This article is part of our DraftKings PGA DFS Picks series.
CROWNE PLAZA INVITATIONAL AT COLONIAL
Purse: $6.5M
Winner's Share: $1,170,000
FedEx Cup Points: 500 to the Winner
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Course: Colonial Country Club
Yardage: 7,204
Par: 70
Defending Champion: Adam Scott
Tournament Preview
Colonial Country Club holds an incredibly long history dating to 1941, when it held the U.S. Open. Just five years later in 1946, Colonial established itself as a tour stop and has hosted the PGA TOUR every year since. With chronicles of legendary Texas icon Ben Hogan winning the first two editions of the event and eventually collecting five total victories, the course would forever be associated with one of golf's greatest. The field this week includes Masters champion Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker, Adam Scott, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey with six others from the top 35 in the world. The par-70 layout of Colonial is a classic tree-lined venue with just two par-5s, complete with many abrupt doglegs and little margin for error off the tees. Adam Scott's winning score was just 9-under last year, but generally the champion has shot about 14- to 20-under the last decade.
Key Stats to winning at Colonial
• Driving Accuracy
• Proximity to the hole 100-150 yards
• Par-4 Scoring
• Strokes Gained-Putting
Last Decade of Champions
2014 - Adam Scott
2013 - Boo Weekley
2012 - Zach Johnson
2011 - David Toms
2010 - Zach Johnson
2009 - Steve Stricker
2008 - Phil Mickelson
2007 - Rory Sabbatini
2006 - Tim Herron
2005 - Kenny Perry
Champion's Profile
The list of champions clearly indicates the course strongly rewards accuracy off the tee and more broadly speaking players with elite ball-striking abilities. With just two par-5s and many doglegs that demand positioning, the advantage of distance is severely muted. This paves the way for players like Zach Johnson, David Toms and other accurate hitters with superb putting to excel. Driving accuracy, Par-4 scoring, and proximity to the hole from short-iron range will serve as great indicators of who will play well this week.
COLONIAL DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Jordan Spieth - $13,000 (Odds: 5/1)
Zach Johnson - $12,000 (14/1)
Jimmy Walker - $11,200 (18/1)
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Paul Casey - $9,300 (Odds: 28/1)
Patrick Reed - $9,300 (28/1)
Chris Kirk - $9,000 (28/1)
Ben Martin - $8,500 (40/1)
Sean O'Hair - $8,200 (45/1)
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
John Senden - $8,100 (Odds: 50/1)
Daniel Berger - $8,100 (50/1)
Geoff Ogilvy - $7,400 (55/1)
Marc Leishman - $7,300 (66/1)
Kevin Chappell - $7,200 (80/1)
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Cameron Tringale - $7,000 (Odds: 66/1)
John Peterson - $6,900 (66/1)
Chris Stroud - $6,800 (75/1)
Bo Van Pelt - $6,600 (90/1)
Jerry Kelly - $6,500 (100/1)
Fredrik Jacobsen - $6,400 (125/1)
Scott Piercy - $5,900 (150/1)
WHO I'M ROLLING WITH THIS WEEK
Lower-Risk Cash Game Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Zach Johnson - $12,000
Ryan Palmer - $9,600
John Senden - $8,100
Boo Weekley - $7,700
John Huh - $6,400
Scott Piercy - $5,900
Zach Johnson disappointed last year with a T73 finish at this event, but this is an aberration for the man who won this event twice and set the scoring record in 2010. Palmer is a Texas native who always brings his game to his home state. Senden has a pair of recent top-10s at this event and Weekley claimed victory here in 2013. To round out a solid cash game lineup are John Huh and Scott Piercy, who both drive the ball straight and sport solid iron play.
Higher-Risk Tournament Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Jordan Spieth - $13,000
Sean O'Hair - $8,200
Geoff Ogilvy - $7,400
Marc Leishman - $7,300
Rory Sabbatini - $7,000
Cameron Tringale - $7,000
As we saw last week, picking the chalk (i.e. top player) can pay dividends as it did with Rory McIlroy. This week Spieth will be the home-state favorite, and I'm overlooking a missed cut at The Players to make him a must start on the basis of his incredible putting and course management. From there, it's about differentiating with good value players who strike it well and find themselves in decent form. O'Hair fits the ball-striker profile and has strung together seven top-30s his past nine events. Ogilvy has underwhelmed but purportedly found his game with a top-10 last week at the Wells Fargo Championship. Since missing the Masters due to his wife's illness, Marc Leishman has put up three top-30s in a row including a top-10 effort at the WGC- Match Play. Finally, Sabbatini and Tringale both have recent top-10s and have competed on courses that demand good driving in the past.
