Paulie’s Picks: 2019 3M Open

This week the Tour heads to Minnesota for the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities. The Arnold Palmer-designed course should yield plenty of birdies, just as it has for the Champions Tour event at this course. Elite drivers of the ball will have a distinct advantage. Bay Hill, another Palmer design, has similar characteristics to TPC Twin Cities.

DraftKings

Rory Sabbatini $9,500

I will keep playing Rory Sabbatini as long as he continues his solid play. He has made his last 12 cuts and has finished in the top 10 in four of his last seven starts. In his last six events, he has made 107 birdies, which is great for DK scoring.

Peter Malnati $7,800

Malnati has made 11 of his last 12 cuts and finished 40th or better in each of his last five starts. He has made 77 birdies in his last five events. In such a weak field, I expect another top-40 finish filled with birdies, which should pay off his $7,800 salary.

One-and-Done

Jason Day

Day’s game has turned around a bit over the past few events. He finished 21st at the U.S. Open and 8th at the Travelers while putting right on Tour average, way below his normal results on the green. Day seems rejuvenated after hiring Stevie Williams, and I think he will win before the end of the season. Day has had great success at Bay Hill, winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2016.

Victor Hovland

Hovland has been playing great over the last month, finishing 13th in Detroit last week and 12th at the U.S. Open. This course favors elite drivers of the ball, which Hovland certainly is: he has gained 13 strokes off the tee in his last three events. Also, at Bay Hill earlier this year, Hovland also finished 40th as an amateur. I expect him to win in 2019, and this could be the week. A high finish in Minnesota would be huge for his PGA Tour status this season and next.