FANTASY GOLF

Shriners Hospital Open PGA TOUR DFS

By James Dalthorp III

BEAST DOME NATION.

Hey guys, good to be back on to golf this week and hopefully add some spice to what is hopefully a strong start to your fantasy football season and a good kickoff to what is a unique season of Fall sports. We even get to finish with some NBA Finals basketball. And it’s almost Halloween! I’ve been watching with great intent over the past couple weeks of the new golf season and really analyzing some of my picks over the past year as this new dynamic sets in with new players and a slightly new schedule!

TPC Summerlin favors the best ball strikers and mid-short length putting. This ball striking will not be quite the same type of ball striking we see in a US Open – but things can change much more drastically from day to day because of the desert winds of Vegas. It will be very hot – and I think the guys who are aware how far the ball will fly in this weather may have an advantage.

I took a couple weeks due to some major changes, but I’m back for the long haul that is the 2020-2021 tour season.

BEASTS

1. BRYSON DECHAMBEAU –

One thing is for sure this week: with the Vegas heat and a golf course that is not too brutal tee to green, we are going to see some unbelievable drives for Bryson. Will he putt for dough? He’s certainly going to drive for show. And there has rarely been a tournament where I felt like there was a player above and beyond the level of the rest of the field. Yes, the US Open will take his prowess up a notch.

2. JOEL DAHMEN –

My top picks this week might seem predictable, but Dahmen isn’t an obvious choice for many. Here’s why he should be: I think the timing of his progression since the layoff is peaking. Dahmen was in the top 10 here last year – and he’s coming off a US Open and two other high pressure tournaments. For a guy that calls the nearby Arizona desert his home, Dahmen is basically in his backyard – and this field should motivate Dahmen to take some names and get in the game.

3. CAMERON DAVIS –

We’ve seen some very strong performances over the past year from Davis but he has lacked consistency. Suddenly, his consistency seems to be a strength and not a weakness. On a course where hitting greens is important, Davis knows exactly what he needs to do. After playing with Sergio in his win last week, I think lightbulbs will be coming on for the young Aussie. He’s capable of breaking out now – with a few strong finishes of late.

SLEEPERS

1. Will Zalatoris –

A lot of people thought Will could be a good pick in the US Open but nobody expected him to play so well. He’s proved by his credentials that a PGA Tour win is not something out of his reach. The quality of the up and coming guys out here is strong – as evidenced by the fact that my next pick failed to get his card last year on the tour that Will has dominated. Zalatoris has a game that I think fits this course well. We won’t have much evidence to prove that, so you’ll have to trust me! His game reminds me of a past contender, Cantlay.

2. MJ Daffue –

I’m well aware of MJ’s game and from a distance I’ve seen his career take a serious jump into the 2020 year he’s had. He’s been a great player on mini-tours, barely ever outside the top 3- and has qualified for a large number of big PGA events and made plenty of cuts. Last week, we saw him hover around the top 10 all week. I think his newfound status will take the pressure off MJ’s monetary concerns. He has given himself a chance to play in a ton of events – and his length off the tee and great putting stroke is a lethal combination. He is learning quickly and trending!

3. Denny McCarthy –

This event can and will turn into a putting contest. Why not take the best putter in the game? Trends show that Denny’s stock is back into good shape. This is the time of year he made a name for himself last year. If McCarthy can win on the PGA Tour in this new season, I think the Shriners is one of his best chances.