It’s time for another week of PGA Daily Fantasy picks for DraftKings as we made it through the birdie fest at Greenbrier and enjoyed a four-man playoff. This week we head to the John Deere Classic – just one week until the Open Championship (the British Open for you Yanks!). I’m back again to provide daily fantasy golf picks for DraftKings’ PGA game.

It’s a great week to check out DraftKings as they have some top notch contests. Come on over and take a look.

Tour Stop

The John Deere Classic is held at another of the PGA’s courses, the TPC Deere Run. The TPC Deere Run course is a 7,268 yard, par 71 track. The John Deere Classic has been held here since 2000 so we have enough of a track record to feel good about the historical record. It’s a D.A Weibring design. Weibring renovated the TPC Las Colinas course (Byron Nelson Classic).

This is an easy track with no winner finishing with a score worse than 16 under par since the tournament started here at TPC Deere Run. There really aren’t any hazards to speak of on the course, so this should yield similar results as last week’s Greenbrier.

The weather looks rain could be in the forecast for the Friday afternoon rounds so we’ll need to keep an eye on that front and see if we need to pick and choose our golfers based on tee times.

Scorecard breakdown: Four (4) par threes, eleven (11) par fours and three (3) par fives. It’s the rare par 71 course this week.

Field

It is another thin field, but that’s not a surprise as we are one week out from the British Open. Jordan Spieth is currently in the field – he’s the biggest name by far. Again, we might see a withdrawal or two prior to the tournament as players prep for the Open.

The full field can be found here.

Thanks to GolfOdds.com for the odds this week. If you’d like to see a second set of odds, check out the Betting Zone’s odds here – just click on this week’s tournament on the left hand pane.

Past Tournament Results

2014 Winner: Brian Harman picked up his first PGA Tour win with a one stroke victory over Zach Johnson.

Harman finished 18th in driving distance, T8 in driving accuracy, 63rd in SG: Putting, T1 in GIR, second in proximity to the hole and T29 in scrambling.

The 2013 winner Jordan Spieth was 14th in driving distance, T19 in driving accuracy, 16th in SG: Putting, T34 in GIR, 57th in proximity to the hole and T18 in scrambling.

Statistical Review

The tournament has been held here since 2000 so we have good history to lean on. This is also a D.A. Weibring course and he renovated the TPC Las Colinas which holds the Byron Nelson so we may want to look at those who succeed on that course as well.

If you thought last week was a birdie-fest, this week will be a scoring bonanza!

If you thought last week was a scorer’s delight, this week we’ll have more birdies than you’ll see in just about any other tournament. As with last week, we need players who can score – get to the green in a timely manner, attack pins to set up scoring opportunities.

This week, I’ll focus on:

Driving Accuracy – This is an easy course and you want to stay in the fairway to keep it that way. Distance won’t matter quite as much as this course plays a bit shorter than it shows on the card.

GIR – You want to have a chance to score this week and getting to the green a timely manner gives you that chance.

Proximity to the hole – The average distance the ball comes to rest from the hole after the player’s approach shot. If you can get the ball close to the hole, you are generally set up for a scoring opportunity.

Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (SG: T2G) – We always examine this stat, but it gains a bit more importance this week so I wanted to call it out again.

Par 4 scoring – It’s a par 71 course, so the focus shifts a bit, but par 4s are still key. Interestingly, scoring on par 4s and par 3s have been quite in important in years’ past so we’ll also focus on…

Par 3 scoring – Jordan Spieth won in 2013 be going 7 under on par 3s and only six under on par 4s and six under on par 5s for the week. In fact, these par 3s have been pretty friendly to golfers in the past.

Going for the Green – Birdie or Better (GG: Birdie or Better) – This worked well last week so I’m going to give it another go this week. If you recall, this stat captures the number of times a player attempting to go for the green makes a birdie or better. We will probably also bounce this list off the Birdie or Better leaderboard which captures the percent of time a birdie or better is scored irrespective of the approach.

As always, you should examine Strokes Gained: Putting and Strokes Gained: Tee to Green every week with SG: Tee to Green much more important this week.

