This article is part of our DraftKings PGA DFS Picks series.
THE NORTHERN TRUST
Purse: $8.75M
Winner's Share: $1.575M
FedEx Cup Points: 2000 to the Winner
Location: Old Westbury, NY
Course: Glen Oaks Club (Composite)
Yardage: 7,350
Par: 70
2016 champion: Patrick Reed
Tournament Preview
A regular season that started last October has completed and what looms is the FedEx Cup playoffs ultimatum: play well or go home. The top 125 in FedEx Cup points qualify for this week's Northern Trust, but just 100 of them will earn their way into next week's field. The untapped Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, NY fills in for previously slotted Liberty National after the latter was named this year's President's Cup host. As a playoff event, the stakes rise to four times the usual, the winner earning 2,000 FedEx Cup points and a presumably great chance to make the Tour Championship. With five players skipping out this week, 120 will jockey for position as they seek to survive and advance through the four event cadence that whittles the field from 125 to 100 to 70 and finally to 30 for the TOUR Championship. Expect the new host to favor ball strikers in a fairly open composite course that covers parts of three nine-hole layouts on the property, but then again don't be surprised if a hot putter emerges on what is sure to be fast and tricky poa annua greens.
Past Champions
2016 – Patrick Reed
2015 – Jason Day
2014 – Hunter Mahan
2013 – Adam Scott
2012 – Nick Watney
2011 – Dustin Johnson
2010 – Matt Kuchar
2009 – Heath Slocum
2008 – Vijay Singh
2007 – Steve Stricker
Key Stats to Winning at Glen Oaks Club
• Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green
• Greens in Regulation percentage
• One-putt percentage
Champion's Profile
As with any unfamiliar layout that hasn't hosted on the PGA Tour, Glen Oaks will favor guys who can control their tee-to-green game the best, since most of the field is starting at square one when it comes to knowing the subtle contours of the greens. Players who can hit it long and somewhat accurate will gain a huge advantage when they can hit greens and set themselves up with plenty of birdie looks. You'll find most of the FedEx Cup leaders are proficient in the tee-to-green game, but further down the list there are players who fit this mold with lower salaries. These are the guys who will make or break your lineup this week, so choose carefully. In regard to putting, players who can convert birdie looks or save par by one-putting greens will be well on their way to the top of the leaderboard.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS
Tier 1 Values
Hideki Matsuyama, $11500 (Winning odds at golfodds.com: 10-1) – As the guy everyone is chasing in the FedEx Cup, Matsuyama enters with both form and focus. The Japanese star will look to take a logical next step as he seeks to win the FedEx Cup or a major; the former sits on the horizon while the latter will have to wait until next April.
Dustin Johnson, $10800 (12-1) – Johnson should bomb his way around the wide-open Glen Oaks and offer himself plenty of birdie opportunities, but World No. 1 just hasn't hit on all cylinders like he did earlier in the year. He's a safe pick to post a solid finish but winning seems a bit far-fetched given his current form.
Jason Day, $9700 (20-1) – Surprisingly ranked 49th in the FedEx Cup standings, Day easily can make up for the deficit with a playoff run. If not for one blowup hole at Quail Hollow, Day would have had a good chance to win Sunday, so he's in good form. Couple form with his length and ability to make birdies and you have a world class talent at $9700.
Brooks Koepka, $9100 (20-1) – No signs of slowing for this summer standout, as the bomber emerged as a major champion while quietly posting impressive putting numbers.
Tier 2 Values
Matt Kuchar, $8700 (30-1) – The formidable runner-up to Jordan Spieth at the Open Championship, Kuchar is a steadfast competitor with plenty of game to make a run at the FedEx Cup.
Justin Rose, $8300 (40-1) – In the shadows of this year's top performers sits Rose, who consistently ranks as a top ball striker and nearly won at Augusta in April. Glen Oaks is called by many the "Augusta of the North," so if Rose can tap into his April form he'll be a steal at $8300. The only con is his lack of recent form, including missed cuts at two of the last three majors.
Tier 3 Values
Tony Finau, $7300 (60-1) – Finau is not only one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, he's also 10th in GIR, hitting 69.44 percent of his greens. On a wide open layout Finau's only barrier is his putting. If he can somehow putt average on the fast poa annua greens, he'll be a lock for a top-25 finish.
Long-Shot Values
Branden Grace, $6900 (60-1) – Grace entered uncharted territory in July when he recorded the first 62 ever in a major en route to a tie for sixth at the Open. Though he's done little since, Grace has the consistent ball striking and crafty short game to compete just about anywhere. At 90th in the FedEx Cup, it may be a good thing his back is against the wall to make the cut and advance to the second leg of the playoffs.
Kevin Na, $6800 (100-1) – Finishing fourth at last week's Wyndham Championship was a good sign, but it was also earned in a field of mediocrity. However, my backing of Na is mostly due to his 28th place showing in the FedEx Cup last year where he made the TOUR Championship, which alone brings confidence as he heads into the playoffs this year ranked 75th at a can't-lose price of $6800.
