The 149th rendition of The Open Championship played more like a normal Tour event than we would have anticipated with minimal wind yielding ample birdies and eagles. It looked like Louis would get that elusive second major (yet again), alas it was not to be as Sunday dawned. Instead it was Hogan reincarnated, the ball-striking aficionado, the precious neophyte (to use one from Uncle Clyde Frazier), or Collin Morikawa who locked up his second major on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Kent. It was a glorious victory for the mature-beyond-his-years phenom, just the next step in his ascension to the top of the sport.
Now it’s Monday and we are back Stateside for the closing stretch of the Fedex Cup finale, with a weak as expected field teeing off up North for the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota. The course will be played as a Par 71 around 7,400 yards. It is a traditional bentgrass design by Arnold Palmer and Tom Lehman, with scoring that can best be described as a birdie fest, despite the numerous water hazards peppered around the property.
So, without further adieu, here are my initial picks for the best Draftkings values priced under $8,000. As always, heed caution for WDs and other updates throughout the week until tee off Thursday morning...
$7,900-HANK LEBIODA-I’ll keep this one short n’ sweet: the guy is riding a massive heater this Summer-so no need to leave the table now with yet another birdie barrage on the horizon at a place where he has been 34th or better both times out in the Land O’ Lakes. Hand Hank da ole Hammer.
$7,800-RYAN “GIMME GIMME” MOORE-a guy who I straight up refused to play for many years after perpetually teasing at the Safeway and various TPC venues, but letting me down at the upper echelon events. Welp, WE’RE BACK ON THE MOORE TRAIN BABY! (cc’ing @RomeoTheCaddy here), and not just to support Britney Spears, but because the former US Amateur Champ seems to finally have a healed back, elected to skip The Open to be with his family, coming off a runner-up at the JD Shootout, and was 12th here in last year’s outing. GIMME GIMME. #FreeBritney
$7,500-TROY “BIG COUNTRY” MERRITT-THE MUST-PLAY in the Midwest (as he hails from Iowa), Big Country Troy will be out for blood this week in the nearby Twin Cities coming off a heart-breaking playoff loss in the Motor City to Cam Davis. He always shows up at TPC tracks, and can go blackout-mode at the flick of a switch if he catches a hot putter on slow bent. I would say he’s a mortal lock for a T20 with upside this week.
$7,400-ADAM “FORE!” SCHENK-the man with the worst name in golf almost won me the big $5 GPP on Draftkings a couple weeks back until the aforementioned Ryan Moore jumped him for 2nd place behind Uncle Lucas at the John Deere. He played great and I can’t complain. No reason to stop playing the Purdue Boilermaker now as the Tour heads back to his place of comfort: another midwest shootout track. Fire at will.
$7,200-BRIAN STUARD-usually this guy is too bland for my palette, one that seeks spicy flavors with volatile indigestion (get the papaya enzyme STAT!). Alas, Mr. Stuard just shot a 64 last week at the Barbasol, had a nice Top 10 in Detroit prior to that, and has seen success at the correlated TPC of Louisiana. Break out the cayenne and pepper accoydingly. BAM!
$7,100-BO HOAG-the tutelage of the GOAT (Jack Nicklaus of course) seems to finally be rubbing off on his BFF’s grandson, Young Bo. The Ohio native has been playing a solid brand of golf of late with an 11th last week at the Barbasol, in addition to a respectable 32nd in Detroit, and an impressive 13th at The Memorial (even with the most course knowledge, still a feat). Oh and he shot a 63 here last year. BO-DA BING!
Sicko Specials-Sub $7,000 (tread lightly): CLARK, MITCHELL, BROWN, and O’HAIR.
BOL TO ALL!
*Follow @Blatant_Chief along with the other degens on Twitter (@BlatantGolf, @LiamBlatant, @BlatantLegsBets, and @RomeoTheCaddy) for real-time updates, more sleeper plays, and comical insight throughout the week.