by This week, the Tour gives us the gift of two events: WGC Mexico and the Puerto Rico Open. WGC Mexico is a 72-player no-cut event with the best players in the world in attendance. The 132-player Puerto Rico Open is practically a Web.com event, and we will see some ghosts from Christmas past, such as Tim Herron, Todd Hamilton, Len Mattiace and Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey. With two events on tap, let’s dig right in so you can finish reading this article by the time JB Holmes hits his next shot.
Here are some players to consider for DraftKings and One-and-Done leagues for both events this week.
WGC Mexico DraftKings
Bryson Dechambeau $9,000
Dechambeau is making his debut at this event. He has won 5 of his last 19 starts, including three wins in top-level fields (two FedEx Cup playoff events and the Memorial). Since this course is at altitude (7,500 feet above sea level), calculations and adjustments will be needed for every shot. There is no player/caddie combo better at doing that than Bryson and his caddy. The work that may seem tedious and difficult for other players will seem normal for Bryson.
Ian Poulter $7,900
Poulter is a great pivot play this week since he is priced within $300 of popular picks this week, like Fleetwood, Garcia, Bello, Howell and Kuchar. Poulter quietly started the year out hot on the European Tour, recording top-6 finishes in each of his last three starts. Poulter makes for a great play in large tournaments as I expect him to be much lower-owned than the similarly-priced players mentioned above.
WGC Mexico One-and-Done
Tommy Fleetwood
Fleetwood has finished 2nd and 14th in his two appearances at this course. His elite iron play suits this course very well. He may fly a bit under the radar this week in One-and-Done leagues while everyone focuses on the top studs.
Justin Thomas
Thomas seems due for a win after his recent Sunday struggles at the Phoenix Open and at Riviera. He has gained a massive 31 strokes on approach in his last 4 events. He has finished 2nd and 5th in his two starts at this course. The only question you have to ask yourself is whether or not you want to save him for a major this year.
Puerto Rico DraftKings
Retief Goosen $9,700
Yes, the field is so bad that I’m recommending playing Goosen at $9,700. Goosen finished runner-up here in 2017 and finished 6th on the Champions Tour last week. People will pass him by since most golf fans haven’t heard from him in a few years. In a week where we are bound to see some turmoil on the leaderboard, Goosen makes a great low-owned option for tournaments.
Derek Fathauer $7,000
Fathauer is a great value play this week and should go under the radar a bit as well. He finished 21st here in his last appearance in 2016. Even though he has had less-than-stellar results on the PGA Tour this year, he has finished 5th and 17th in his two starts on the Web.com in the last three weeks. With this field closer to resembling a Web.com field than a PGA Tour field, I’m more than comfortable putting him in my lineups this week.
Puerto Rico One-and-Done
Scott Brown
Brown is a typical horse for a course. He has finished inside the top 20 in five of the last six years, including a win in 2013. His best result this year was a 9th-place finish at Torrey Pines.
Graeme McDowell
McDowell has plenty of motivation to win this week. He needs to climb back up the world rankings quickly if he wants to have a chance to defend his U.S. Open title at Pebble Beach or to compete in the Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.
