Grab a Pimento Cheese sandwich and get ready for The Masters!  If you plan to enjoy the “tradition unlike any other” with some Daily Fantasy lineups, the key will be finding the right names to play and the right names to fade (or not play).  That brings me to my PGA DFS 2022 Masters Fades, a list that outlines a few big names that I would AVOID using on DraftKings, among other places.

A few notes and stats to consider at Augusta National:

  • SG: Approach and SG: Off the Tee are key categories to focus on at Augusta
  • Positive course history is a must, as newbies almost never make a major impact (Fuzzy Zoeller did in 1979 and Will Zalatoris was runner-up last year – it’s otherwise rare)
  • SG: Par 5: Performance on both 13 and 15 is often pivotal to making a run
  • Three Putt Avoidance: Getting the jitters in this event is a common occurrence
  • A focus tied to SG: Putting on faster greens is also a good idea
  • Scrambling: Rare as a key stat, but something I did keep an eye on this week
  • Tiger Woods is playing – and let’s leave it at that (no idea whether you should roster him or not)
  • Weather Forecast: Thursday: Scattered thunderstorms in AM, winds 10-20mph, High 75; Friday: High 67, Winds 15-25mph; Saturday: Sunny with clouds later, High 61, Winds 10-20mph, Sunday: Sunny High 68, Winds 5-10mph
  • If you like to consider pairings, here is the current list of starting times for the opening two rounds of the tournament, as presented on Twitter by the PGA TOUR Communications account:

I ran multiple models on Fantasy National and checked key stats via the PGA TOUR website.  The data I analyzed includes recent events and history at Augusta.  Based off that data, here are the big names that I plan to fade on DraftKings, accompanied by their current odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

PGA DFS 2022 Masters Fades: Big Names to AVOID

Jordan Spieth (DK: $9,800, WINNER +2200, Top 5 +450, Top 10 +220)

Sure, Spieth finished strong at the Valero last week, but there were some real ugly moments, including a three-putt within two feet.  Jordan’s record at Augusta has been strong, including a win in 2015, two T2 finishes (2014 and 2016), a 3rd place finish in 2018 and a T3 last year.  During his 2021 resurgence, Spieth wasn’t just delivering off the tee and on approach.  His around the green game and putter were also working at a high-level.  It’s the flashy around the green saves that he’s known for.  Recently, he’s lost strokes putting in four of six events, including 7.1 strokes last week.  He has lost strokes around the greens in three of his last six events.  Spieth ranks 55th in the field in Scrambling (last 24 rounds played, via Fantasy National).  I don’t trust his game right now.  Instead, consider Xander Schauffele.

Hideki Matsuyama (DK: $9,300, WINNER +3500, Top 5 +600, Top 10 +350)

First off, it’s extremely difficult to repeat any major, especially here.  Second, Hideki has been battling injuries of late, bailing on a few recent events.  He has actually been pretty strong with the flat stick during the 2022 calendar year.  That includes gaining strokes putting in three of his last five events.  We know him for the pinpoint accuracy and deadliness with his long irons.  Again, it just comes down to repeating at Augusta and more importantly… how healthy is he?  Will the injury lead to a lack of consistency from Hideki?  He’s not worth the risk, as a result.  Instead, consider Will Zalatoris.

Bryson DeChambeau (DK: $9,100, WINNER +4500, Top 5 +800, Top 10 +400)

Bryson has also been dealing with injuries during Q1.  He’s clearly not 100%.  Sure, he has made the cut at Augusta in four straight years, but his best finish was a T29 in 2019.  I was high on him in 2021.  Of the players that can “drive for show and putt for dough”, he is the guy.  Still, for as cerebral as we say he is, he sure hasn’t handled Augusta in a cerebral way.  That’s what is needed for success at The Masters.  Last year, it came across as if he felt he could overpower the course.  That’s simply not the case, although being a long hitter helps.  To top it off, statistically (last 24 rounds played, via Fantasy National), DeChambeau ranks 48th in SG: Approach and 87th in Scrambling.  Instead, consider Daniel Berger.

Louis Oosthuizen (DK: $8,900, WINNER +4500, Top 5 +800, Top 10 +350)

From May to July of last year, King Louis had a six tournament stretch where he posted three runner-up finishes, five top tens, and an 18th place finish.  That included The Open Championship, U.S. Open, PGA Championship, and Memorial.  During that stretch, Louis gained strokes on Approach, Putting, and Tee to Green in every event.  We know his ability to get hot with his putter.  Fast forward to his last six months of play, where Oosthuizen has lost strokes on approach in three of his last four events.  He has also lost strokes putting in six of his last eight.  Overall, he ranks 59th in the field in SG: Approach and 69th in Three Putt Avoidance (last 24 rounds played).  Instead, consider Shane Lowry.

 

See Also: 2022 Masters Sleepers

Who do you have as your PGA DFS 2022 Masters Fades?  Chime in via the comments section below. 

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

All stats and data via PGATOUR.com and FantasyNational.com

Image Credit: Bryson DeChambeau Wikipedia

If you enjoy The Wife Hates Sports, you can support my work by buying from Fanatics through my site.  It’s of no additional charge to you.  I simply get a cut of any Fanatics purchase through links here.  That goes for any Fanatics Experience ad within posts or via the banners on the home page.