This article is part of our FanDuel PGA DFS Picks series.
WGC-MEXICO CHAMPIONSHIP – Mexico City
Club de Golf Chapultepec (7,330 yards, par 71)
$10.0M Purse
$1,800,000 and 550 FedEx Cup points to the winner
Tournament Preview
Formerly held in Miami, the WGC-Mexico will head back to the suburbs of Mexico City for it's second year of play as tournament host. The world's top-ranked players will congregate in a small 65-player field packed with talent to duke it out over four guaranteed rounds. Dustin Johnson, now established as World No. 1 for over a year, will look to win three of the last four iterations of this event dating back to the 2015 edition played at Doral. Weather conditions should be fair with 80-degree temps and gentle wind, though there's some chance for rain in the forecast. Still unfamiliar to most players in the field, Club de Golf Chapultepec should again provide a solid test and limit the winner to no lower than mid-teens under par despite the highly talented field.
Recent Past Champions
2017 – Dustin Johnson
2016 – Adam Scott
2015 – Dustin Johnson
2014 – Patrick Reed
2013 – Tiger Woods
2012 – Justin Rose
2011 – Nick Watney
2010 – Ernie Els
2009 – Phil Mickelson
2008 – Geoff Ogilvy
Key Stats to Winning this Week
• Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green
• Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green
• Avg Proximity to the Hole
Champion's Profile
With just one year of history of play on the PGA Tour, Club de Golf Chapultepec was a fan favorite in it's first go last season. Taking a close look at 2017, DJ didn't wow off the tee like he normally does, he simply kept the ball in play and made hay with his irons. Featuring poa-bentgrass greens, Club de Golf Chapultepec requires players to hit it close to avoid severely undulating putts, so take a hard look at Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green as the key stat this week. Piggybacking on that, DJ also led the field in proximity to the hole and Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green which is very characteristic of top players in the world. All said, it's quite likely we'll see another decorated champion take the trophy this week, so try to fit in as many top-ranked players as you can in your lineup(s).
FanDuel Value Picks
The Chalk
Dustin Johnson, $12800 – Johnson is an absolute powerhouse who deserves all the accolades that come with being World No. 1 for an extended period. With an ironclad track record and strong recent play, DJ is the obvious top pick. His salary is well worth it, but that means you'll need to sacrifice quality on your other five players, which can be difficult to swallow.
Justin Thomas, $12500 – Fresh off a win at The Honda Classic last week, Thomas is firing on all cylinders with seven wins his last 31 events. Though it's hard to win back-to-back weeks, Thomas is young and talented enough to continue his torrid pace and post a top-5 finish like he did last year at Club de Golf Chapultepec.
Jon Rahm, $12100 – Rahm was third last year in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green as a long hitter who can also dial it in with his irons, and after a T3 finish in last year's event at this venue, Rahm appears to be a great fit. Rahm screams value as an underrated option who hasn't posted a top-10 in his last three events, so sneak him in as an alternative to the more expensive DJ if you must. I promise you won't be disappointed.
Jordan Spieth, $11900 – Spieth led the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green last season, and though he's fallen short of expectation, this week represents opportunity for the young star. Spieth was T12 last season here and appears to be finding his putter just in time to tame the tricky greens at Club de Golf Chapultepec.
Longer Shots Worth a Risk
Patrick Cantlay, $10000 – Cantlay turned some heads with a win in Las Vegas in late 2017, and he has continued to prove he's an up-and-coming young talent. Recently notching a top-5 finish at the tough Riviera two weeks ago, Cantlay enters fresh with a clear canvas in his first visit to Club de Golf Chapultepec.
Bubba Watson, $9600 – After an out-of-nowhere win to break a lengthy slump, Bubba has renewed his ability to close the deal. Last season he struggled at Club de Golf Chapultepec, but if he can keep his long drives in play, he should be able to score well enough on the par-5s to offset any bogeys on other holes. He's a somewhat risky option but is priced modestly given he won the last time he teed it up.
Thomas Pieters, $9500 – A very long hitter who drove his way to a top-5 at last year's WGC-Mexico, Pieters represents the youthful talent in today's game. After a T13 at last week's Honda Classic where he shot no worse than 1-over in any round on a very tough track, Pieters is well positioned to excel this week.
Xander Schauffele, $8800 – Probably the best value of the week, Schauffele will get his first look at Club de Golf Chapultepec in competition. The youngster is plenty long and accurate off the tee but will need to up his iron play to compete for a top finish. It's likely he won't win, but he's capable of a top-5 finish, which provides significant upside at his salary.
Strategy Tips for this week (based on 60k standard salary cap)
With all players guaranteed four rounds of golf, there's no fear of missing the cut this week. While many strategies can work, a studs and duds approach can be a sound lineup strategy in this format. You just need to make sure one of your studs win to pocket some profits of your own. DJ is an obvious selection but make sure he's paired with other great iron players to give your lineup an edge.
