5 months agoBilly Horschel has shown much better form over the previous three tournaments and in general this 2024. The American golfer may be 37 but is playing more like he is 27 lately. He has three consecutive Top 25 results. Horschel can make birdies as seen when he won the Corales Puntacana Championship in April. He did the same at the PGA Championship in May. That included a Sunday 64 to vault him into the Top 10 (T-8). Pinehurst will play much differently but if Horschel can keep his approaches somewhat accurate, that putter ranks fourth in terms of strokes gained (0.72). Limiting and making putts at the U.S. Open is always essential like at any major.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
5 months agoTaylor Moore has shown inconsistency on the golf course. However, the American has performed well when it comes to the big events. He finished in the Top 20 at both The Masters and at Valhalla (PGA Championship). It has been those in-between tournaments which have proven to be more troublesome. Moore found the Memorial Tournament not to his liking (75-81). Also, he bogeyed or worse nine of the 18 holes last Friday. Approaches will be essential at Pinehurst and Moore lately (117th at -0.139 strokes gained) has been missing a few more greens than usual (under 60% in the past two events). This U.S. Open figures to be a test from the start for Moore.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
5 months agoDaniel Berger has towed a tough road in 2024 with six missed cuts in 13 tournaments. The American golfer has not won since the AT&T in 2021. Berger can make his share of birdies but the U.S. Open is different. Getting to the green has not been a problem but putting has been an adventure. Berger ranks 171st in strokes gained due to putting (-0.707). Putts per round is above 30 (30.26) on a course where one-putts (33.5%) are helpful. Berger being so far outside the Top 150 in this many metrics does not bode well. Getting balls on the green (8th in Greens In Regulation) will be vital for Berger from the start.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
5 months agoNicolai Hojgaard enjoyed a week of rest leading up to the U.S. Open. The golfer from Denmark performed better a couple weeks ago at the RBC Canadian Open (T-35th). Hojgaard has been a bit up and down lately. He has missed four cuts in his last eight tournaments including the Arnold Palmer and The Players Championship. His solo second at the Farmers Insurance Open seems like a lifetime ago. His 308 yard drives rank 25th on tour but that 60.08% accuracy rate is concerning. Scrawny and bumpy conditions will be a major test for Hojgaard from the start.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
5 months agoThomas Detry surprised many with his top-five finish at Valhalla. The Belgian golfer finished tied for fourth in Kentucky last month behind strong 66's to open and close the event. Pinehurst No. 2 may be more of a challenge like the Memorial Tournament proved last weekend. Detry tried his best but struggled early, then bogeyed 17 and 18 on Sunday. More challenging pin placements seemed to knock Detry off his game. Approaches will be key on a firm and fast golf course. Detry ranks 134th in terms of strokes gained on approach. Add in accuracy concerns with his driver, and the Belgian may find the U.S. Open more challenging.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
5 months agoAustin Eckroat took the lessons from The Masters and applied them to the PGA Championship. The result was a Top 25 at Valhalla (T-18). The American golfer was again getting a final round lecture at the Memorial Tournament on Sunday as the pins were moved. Eckroat shot a 76 to fall back down the leaderboard. He does have some attributes which can keep him in contention at the U.S. Open. Eckroat can drive the ball accurately (70.21% - 12th), and get approaches close. Putting average ranks 31st at 1.734 putts per hole which could prove helpful. Hot conditions should dry out the course which will make shot placement important for Eckroat.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
5 months agoHarris English seemed to have some momentum heading into the third major of the PGA season. The American golfer hung around at both The Masters and the PGA Championship. However, the Memorial Tournament altered that outlook a little as English missed the cut in a second straight event. On one hand, Harris will be rested after last week in Ohio (76-74). English ranks 10th on the PGA Tour in terms of strokes gained to putting (0.632). Approaches will be just as important as Pinehurst No. 2. English missed five or six greens last week alone in that department.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
5 months agoDenny McCarthy needed to open up The Memorial by making some putts. The American did not. He missed greens, some easy shots, and wound up with a 76. McCarthy rebounded but shot a 76 on Sunday to end up tied for 39th. Add in the 7,550 yards that is Pinehurst No. 2, and there is reason for concern. When one hits the greens just 60.1% of the time (172nd on tour), that can be a recipe for disaster. McCarthy needs to putt well (0.863 strokes gained -- second on the PGA) to have a chance to contend. The North Carolina golf course will play different than 1999 or 2005, which may impact McCarthy further.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
5 months agoIt has been a solid year for Hideki Matsuyama, but there is still a ton more to play for as this week's United States Open plays into his skill set as much as any course he's seen all year. Pinehurst #2 will be the most demanding test around the greens that players will see this season, and Matsuyama is the best player on tour in strokes gained around the green (+0.761) to go along with serviceable ball striking. Most recently at The Memorial, the Japanese great gained over five shots on approach into firm and baked-out surfaces much like he'll see again this week. Given how well-suited he is, expect ownership to be high. But for DFS managers willing to overlook that issue; the sky's the limit.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
5 months agoMax Homa is one good week with the driver away from contending in another tournament. He's managed a top 25 or better every time he's gained strokes off the tee in any manner all season. Much of that is thanks to fairly consistent ball striking over the last few months, however, the work around the greens has been the biggest highlight as he is ranked 25th on the year in strokes gained around the green (+0.283). Homa has certainly been less in the mix than many expected in 2024. Nonetheless, the game is there if the troubles with the driver can find some confidence. He is far from a must-play option given how demanding Pinehurst #2 will be off the tee, but, considering 15 of the last 19 U.S. Open champions have been first-time major winners, it would behoove anyone to say he's on the short list of guys capable of battling through the U.S. Open grind.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
5 months agoScottie Scheffler's recent victory at the Memorial Tournament marked his fifth win in 2024 and his fifth in his last five appearances. He has been on an impressive run this year and has only finished outside the top 10 once. Scheffler is now gearing up for this week's U.S. Open at Pinehurst, where he has historically performed well. In previous years, he finished third in 2023, tied for second in 2022, and tied for seventh in 2021. Pinehurst is expected to present a tough challenge for golfers this week, emphasizing the importance of accurate approach shots. Over the past 12 months, Scheffler has ranked in the 98th percentile in greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. With his recent form and past success at the U.S. Open, he could be a valuable addition to DFS lineups this week.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
5 months agoIt is a strong argument to say Collin Morikawa is the best player on the planet without a win in the last two-and-a-half months. He was the only player that gave Scheffler a scare this past week at The Memorial Tournament down the final few holes, and really, he's knocked on the door at almost every event he's played in since a T3 at Augusta. The world no. seven has averaged +1.203 strokes gained on approach and +0.986 strokes gained off the tee over his last three starts. Impeccable ball striking has been a focal point for most of his career, but the strong chipping and putting is not. His success with the flat stick has only flourished as of late, but the 10th ranking for the season in strokes gained around the green (+0.397) suggests this may be an added strength that will be heavily needed this week at Pinehurst #2. Consider Morikawa as a strong option at $11,300 on FanDuel.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
5 months agoAs if the bad play in non-LIV events wasn't enough to have cause for concern about playing Jon Rahm (foot) in fantasy lineups, his recent withdrawal from the Saudi League's event in Houston with an infection in his left foot should. The Spaniard has still not secured a victory on his new circuit and has a T45 and a missed cut to his name in the year's first two majors. To say the move to the breakaway league has not been as fruitful as many suspected for Rahm is a massive understatement. With a $10,900 price tag on FanDuel, he is undoubtedly the riskiest play at the top of the board with little hope of getting a positive return for DFS players.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
6 months agoPatrick Cantlay has had a bit of a up-and-down season by his own lofty standards. Currently sitting at OWGR No. 9, the 32-year-old Tour star has finished outside of the top-20 in his last three starts, and he hasn't won an event since the BMW Championship in August of 2022. But he is still a world-class talent, and he should find plenty of comfort heading to a course where he has phenomenal course history at. Cantlay has teed off at the Memorial seven times, posting two wins, two other top-5 finishes, and no other finish worse than T35. He also participated in the Workday Charity Open in 2020 which was hosted at Muirfield Village, and he gained close to eight strokes from tee-to-green en route to a T7 finish. Cantlay looks to be one of the lowest-owned options above the $9,000 salary range on DraftKings, and fantasy managers investing in Cantlay this week could be handsomely rewarded come Sunday evening.
--Ryan HickeySource: PGA Tour
6 months agoSungjae Im tied for ninth at the Charles Schwab Challenge two weeks ago. Except for a missed cut at the PGA Championship last month, Im has been performing well. He achieved three top-15 finishes in his last four PGA Tour tournaments. He is set to play at the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village this week. Im has a good track record at this event, finishing T41 in 2023 and T10 in 2022. It's important to note that Muirfield Village has smaller-than-average green complexes, highlighting the need for accuracy in shots onto the green. It's worth noting that Im's accuracy in approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway ranks in the 26th percentile for greens in regulation percent over the past year. Despite this, considering his recent form and past performances at this event, Im may still be a good choice for DFS lineups this week.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
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