PGA Pin Seeker 11-1-16

The Shriners Open Preview

The PGA Tour makes it's return to North America this week, Las Vegas to be specific, for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. TPC Summerlin is the track, and has hosted this event every year since 2008. The par 71 measures 7,255 yards and has some of the largest, easiest greens to hit on tour. This will help players post some really low numbers, and looking at some previous winning scores, this will be a fun week for fantasy golf. Last year was the first year in a long time that the winning score wasn't -20 or better. There are some big name players in the field including Brooks Koepka and Ryan Moore, but it really thins out fast. This is definitely a driver heavy course, with little to no rough that is punishing enough to scare anyone. This is a classic grip it and rip it desert course.

Key Stats for TPC Summerlin

Birdie or better percentage (BoB%) is a key stat, which is no surprise when you see how low the scores have been over the years at TPC Summerlin. The last five winners of this event have also finished that season inside the top 40 in BoB%. Defending champ Smylie Kaufman is in attendance this week, and he birdied 33.1% of his holes last year en route to his victory. Par 4 scoring (P4S) will be huge this week as well, as of the seven players that finished T2 or better last year, four of them also finished inside the top 50 in P4S. In eight trips here, Kevin Na has a P4S average of -0.15, a big reason why I like him this week. Finally, strokes gained off the tee (SG:OTT) was the last key stat I identified, with so many players relying on their drivers this week, I want players that take advantage of this.

Top Pin Seekers

Brooks Koepka - DK Salary $10,700 - DK Beast who finished 4th here two years ago - top 15 in all three key stats

Job Rahm - DK Salary $9,800 - RahmGoat played at ASU, loves desert golf, in decent form coming off a T15 - Over 100 DK points in 3/5 starts

Scott Piercy - DK Salary $9,700 - Another local narrative, three top 10's here in last five starts - 27th SG:OTT

Kevin Na - DK Salary $9,500 - has a win here and was 2nd last year - top 30 in P4S & BoB%

Middle Tee Plays

Grayson Murray - DK Salary $8,900 - experienced desert golfer, relative unknown that should carry low ownership

Tony Finau - DK Salary $8,600 - crushes on bentgrass, good course history and in solid form - top 50 in P4S & SG:OTT

Alex Cejka - DK Salary $8,300 - 2nd here last year and in good form - top 20 in P4S & BoB%

Webb Simpson - DK Salary $7,800 - Three top 4's here, including a win - 8th in P4S

Smylie Kaufman - DK Salary $7,800 - Defending champ - 25th in BoB%

Ben Martin - DK Salary $7,600 - former winner here who like Finau loves the bentgrass, in good form - 29th in BoB%

Charless Howell III - DK Salary $7,400 - great price and really good course history - top 2 in P4S & BoB%

Harris English - DK Salary $7,200 - in good form and never missed a cut here, playing a hunch this week

GPP Dart Board Dreams

Robert Garrigus - DK Salary $7,100 - top value on the Colossus Optimizer , good form an good course history - top 35 in BoB% & SG:OTT

CT Pan - DK Salary $5,900 - way under priced for skill set, not in the best form but plays well on bentgrass