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PGA DFS: Top Cash Game Picks for the Travelers Championship on DraftKings

For the eighth and final Signature Event of the season, the PGA TOUR is hosting the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands (par 70, 6,835 yards, POA/Bentgrass mix greens) in Cromwell, Connecticut this week. This Pete Dye design has hosted every Travelers Championship since the event was added to the annual PGA TOUR schedule in 1984. At this event last year, Keegan Bradley won by three shots at -23. As a Signature Event, the Travelers features a limited field of 72 golfers, and there will be no cut. Note that all previous editions of this event featured a cut.

The PGA DFS Breakdown offers data-driven analysis for each week’s slate, using the FantasyLabs Tools and metrics to highlight notable golfers.

I’ll be highlighting the best cash game/single-entry plays on the DraftKings main slate, but these players are often great options in any contest.

My analysis will frequently reference Strokes Gained, a set of proprietary metrics generated by the PGA TOUR using millions of data points to calculate how many shots, on average, it takes a player to get the ball in the hole from every distance and situation.

Strokes Gained is now available in the FantasyLabs PGA Models.

There are a variety of Strokes Gained-related metrics, but the six main categories you need to know include:

  • Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee (SG: Off-the-Tee)
  • Strokes Gained: Approach (SG: Approach)
  • Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green (SG: Around-the-Green)
  • Strokes Gained: Putting (SG: Putting)
  • Strokes Gained: Ball-Striking (SG: Ball-Striking), which is SG: Off-the-Tee + SG: Approach
  • Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green (SG: Tee-to-Green), which is SG: Ball-Striking + SG: Around-the-Green

Don’t forget to check out two key metrics in our models — Perfect% and SimLeverage. You can find an explainer on those metrics here.

The cliff notes version is that you can use SimLeverage to quickly find leverage plays in tournaments, while Perfect% is great for finding the best price-considered plays for cash games.

And don’t forget to utilize our various PGA DFS tools like our Lineup Optimizer, Lineup Builder, PGA Correlation Dashboard, and our Trends tool.

The following players listed are based on DraftKings scoring and pricing.

Become an All-Access Member Today

Lineup builder and optimizer

Real-time DFS models & projections

Data-driven analysis & tutorials
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PGA DFS Cash Game Thoughts

Note: FantasyLabs has partnered with Betsperts Golf and the Rabbit Hole! Sign up for the biggest database of golf stats available on the internet and get 25% off a yearly sub with our link! 

Unless otherwise noted, all Strokes Gained metrics referenced in this article come via the Rabbit Hole.

Tool Highlights

  • Build unlimited custom stat models with official PGA TOUR data.
  • Hundreds of filters to find the exact data split you’re looking for.
  • Save custom reports and run them again with next week’s field.
  • Download anything you right to your computer with the click of a button.
  • See expert models each week.
 

DraftKings $10,000+ Range

Scottie Scheffler ($12,500) – Expect a huge bounce-back performance from Scheffler at TPC River Highlands after he finished T41st at last week’s U.S. Open. This finish was solely a result of Scheffler struggling with his putter on the tricky Bermuda greens of Pinehurst No.2. For the week, he finished fifth- to-last in SG: Putting among all the players that made the cut. Conversely, his ball striking remained top-notch, with Scheffler ranking top-10 in both SG: Tee-to-Green and SG: Approach for the major. The world No.1 had gained strokes with his putter in eight of his previous 10 starts before last week, and Scheffler’s flat stick should absolutely rebound at TPC River Highlands, where he finished T4th last season. Overall, Scheffler has been brilliant at Dye designs. The former Texas Longhorn won both the PLAYERS Championship and RBC Heritage this season, which were both played a Dye designed courses and when we compare this field’s last 50 rounds at venues created by the famous architect, Scheffler ranks first by a sizable gap, via the Bet Sperts Rabbit Hole tool. Despite last week, the 27-year-old is heavily favorited to win the Travelers with field-best +400 odds on the DraftKings Sportsbook, and starting your cash game lineups with Scheffler is the right move at this price point, which is a $500 decrease from last week.

Ludvig Aberg ($10,200) – Aberg is a strong building block this week if electing to fade Scheffler. Aberg has been a machine, finishing T14th or better in eight of the past 12 starts, including a T8 at TPC Sawgrass for the PLAYERS Championship and a T10 at Harbour Town for the RBC Heritage, which like this week’s TPC River Highlands, are venues designed by Dye. Also, Aberg ranks second in 400-450-yard par-4 efficiency when we compare this field’s last 50 rounds, which is spectacular news for this week, with eight of the 12 par fours at TPC River Highlands falling this range. Two of the last five victors at this par 70 have led their fields in efficiency on the 400-450-yard par fours, and Aberg is a strong bet for a top-10 finish this weekend.

DraftKings $9,000 Range

Patrick Cantlay ($9,600) – Cantlay finished T4 at last year’s Travelers, which is the sixth year in a row he has finished inside the top 15 at TPC River Highlands. In addition to the terrific resume in Cromwell, Cantlay is coming off an incredible showing at the U.S. Open, finishing T3rd, which is the best he has ever finished at the major. Gaining 10.2 strokes from tee to green, Cantlay had his best ball-striking showing of the season, and if he can carry this momentum over to TPC River Highlands, Cantlay absolutely has a shot at winning the Travelers.

Hideki Matsuyama ($9,200) – Matsuyama is one of the better values on the board and an excellent spend for cash games. Coming off a T6 at the U.S. Open, the veteran has posted a top-12 finish in six of his last eight starts, and in his debut at TPC River Highlands last year, Matsuyama finished T12th. Additionally, the 32-year-old has impressively gained strokes in every major category at back-to-back events, and he ranks sixth in Total Strokes Gained when we compare this field’s last 50 rounds at Dye designs, via the Rabbit Hole.

Now available: our PGA DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.

DraftKings $8,000 Range

Russell Henley ($8,600) – Henley has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA TOUR this season and per usual, he is a very safe choice this week. Fresh off a T7 at the U.S. Open – which is his best finish at that major to date – Henley has recorded a top-25 finish in eight of his 14 starts this season. The veteran’s flat stick caught fire at Pinehurst No.2 last week, leading the major in SG: Putting, and if Henley’s putter can remain hot at TPC River Highlands, he should be in the mix come Sunday afternoon. At this par 70, Henley has generated four top-20 finishes in six appearances.

Brian Harman ($8,300) – Harman is a true course at TPC River Highlands. The veteran finished runner-up at this track last season, which is the sixth time in the last nine years Harman has finished T8th or better at TPC River Highlands. Combine this outstanding course record with the fact that Harman has finished T26th or better in four of his last six starts, and the lefty is an elite target at this reasonable salary.

DraftKings $7,000 Range

Si Woo Kim ($7,500) – Kim is always a sharp target at Dye-designed tracks and is an awesome value at this salary. Two of his four PGA TOUR wins have come at tournaments that feature Dye courses, and Kim has carded a top-25 finish in each of the three instances he has competed at a Dye design this season. The 28-year-old has notably produced 10 top-25 finishes in 17 starts this season, which can be attributed to him becoming one of the best ball strikers on the PGA TOUR. Kim ranks top-10 in both SG: Approach and SG: Tee-to-Green this season and when we compare DFS salaries to odds to win, Kim jumps off the page. On the DraftKings Sportsbook, the veteran carries +4500 odds to win the Travelers this weekend, which are the same odds as the defending champion in Bradley, who is much more expensive for DFS at $8,700.

Harris English ($7,100) – English boasts a terrific resume at TPC River Highlands, making 8-of-10 cuts at the track, including four top-25 finishes, one of which was a win in 2021. The veteran now returns to the Travelers in the midst of a strong campaign, providing a top-25 finish in eight of his 16 starts this season. English’s flat stick has been his best club – he ranks sixth in SG: Putting for the year – and his masterful work on the greens should translate into another quality finish at TPC River Highlands, where putting is crucial. Of the last four Travelers champions, three finished the event top-five in SG: Putting.

