This article is part of our DraftKings PGA DFS Picks series.
WGC-BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL
Purse: $9.25M
Winner's Share: $1,570,000
FedEx Cup Points: 550 to the Winner
Location: Akron, Ohio
Course: Firestone Country Club (South Course)
Yardage: 7,400
Par: 70
Defending Champion: Rory McIlroy
Tournament Preview
Uninterrupted since 2003, the South Course at Firestone Country Club will again play host to the World Golf Championships -- Bridgestone Invitational. The no-cut event has been one of Tiger Woods' dominant venues, winning here eight times since 1999. The par-70 course has just two par-5s, only one of them truly reachable in two shots. The field will be without injured Rory McIlroy (ankle) and Chris Kirk (hand), the only players inside the top 50 who will not tee it up. There are plenty of storylines entering this week: Zach Johnson will make his first start since taking the Open Championship two weeks ago, Jordan Spieth can become World No.1 with a win, and Dustin Johnson will attempt to become the third man to win two WGC events in the same year. Adding to the buildup, Whistling Straits beckons next week for the season's final major.
Key Stats to winning at Firestone
• Total Driving
• GIR Percentage
• Par-4 Scoring Average
Last Decade of Champions
2014 - Rory McIlroy
2013 - Tiger Woods
2012 - Keegan Bradley
2011 - Adam Scott
2010 - Hunter Mahan
2009 - Tiger Woods
2008 - Vijay Singh
2007 - Tiger Woods
2006 - Tiger Woods
2005 - Tiger Woods
Champion's Profile
As a par-70, par-5 scoring is muted but total driving will be crucial. This means long hitters do need accuracy but can get away with missing a few fairways; shorter hitters can compete but will need to be very accurate. Beyond that it's a course best suited to ball strikers who hit plenty of greens. With no cut this week in a field of 76 players, the best of the best generally rise to the top over four guaranteed rounds, but a few lesser known players can definitely contend. The only winner since 2005 not to win a major championship is Hunter Mahan, who owns multiple WGC wins and has contended numerous times in majors.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Jordan Spieth - $12,500 (Odds: 11/2)
Jason Day - $11,200 (14/1)
Adam Scott - $10,200 (14/1)
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Henrik Stenson - $9,900 (Odds: 22/1)
Bubba Watson - $9,500 (28/1)
Hideki Matsuyama - $9,400 (25/1)
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Keegan Bradley - $8,800 (Odds: 33/1)
Matt Kuchar - $8,700 (35/1)
Brooks Koepka - $8,400 (40/1)
Martin Kaymer - $8,000 (50/1)
Marc Leishman - $8,000 (50/1)
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Branden Grace - $7,800 (Odds: 60/1)
David Lingmerth - $7,600 (80/1)
Hunter Mahan - $7,500 (80/1)
Shane Lowry - $7,500 (80/1)
Webb Simpson - $7,400 (90/1)
Gary Woodland - $7,400 (100/1)
Joost Luiten - $7,300 (125/1)
Byeong-Hun An - $7,300 (150/1)
MY PICKS THIS WEEK
Lower-Risk Cash Game Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Adam Scott - $10,200
Jim Furyk - $8,900
Jimmy Walker - $8,300
Ryan Palmer - $7,800
Troy Merritt - $7,400
James Hahn - $7,300
The safe lineup this week is focused on great ball strikers with either a solid history at Firestone or good recent form. Adam Scott has four top-15s here the last five years including a win in 2011. Jim Furyk's record is ironclad with top-25s his last five starts at Firestone. Walker is a phenomenal course fit stat-wise, has solid form, and posted a T26 in his maiden start at Firestone last year. Ryan Palmer is a sneaky horse for the course with a third place in 2005 and runner-up effort in 2010, his only two starts at this event. Troy Merritt is fresh off a dominating win last week and should carry over at least three good rounds, while James Hahn is hitting it well tee-to-green and has shot par or better his last eight competitive rounds.
Higher-Risk Tournament Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Jordan Spieth - $12,500
Francesco Molinari - $7,700
Hunter Mahan - $7,500
Shane Lowry - $7,500
Webb Simpson - $7,400
Padraig Harrington - $7,300
With just 76 players in the field, it's crucial for tournament lineups to differentiate. Fortunately, everyone is guaranteed four rounds granting plenty of opportunities to gamble on lower-priced options with no risk of missing the cut. Jordan Spieth is the favorite based on form alone, and who's to question him with two wins and a near-win at St. Andrews? Francesco Molinari is straighter than an arrow off the tee (and will need it) and has contended for two high-profile wins since June. Hunter Mahan is a former winner from 2010 with average form but potential to rekindle his winning ways. Shane Lowry hits it long enough but will need a solid putter like he had for his top-10 at the U.S. Open in June. Simpson has T31 and T14 efforts in his only two starts at Firestone and played steady par-or-better golf at the Open Championship in his last start. Finally, Padraig Harrington hasn't played the WGC-Bridgestone since 2011 but holds four top-20s here from 2007-10.
