DraftKings PGA Advice: Workday Charity Open (2020)

Bryson DeChambeau claimed his sixth career PGA Tour title at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. It was only a matter of time before his return to the winner’s circle, as he had six top-10s coming into the tournament. DeChambeau became the first player ever to win an event while leading the field in both strokes gained: off-the-tee, and strokes gained: putting. While averaging an impressive 350 yards off the tee, DeChambeau also gained 7.831 strokes on the greens. He climbed to number seven in the official world golf ranking after that win.

The PGA Tour now heads to Dublin, Ohio, for the Workday Charity Open. Formerly known as the Memorial Tournament, it will once again take place at the challenging Muirfield Village Golf Club. A field of 156 golfers will tee it up this week. Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Jon Rahm, and Brooks Koepka (+1700) are the betting favorites going into the event. It is a much deeper field than last week in Detroit, as 10 of the top-20 golfers are set to tee it up.

Here are the last five winners of the tournament

• 2019 Patrick Cantlay (-19)
• 2018 Bryson DeChambeau (-15)
• 2017 Jason Dufner (-13)
• 2016 William McGirt (-15)
• 2015 David Lingmerth (-15)

Try Daily Fantasy Golf at DraftKings now >>

Course Preview

The Workday Charity Open will be played at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. It’s important to note that this will be the first of two consecutive tournaments that will be played here. Muirfield Village is no easy test of golf. It usually plays as one of the toughest golf courses relative to par, because of the thick penal rough that can become a nightmare to get out of. It will play this week as a par 72 and measures at 7,456 yards long. Golfers will see small, bentgrass greens (with some Poa Annua), that usually roll very fast.

While keeping the ball in the fairway will be important this week, an emphasis on approach should be taken when determining your betting card. Many of the greens have severe undulations, and golfers must put their balls in the right spot to avoid any three-putts. The Jack Nicklaus design will be an all-around test of golf, and scrambling will be a key stat to look at. A lot of the scoring will come on the four Par 5s. There are six challenging Par 4s that measure between 450-550 yards, and three of the four Par 3s are very demanding.

Key Stats

• Par-5 Scoring
• Strokes Gained: Approach
• Scrambling
• Performance on Bentgrass Greens
• Course History

Recommended Plays

Justin Thomas ($11,100)
When you think of par-5 scoring and elite approach play, you think Justin Thomas. He has two top-10 finishes at Muirfield Village in the last five years and sets up very well for this tournament. Thomas led the PGA in par-5 scoring last year and was second in strokes gained: approach. Prior to his missed cut at the Travelers, Thomas had three straight top-10s. Expect him to get things straightened out this week.

Patrick Cantlay ($10,600)
The defending champion of the event leads everyone in the field in many statistical categories over the last ten years at Muirfield Village. He’s first in scoring, first in birdies/eagles, first in strokes gained: tee-to-green, and first in strokes gained: approach. He is an elite ball-striker who has some of the best irons in the game. Cantlay played very well in his first start back since the shutdown, turning in a T11 at the Travelers Championship and closing with a 65.

Viktor Hovland ($9,500)
The young Danish star continues to play exceptional golf in his 2020 campaign. He has turned in four consecutive top-25 finishes since the return to action. Hovland ranks eighth in strokes gained: approach and 17th in strokes gained: tee-to-green. It’s just his putter that’s held him back from the winner’s circle. We all know that putting is extremely volatile, and one good week with the flat stick could be the difference for Hovland.

Jordan Spieth ($8,600)
Despite not being anywhere close to the once prolific golfer he was, Spieth seems on the right track. In 11 events this year, he has made 10 cuts and already has three top-10 finishes. He goes to a course where he finished seventh in 2019, and he has been vocal about his love for it. Spieth enjoys fast, undulating greens that pose a challenge to the eye. He also ranks third in strokes gained: total, on bentgrass greens where scoring is difficult relative to par (last 36 rounds).

Joaquin Niemann ($8,400)
The young Chilean rates out very well on Bentgrass greens. In his last two times out at Muirfield Village, he has finishes of 26th and 6th. Niemann ranks second in par-4 scoring on holes between 450-500 yards. His ball-striking and approach play is extremely good. He ranks 19th in strokes gained: approach, and 22nd in strokes gained: tee-to-green, in 2020. Niemann put in a T5 finish at the RBC Heritage a few weeks ago and will look to carry the momentum into Ohio.

Kevin Streelman ($7,800)
Streelman’s course history at Muirfield Village is too good to ignore. In the last five years, he has finishes of 4th, 44th, 13th, 8th, and 18th. He seems like a lock to make the cut this week and help you get 6/6 golfers through your lineups. Streelman is coming off a second-place at the Travelers Championship a few weeks ago. He will hit plenty of fairways with his accuracy off the tee and should once again have numerous birdie looks.

Emiliano Grillo ($7,200)
This is excellent value for an in-form golfer who has made four straight cuts at Memorial Village and has high finishes of ninth and 11th. The ball-striking and approach game is always elite for Grillo. His putter has dragged him down mightily, but he performs exceptionally well on fast, Bentgrass greens. His accuracy off the tee and elite approach play should give him plenty of birdie looks.

Max Homa ($7,100)
Homa has been playing some sneaky-good golf in 2020. In 14 starts, Homa already has three top-10s and six top-25 finishes. He has had impressive T5 and T6 finishes at stacked field events at the Genesis Invitational and the Waste Management Open. The upside for him is too high to pass up at this price, and his ownership rate shouldn’t be too high after his missed cut at the Travelers Championship.

Henrik Norlander ($6,500)
The 33-year-old Swede is coming off an impressive 12th-place finish at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. He led the entire field in strokes gained: approach, gaining over eight strokes with his irons in Detroit. Muirfield Village is known as a second-shot course, so I think he can carry over his success. He has put up over 70 DraftKings points in his last two times out, and at $6,500, he could be another steal.

Try Daily Fantasy Golf at DraftKings now >>

Nic Turner is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Nic, check out his archive and follow him @sportzbandit.