👉 TAP TO SAVE 30% WITH CODE NEW
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

#1 Expert Projections
Save 30% Now
Import Your Leagues
Top-Rated Accuracy
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Round 3 PGA DFS Showdown Slate Picks - the Open Championship 2023

Brian Harman has seemingly signaled the aliens to come take over the earth, as that space-ship putter of his is on auto-pilot and sinking putts to the tune of +8.5 strokes putting. Tommy Fleetwood is also playing some fantastic golf, but he is -5, five shots back of Harman. Only six shots separate T4 and those that made the cut on the number. If Harman faulters over the weekend, anybody could win this thing if they get into a 36-hole birdie trance.

This article is going to take a look at showdown slates after each completed round. You can find me on Twitter an unhealthy amount of the time @TheModelManiac, if you have any questions, compliments, or insults for me. My DFS style is very ownership-centric. More often than not, this can make you feel like an unsuccessful DFS player. Every now and then when a sneaky, low-owned golfer comes through for you, it is all worth it. In this article, we are going to break down the previous round's top performers and duds and use that information to derive a player pool full of upside and leverage.

The general logic to showdown has been to target golfers who played well the day before and particularly those who hit their irons well. This makes sense as you want to roster players who are playing good golf right now. These players will be higher-owned and chalkier than golfers in the same price range who had an off day, particularly with their irons. These are the golfers I am gravitating towards, as they could very easily bounce the following day at half the ownership.

Featured Promo: New Novig users get a $25 purchase match (50% discount up to $25) on your first Novig deposit, and 6 free months of RotoBaller's "Big-4" Premium Pass (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) which includes exclusive tools for Betting, Props, DFS and more! CLAIM IT NOW

 

Ownership

Going into Round 3, these are the color codes we will be using to identify who we want to target. Think of it as a traffic light with four colors. Stop at mega chalk and go when we see leverage that makes sense.

By taking a look at yesterday's ownership, we can get an idea of where people will be willing to go in Round 2 (DK points include finishing position).

  • Mega chalk: A popular player who played well yesterday.
  • Chalk: a) A popular player who played okay yesterday, b) A less popular player who played well yesterday.
  • Pivots: a) A popular player who played poorly yesterday, b) A less popular player who played okay yesterday.
  • Leverage: A less popular player who played poorly yesterday.

 

Did you know RotoBaller has a Premium DFS PGA subscription?

Like what you read today? You can show your support for Byron by using the discount code MANIAC when purchasing a PGA Premium Pass. You get 10% off and full access to all of our Premium PGA articles, DFS tools, and Lineup Optimizer! You also get access to weekly betting picks from Spencer Aguiar, one of the top betting minds in the industry. Spencer absolutely crushed it in 2022!

 

Round 3 Strategy

With weather looming in the PM those that made the cut are rolling out off both tees in threes for the second Saturday in a row. I was looking forward to trying to leverage the Scottish weather to our advantage tomorrow but with these tee times that is now a thing of the past. We will have to try and find ownership leverage as our key difference maker for R3.

Showdown Model

Below are the power rankings of the golfers who we have our eye on for Round 3. The full-field model is available to premium subscribers HERE. It includes pre-event rankings, round-specific scoring averages, birdie percentages, weighted approach ratings, and ownership projections for tomorrow's showdown slate.

***Full disclosure: The ownership numbers are based on the $5 SINGLE ENTRY, which is important to note as ownership in showdown can vary from contest to contest depending on field size and entry fee. However, it should provide you with a guide to who will be the most owned and how those around them shake out.

 

$10,000+

Favorite Play: Cameron Smith is going to be my favorite play, as his putter really has not got into stride just yet. He is one of the leading birdie makers when that putter performs which is bound to happen either tomorrow or the next day! His price and lack luster performance so far will keep him in the single digit ownership and he could be the leading scorer tomorrow with ease.

Other options: Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland

 

$9,000+

Favorite play: Xander Schauffele is one of those guys who usually has that one round that removes him from contention (today), but then has that one round that is so good that it almost gets him back in the mix (tomorrow?). He graded out well pre tournament and hopefully we get one of those spike rounds like we saw in R1 of the US Open.

