PGA DraftKings and FanDuel DFS Primer: Hero World Challenge (2023)

The PGA Tour heads back to the Caribbean for the annual Hero World Challenge. The association’s top players compete for a chance to travel to New Providence, Bahamas at Albany Golf Course and an opportunity to win a $1 million purse. No one will need to worry about making the cut, so expect less urgency early in the first two rounds. Albany is a par 72 that runs just over 7,400 yards, offering plenty of opportunities to log red numbers on the scorecard.

Viktor Hovland is the defending champion at the Hero World Challenge, finishing 18-under-par, which is the mark that most previous winners have reached, excluding Jon Rahm. The Spaniard served up a final scorecard of 20-under-par back in 2019, but the prevailing winds around the island will be a primary obstacle to overcome to determine this year’s winner. Irons will need to be on point per usual, while a strong driver could put players in a great position on some of the longer par 4s and par 5s, which stretch to 600 yards on some holes.

My last PGA DFS Primer had some success at the RSM Classic. My recommended players were playing well, most notably, Brian Harman, who logged a T2 finish at 17-under-par. J.J. Spaun went 13-under-par, which was good enough for a T15 finish, while Wyndham Clark finished T10 at 14-under-par. The other three players fell well outside of the top 25, so it was a mixed bag with a few players that produced in DFS lineups.

Here are six of my favorite players to target when constructing DFS lineups ahead of Thursday’s opening round at Albany GC in New Providence. Lighter slates mean elite players at discounted salaries, which creates massive value. Let’s cash out and win some money for the holiday season!

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Previous Winners

2022 – Viktor Hovland (-18)
2020 – Henrik Stenson (-18)
2019 – Jon Rahm (-20)
2018 – Rickie Fowler (-18)
2017 – Hideki Matsuyama (-18)

Relevant Betting Stats

Greens in Regulation Percentage
Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green
Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee
Driving Distance
Scrambling
Sand save percentage

Course Overview

Albany is a fairly long par 72, tipping at just over 7,400 yards. There are four par 3s and four par 5s, creating a lot of chaos and opportunities for players to improve or decline their position on the leaderboard. Coastal winds will play a contributing factor throughout the weekend, so players will need to be able to scramble with confidence. Putting surfaces are TifEagle bermuda greens that measure 12 feet via Stimpmeter, which should run fast with dry, windy conditions. The size of the bermuda greens is a bit tight at 4,500 square feet, demanding accuracy with approach shots. Several par 4s and par 5s top 500 and 600 yards respectively, meaning a strong driver or iron will go a long way toward setting up players in a good position to finish par or better. Dozens of shallow sand bunkers and sandy fescue line the fairways and flank the greens, meaning efficient sand save percentages will be a huge asset for players to deploy.

Recommended Plays: DraftKings

DraftKings maximum salary is set at $50,000

Jon Rahm ($10,700)
One of the former champions at the Hero World Challenge, Jon Rahm, will enter only his second event of the 2022-23 season during his return to Albany GC this weekend. Rahm logged a T4 finish a month ago at the C.J. Cup at -14-under-par and has the irons, driver strength, and familiarity to secure his second win at New Providence. It’s an expensive endeavor but Rahm is my favorite blue-chip prospect to acquire on DraftKings.

Sungjae Im ($7,800)
A month off of golf could be exactly what Sungjae Im needed to reset his game. The 24-year-old Korean nearly won the entire FedExCup Championship last season and he possesses all of the requisite skills to conquer Albany GC this weekend. Im has logged finishes of seventh, T29, and T34 to open the new season, so he’s available at a huge discount. It’ll be Im’s first time competing at the Hero World Challenge, but he has the ability to generate quality production at half the cost he’s typically available at, so take advantage and insert him into lineups.

Tommy Fleetwood ($7,300)
One of the best-discounted players to target and get into lineups this weekend is Tommy Fleetwood. The 31-year-old Englishman is ranked 15th in strokes gained putting, fourth in strokes gained tee-to-green, and fourth in strokes gained around the green. Fleetwood’s irons and putter will elevate him up the leaderboard at Albany despite competing for the first time at the tropical location. He logged a T4 finish at the C.J. Cup during his last event played, so Fleetwood should continue to deliver high-upside production in DFS lineups this weekend.

Recommended Plays: FanDuel

FanDuel maximum salary is set at $60,000

Xander Schauffele ($10,500)
Xander Schauffele is one of the few players with experience at the Hero World Challenge, winding up with a T12 finish at 10-under-par last season. The 29-year-old native of California has had six weeks off to prepare, with his last outing resulting in a T9 finish at the ZOZO Championship. He’s ranked first in sand save percentage and fifth in scoring average, so pay up to acquire Schauffele’s talent in FanDuel lineups ahead of Thursday’s opening round.

Tom Kim ($9,400)
Tom Kim is averaging 4.6 birdies per round while converting over 74 percent of his greens in regulation to start his first full season on the PGA Tour. Kim rallied late in the season last year to wind up in the FedExCup playoffs, showcasing a complete game with few weaknesses. The 20-year-old Korean has some of the sharpest irons in the game, so insert him into FanDuel lineups with confidence.

Max Homa ($8,700)
32-year-old Max Homa has three T25 finishes in three events this year, including a 16-under-par outright win at Fortinet to open the 2022-23 season. Homa is ranked 12th in total strokes gained, which has led to an average of five birdies per round. He has a strong, accurate driver, which will be a huge asset at Albany GC. It’s his first time competing at New Providence along with many others, but I like Homa a lot at under $9,000 on FanDuel.

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Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.