare me away, even if the veteran has shown at times the ability to come back and look like he never left at all.
$7,000: Harold Varner III ($7,800) – One of my firm principles is to fade a guy who won last week and people are going to see the form from HV3 and jump on him, so I’m issuing that warning here. Guys tend to fall back after a win, particularly one like their first victory. Throw in the fact that he flew from winning in Saudi Arabia to Phoenix and this is a strong fade from my book.
Best DraftKings Golf PGA DFS lineup for WM Phoenix Open
- Jon Rahm ($11,600)
- Viktor Hovland ($10,200)
- Talor Gooch ($7,800)
- Branden Grace ($7,100)
- Aaron Wise ($7,100)
- Austin Eckroat ($6,200)
Oh, we are going full-blown stars and scrubs here with no one in the lineup from the $9K or $8K range. With that said, I love that for this tournament.
The Rahm-Hovland combo at the top is something I couldn’t get past. These are my two best picks to win this week, so why not shoehorn them into the lineup with some great value in the $7K and $6K ranges? That was the goal here and we made it happen. My thoughts on Gooch have been made known, as with Eckroat.
For Grace and Wise, the former has great course history at this event and can pop at any moment. Wise is a wildcard but his ball-striking is elite and, if the putter isn’t an outright disaster, he has major upside to pop up at the WM Phoenix Open.