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Players Championship 2021: Daily Fantasy Picks and Tips for Thursday
March 11, 2021
The best golfers in the world are looking to compete for a title at The Players Championship, and several key picks can help bettors take home some big money.
Winning a daily fantasy golf tournament requires a balanced lineup while getting value throughout. You likely have to choose the event's winner, although hitting on all your picks is what usually puts people in the money.
On a difficult course like TPC Sawgrass, it's important to find players who can handle the terrain with either experience or coming in with a high level of play. Consistency at big events is also a strong indicator of success.
Here are the top value picks available on DraftKings.
Xander Schauffele ($10,300)
The most popular picks will likely be Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau as they continue to compete for titles nearly every week, but Xander Schauffele also has a good chance to shine this week.
The 27-year-old has played extremely well this season even without a win, earning five top-five finishes in nine starts including three runner-ups.
He finished tied for 39th at his last start, but it was his only time outside the top 25 since last June.
Though Schauffele missed the cut at TPC Sawgrass in 2019, he tied for second in 2018 and has proved he can compete with the best at big tournaments with six top 10s at majors in the last three years.
You want him to win, but there might not be a safer option to get points than Schauffele.
Patrick Cantlay ($9,200)
With the 11th-highest price, Patrick Cantlay is a steal at $9,200.
The American is seventh in the world golf rankings and second in the FedEx Cup standings thanks in part to his four top 10s and a win at the ZOZO Championship.
Besides his finishes, Cantlay can also pick up fantasy points thanks to his rate of 4.81 birdies per round, fifth-most on tour this year, per PGATour.com.
His ball-striking ability will suit him well on this course, and it should help him be among the top names on the leaderboard all weekend.
Hideki Matsuyama ($8,700)
The 2020 Players Championship was canceled after just one round due to the COVID-19 pandemic, effectively erasing an incredible first round from Hideki Matsuyama.
Though the 63 was mostly forgotten with all the drama in the world, Matsuyama was on fire during the round:
A year earlier, the Japanese star finished in a tie for eighth for his second top 10 at this event.
Matsuyama hasn't won a PGA Tour event since 2017, but he is often a top contender and he enters the week with back-to-back top-20 finishes. It makes him a solid option going into a tournament against the best in the world.
Abraham Ancer ($7,500)
Consistency is more of a challenge for Abraham Ancer compared to some of the others on this list, especially after missing the cut in two of his last four starts.
There is still plenty of upside for a player who can excel this week by avoiding mistakes.
Ancer ranks first among all golfers with 72.5 driving accuracy percentage and is also among the best in the world while reaching the green in regulation on 71.53 percent of holes. Though his putting could use some work, he generally avoids bogeys and should keep himself high on the leaderboard.
He is at the very least a good bet to make the cut and should earn a high fantasy score while he is playing.
Corey Conners ($7,400)
Though Corey Conners fell apart down the stretch at last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational, he still finished in third place after grabbing a 36-hole lead.
The Canadian opened with a 66 and has hit in the 60s in six of his last 10 rounds.
Conners' driving ability could lead him to success at The Players Championship. He enters ranked 15th in strokes gained off the tee and 12th in driving accuracy. This has helped him get birdies and eagles throughout the year, making a significant impact in daily fantasy.
The biggest concern will be making the cut, but he's reached the weekend in 10 of his last 11 events and has enough upside to make this a worthwhile bet.
Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com for details.