RADIO
Hello RotoBallers! In our ongoing attempt to expand and improve our PGA coverage, we will be dropping a 'Tournament Preview' for some of the most significant events on the PGA Tour schedule.
This week, we're diving into the second major championship of the year, providing you a headstart on your PGA Championship research. If you aren't already utilizing RotoBaller's amazing content, fix that right now by joining us this week and throughout the rest of the PGA Tour season.
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RotoBaller Weekly PGA Article Schedule
Available Now: It doesn't get any more extensive than this. Check out Joe Nicely's 2019 PGA Championship DFS Bible, featuring a complete breakdown of every player in the PGA Championship field.
Tuesday: We kick your DFS research into high gear with articles from Seth Finkelstein and Joe Nicely. Seth's 'DraftKings Picks' highlights DK lineup options in each price range, and Joe's 'Horse For The Course' is an in-depth look into players with great course history.
Wednesday: We broaden your horizons with some unique PGA content. Spencer's 'Vegas Report' offers comprehensive PGA betting advice that highlights both outright and head-to-head wagers, and to wrap up the week, the entire PGA RotoBaller crew will get together for the 'RotoBaller One and Done Staff Picks' article to discuss optimal game-theory and make their selections.
Tournament Overview
The PGA Championship
For the first time in 70 years, the PGA Championship will be held in May. The transition from August to May makes sense for a few reasons, most notably to try and help the golf season end before the NFL begins and to try and reinvigorate golf's least talked about major, but there are a few questions heading into the week.
The most prominent problem would be: "Can you play golf in the northern part of the country in May?" To answer the question respectfully, yes. However, you still need to get extremely lucky as far as weather is concerned. New York has experienced a cold and wet spring, but all indications have pointed towards Bethpage Black being in pristine condition for the week. It remains to be seen if those statements hold steady, but we shouldn't be expecting the PGA Championship to be set up like a U.S. Open venue, which should help the scoring throughout the week.
Brooks Koepka enters the event as the defending champion, capturing the 2018 title at Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Missouri. The American put together an emphatic Sunday round, shooting a four-under 66 on Sunday to narrowly escape Tiger Woods' ascension up the leaderboard. Koepka's victory marked his third career major and was his fifth straight top-15 result during the PGA Championship.
Recent Winners
2018 - Brooks Koepka (-16)
2017 - Justin Thomas (-8)
2016 - Jimmy Walker (-14)
2015 - Jason Day (-20)
2014 - Rory McIlroy (-16)
Event Details
When: May 16-19 2019
Where: The Black Course at Bethpage State Park - Long Island, New York
Field: 156 Players
Cut: After two rounds - Top 70 and ties
2019 PGA Championship: TV Schedule and Channels
Thursday, May 16 - TNT: 1:00 – 7:00 p.m
Friday, May 17 - TNT: 1:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18 - TNT: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. CBS: 2:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 19 - TNT: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. CBS: 2:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Course Breakdown
The PGA Championship - Farmingdale, NY
Bethpage Black - Par 70 - 7,436 Yards - Greens: Poa Annua
Designers: A.W. Tillinghast - Last Used: 2016 Barclays, 2012 Barclays, 2009 U.S. Open and 2002 U.S. Open
While Bethpage Black is being labeled as a U.S. Open type track because of its history there in 2002 and 2009, don't be fooled by that narrative. Seven of the past nine winners of the PGA Championship have shot 10-under par or better, and despite the extensive rain that has been pelting New York recently, we shouldn't expect to see golfers struggling to make birdies with the way the venue will be set up.
Earlier this year, Chief Championships Officer Kerry Haigh was quoted saying, "I don't think it's our job to try and manipulate something. We'll set up a good, strong, fair test of golf and see how the best players do." What that means is we shouldn't expect to see the knee-buckling rough that is often synonymous with U.S. Open layouts, and if the wind doesn't enter the picture, we will be dealing with an incredibly soft course because of the rain.
The one area where it will make a massive difference is off the tee. Bethpage Black is a brute of a venue lengthwise in pristine conditions, and with rain hitting New York throughout the past two months, we are going to see distance off the tee play a significant role. A driver will have to be used on the vast majority of holes, and players that have higher ball flights should find their second shots to be much more straightforward. Even if we didn't have soft conditions, it would be challenging to run the ball up to the greens and landing in the bunkers will prove to be a test since they are large, deep and complicated.
Fantasy Outlook
We have no shortage of intriguing DFS options this weekend. As usual, DraftKings leads the way with their $20 'Millionaire Maker' contest, which features a million dollar top prize. Over at FanDuel, they have taken a unique approach with their $3 and $15 'Big Cat' promotion. With prize pools of 100k and 500k, respectively, you get your initial entry back if Tiger Woods captures the title at Bethpage Black. Both contests are limited to 39,682 participants so act fast!
If you are attempting to figure out which golfers to target, look no further than players who gain strokes off the tee and excel with driving distance. I would put slightly more emphasis on strokes gained off the tee so we can incorporate more than just the bombers, but a combination of those two factors will prove vital this weekend. The putting surfaces measure 5,400 square feet - small by PGA Tour standards, and the greens will be faster than usual, featuring a Stimpmeter of 12+ feet. The field has hit 62 percent of fairways during the last two events held at Bethpage and 60 percent of greens in regulation, but I wouldn't put a whole ton of merit into those numbers, as the setup will be different this weekend.
There will be a cornucopia of information available that should be used to the best of your knowledge, but at the end of the day, you will be best suited if you go with your gut. There's always soft pricing available for major championships, and there isn't just one optimal way to construct your roster. Game-theory often dictates preferable routes to take in different settings, but there is no guarantee for success. However, research will put your far ahead of the majority of your competitors, and the grand slam events always provide more value than a typical tournament would. Good luck at the PGA Championship and be sure to stay tuned for all of our content throughout the week.
Key Statistics To Target
- Strokes Gained: Off The Tee
- Strokes Gained: Par-Fives
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- Driving Distance
- Proximity Over 200 Yards
- Birdies or Better Gained
Golf DFS News and Player Outlooks
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