5 months agoMartin Laird has been up and down the past half dozen tournaments. The Scottish golfer has missed three cuts in that span and never finished in the Top 25. He had consecutive Top 10 results in March but has not come close since. His putting ranks a solid 43rd in strokes gained (0.26). However, Laird does not drive the ball well (288.9 yards - 155th) nor is he accurate (59.71% - 108th). At the Rocket Mortgage Classic, a golfer needs to putt well but it is vital to be in good position often. His start could even be a problem as he ranks 133rd on tour at 29.58 putts per opening round. Keeping that number lower will be vital for Laird.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
5 months agoMark Hubbard knows birdies and better will be on the menu for the Rocket Mortgage Classic. The American golfer ranks 12th on the PGA Tour in total birdies made at 256. His 69.75 scoring average comes in at 25th with an adjusted rank of 28th. Hubbard's putts per round is interesting. He often starts off well and then begins to gradually tail off over the weekends. His 1.07 putt per round difference between Round 2 and Round 2 is worrisome. The Detroit Golf Club requires birdies and plenty of them. The question is more consistency for Hubbard at this point.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
5 months agoTaylor Montgomery is another golfer who has hit a considerable rough stretch in 2024. The American golfer has not played since withdrawing from The CJ Cup Byron Nelson in early May. Ball striking has been an issue for Montgomery. While he remains first in strokes gained to putting (0.887), the golfer ranks 125th or worse in at least seven major metrics. That includes 166th for greens in regulation at 59.86%. Combine the -1.199 strokes gained lost from driving off the tee and approaching the green and those are reasons why Montgomery might struggle again in Detroit.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
5 months agoMichael Kim showed at The American Express he could make birdies. His 65 on that Sunday vaulted him to a tied for sixth. That was the American golfers best finish of the 2024 season to date. Since then, Kim has enjoyed several very good results mixed in with seven missed cuts. The Rocket Mortgage Classic features a long 7,370 yard course that is ripe for birdies. Kim could be quite a surprise if he keeps that birdie average up (4.4 - third on tour). Even his 69.78 scoring average is a more than respectable 29th on the PGA Tour. Kim even ranks 24th in putts per round during Round 4. That could bode well over the weekend in Detroit.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
5 months agoMatti Schmid has endured one of the strangest 2024 seasons on the PGA Tour. The German golfer missed six consecutive cuts to start the year and now has missed five straight. First rounds have been a significant problem for Schmid. He has shot 70 or worse in nine of those 11 missed cuts. Stringing holes together is vital early and is something Schmid had been doing better when he had five Top 26 results including a Top 10 at the Puerto Rico Open. Schmid stepped away for several weeks after the RBC Canadian Open and just hopes to see Saturday.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
5 months agoSean O'Hair has gotten off to rather good starts in his five PGA tournaments this 2024 season. The American golfer has shot 63.68, and 63 in his previous three opening rounds. That includes the RBC Canadian Open where he finished tied for 27th. O'Hair had been battling mononucleosis and that is something to be aware of. When contemplating for DFS purposes, the American may fade over the weekend as the birdie pace only intensifies. Based on the numbers it has taken to win the Rocket Mortgage Classic, anything around -20 could be a tall order for the O'Hair.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
5 months agoBy most Korn Ferry Tour graduates' standards, McClure Meissner is having a fine rookie season. He has had some success at a few weaker field events but didn't do enough to crack the Aon Swing 5 this season. However, there is still tons of golf to be played in 2024, and with much of the game's top talent taking the week off, Meissner is in a prime spot to gain valuable FedEx Cup points. He's coming off a missed cut at the U.S. Open but had strung together a couple of solid weeks including a season-high T5 finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge, where he ranked ninth in the field in strokes gained tee to green (+1.88). At $8,200 on FanDuel, there is considerable risk here for DFS players, but most of the guys in this range and lower have the same issue.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
5 months agoIt was a compelling battle on Sunday at Pinehurst between Luke Clanton and the eventual low amateur Neal Shipley for the coveted achievement. His success at Pinehurst #2 came from strong play with the driver, ranking 5th in the field in strokes gained off the tee (+1.06). Unfortunately, that statistic doesn't carry nearly as much importance at Detroit Golf Club. The fifth-ranked amateur in the world will need to show more proficiency in other areas of his game to be competitive, even in a weaker field. Of course, we've already had amateurs find success on tour this season with Nick Dunlap winning early in the year, but at $8,800 on FanDuel, it is too much to pay for a still unproven player in the professional realm.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