DraftKings Expert Picks

Jordan Spieth | $13,700 – Spieth won here in 2013 and finished T7 last year so he likes the course. He’s got three top five finishes in his last four tournaments and has three wins on the season. His game fits the course well (he’s first in par 4 scoring with only his driving accuracy of 87th lagging behind). But….he’s so expensive relative the other options that I’ll likely shy away. He’s going to do well (he almost nearly always does), but you’d have to hit on five value plays at an average of just under $7,300. It can be done, but your margin of error is small.

Zach Johnson | $11,400 – You’ll have to make a least one lineup with ZJ and I suggest a few more than one. Johnson’s last four years here have provided a bounty of goodness – T3, WIN, T2, solo second. He also had a T2 in 2009 for good measure. He’s made the cut in 10 of his last 11 stroke play events and has seven top 20 finishes in those matches. He’s not quite as fit for the course as Jordan Spieth with his proximity (118th) and SG: T2G (154th) are below where we’d like to see them. However, the rest of his game is tailor-made for the course and his results bear that out.

Kevin Kisner | $10,700 – Poor Kisner as he fell in another playoff last week (his third this year that he failed to win). Kisner finally made the cut at the John Deere last year on his third try (finished T20). Kisner is so hot currently that his prior work on Tour is almost irrelevant. He has four straight finishes of T12 or better and has five top 10 finishes in his last eight tournaments.

Ryan Moore | $9,900 – Moore is six for six in cuts made at the John Deere Classic with two top 10 finishes in the last three years. He’s 13th in driving accuracy, 59th in SG: T2G, 72nd in par 4 scoring, 36th in par 3 scoring so he’s got some tools to make it work this week. He’s been a bit uneven on Tour lately as he’s missed two out of his last four cuts and has only a T18 and T47 to show for his two weekends.

Brian Harman | $9,600 – Harman is back to defend his title from last year (his second top 20 in three trips to the John Deere). He placed solo third his last time on Tour this year at the Travelers after missing back to back cuts. He’s 49th in SG: T2G, 72nd in par 4 scoring and 58th in GG: Birdie or Better so he has some tools to succeed here, but I’m not sure he’s the best option in this neighborhood.

Harris English | $9,500 – English rates quite well with the statistical frame we are using this week as he’s 55th in GIR, 51st in proximity, 10th in SG: T2G, 35th in par 4 scoring and 18th in par 3 scoring. He should be able to go low. He finished T15 in his debut two years ago, but struggled to a T74 last year. He’s made four straight cuts on Tour, but has only one top 20 in that stretch.

Steve Stricker | $9,300 – Stricker’s last six years here have resulted in WIN, WIN, WIN, T5, T10, T11. So, I guess he’s fading…that history is difficult to ignore this week. Stricker is Zach Johnson-lite. Or maybe not so lite. The problem is he’s just not playing a lot – he’s only teed it up six times this year and has only made the weekend three times with a top finish of T27. The course history is tough to ignore and I’ll probably make a GPP lineup with him, but avoid him otherwise.

Steven Bowditch | $9,100 – Since his win at the Byron Nelson (another D.A. Weibring course renovation), Bowditch has been playing way above his pay grade. He’s made five straight cuts including the win and has three straight top 25 finishes. He’s had back to back top 15 finishes here the last two years. His profile isn’t quite the best for the course, but he’s 64th in SG: T2G, 35th in par 4 scoring and 47th in par 3 scoring. So, he’ll have tons of chances to score and that’s what you need this week.

Robert Streb | $9,000 – As you remember from last week, Streb crushes par 4s (22nd this year). He’s also 15th in GIR, 33 in SG: T2G, fourth in par 3 scoring and 67th in GG: Birdie or Better. He just knows know how to score on courses like this. He’s made the cut both times he’s traveled here though his best finish is T22. He fell in the playoff last week, but he extended his cuts made streak to six with four top 20 finishes in the run.

