Fantasy Golf Picks- 2015 Phoenix Open
These fantasy golf picks will help you navigate a deep and star-studded field and cash in!
Top Plays
Bubba Watson- $23,200
I’m a chalk eater with this pick, but the priciest option is worth the big ticket price. Watson has played in just two events this year, but he made them count with a win back in November in the World Golf Championship- HSBC Champions event and a 10th place finish in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions a couple weeks ago. The PGA tour’s leader in average driving distance last year also has a strong track record at TPC Scottsdale with a tied for second finish last year, six straight made cuts at this course, and four top-25 finishes in that run of made cuts. His worst finish in that streak is tied for 36th in 2010.
Hideki Matsuyama- $19,400
Matsuyama’s track record in the Phoenix Open isn’t as lengthy as Watson since last year was his first time playing in it, but he shined in his first crack at TPC Scottsdale finishing tied for fourth. The 22-year old golfer was superb last year playing in 24 events, making 20 cuts including 12 top-25s, four of which were top-10s, with one win. He’s spring boarding off last year’s success and made a huge splash this year making the cut in all six events he’s played placing in the top-25 four times with three top-10s and a pair of third place finishes. At under $20,000, he looks like a steal when factoring in his betting odds at Vegas Insider (24/1, seventh best odds), and Pinnacle Sports likes him just a hair better (roughly 22/1, fifth best odds) for good measure.
Middle Tier Play
Scott Piercy- $16,750
Piercy was an incredibly easy pick, and given his price point, he’s a must use across the board if you’re fielding multiple rosters this week. He’s off to a strong start to his 2015 season making five of seven cuts (one of his missed cuts was his first entry of the year back in the middle of October) with four top-25s, two top-10s, and one second place finish. His second place finish came earlier this year in the Sony Open in Hawaii, and his tied for 30th effort last week is a respectable showing from which to fair even better at a course he’s been outstanding at. Piercy seems to find great comfort in playing at this week’s course as he’s played in the Phoenix Open five times since 2009, making five cuts, and finishing 15th or better four times.
Value Plays
K.J. Choi- $13,700
Choi isn’t anyone I would put money on to win the event, but he’s a hell of a glue guy as a regular making the cut. In 23 events played last year he made 17 cuts with six top-25 finishes, two in the top-10 (both second place finishes). Choi has played in just two events this year, but he’s made the cut in both. He doesn’t have a ton of success here as his best finish in the Phoenix Open was tied for 11th all the way back in 2005. However, he’s played here each of the past two years finishing tied for 42nd last year and tied for 36th in 2013. Choi’s price makes him a nice option to offset the stars that will carry DFS rosters.
Kenny Perry- $9,850
Most of Perry’s golfing these days is done on the Champions Tour, but the 54-year old is a nifty punt play at under five figures. He played in just five PGA Tour events last year missing more cuts, three, than he made, two. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but he did make the cut in his only PGA Tour event played this year finishing tied for 37th in the Sony Open about a week and a half ago. Perry hasn’t played in the Phoenix Open since 2012, and he finished just tied for 65th that year. He is, however, a past winner here with a victory in 2009 (he finished tied for 17th the year before for those wondering). There are worse directions to cast your dart than Perry if you’re looking for a thrifty pick.