Other options: Tyrrell Hatton, Rickie Fowler

 

$8,000+

Favorite play: Bryson DeChambeau is more than capable of dismantling a long wet golf course with his length. His price and position down the leaderboard will be more than enough reason to have him as leverage with low ownership and slate breaking potential when he gets rolling.

Other options: Adam Scott

 

$7,000+

Favorite play: Sungjae Im has a R3 SG average of +2.7, and if you look at the last 8 Saturday round's he has played, have averaged +3.5 strokes. His worst two performances in that run were two +0.8 SG total rounds, with the other 6 rounds gaining no less than 2 strokes. If this run of continues on Saturday this $7,700 golfer can break this slate.

Other options: Corey Conners, Robert MacIntyre, Byeong Hun An, Richard Bland, Padraig Harrington

 

$6,000+

Favorite play: Andrew Putnam is $6,700 and is very capable of a spike putting performance that can garner some birdie in a hurry. He also has a solid R3 strokes gained average for somebody in this price range. When he makes the weekend, his Saturday's usually provide a solid return for your showdown investment.

Other options: J.T. Poston, Alex Noren, Zach Johnson, Victor Perez, Alex Fitzpatrick

 

Showdown Optimizer

The optimizer works nicely with the projected ownership from the model. If you are unsure how to work it, at the top of the "PGA Lineup Optimizer" page, there is a video on how to get my projected ownership or points into your optimizer.

Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor.



Win More With RotoBaller

Win more with expert tools and advice from proven winners! RotoBaller's PGA Premium Packages feature several savvy analysts and proven winners for DFS and betting.

Our very own Joe Nicely took down a big DraftKings DFS tournament for the Travelers Championship. And as an encore, RotoBaller subscriber @tenndolly2 won $100K on FanDuel with the help of Joe and the rest of our Premium PGA team: Between all the incredible Premium PGA DFS and Betting content and tools we put out each week, and our Premium Slack Community where we chat with our subscribers before lineups lock, RotoBaller PGA subscribers are armed with the tools, analysis, and advice to win more.

Golf DFS News and Player Outlooks

More PGA Analysis and DFS Lineup Picks

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

#1 Expert Projections
Save 30% Now
Import Your Leagues
Top-Rated Accuracy
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jock Landale

Leaves Game with Ankle Injury
Paul George

Explodes for 39 Points in Win Over Wizards
Jerami Grant

Still Out Thursday
Trey Murphy III

Could Miss Fourth Straight Game
Marcus Smart

to Miss Sixth Straight Game
Gary Trent Jr.

Exits Early with Hip Injury
Mark Williams

Could Return Against Hornets
Aaron Gordon

Returns Against Utah
Gary Payton II

Out Wednesday
Gui Santos

Ruled Out Against San Antonio
Bobby Portis

Kyle Kuzma Ruled Out Wednesday
Ryan Rollins

Won't Suit up on Wednesday
Obi Toppin

Good to Go Against Chicago
Myles Turner

Won't Play on Wednesday
Pascal Siakam

to Play on Wednesday
Scottie Barnes

is Available on Wednesday
Brandon Ingram

is Absent on Wednesday
Immanuel Quickley

to Miss Sixth Straight Game
Jalen Brunson

is Ruled Out on Wednesday
Josh Giddey

Sidelined on Wednesday
Anthony Edwards

Considered Questionable for Thursday
Brandon Hagel

Likely Out on Thursday
Damon Severson

Not Expected to Return During Regular Season
Igor Chernyshov

a Game-Time Call Wednesday
Radko Gudas

Out Wednesday
Cutter Gauthier

Questionable for Rest of the Week
Rickie Fowler

PGA Betting Expert Roundtable: RotoBaller Staff Picks - 2026 Valero Texas Open (Premium)
Evander Kane