Pat Perez | $8,800 – Perez actually fits the course well and I’ll probably put him in a GPP lineup or two, but his spot down here is about being overpriced. He’s six spots higher in salary than he should be based on his odds to win. And that’s about the only bad thing I can say about him (well, he’s not great on par 3s – 117th in par 3 scoring). He’s made eight cuts in a row on Tour with five top 20s. He’s made six of 12 cuts here with only one top ten (in his first trip to the John Deere in 2002) and hasn’t seen the weekend in the last four years. Again, this is more about value though you can see some warts here – enough to keep me away in cash games.

David Hearn | $8,800 – Hearn has made the cut in four of his five trips here and picked up a T2 two years ago. He’s also in off his best finish of the season – a T2 at the Greenbrier losing in a four-way playoff. He’s alternated made and missed cuts over his last seven Tour stops. He also fits the course well as he’s 76th in driving accuracy, 50th in GIR, 58th in proximity, 34th in SG: T2G, 35th in par 4 scoring and 36th in par 3 scoring.

Justin Thomas | $8,700 – Thomas sits first in GG: Birdie or Better so he’s a consideration again this week like he was last week. Some may look at his disappointing T54 finish last week and dismiss him. But that was the result of a final round 75. He still put up 85 DraftKings’ points even with the dismal Sunday. He’s also 65th in GIR, 70th in proximity and 47th in par 3 scoring so he has some skills to work with here. He missed the cut in his only trip here two years ago and his form isn’t great, but his skillset works for these types of courses.

George McNeill | $8,600 – Oddly, McNeill has withdrawn the last two times he’s teed it up at the John Deere. He is three of six in cuts made overall with a top finish of T15. He’s in great form as he’s made nine of ten cuts with his only miss at the U.S. Open Chambers of Horrors err..Chambers Bay. McNeill’s game also fits well as he’s 64th in driving accuracy, 36th in SG: T2G, 49th in par 4 scoring, and 66th in par 3 scoring.

Scott Brown | $8,600 – Brown’s record at the John Deere is impressive as he’s played the last three years and ended up solo seventh, T22 and T5 (last year). He’s made three cuts in a row and 10 out of his last 11 with his only miss at the Memorial. There aren’t a lot of reasons to ignore Brown this week.

Shawn Stefani | $8,600 – Stefani is a statistical darling this week as well. Stefani is 22nd in GIR, 82nd in proximity, 39th in SG: T2G, 13th in par 4 scoring, 66th in par 3 scoring and 73 in GG: Birdie or Better. He missed the cut his first time here, but finished T13 last year. He bounced back from a missed cut at the St. Jude with a T13 at last week’s birdiefest at the Greenbrier. He’s lined up for another top 20 shot this week.

Tony Finau | $8,500 – Ok, I’m a little biased with Finau, but I’m sure there is a price DraftKings could set where I wouldn’t recommend him. They just haven’t reached that level yet. And oddsmakers agree as he’s six spots lower in salary than he should be based on his chances of winning. He’s making his debut here, but he’s on a fantastic run of seven straight cuts made on Tour with no finish worse than T25. At the Byron Nelson he put up 92 DraftKings points and rolled to a T10.He’s a scorer as evidenced by his 35th spot in par 4 scoring and 47th spot in par 3 scoring. He’s also 55th in GG: Birdie or Better so he gets his chances.

Jerry Kelly | $8,400 – Kelly loves playing here as evidenced by his eight cuts made in nine trips and three top 10 finishes (including the last two years). He’s missed two cuts in a row, but had ripped off five weekends in row prior to that with no finish worse than T30. His statistical profile checks many of the boxes (including a first place spot in par 3 scoring).

Bryce Molder | $8,400 – Molder is nine spots higher in salary than he should be if the Vegas oddsmakers were setting the values. And like Pat Perez, he also fits the course well so I probably won’t have a ton of bad things to say about him – we’re talking about value. He’s made the cut here three of the last four years (and the only miss was a withdrawal). He’s been in the top 30 in each of those weekends. His profile fits well, so I’d probably consider him for a GPP, but not in cash as the value isn’t there.

