3 years agoThis may come across as a bold statement, but compared to Jon Rahm in Mexico last week, Rory McIlroy's form and course fit do not drastically separate him from the rest of the better players in the field. He has been playing well, though, gaining over a stroke per round ball striking in his limited starts this year. Other than losing on the greens in his last four starts, his game is in great shape, but not exceptional enough to bite at either of his expensive DFS or outright price tags. --Byron LindequeSource: PGA Tour

3 years agoPaul Casey withdrew from both the WGC Matchplay and the Masters in the past month and a half, citing back spasms. News broke on the ground today that Paul Casey has also WD from the Wednesday Pro Am at TPC Potomac. Despite being a solid course fit, the Englishman is too banged up to trust at the moment and there is no guarantee that even if he tees it up, he will be able to complete all four rounds.--Matt Miller - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour

3 years agoKeegan Bradley is currently projected to be one of the highest-owned golfers in the field. Bradley arrives in Maryland off an eighth-place finish at The Valero last month. Bradley excelled tee-to-green that week gaining 8 strokes. Over his last nine events, Bradley has only lost strokes tee-to-green once. He has played well this spring. The 35-year-old American finished in fifth place at The Players and 11th at The Arnold Palmer Invitational. Bradley is coming off a month layoff which may give fantasy players some caution rostering an already volatile golfer. --Rob Giltner - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour

3 years agoMarc Leishman finished in 30th place at the Masters in his last start. The 38-year-old Australian has had a strong start to the year. He has recorded three top-20 finishes. Leishman is known as a great ball-striker and putter. What would benefit him the most at this course is his ability to hit his long irons well. He is currently not projected to be one of the highest-owned golfers in the field. If he stays somewhat low-owned, he could be a great DFS play.--Rob Giltner - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour

3 years agoPatrick Reed kept himself in the conversation at The Mexico Open. Unfortunately, Reed shot four over on Sunday and finished in 42-second place. The 2018 winner of The Masters has struggled mightily of late. His best finish this year is a 26th-place finish at The Players. His performance at The Players was due to gaining nine strokes on the greens. If Reed is going to contend this week he will need to improve his ball-striking in almost every category. Reed is one to avoid this week. --Rob Giltner - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour

3 years agoChris Kirk has gained strokes tee to green in every event he has played in this season. His driving, approach play, and around the green game have been steady and well above average for most of the year. His putter can flash upside but typically fails him when in contention on a Sunday. Kirk is one of the premier players in this weak field and could get away with a shaky Sunday putter if he continues his impressive ball striking. --Byron LindequeSource: PGA Tour

3 years agoRafa Cabrera-Bello enters the week having missed three of his last four cuts at events with relatively weak strength of schedule. His lack of distance off the tee is another concerning trend that the Spaniard will have to overcome at the Mexico Open. Sitting outside the top-100 of Official Golf World Rankings, Cabrera-Bello's game has been in decline after cracking the top-20 in March of 2019. His ball striking has been substandard and that will be a significant disadvantage this week.--Byron LindequeSource: PGA Tour

3 years agoBrendon Todd is one of the shortest drivers on tour, which will hurt him at a Par 71 that is almost 7,500 yards long. After an abysmal Florida swing with his irons, Todd has gained in three consecutive events and will be looking to continue that trend at a lengthy resort course this week. Over his last 24 rounds Todd ranks inside the top-10 on tour in strokes gained putting, often leaning on the flat stick to do most of his scoring. He will need another impressive putting performance this week if he looks to contend.--Byron LindequeSource: PGA Tour

3 years agoAaron Wise is inside the top 75 in the FedEx Cup standings with five top-25 finishes so far this season. Wise put up a T21 in his last start at the RBC Heritage and had made three of his last four cuts on tour. Wise sits inside the the top 78 on tour in five of the top-six strokes-gained stats and is as high as 24th in strokes gained off the tee. The main spot Wise has struggled is on the greens. Wise sits 144th in strokes gained in putting, however, Wise gained .657 strokes on the greens in his last start. If Wise can find that same putting stroke, he could have top-10 potential this week in Mexico.--Kasey Kuhrts - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour

3 years agoKevin Na's accuracy off the tee may not be as much of an asset at this week's venue in Mexico. He will have longer approaches than most of the field due to his lack of distance off the tee. However, he led the field in strokes gained approach at Augusta and continued his impressive iron play at the RBC Heritage two weeks ago. He will have to rely on his short game quite heavily this week if he looks to win at a course that does not seem to suit his statistical profile. --Byron LindequeSource: PGA Tour

3 years agoArguably the best ball-striker on the planet, Jon Rahm heads to a golf course that suits his booming drives and precise long irons. The last time Rahm lost strokes off the tee at a PGA Tour stroke-play event was in August of 2019. His irons have been similarly impressive gaining 0.73 per round this season. Rahm has lost strokes around the greens for the first time in his six years on the PGA Tour. He is neither gaining nor losing strokes with his putter lately, leaving his exceptional ball-striking without a trophy in his 10 starts this season. --Byron LindequeSource: PGA Tour

3 years agoGary Woodland has three top-eight finishes in his last six starts and only has missed cuts at the Players Championship and the Masters. With a higher DFS price, Woodland does carry some risk, but his recent success at non-major championships makes him worth a look. Woodland is inside the top 40 on tour in strokes gained on approach, putting, tee-to-green and total. With his play, Woodland is on the edge of a breakout week, and that could come this week in Mexico. Woodland is an option this week in all fantasy contests.--Kasey Kuhrts - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour

3 years agoTony Finau will be one of the top-three most expensive players in DFS this week at the Mexico Open, and that is risky. Finau did have his best finish since January a couple weeks back at the Valero Texas Open, but that was only a T29. Finau has struggled on the greens this season, 195th on tour in strokes gained putting, which has been the difference in his season. Finau hasn't finished outside the top-100 in that stat since 2018-19, so seeing him struggle so much on the greens this season is surprising. Until Finau has any consistency on the greens, especially at his DFS price, he cannot be played in any contest. --Kasey Kuhrts - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour

3 years agoHayden Buckley is reasonably priced this week on DraftKings at $6,800. The Tennessee native has had an up-and-down year so far. He has missed seven cuts this season, but also has four top-15 finishes. Buckley will look to rely on his strong off-the-tee game in Mexico. Over his last 10 events, he has gained 1.3 strokes off the tee. If Buckley can continue driving it well and his approach play improves, he could offer plenty of upside at a low price.--Rob Giltner - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour

3 years agoIn Davis Riley's last start, he missed the cut at Harbour Town. At Hilton Head, he lost 12.1 strokes from tee-to-green and 7.4 strokes on approach. Riley has now lost strokes on approach in seven out of his last 10 events. The University of Alabama alumni will be looking to find his form in Mexico. Riley had a decorated Korn Ferry career, winning twice on tour in 2020. He has yet to win on the PGA Tour, however. If he is going to contend this week in Mexico, he must improve his approach play.--Rob Giltner - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour