Paulie’s PGA Cash Game Plays – 1/14

Avoid groupthink and build PGA DFS cash lineups with a different strategy in mind based on hours of @friedeggpaulie’s research and his deep knowledge of the players and professional golf!!

What can you expect from this PGA DFS article every week?

• I focus solely on DraftKings’ main slate, as that is where most of the play resides and also where the biggest edge lies. I will be providing the top cash game plays by salary tier. You can mix and match these players to build your cash lineups.

Strategy for the Week for Cash:

With a field of 144 players and a cut of low 65 and ties:

• We should expect a slightly lower than normal 6/6 and 5/6 percentage for lineups in cash. As such, you can be aggressive in construction if you so choose because you can very well cash still with 4/6 or 5/6 players through the cut.
• I’m currently stuck between about 6 different lineups but do have 2 players who are LOCKS for my lineup.
• LOCKS: Webb Simpson, Charles Howell

Let’s jump into the Cash Game Player Pool for this week:

• Webb Simpson $11,100
  • Simpson has finished in the top 20 in 25 of his last 33 events
  • Finished top 20 in each of last 6 appearances at this event
  • Game matches well with his course as he is accurate off the tee, above average with short irons, and deadly with the putter.
• Collin Morikawa $10,600
  • Morikawa has the most upside of anyone in this tournament. In the 15 events since the restart in June, he has two wins and a playoff loss. He now heads to an event that he would love to win as he has a ton of family nearby and has mentioned how special it would be to win in Hawaii (don’t forget the PGA Champ he won in 2020 was with home connections in California)
  • This course fits him perfectly as he is accurate off the tee and dialed in with the irons.
  • Morikawa is the best iron player in the field and ranks in the top 10 in each of the following categories: 125-150, 150-175 and 175-200.
  • If he has any semblance of a putter this week, he will contend.
• Daniel Berger $10,000
  • #1 overall ranked player in my model this week as he is 2^nd in birdies, 5^th in approach, 8^th putting and 13^th off the tee. He also tends to putt better on Bermuda grass which is what we have this week.
  • He is above average in proximity from 125-150, 150-175 and 175-200.
  • 38^th or better in 18 of last 19 events including 12 top 20s
• Russell Henley $8,700
  • Past winner at the Sony who played great in 2020 finishing in the top 30 in 8 of his last 9 events (including 4 top 10s)
  • 1^st from 125-150, 5^th from 150-175, 2^nd in approach and 10^th in accuracy off the tee
• Charles Howell $8,000
  • Finished inside the top 10 in 10 of 19 appearances at Sony Open
  • 13^th or better at this event in 9 of last 12 years
  • Not great for GPPs as he doesn’t have elite birdie upside but he makes for a great cash game play at this price point.
• Marc Leishman $7,900
  • This is the perfect buy-low spot for Leishman. He played terrible for most of 2020 after the restart but looked solid with his irons last week at Kapalua. 
  • He has massive upside this week as we have seen him close the deal multiple times when in contention (including last at Torrey Pines)
  • Made his last 11 cuts at this event and finished 28^th or better in 9 of them
• Emiliano Grillo $7,900
  • Elite consistency but upside is a bit limited
  • Made all 4 cuts at this event (21,22,47,33)
  • Only 1 missed cut in last 12 events
  • 8^th overall in approach including 4^th from 125-150, 17^th 150-175 and 11^th from 175-200.
• Sebastian Munoz $7,800
  • Elite birdie maker who really found his game towards the end of 2020
    • Top 20 in all 3 FedEx Cup Playoff events, Masters, Zozo and CJ Cup.
  • Has played this event twice finishing 10^th in 2019 and missing the cut by 1 in 2020
• Brian Harman $7,800
  • 32^nd or better in 6 of last 7 starts at this event
  • Only 1 missed cut in last 13 events (10 top 40s in that span)
  • 7^th around the green, 15^th putting, 23^rd birdies, 23^rd in driving accuracy and above average in short irons
• Jason Kokrak $7,700
  • 3^rd off the tee, 15^th birdies, 25^th putting and above average in short irons
  • Caught fire late in 2020 where he finished top 17 in 6 out of 8 events including a win at the CJ Cup
• Scott Piercy $7,300
  • Made 9 cuts in last 11 appearances at this event including 6 top 25s
  • Made each of his last 6 cuts in 2020 (5 top 40s)
  • Slightly above average in most metrics leading to a 33^rd place ranking in my model for the week
• Cameron Davis $7,200
  • Good combination of upside and consistency as he is 3^rd in birdies and has finished top 40 in 13 of his last 20 events.
  • 9^th here in 2020
  • Also is 9^th off the tee and above average with short irons and putting
• Brian Stuard $6,900
  • Comes into event not in the best of form, but his long term skill set fits this course perfectly as he is a short hitter who keeps the ball in play and his strengths are short irons and putting
  • 8^th or better in 4 of his last 7 starts in this event
• Brian Gay $6,700
  • Won late in 2020 after a terrible stretch of golf
  • Typically plays very well on courses that suit his game as he is short and accurate off the yet and relies on a strong short iron game and is one of the best putters on Tour.
  • Made 9 of his last 11 cuts here including 8 finishes of 32^nd or better
• Wesley Bryan $6,300
  • Made his way back last year from injury and had some good results on certain courses that fit his game. Similar to Stuard and Gay, he is short off the tee but relies on his strengths which are short irons and putting. 

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