This article is part of our FanDuel PGA DFS Picks series.
Shriners Open – Las Vegas, NV
TPC Summerlin (7,255 yards, par 71)
$6.8M Purse
$1,224,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points to the winner
Tournament Preview
Following the WGC-HSBC Champions and Sanderson Farms Championship last week, the PGA Tour skips to the West Coast desert for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. TPC Summerlin is a Bobby Weed and Fuzzy Zoeller collaboration which has exclusively hosted this event since 2008. Featuring natural amphitheaters carved from the rugged Nevada desert, spectators are treated with outstanding viewing opportunities. To make things even more appealing, the final four holes offer dramatic scoring swings, fostered by the drivable par-4 15th, reachable par-5 16th, and two strong finishing holes with water hazards. Known for its propensity for first-time champions due to its vulnerability to birdies and early spot on the calendar, TPC Summerlin will grant extra confidence to PGA Tour rookies and other hopefuls in search of their maiden victory. Higher winds over 15 mph are forecasted for this year's event, so don't expect the eventual champion to hit sub 20-under scores as we've often seen in the past.
Prior Decade Champions
2016 – Rod Pampling
2015 – Smylie Kaufman
2014 – Ben Martin
2013 – Webb Simpson
2012 – Ryan Moore
2011 – Kevin Na
2010 – Jonathan Byrd
2009 – Martin Laird
2008 – Marc Turnesa
2007 – George McNeill
Key Stats to Winning at TPC Summerlin
· Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee
· Strokes Gained: Putting
· Par-4 Scoring Average
Champion's Profile
Looking at relevant course stats since 2008, it's apparent that driving the ball well (not just long) is key to victory, as just one bomber has won here in the past decade (Kaufman in 2016). Given the windy conditions players will face this week, flighting the ball powerfully and accurately will be of upmost importance, making Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee a great place to start. From there it's all about hitting it close and making putts, but since hitting it close will be tougher in high winds, putting becomes even more important. With all the elements in play this week, those who can keep it in play off the tee, make plenty of putts, and get a few fortunate bounces will have the best shot at finding victory.
FanDuel Value Picks
The Chalk
Tony Finau, $9,900 – Finau was fourth on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee last season and kicked off the year with a runner-up at the Safeway Open a few weeks ago. As arguably the best player in the field this week it's hard to argue with his recent form and two historical top-16s in three starts at TPC Summerlin.
Webb Simpson, $9,600 – The 2013 champion has played TPC Summerlin six years with three top-4 efforts. To make things even more appetizing, Simpson enters in good form with top-20s in five of his last six events dating back to a week before the FedEx Cup playoffs began.
Patrick Cantlay, $9,100 – The long-and-straight Cantlay was 10th in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee last season as he made it all the way to the TOUR Championship after posting top-20s in each of the FedEx Cup playoff events. After such a strong year it feels like it's time for Cantlay to earn that first victory, and this week would be fitting.
Gary Woodland, $9,000 – Woodland is known for his strong distance, but did you know he was a top-15 iron player last season in terms of Strokes Gained: Approach? Though it's Woodland's first trip to TPC Summerlin and his putting isn't all that spectacular, his ball striking can more than make up for it.
Longer Shots Worth a Risk
Anirban Lahiri, $6,800 – Inexplicably priced at $6,800, Lahiri is an amazing play as he enters off three straight top-10s worldwide. Though it's his first time playing in the Shriners, Lahiri should adjust quite well and easily outplay his salary.
Chesson Hadley, $6,300 – There are fewer players hotter than Hadley, who has finished second and third in his first two PGA Tour events this season. At a rock-bottom salary of $6,300, Hadley may be the best value for your money this week.
Smylie Kaufman, $5,900 – In 2015 Kaufman made the Shriner's his coming-out party as he notched an early-season win on his way to an excellent rookie season. After a disappointing 2016-17 season, Kaufman appears to be on the rebound this season after a top-5 at last week's Sanderson Farms Championship.
Luke List, $5,600 – List has gotten better with each start this season as he's improved from 37th to 13th to fifth in his first three starts. Last season, List was 11th in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee, so gauging his solid trend and course fit has me excited about List's prospects this week.
Strategy Tips for this Week (based on 60k standard salary cap)
There are so many values this week, it's hard to fathom how FanDuel decided on salaries for each player, but readers of this column will surely have a leg up. Since no player is priced over $10,000 this week, there's plenty of opportunity to pick established studs, but make sure to blend in some youngsters like Cantlay who have played well on TOUR but haven't quite earned that first win yet.
