The US Open returns to Oakmont this year for the first time since 2007 and with the move comes the expectation of an extremely difficult tournament. The very best golfers in the world have struggled at this course, including back in 2007 when Angel Cabrera won with a final score of five-over. The course at Oakmont is widely regarded as one of the most difficult in the world and there won’t be much room for error for those looking to contend this week. We took the time to break down the field and build the perfect fantasy lineup for the tournament featuring the ideal combination of elite talent and strong value options. Here is a look at the optimal lineup for this week’s DraftKings US Open fantasy tournaments.
Jason Day, $12,100
With such a strong disparity between the prices of the big three and everybody else we have to be absolutely sure that we are making the right pick here and we are with Day. The World No. 1 has picked up seven wins since last year’s US Open and he has finished in the top-10 in every major championship since then including one here last year when he registered a T-9th despite battling vertigo all week at Chambers Bay. Day is coming off a dominant win over an elite field at The Players Championship last month and we expect him to contend for the outright victory once again this week at Oakmont.
Sergio Garcia, $8,900
Garcia remains one of the best golfers in the world to never win a major championship but he has come close on a number of occasions and he has a solid history at the US Open. The structure of the salaries for this week’s DraftKings tournaments forces us to choose wisely and Garcia could be a sneaky option based on his price tag and upside. Garcia has recorded nine top-25 finishes at the U.S. Open and he enters this week in fine form after winning the AT&T Byron Nelson in his last start. Garcia will fly under the radar somewhat this week but he could be a sneaky good value option that compliments Day perfectly at the top of our board.
Zach Johnson, $7,800
Accuracy will be a key to success this weekend and that makes Johnson an intriguing play at a very reasonable price. A two-stroke penalty cost him when he missed the cut at The Masters but he has played in to the weekend at each of his last five events including a T-17th at the Dean & DeLuca Invitational. Johnson doesn’t have the best track record at this tournament but the U.S. Open hasn’t been played at Oakmont since 2007 so this could be the year that he delivers a breakthrough performance.
Russell Knox, $7,600
There is no way we would be able to complete our DraftKings lineup without a handful of strong sleeper value options and Knox joins Johnson as one of those plays at just $7.6K. Knox is known for his accuracy as he ranks eighth on the PGA Tour in driving accuracy and fourth in Greens In Regulation. His consistency and calm approach could make him a solid sleeper play for this week’s tournament at Oakmont.
Billy Horschel, $7,300
Horschel has made the cut in 12 straight events including three top-25 finishes so he is certainly in fine form heading in to this week. The fact that he has produced at a high level in the U.S. Open makes him a strong pick as he has finished fourth, 23rd and 25th in this tournament over the last three years. Horschel has a significant enough upside that he should be a popular play this weekend but could fly under the radar at just $7.3K.
Tome Hoge, $6,000
Hoge was among the leaders last week at the FedEx St. Jude Classic before a 74 and 72 on the final two days dropped him out of the top-25. However, his start was impressive enough last week, especially when you consider he was coming off a T-17th at the Dean & DeLuca Invitational. Hoge will enter this tournament with momentum on his side after making the cut in five of his last six events including a top-10 finish at the Valero Texas Open so he could be a sneaky good value play at an outstanding price for the DraftKings U.S. Open tournaments.
