As football season enters the offseason, golf is ramping up, as this week we have our last California event of the season at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. Riviera is a par 71 at a long 7,322 yards with many fun holes, most notably the Par 5 first (which plays almost as a par 4) and the drivable Par 4 10th. With many of golf’s biggest names coming out to Riviera, it should make for a fun week. Let’s take a look at the Draftkings picks for the week.
Dustin Johnson, $11,900
DJ checks every box this week, as he has elite course history with a 2nd, 2nd, 4th, and 1st in his last four attempts, great form with three top 10’s in a row, and an amazing course fit for the long Riviera track. He’s pricey, but all the other guys at the top have either mediocre form, bad history, or both, making DJ the most attractive option. I’m contemplating having every lineup I make with DJ and suggest you do the same with the value options down low.
Tommy Fleetwood, $9,500
While first-timers sometimes get tricked up by these Poa greens, Fleetwood is an elite putter with amazing current form, showcasing a 6th, 3rd, 1st, and 6th his last four tries out on the European tour. He’s the leader in Greens in Regulation over in Europe, a stat that’s vital this week, and I like Fleetwood at this price this week as you’re getting one of the game’s best at a strong price.
Thomas Pieters, $7,700
I was astonished by this price this week, as Pieters has stated in interviews, “I love Riviera” and has a strong form on the Euro tour this year with 2/2 cuts made and a top 5. He’s played Riviera twice, one as a college student and one professionally, and finished 1st and 2nd respectably, making him a course horse this week. His long driving suits Riviera well, and he should do well this week since he’s comfortable.
Patrick Cantlay, $7,600
This is another inaccurate Draftings price this week, as Cantlay has yet to miss a cut this season and is an elite player. His form isn’t great and he’s never played here before, but anytime I can get a prolific cut-maker with winning upside at this price, I’ll take it. He’s a good midrange option this week.
Jason Kokrak, $7,500
Kokrak is playing great this year, as he’s yet to miss a cut with a top 10 on the season. He’s also fond of Riviera, making three of his last three cuts here with a runner-up finish in 2016. Being a great driver of the golf ball, Kokrak should flourish here this week, as he’s in form and fits this track well.
Sang-Moon Bae, $7,200
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Bae is a play I really like this week, as he made his first cut since coming back from Korea last week and has an 8th, 12th, and 8th in his three tries here. I always love to see current form and course history coincide, and we get that with Bae this week who has stated publicly that he loves putting on Poa since it reminds him of his native country. He’s a good GPP option this week.
K.J Choi, $7,000
Lastly, K.J Choi, other than DJ, maybe my favorite play of the week. Choi’s course history is unprecedented, as he’s played Riviera 17 times and has made 17 cuts while finishing in the Top 35 every single year. It’s astonishing. Simultaneously, he finished 26th last week, flashing some form which he hasn’t had in a long time. I think Choi is a great value option this week, as if he misses the cut for the first time in 17 years here, we can still say it was a smart play.
Thanks for reading and good luck with your lineups this week! Feel free to follow me on twitter @ari5610 and ask whatever questions you may have.
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