Breaking down US Open DraftKings picks to help us tackle a difficult PGA DFS slate to build a winning lineup for the week at The Country Club.
Oh yes, there’s no sweeter time in the world than the US Open. While every major championship has its own appeal, it’s hard not to look at this tournament as the ultimate test of golf as it will require every player who plans to contend to show up with every golf shot under the sun if they’re going to do so. That’s especially true at a place like The Country Club in Brookline.
As always when it comes to DraftKings picks and building a PGA DFS lineup for a major championship, you’re going to feel great about your lineup. That’s because the player pool is so deep for a tournament like this that the pricing is soft for really good players. But despite that, it’s about making sure you’re diligent with the picks you do eventually make.
We’re here to help with that, once again bringing the top plays and top fades from each pricing tier and then building our DraftKings lineup for the US Open. Sound good? Then let’s get into it.
DraftKings picks for the US Open PGA DFS lineups: Top Plays
$10,000: Rory McIlroy ($10,500) – Rory is going to be one of the most popular players on this slate and I couldn’t care less. I truly believe he wins the US Open this week, so I’d be foolish to look away from that in the name of game theory. I’m willing to be a bit different elsewhere in that name to ensure I have McIlroy in the lineup because his game and clear motivation make him a must-play for me at Brookline. Also Consider: Justin Thomas ($10,900), Jon Rahm ($10,800)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjl9mJNItwY?feature=oembed
$9,000: Shane Lowry ($9,000) – It’s hard for me to look away from Xander Schauffele given what he’s done at US Opens throughout his career to this point. But the value on Lowry is incredible. The Irishman continues to get a bit undervalued given how well the metrics say he’s playing, gaining across the board and being one of the best tee-to-green players in the world over the past four months or so. At the bottom of this range, I can’t miss him. Also Consider: Viktor Hovland ($9,700), Xander Schauffele ($9,600), Jordan Spieth ($9,500), Will Zalatoris ($9,300)
$8,000: Tony Finau ($8,200) – Full disclosure, I’m not going to have Finau in many lineups simply because of how I tend to construct them for majors. With that said, he’s mispriced based on his form. His ball-striking has been good all year but his short game has finally emerged from the wilderness and the results have followed suit. Pricing came out prior to the RBC Canadian Open, which means you’re getting unreal value, but also that he’ll be super popular. I’ll recommend him highly even if I’m not playing him. Also Consider: Cameron Young ($8,800), Matt Fitzpatrick ($8,500), Sam Burns ($8,300), Max Homa ($8,100)
$7,000: Davis Riley ($7,300) – There is so much value in the $7K range but I can never look away from Davis Riley. The guy has been doing nothing but finishing inside the Top 15 for two months and that’s not an exaggeration. Over the last 20 rounds, he’s third in this field in Strokes Gained: Total, speaking to the complete form he’s showing. At this price, I don’t see how you can look past him. Also Consider: Corey Conners ($7,900), Aaron Wise ($7,800), Tommy Fleetwood ($7,700), Justin Rose ($7,100), Luke List ($7,000), Alex Noren ($7,000)
$6,000: Adri Arnaus ($6,800) – This might seem out of left field but Arnaus is someone you shouldn’t overlook. He’s been firing on all cylinders on the DP World Tour, finishing T16 last week, winning in late April, and registering three straight Top 10s earlier in the year. Oh yeah, he also showed he can get it done stateside after finishing T30 at the PGA Championship. If you need to dip down, I think Arnaus could well outplay this price. Also Consider: Matthew NeSmith ($6,900), Victor Perez ($6,800), Ryan Fox ($6,700), Harry Hall ($6,400)
DraftKings picks for the US Open PGA DFS lineups: Top Fades
$10,000: Cameron Smith ($10,200) – It always feels dangerous to fade Cameron Smith because, simply, we know how good he is when he’s on. However, his lack of success at past US Open appearances makes sense. This tournament is penal if you aren’t accurate off the tee and it’s hard to recover from if that’s the case. Smith is inaccurate and has continued to be so as of late. In this tier with a load of guys who I believe can win, Im not investing in Smith with the uncertainty.
$9,000: Patrick Cantlay ($9,200) – We also would’ve accepted Dustin Johnson as a correct answer here. In the case of Cantlay, though, it’s inexplicable how poorly he’s performed in majors in relation to literally every other event, but it’s happened enough that you have to buy in. More importantly, his game has been at a far lower level than it was last year, so when you pair that with his dubious major track record, I’m not going anywhere near him this week.
$8,000: Brooks Koepka ($8,700) – The heresy of fading Brooks Koepka at a US Open. I get it, but there is just nothing about Koepka right now that suggests he’s going to play well this week. His game is truly all over the place. He’ll gain on approach but lose strokes putting one week, then lose with the driver and gain around the green the next. His track record at this event is otherworldly but there are often at least signs that he’s biding time to get to this point. That’s not the case now and I’m not willing to take on the risk, even if that in itself could burn me.
$7,000: Harris English ($7,400) – Call me Captain Obvious on this one, but there’s no reason to have English in any lineup this week. At his best form, I’d actually like him a lot for the setup at The Country Club. But he just returned from injury and shot +10 to miss the cut at the Memorial. He’s not back to full strength and form yet and he’s an auto-fade at this price point for me because of that.
US Open: Best DraftKings golf lineup
- Rory McIlroy ($10,500)
- Xander Schauffele ($9,600)
- Shane Lowry ($9,000)
- Davis Riley ($7,300)
- Justin Rose ($7,100)
- Harry Hall ($6,400)
I spoke a lot about risks that I want to avoid but, ultimately, I believe you have to incur some risk at a major like the US Open if you want to cash big in a tournament. So I’m taking big swings up top, adding Riley as a high-upside value play and then taking some risk with Justin Rose and Harry Hall.
In the case of Rose, this isn’t just about the Sunday 60 he shot in Canada. He’s been quietly trending a little bit and is a veteran who tends to pop up well at majors, as he did with a T13 at Southern Hills. I’m willing to bank on that with some form rounding out.
And for Hall, the Korn Ferry player has been on fire over the past month with a win, T5 and T31 finish in his last three starts for a player who is super talented. I’ll take the gamble with him to be able to get the holy triumvirate of Rory, Xander and Lowry at the top of my lineup.