With the NBA taking the week off for the All-Star break, the PrizePicks Optimal Lineups shifts to the PGA. This week, the PGA Tour heads to Mexico for the WGC Mexico Championship at Club de Golf Chapultepec. The PrizePicks game is basically the same across sports, but their PGA game is slightly different than their NBA game. It is also different from other PGA games you may have played before.
As with any fantasy game, it is very important to understand PrizePicks’ PGA scoring. Birdies are worth three points and eagles five points. Pars are worth 0.5 points and bogies are worth -0.5. In Thursday’s slate, every player is projected for at least 17.5 fantasy points. To get there, your golfer is going to need some birdies. Someone like Jim Furyk, who ranks 10th in bogey avoidance but 153rd in Birdie or Better Percentage, will not fare well in this format.
The other notable rule for PrizePicks PGA contests is that you have to pick at least one Over and one Under for each contest. I tend to gravitate towards players I like in a given PGA tournament, but when you are doing your research, it is important to identify at least one player to fade as well. For more information about the tournament, be sure to check out our DFS PGA Optimal Lineups.
As always, we will make four picks, though this week I am playing the first three listed picks in a 3-pick entry in an effort to win 5x my entry. If you want to do a 2-pick entry, I would recommend my first two listed picks. Be sure to come back next Wednesday when I will make my picks for both the NBA and PGA contests.
Tiger Woods
Projected Fantasy Points: 18.5
UNDER
Tiger struggled in the opening round for most of 2018, and 2019 hasn't been much different. Tiger shot opening round 70s each of the last two weeks, and that probably isn't going to get it done.
Justin Thomas
Projected Fantasy Points: 20.0
OVER
Thomas appears to have everything going in his favor this week. He has two top-five finishes in two starts at Club de Golf Chapultepec and he has finished top three in three of his last four tournaments. Thomas ranks fifth in Par 4 Birdies or Better this season and fourth in first round scoring average.
Phil Mickelson
Projected Fantasy Points: 18.0
OVER
Phil ranks first on tour in First Round Scoring Average and Par 4 Birdies or Better. Perhaps more importantly, Phil has finished seventh and first in two starts at Club de Golf Chapultepec.
Brooks Koepka
Projected Fantasy Points: 17.5
UNDER
Koepka was a popular pick for best player in the world after winning three of his last six majors, but he has been quite mediocre in 2019. Koepka began they year finished 24th out of 33 players at the tournament of champions and he finished T57 in his most recent tournament, the Saudi International powered by SBIA. He is ranked 100 in SG: Approach, which could be a problem on this course. In his only appearance at Club de Golf Chapultepec, Koepka finished 48th.