Unavailable Wednesday
Cale Makar

to Miss "Some Time"
Konnor Griffin

Pirates in "Deep" Negotiations for Long-Term Contract
Carlos Estévez

Royals Place Carlos Estevez on 15-Day Injured List
CFB

Gunner Stockton Looking "Great" After Offseason Injury
CFB

Sam Leavitt Showing "Encouraging Signs" at LSU Practice
Carson Beck

2026 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings (Pre-NFL Draft)
Hendon Hooker

Signs with the Titans
Kaleb Johnson

Given a Clean Slate with New Coaching Staff
DK Metcalf

Dynasty Outlook Murky with Quarterback Uncertainty?
Trey McBride

Is Trey McBride the TE1 in Dynasty Fantasy Football?
Mark Andrews

Faces Less Competition in Tight End Room
Wan'Dale Robinson

the Clear No. 1 Target in Tennessee?
Brock Purdy

Supporting Cast Gets an Upgrade for 2026
Jalen McMillan

Headed for a Bigger Role in 2026
Ashton Jeanty

Poised to Break Out with Improved Offense and Protection?
Justin Jefferson

Poised to Re-Emerge as an Elite Dynasty Wide Receiver in 2026
J.J. McCarthy

Dynasty Value is Fading Heading into 2026
Brooks Koepka

RotoBaller's One And Done Picks To Consider - Valero Texas Open (Premium Content)
NFL

Brenen Thompson May Struggle to Consistently Earn Targets in the NFL
Drake Maye

Can Drake Maye Overcome Questionable Supporting Cast in New England?
Garrett Wilson

Will Garrett Wilson Have a More Stable Environment Around Him in New York Going Forward?
NFL

Omar Cooper Jr.'s Stock is Rising as Draft Day Approaches
J.J. Spaun

Needs the Putter to Cooperate in San Antonio
Thorbjorn Olesen

Trending Up in San Antonio
Stephan Jaeger

PGA Best Bets: Novig Matchup Picks and Finishing Position Props for Valero Texas Open
Denny McCarthy

Carrying Momentum into San Antonio
Matt Grzelcyk

Unavailable for Reminder of Season
Artyom Levshunov

Ruled Out for Rest of Season
Mathieu Olivier

to Miss Couple of Weeks
Evan Rodrigues

to Have Season-Ending Surgery
Sam Reinhart

Won't Return This Season
Carter Yakemchuk

Injured in Tuesday's Loss
Aaron Ekblad

Hand Injury "Doesn't Look Good"
Christian Watson

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Breakouts for 2026 - Sneaky Candidates to Claim WR1 Status
Brooks Koepka

DraftKings Core Four: PGA DFS - 2026 Valero Texas Open (Premium Content)
Jose Fernandez

Launches Two Home Runs in Historic MLB Debut
Chase DeLauter

Exits Tuesday's Game with Foot Injury, X-Rays Come Back Negative
Odell Beckham Jr.

Meets with John Harbaugh About Giants Reunion
Chris Kirk

Has Course History on His Side in San Antonio
Billy Horschel

a Volatile Option at the Valero Texas Open
Joe Highsmith

Still Searching for Form in San Antonio
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looks to Find Form at the Valero Texas Open
Dalton Kincaid

Load Management a Possibility for Dalton Kincaid
J.K. Dobbins

is Fully Healthy for 2026
Seiya Suzuki

to Begin a Rehab Assignment Soon
Adam Scott

Patrick's Picks: Top Betting Plays for 2026 Valero Texas Open (Premium)
Simon Holmstrom

