The PGA Tour season exits its west coast swing and heads into its Florida tournament stretch, starting with the 2020 Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.  While a number of the marquee Fantasy analysts are present to play in the DFS Open in Florida, I remain jealous as an avid golfer, yet still ready to toss some analysis for the first tournament in the “Sunshine State Slate”.

Yeah, maybe don’t try to say that last line three times fast.

Let’s instead focus on the PGA DFS 2020 Honda Classic tournament, specifically a handful of players that pop statistically for me this week.

A quick reminder… at The Wife Hates Sports, there is no foreplay.  There is, however, “four-play”, in the form of four players that receive recommendations for the PGA DFS 2020 Honda Classic.  Specifically, I’ll add in players from four different price ranges.

Here’s hoping these four picks pan out.  If not, we’d just land in a situation where this WIFE – who likely HATES sports – is laughing at these selections. 

I mean, that’s just not good for anyone.

Proceed with confidence – or don’t… so that my lineups work out better.

PGA DFS 2020 Honda Classic: Say ‘I Do’ to these Four Players on DraftKings

Gary Woodland ($10,300 – DraftKings)

Woodland is my favorite of the high price tag options this week.  Brooks Koepka certainly plays well on the tougher courses, but he’s still on the way back from injury.  Rickie Fowler has had plenty of success here and in Florida, but this is his first appearance since the Phoenix Open.  Certainly, he’ll be a popular option anyway.  That leaves the long-hitting Woodland who also adds the following statistically heading into the Honda Classic:

  • 2nd on the PGA Tour in ball striking this season – and elite ball strikers will be needed at PGA National
  • Top 15 in GIR other than Fairway, a stat I like considering all the hazards and tight fairways
  • Top 10 in Birdie to Bogey Ratio, a big one when considering DK stats for birdies
  • Near the Top 10 in overall Scoring Average for the season, a positive sign for consistency

Emiliano Grillo ($8,000 – DraftKings)

Grillo is quite often a wild card when it comes to PGA DFS performance.  With that said, the talent is there and a top finish is never out of the question.  Let’s consider his recent T3 finish at the Puerto Rico Open, which followed three straight missed cuts.  The missed cuts could keep his ownership down, but there are also these intriguing stats when considering Grillo:

  • A T21 finish at the Sony Open, which some list as a good comparison to this tournament
  • Top 15 in Ball Striking, which again, is key all year – but especially important here
  • Top 10 finish here back in 2018, so the course history is there
  • Top 20 in SG: Approach the Green, perhaps the most important stat to consider at the Honda Classic
  • A reasonable below-average price point

Harris English ($7,800 – DraftKings)

English opened the season with four top tens in his first five starts and that could statistically be a big reason why his numbers pop off the stat pages.  Still, as a player that falls below the average cost for a DK lineup, there are a number of statistical areas that make sense at PGA National, including:

  • Top 20 finish at the Honda Classic in 2019
  • Cracks top 20 in Scrambling, a key stat on a tight course with a lot of hazards
  • Top 5 in Par 4 Performance on the season on a course that is a Par 70
  • Top 10 in Round 1 Scoring Average, which could be a positive to making the cut 
  • Top 20 on PGA Tour in SG: Total
  • Top 5 in Birdie to Bogey Ratio – and as we all know, birdies build up the DK points
  • Scoring average in the top 10 on the season

Tom Hoge ($6,900 – DraftKings)

Four straight missed cuts heading into the holidays last year didn’t deter Hoge from going on a nice run earlier this year.  Hoge’s first three tournaments of the year led to T12, T6 and fifth place finishes and he’s made five straight cuts overall.  In addition to that, he adds the following stat lines that should point to a positive finish at the Honda Classic:

  • Cracks the Top 15 on the PGA Tour on SG: Approach the Green, a key stat for this tournament
  • Top 5 in Scrambling, another important stat with so many hazards and tight situations
  • Like English, Hoge is strong in Par 4 Performance, specifically in the Top 15 on tour
  • Also in the Top 15 in SG: Total for the entire 2019-20 PGA season
  • He lands in the Top 20 in Round 1 Scoring Average, a potential good sign at making the cut
  • Also cracks the Top 20 in putting inside 10’, meaning up and down par saves on difficult holes

Who do you have as your favorite plays for the PGA DFS 2020 Honda Classic? 

As in, not just picking Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler and Tommy Fleetwood as your favorite plays.  I’m looking for some unique selections on DraftKings that may or may not lead to high percentage ownership values. 

Best of luck and as always, thank you for visiting The Wife Hates Sports!

Data courtesy of the PGA Tour Stats website