Jason Bohn | $8,400 – Bohn shows up every week doesn’t he? He just can’t seem to win. The stats love him again this week as he’s 28th in driving accuracy, 13th in GIR, 25th in proximity, 45th in SG: T2G, 13th in par 4 scoring, ninth in par 3 scoring and 49th in GG: Birdie or Better. He’s made six of nine cuts here, but never a finish in the top 10. He’s made five of six cuts on Tour and has three top 15 finishes in that run including last week’s T13 where he posted a 61 on Saturday.

Charles Howell III | $8,300 – Howell III is five of six in cuts made at the John Deere in the last six years with three top 25 finishes. His profile doesn’t fit particularly well and he’s missed his last two cuts on Tour. In fact, since his T5 at the SHO, he’s missed five of eight cuts and hasn’t finished better than T31. He’s also 13 spots higher in salary than his odds to win imply.

Kevin Streelman | $8,300 – Streelman is three for five in cuts made here, but he does have two top ten finishes. He never really challenged last week on his way to a T77 at the Greenbrier. However, his statistical profile shows some promise with a 21st standing in driving accuracy, 20th in GIR, and 22nd in par 4 scoring.

Seung-yul Noh | $8,300 – Noh is seven spots lower in salary than his odds imply so we’ve got a bit of value right off the top. He’s one of two in weekends here with a T19.He’s also on a little mini-run with three straight cuts made. His only stat that looks good for this week is he’s ninth in GG: Birdie or Better so he can get scoring chances.

Scott Langley | $8,300 – Langley is two for three in cuts made with a T33 and T27 in the last two years. He’s made three cuts in a row with his best finish of the season last week at the Greenbrier (T13).

Carl Pettersson | $8,200 – Pettersson is five for eight in cuts made with a top 10 finish at the John Deere. He’s made four of six cuts on Tour coming in though he missed the cut last week at the Greenbrier. Again, nothing sticks out from his profile so you’re banking on some of his course history showing up this week.

Daniel Summerhays | $8,100 – Summerhays’ 23rd rating in SG: T2G should lead to more success on Tour, but it hasn’t. He’s missed two cuts in a row and five of his last seven. Of course, he did pick up a T27 at the U.S. Open. I don’t see a reason to roster him this week.

Kevin Chappell | $8,100 – Chappell has made the cut both times he’s teed it up here, but his best finish is T45. However, he’s made six cuts in a row on Tour. He’s got a couple of parts of his game that can work with a 72nd in driving accuracy, 39th in proximity and 72nd in par 4 scoring.

Chad Collins | $8,000 – Collins’ game fits well here as he’s 22nd in par 4 scoring, 18 in par 3 scoring and 44th in GG: Birdie or Better. He’s made the cut each of his three trips here spread over a number of years with no top 20 finishes. He’s made eight straight cuts though he doesn’t have a lot to show for it. However, he did pick up a T6 at the Greenbrier last week so he’s worth a look again this week.

Scott Piercy | $8,000 – Piercy is four of five in cuts made here and in his last start here three years ago he finished solo third. His form was poor entering the Greenbrier, but did pick up a T29 so he can score when given the chance. He’s 36th in par 3 scoring and 57th in proximity so he could be useful this week.

Patrick Rodgers | $8,000 – I dig Rodgers as much as anyone, but I’m not sure this is his week. He is 13 th in par 4 scoring and that’s about all she wrote. He does have a T15 sandwiched around two missed cuts in his three trips to the John Deere. He’s made four cuts in a row, but none better than a T29.

Chris Stroud | $8,000 – Stroud sits with Rodgers in terms of statistical profile rankings though his one shining skill is par 3 scoring (ninth this year). He has made six of six cuts here, but four of those finishes are T59 or worse. Since a run of four straight cuts made, he’s missed three out of his next six though did pick up a T10 in there. I don’t see a reason to roster him in most formats.

Kyle Stanley $7,800 – Stanley’s salary puts him 20 spots higher than he should be based on his chances to win this week. That’s a huge difference and one that keeps me away from him this week. He’s four of five in cuts made at the John Deere. He hasn’t done much on the PGA or Web.com Tours this year so I don’t see a reason to consider him for your lineups.

Danny Lee | $7,700 – Lee picked up the win last week, but he’s still underpriced coming in 16 spots cheaper than he should be. He’s played the John Deere three times and made the cut just once with a T30 finish. His form is a bit uneven as he made three cuts (including a T34 at the Byron Nelson), then missed two cuts and bounced back with back to back cuts made including the win last week. He’s currently 31st in SG: T2G, 33rd in proximity and an impressive second in par 3 scoring.

Brendon de Jonge | $7,500 – de Jonge’s profile fits again as he’s 25th in driving accuracy, 60th in GIR, 35th in par 4 scoring, and 18th in par 3 scoring so he should be able to score here. He’s six of seven in cuts made at the John Deere with two top 10s though he’s recent track record here is middling. He’s alternated made and missed cuts over the last seven stops on Tour, but he just seems like he can’t put four good rounds together.

Jim Herman | $7,500 – The Herminator! (Is that his nickname? No? Oh…) Well, Herman profiles quite nicely for this week. He’s 43rd in driving accuracy, third in GIR, 23rd in proximity, 72nd in par 4 scoring and 24th in par 3 scoring. He missed the cut last year, but had a T10 in 2013 at the John Deere. He missed the cut last week on the number, but he’d made the cut in seven straight prior to that miss.

Boo Weekley $7,300 – Even though he isn’t the most accurate driver of the ball (102nd) Weekley lines up nicely this week. He’s 15th in GG: Birdie or Better, 43rd in proximity and 49th in par 4 scoring. He’s also 23 spots lower in salary than he should be based on his odds to win. He’s made two and missed two cuts in his last four trips to the Deere (over five years), but he’s made four cuts in a row and six of his last seven including a T8 in his last time out at the St. Jude Classic.

Jon Curran | $7,300 – Curran’s statistical profile fits quite well this week as he’s 23rd in driving accuracy, 78th in GIR, 19th in proximity, 49th in par 4 scoring, 66th in par 3 scoring and 78th in GG: Birder or Better.

Fabian Gomez | $7,200: – Gomez came out of nowhere to win at the St. Jude Classic. He’s coming in off a missed cut at the Greenbrier last week. He’s actually alternated made and missed cuts over his last seven Tour appearances this season. He’s missed the cut in his only two trips to the John Deere. But, he has a couple of things going for him this week including his seventh place standing in GG: Birdie or Better which shows me he can score when he’s able to attack pins. He’s also 70th in driving accuracy, 63rd in proximity and 36th in par 3 scoring so don’t be surprised to see Gomez on the weekend.

Chez Reavie | $7,100 – Reavie missed the John Deere last year, but had two top 15 finishes in the three years prior. He’s also in a bit of good form with three straight cuts made and all three finishes in the top 25. He’s fourth in driving accuracy, 37th in GIR, and ninth in proximity so he fits some of what we are looking for. He’s middle of the road in scoring, but his other skills should help him put up some numbers this week.

Chad Campbell | $6,800 – Campbell is a perfect eight for eight in cuts made at the John Deere. He has back to back top 15 finishes at the tourney. He’s made three cuts in a row on Tour after missing two in a row. He finished a respectable T37 at the Greenbrier last week so he could be just the value play you need to roster some horses.

Tim Clark| $6,700 – Ok, fine. Sure, Clark just recently returned to the Tour with a missed cut at the Travelers. Sure, he’s been hurt for about six months. Sure, he’s making the switch from an anchored putter to a standard one. But, look at that course history – five for five in made cuts with three top 10 finishes including a T5 last year? There is magic in them thar hills!