Misses Tuesday's Action
Alexandre Carrier

Out 2-4 Weeks With Upper-Body Injury
Jordan Spieth

a Horse for Course History at TPC San Antonio
Mason Lohrei

Misses Second Consecutive Game Tuesday
Tyler Myers

Unavailable Against Bruins
Robert MacIntyre

Has One Flaw to Overcome at Valero Texas Open to be a Must-Play
Michael Bunting

to Sit Out Tuesday's Game
Maverick McNealy

In Exceptional Form This Season
Michael Thorbjornsen

Playing Well But Still Searching For A Win
Hideki Matsuyama

Playing Well Heading to the Valero Texas Open
Si Woo Kim

Heads to Valero Texas Open For Final Tune-Up Before Masters
Nikita Kucherov

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Evgeni Malkin

Ready for Action Tuesday
Cody Ponce

Diagnosed With ACL Sprain, to Miss "Significant Time"
Hideki Matsuyama

DraftKings PGA DFS Lineup Picks - Valero Texas Open (2026)
Collin Morikawa

Withdraws From Valero Texas Open
PGA

Stephan Jaegar Still Looking For Consistency at Valero Texas Open
Jacob deGrom

Cleared for Season Debut on Tuesday
Colt Emerson

Signs an Eight-Year Extension with Mariners
Jose Altuve

Tallies Four Hits, Two Homers in Big Night
Miguel Vargas

Hits Grand Slam, Drives in Six in Win Over Miami
Tanner Bibee

to Start on Tuesday Against Dodgers
Chase Elliott

Takes Advantage of Pit Strategies for Second Career Martinsville Win
Denny Hamlin

Dominates but Finishes Second at Martinsville
Joey Logano

Bounces Back with Third-Place Finish at Martinsville
Ty Gibbs

Gains his Fourth Top-Five Finish of the Season at Martinsville
William Byron

Scores Another Top-Five Finish at Martinsville
Joe Pyfer

Extends His Winning Streak
Israel Adesanya

Loses Fourth Consecutive Fight
Maycee Barber

Suffers Her First Knockout Loss
Alexa Grasso

Scores Highlight-Reel Knockout
Niko Price

Retires After UFC Seattle Loss
Michael Chiesa

Victorious In His Retirement Fight
Julian Erosa

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Lerryan Douglas

Scores First-Round Knockout Win In His UFC Debut
Alex Bregman

Clobbers First Two Homers in Sunday's Loss at Wrigley
Yandy Díaz

Yandy Diaz Records Five Hits, Drives in Four in Win Over Cardinals
Kyle Larson

Is Likely to Pay Off for DFS at Martinsville
Christopher Bell

Could Have Another Top-10 Performance At Martinsville
William Byron

Is A Threat to Win Again at Martinsville
Chase Elliott

is A Solid DFS Option for Martinsville Lineups
Chase Briscoe

has Plenty of Upside for DFS Lineups at Martinsville
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Unlikely to See High-Leverage Opportunities in Near Future
Jacob deGrom

Feels "Much Better," Hopeful he Can Start This Week
Ty Gibbs

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Ty Gibbs at Martinsville?
Ryan Preece

Is A Solid DFS Option for Martinsville Lineups
Josh Berry

Could Josh Berry Pay Off for Tournament DFS Lineups At Martinsville?
Carson Hocevar

May be Too Inconsistent to Start in Martinsville DFS Lineups
Austin Cindric

Is Austin Cindric Worth Rostering for DFS At Martinsville?
Denny Hamlin

the Favorite to Win at Martinsville
Ryan Blaney

Should Contend at Martinsville
Tyler Reddick

Should Come Back Down to Earth at Martinsville
Joey Logano

Will Be Strong at Martinsville
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Looking to Rebound at Martinsville
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Showing Progress, Qualifies Fifth at Martinsville
Dylan Cease

Fans 12 in Blue Jays Debut on Saturday
Andrew Vaughn

Needs Hand Surgery, Expected to be Out 4-6 Weeks
Jacob deGrom

"Confident" he Will Make his Next Start
Jacob deGrom

Scratched From Saturday's Start Due to Neck Stiffness
Jeferson Quero

Brewers Calling Up Catching Prospect Jeferson Quero
Deyvison De Los Santos

Marlins Promote Deyvison De Los Santos to Major Leagues
Joe Pyfer

Set For UFC Seattle Main Event
Israel Adesanya

Returns At UFC Seattle
Maycee Barber

Looks To Extend Her Win Streak To Eight
Alexa Grasso

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Niko Price

In Dire Need Of Victory
Michael Chiesa

Set For Retirement Fight
Lerryan Douglas

Set For His UFC Debut
Julian Erosa

Looks To Bounce Back
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF