The Waste Management Phoenix Open brings us the first true “big event” of the season. The famed 16th hole always provides tremendous theater for the best in the world to showcase their talents. Before we discuss our Waste Management Phoenix Open core plays, and general PGA DFS picks, let’s provide some context.
It’s an interesting setup this week. With Xander Schauffele withdrawing his name from the field, Scottie Scheffler is the clear top play on the slate. The back to back winner of this event and world number 1 will be popular, and for good reason. He’s a great play this week, but you didn’t come here for me to tell you that. Here are four other players that I’ll be building my rosters around this week!
These Waste Management Phoenix Open core plays will get you started on building a great PGA DFS picks lineup. You can perfect the process using Stokastic’s fantasy point and ownership projections, find high-leverage plays using the Top Golfer’s tool or use the NEW PGA Sims tool to build a bunch of high-ROI lineups in seconds! Check out some of our winners from other sports from this past week to see the value of our tools:
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Waste Management Phoenix Open Core Plays
Justin Thomas – $10,000
Justin Thomas is back. With top-6 finishes in each of his last three starts, he’s showcasing some of his best golf in recent memory. The layout of TPC Scottsdale tends to favor longer hitters, a category in which Thomas excels, boasting an average driving distance of 309 yards over the last year.
Past champions like Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, and Gary Woodland have all utilized their length off the tee to succeed here, a trend Thomas fits perfectly. Additionally, Thomas has a strong track record at this event, with five top-20 finishes, including two third-place finishes, in his seven total appearances. With his current form and past success in this event, Thomas has emerged as one of my favorite plays of the week.
Byeong Hun-An – $8,800
Ben An is arguably in the midst of the best stretch of golf he’s played in his career to this point, notching three top-5 finishes over his last six starts. As long hitter off the tee, he’s well-suited to tackle the bomber-style layout of this course with his 316 yard average driving distance.
His distance has contributed heavily to his 6th place ranking in strokes gained off the tee, and 2nd place in birdie or better percentage over the last 24 rounds among the field. With a perfect record of 5-for-5 in made cuts at this event, including two top-10 finishes, he clearly knows how to navigate this course effectively. With his current momentum and track record, I’ll be clicking on him quite a bit this week.
Beau Hossler – $8,000
Hossler is another player who is currently playing some of the best golf of his career, with four top 15 finishes in his last six starts. Over the last 24 rounds, he is the only player in this field to rank top 10 in both birdie or better percentage and bogey avoidance. He’s made the cut in 11 of his last 12 starts, with 10 of those finishes inside the top 30. At his price, he provides GPP-winning upside if he can keep his hot play rolling.
GPP Flier – Denny McCarthy – $7,600
McCarthy’s lack of length off the tee, combined with relatively average recent play appears to have led to depressed ownership this week. After taking a deeper dive, I believe McCarthy warrants a bit more attention. While he hasn’t been off to the best start in 2024, he still has four top-10 finishes across his last 10 starts.
Throughout his career he’s always done a great job of limiting big numbers, and as one of the best putters in the world, he’s always a threat to go low. While I tend to shy away from him at higher ownership due to his lack of consistency with his irons, I love taking a shot at him at single digit ownership this week.
Hopefully this PGA DFS core plays, PGA DFS Picks and our hyper-focus on Waste Management Phoenix Open core plays proved useful.