Will Wilcox | $6,400 – I couldn’t find Wilcox in the neighborhood I thought he’d be in. So, I meandered into the sticks and found him at just $6,400. He’s 45 spots lower in salary than he should be based on his odds to win. He missed the cut here in his debut and has missed his last two cuts on Tour. He had back to back top 25 finishes prior to his issues over the last couple of weeks. He put up a T22 at the Byron Nelson with all four rounds under 70. He also grades out statistically as the best option this week as he’s 28th in driving accuracy, 13th in GIR, 25th in proximity, 45 SG: T2G, 13th in par 4 scoring,13th in par 3 scoring and 49th in GG: Birdie or Better. The value is nearly impossible to pass up.

Hudson Swafford | $6,200 – Swafford missed the cut in his only trip to the John Deere last year. He disappointed last week with a T67 when some were expecting a bit more. However, let’s get back on the horse as his stats match up again as he’s 66th in driving accuracy, 38th in GIR, fourth in proximity, 20th SG: T2G, first in par 4 scoring, 18th in par 3 scoring, and 31st in GG: Birdie or Better.

Zac Blair | $6,200 – Blair is another statistical fit as he’s 48th in driving accuracy, ninth in SG: T2G, 72nd in par 4 scoring, 36th in par 3 scoring and 38th in GG: Birdie or Better. He’s making his debut here this week and his form isn’t great as he’s missed the last two cuts. But, he did pick up a T16 at the Byron Nelson (which is also a Weibring course) so he’s got another feather in his cap.

Chris Smith | $6,000 – Smith started the week as the first alternate, but got into the field with the first (of many) withdrawals. He’s actually played this tournament 11 times though only three times in the last eight years. He’s missed the cut in each of those three trips. He’s only played six times on Tour this season and made three cuts. But he has a T10 at the Puerto Rico Open and a T12 at the St. Jude Classic this season so he can go low if conditions allow.

Steve Alker | $5,500 – Alker is sixth in driving accuracy, 43rd in proximity, 72nd in par 4 scoring, 24th in par 3 scoring so he’s got a lot of the skills we are looking for this week. However, he’s only made 7 of 16 cuts this season though three of them are in his last five tourneys. He missed at the Greenbrier, but he did have a T25 at the John Deere in his only trip here (in 2003 so…)

DraftKings Scoring

Roster size: 6 Golfers

POINT SCORING

Golfers on each team will accumulate points as follows:

• Per Hole Scoring
  • Double Eagle (DBL EAG): +20 PTs
  • Eagle (EAG): +8 PTs
  • Birdie (BIR): +3 PTs
  • Par (PAR): +0.5 PTs
  • Bogey (BOG): -0.5 PTs
  • Double Bogey (DBL BOG): -1 PT
  • Worse than Double Bogey (WORSE DBL BOG): -1 PT
• Tournament Finish Scoring
  • 1st: 30 PTs
  • 2nd: 20 PTs
  • 3rd: 18 PTs
  • 4th: 16 PTs
  • 5th: 14 PTs
  • 6th: 12 PTs
  • 7th: 10 PTs
  • 8th: 9 PTs
  • 9th: 8 PTs
  • 10th: 7 PTs
  • 11th–15th: 6 PTs
  • 16th–20th: 5 PTs
  • 21st–25th: 4 PTs
  • 26th–30th: 3 PTs
  • 31st–40th: 2 PTs
  • 41st-50th: 1 PTs
• Streaks and Bonuses
  • Streak of 3 Birdies of Better (MAX 1 Per Round) (3+ BIR STRK): +3 PTs
  • Bogey Free Round (BOG FREE RD): +3 PTs
  • All 4 Rounds Under 70 Strokes (ALL 4 RDS UND 70): +5 PTs
  • Hole in One (HOLE IN ONE): +10 PTs

Scoring Notes: Ties for a finishing position will not reduce or average down points. For example, if 2 golfers tie for 3rd place, each will receive the 18 fantasy points for the 3rd place finish result. Playoff Holes will not count towards final scoring, with the exception of the “finishing position” scoring. For example, the golfer who wins the tournament will receive the sole award of 1st place points, but will not accrue points for their scoring result in the individual playoff holes.

Player Lock Notes: All golfers lock at the time the first golfer tees off on day 1 of an event.

Full rules are located here for DraftKings golf.