Breaking down The Honda Classic with our DraftKings golf picks to build the best PGA DFS lineup for this week at PGA National.
After a lengthy stay in California and the western part of the United States, it’s time to head to The Honda Classic at vaunted PGA National this week for the beginning of the Florida Swing. While the field strength at this event may not match what we’ll see at the API and THE PLAYERS in the next two weeks, that means we can really attack the DraftKings PGA DFS slate for this tournament.
Last week’s lineup wasn’t anything special even if it did cash in tournament play. It brought back double the entry for most contests but the fact that I neglected to drop into the $6K range for Cameron Young (who I highlighted as my top play in that bottom price range) really came back to hurt the lineup.
This week is a bit different with, as mentioned, the strength of the field being substantially lesser than it was a week ago. That can provide some interesting looks when it comes to DraftKings golf picks. So let’s dive into the slate with our top plays and fades before building a lineup that can cash this week.
DraftKings picks for The Honda Classic PGA DFS lineup: Top Plays
$10,000: Louis Oosthuizen ($10,800) – Understanding how good Sungjae Im is at this place, my top play is still Louis this week at The Honda. His combination of ball-striking and the ability to putt consistently well should play extremely well at PGA National and, if you’re going into the top pricing tier, I think he’s the best combination of safe floor, high ceiling. It would be Daniel Berger but his recent health and performance has me worried.
$9,000: Keith Mitchell ($9,100) – I’m absolutely in love with the $9K range this week, so it’s hard for me to go wrong from where I’m sitting. But I’m going with Keith Mitchell for the value and given that he’s been playing quite well of late in addition to having popped at The Honda Classic before. Ben Heisler at BetSided provided more context for Mitchell being a great play this week.
Mitchell comes in with all-around outstanding metrics over his last 24 rounds, with a game suited well for the challenges of the Champion course.
He ranks third in strokes gained: tee-to-green, fifth in ball striking, and second in SG: off-the-tee. His worst numbers are 36th in approach, which is important this week, but could certainly do a whole lot worse.
As one of his outright picks and with more backing for a good finish, I’m with Ben in liking Mitchell to perform and pay off this week. Also consider: Billy Horschel ($9,600), Shane Lowry ($9,400), Matt Jones ($9,000)
$8,000: Mito Pereira ($8,900) – It feels like everyone with a pulse who’s watching golf is dialed in for Pereira to make it a Chilean back-to-back on the PGA Tour. While I’m a bit more wary of his win equity, his game statistically should fit PGA National extremely well and I do believe he has a safe enough floor that he’s well worth the price in this range. Also consider: Cameron Young ($8,600), Aaron Wise ($8,400), Mackenzie Hughes ($8,300), Russell Knox ($8,100), Christiaan Bezuidenhout ($8,000)
$7,000: Rickie Fowler ($7,600) – I’ll be the first to admit there is some risk here because, well, Fowler’s overall form hasn’t been great. However, his history at the Honda is electric with a win, a T2, and two other top 10s in that run. He’s quietly gained strokes with his approach play in his last three rounds but has bled strokes off the tee and with his putter. The former can be mitigated with less than driver at PGA National and the latter can turn on a dime. With all of that, give me a look at Fowler this week. Also consider: Ryan Palmer ($7,900), Denny McCarthy ($7,800), Nicolai Hojgaard ($7,600), Aaron Rai ($7,400), Hudson Swafford ($7,100), Adam Svensson ($7,000)
$6,000: Lee Hodges ($6,800) – Full disclosure and in spite of missing on Young because of this last week, I’m not dipping into the $6K range for my lineup. I think there are too many crapshoot-type adds that just don’t fit. If you have to, though, I do like Hodges. He finished in the top five at The American Express and finally found form again last week at the Genesis with a top-40. His quality ball-striking and ability to play conservatively should serve him well. Also Consider: J.J. Spaun ($6,900), Vaughn Taylor ($6,800), Satoshi Kodaira ($6,600), Brandon Hagy ($6,500)
DraftKings picks for The Honda Classic PGA DFS lineup: Top Fades
$10,000: Joaquin Niemann ($10,600) – Understanding that, in a vacuum, Niemann’s game could potentially fit this course, I’m fading him after a win last week that saw him have to grind it out late and just try to survive. That can take a toll on any player and I see that happening at a golf course that can jump up and bite anyone if there’s a minute lapse of focus.
$9,000: Matthew Wolff ($9,200) – There probably isn’t a bigger gamble right now than Matthew Wolff, particularly at this price. His 64th place finish at The Farmers and a missed cut the week prior are his two showings for 2022. He just doesn’t seem to have it and, at PGA National when erratic play can cost you in a hurry, he’s an easy fade. In fact, if you can find odds for it, I love a bet for him to miss the cut.
$8,000: Patrick Reed ($8,800) – Do you ever see something so plainly and wonder how not enough people are talking about it? I’ve seen backing Reed in some recent tournaments and I have no clue why. Outside of the Tournament of Champions and Hero World Challenge in limited fields, Reed has finished in the top 45 just once since the start of the 2021-22 season. His game is not in good form, nor does it particularly fit this golf course.
$7,000: Ian Poulter ($7,600) – Not only have we not seen a lot of Poulter in the U.S. or worldwide in the past few months, but he also has just one good finish in four starts since last November. He’s not playing all that well right now and I don’t want someone in bad form tackling the challenges that this event presents.
The Honda Classic: Best DraftKings golf lineup
- Shane Lowry ($9,400)
- Keith Mitchell ($9,100)
- Mito Pereira ($8,900)
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout ($8,000)
- Rickie Fowler ($7,600)
- Adam Svensson ($7,000)
We’re going with a more balanced build for this lineup than I normally approach because I think that’s where the value lies at the Honda. This type of course opens up the door for almost any player and requires some certain asks from golfers that other venues might not.
I love the ball-striking of this group and the value that each of them presents. They all have some sort of win equity and many have strong course history to help navigate and succeed at this event.