5 months agoIt must be frustrating to have the breakout performance Tom Kim had last week at the Travelers Championship, only to be snubbed by the hottest player the world has seen since Tiger Woods. Exhausting, at the very least. Nonetheless, Kim comes to this week's Rocket Mortgage Classic as the tournament favorite after leading the field in Connecticut in strokes gained from tee to green (plus-2.61). Giving such a gutsy performance takes a toll on most guys' ability to get back in the saddle so soon, and given the still young and inexperienced state of Kim's career, it would be easy to imagine some regression here for that reason alone. At $12,000 on FanDuel, fading him is a reasonable decision.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
5 months agoIt's been nearly a month since we last saw Keith Mitchell in action, where he finished T10 at the RBC Canadian Open. It's unfortunate to be forced to the sideline just as things seemed to be peaking, but if the game has hung around, he's in a good position to put together another high finish. As the eighth-ranked player on the season in strokes gained on approach (+0.593), there isn't a more important statistic for having success at Detroit Golf Club. The biggest question mark will be the flat stick for Mitchell, which is equally important for an event that is no stranger to sub -20 under scores. However, Killa Keith is 11th in birdie average on the year (4.21) and has the talent to take things low. At $10,800 on FanDuel, he is a fine play this week.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
5 months agoByeong Hun An (illness) withdrew from the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands midway through his first round on Thursday. He was one-over par through seven holes when he withdrew due to illness. This comes as an unfortunate setback for An, who has been in excellent form this season. His unexpected withdrawal follows his missed cut at the U.S. Open last week.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
5 months agoIt seems safe to assume that at this point, last year was much more a fluke than a reality for Wyndham Clark being one of the elite players in golf. Sure he lucked into a win at Pebble Beach earlier this season, but the event was called at 54 holes due to weather and the 30-year-old had a slew of the world's best talent chasing him. For a man who's supposed to be top-tier, he's only had three good finishes all season, none of which have been what anyone would consider recent. Clark has lost strokes on the greens in three of his last four events and has been 50/50 with strokes gained/lost around the green and on approach over that same span. At $9,800, the current ceiling is too low to warrant consideration until things improve.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
5 months agoFor DFS managers, Matt Fitzpatrick has been a blood-pressure-raising pick for most of the season. After a solid T5 finish at a firm and fast Muirfield Village, expectations were high going into Pinehurst, but the Englishman barely squeaked by the cut line to shoot 79-69 over the weekend. His putter has not been cooperating lately, as Fitz has lost strokes on the greens in three of his last four events, which have unfortunately included two major championships. Couple that with his less-than-ideal ball-striking over that same span, and even the discounted price of $9,900 seems like a bit of a stretch, considering the volatility here.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
5 months agoSepp Straka finished T56 at last week's U.S. Open, which is the second time he has finished outside of the top 15 in his last seven tournaments. During that time, Straka has achieved three top-five finishes, one top-10 finish, and two top-15 finishes. Now, he is preparing for the Travelers Championship this week at TPC River Highlands. His previous appearances at the Travelers Championship include a T38 finish in 2023, missing the cut in 2022, and a T10 finish in 2021. One interesting fact is that over 33% of approach shots at last year's Travelers Championship came from 100-150 yards, and over the past 12 months, Straka ranks in the 74th percentile in proximity to the hole on fairway approach shots from this distance. Despite his performance last week, Straka may be worth considering for DFS lineups this week.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
5 months agoBrian Harman finished tied for 21st at last week's U.S. Open, which marked his sixth consecutive tournament making the cut. During this streak, Harman achieved one top-15 finish and three top-25 finishes. He is now focusing on preparing for this week's Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands. Harman has a strong track record at this tournament, finishing second in 2023, tied for eighth in 2022, and tied for fifth in 2021. Over the past 12 months, Harman ranks in the 68th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 100-150 yards in the fairway, which is significant as at last year's Travelers Championship, over 33% of approach shots were taken from this distance. Considering Harman's past success at this tournament and his recent form, he could be a valuable addition to DFS lineups this week.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
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