Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele top DraftKings value at Sentry Tournament of Champions

The PGA TOUR returns with its first tournament of 2023; the Sentry Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua in Maui. The course will play as a par 73 that measures 7,596 yards and features Bermuda greens.

Set your DraftKings fantasy golf lineups here: PGA TOUR $600K Season Tee Off [$200K to 1st]

STRATEGY

The Sentry Tournament of Champions welcomes its new eligibility criteria this year that not only sees all 2022 PGA TOUR winners eligible, but also any member who made the TOUR Championship at East Lake last August.

As such there will be a 39-man field this week with 17 of the world’s top 20 golfers teeing it up. Rory McIlroy is the lone qualifier who is not making the trip to Maui. This tournament is a no-cut event and will require a ton of scoring to take home the trophy.

The only time the winner of the TOC failed to break 20-under-par over the last eight years was Justin Thomas, who won at 14-under back in 2020, where the wind played a big factor.

GOLFERS TO CONSIDER

Rahm will be making his sixth straight trip to Kapalua, and he’s taken a serious liking to the Plantation Course. Over his past five starts at this event, Rahm’s finished inside the top 10 on each occasion, while posting a pair of runner-up finishes in that span, including last year. The Spaniard had somewhat of a subpar 2022 season by his standards, only posting one PGA TOUR victory, which came at the Mexico Open at Vidanta in May.

In a welcome turnaround Rahm did pick up his game during the fall swing, including winning twice on the DP World Tour at the Open de Espana and the DP World Championship in Dubai. The fact he’s coming in with good form bodes well for his chances this week.

Over his past 48 rounds in this field, Rahm ranks No. 1 in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee, third in Strokes Gained: Ball-Striking and seventh in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green. He also ranks No. 1 in this field in Total Strokes Gained per round at Kapalua.

The $10,000 price tag on DraftKings is pretty cheap, especially considering McIlroy will not be teeing it up this week. Rahm should be a staple in cash games and GPP lineups alike.

The no-cut king is also a bit underpriced this week at just $9,500. Much like Rahm, Schauffele also fancies Kapalua, having posted a win and two additional top-five finishes in his five starts at this event. Over his past 48 rounds in this field, Schauffele ranks No. 2 overall in Strokes Gained: Total, behind only Tony Finau ($9,300). He also sits fifth in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and fourth in Strokes Gained: Approach in the same time frame. Keep in mind this is one of the best fields we will see all season.

Before a down season in par-5 scoring average last year, Schauffele ranked third on the PGA TOUR in that department in 2021 and should feast on the four par 5s that will be in play this week. It would come as a surprise to no one should Schauffele pick up his eighth career victory, and the fact you’re getting a decent price discount from the top of the board would make it that much sweeter.

In order to jam in some of the studs at the top you are going to need some value plays to round out your rosters. Look no further than Wise, who had a phenomenal 2022 season, posting four top 10 finishes and three additional top 15s. He closed out the fall swing really well and it shows in the numbers, as he ranks No. 1 in this field in bogey avoidance over his past 16 rounds, while also ranking third in eagles per round in the same time frame.

Wise can get scorching hot with his putter and make a ton of birdies (22nd on TOUR in Birdie or Better % last season) and we are guaranteed four full rounds from him this week, making him one of the premier values on the slate.

Set your DraftKings fantasy golf lineups here: PGA TOUR $600K Season Tee Off [$200K to 1st]

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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and customer (my username is Lan1228) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.