Thomas Detry ($7,100) – Ignore that Detry missed the cut in his Travelers debut a year ago and roster the Belgian professional with confidence this week. While ranking top seven in both SG: Approach and SG: Putting at the demanding Pinehurst No.2, Detry recorded the best major finish of his career at the U.S. Open this past week, finishing T14th. Detry has now finished inside the top 15 in both of his starts at majors this season, and he has supplied seven top 25s overall. 

DraftKings $6,000 and Below Range

Austin Eckroat ($6,800) – Eckroat finished T24th at the Travelers last year and brings similar upside this weekend. Highlighted by a convincing three-shot victory at the Cognizant Classic, the 25-year-old has tallied six top-30 finishes this season. Eckroat just finished T17th at another Dye design in Harbour Town for the RBC Heritage in April, and his irons have been great, with him gaining strokes on approach at four tournaments in a row. Eckorat’s +1100 odds to win the Travelers on the DraftKings Sportsbook are strong relative to his cheap salary, and he is one of the best options under $7,000 this week.

Lee Hodges ($6,400) – Hodges is vastly underpriced for his current form. The veteran has made five straight cuts and has carded three top-25 finishes during this stretch. Hodges has collectively gained strokes with his irons and putter in three of his past four starts, setting him up perfectly for TPC River Highlands, where he finished T22nd two years ago. At TPC River Highlands, being in pristine form with both your irons and flat stick is essential, as four of the past five winners at this par 70 have finished the event top 10 in both SG: Approach and SG: Putting.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Shriners Children’s Open Top PGA DFS Picks, Values and Sleepers for Large-Field GPPs PGA DFS: Top Cash Game Picks for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship PGA DFS: Top Cash Game Picks and Conviction Plays for the World Wide Technology Championship Hero World Challenge: Top PGA DFS Picks and Values for Large-Field GPPs on DraftKings

For the eighth and final Signature Event of the season, the PGA TOUR is hosting the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands (par 70, 6,835 yards, POA/Bentgrass mix greens) in Cromwell, Connecticut this week. This Pete Dye design has hosted every Travelers Championship since the event was added to the annual PGA TOUR schedule in 1984. At this event last year, Keegan Bradley won by three shots at -23. As a Signature Event, the Travelers features a limited field of 72 golfers, and there will be no cut. Note that all previous editions of this event featured a cut.

The PGA DFS Breakdown offers data-driven analysis for each week’s slate, using the FantasyLabs Tools and metrics to highlight notable golfers.

I’ll be highlighting the best cash game/single-entry plays on the DraftKings main slate, but these players are often great options in any contest.

My analysis will frequently reference Strokes Gained, a set of proprietary metrics generated by the PGA TOUR using millions of data points to calculate how many shots, on average, it takes a player to get the ball in the hole from every distance and situation.

Strokes Gained is now available in the FantasyLabs PGA Models.

There are a variety of Strokes Gained-related metrics, but the six main categories you need to know include:

  • Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee (SG: Off-the-Tee)
  • Strokes Gained: Approach (SG: Approach)
  • Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green (SG: Around-the-Green)
  • Strokes Gained: Putting (SG: Putting)
  • Strokes Gained: Ball-Striking (SG: Ball-Striking), which is SG: Off-the-Tee + SG: Approach
  • Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green (SG: Tee-to-Green), which is SG: Ball-Striking + SG: Around-the-Green

Don’t forget to check out two key metrics in our models — Perfect% and SimLeverage. You can find an explainer on those metrics here.

The cliff notes version is that you can use SimLeverage to quickly find leverage plays in tournaments, while Perfect% is great for finding the best price-considered plays for cash games.

And don’t forget to utilize our various PGA DFS tools like our Lineup Optimizer, Lineup Builder, PGA Correlation Dashboard, and our Trends tool.

The following players listed are based on DraftKings scoring and pricing.

Become an All-Access Member Today

Lineup builder and optimizer

Real-time DFS models & projections

Data-driven analysis & tutorials
Become a PRO Member
 

PGA DFS Cash Game Thoughts

Note: FantasyLabs has partnered with Betsperts Golf and the Rabbit Hole! Sign up for the biggest database of golf stats available on the internet and get 25% off a yearly sub with our link! 

Unless otherwise noted, all Strokes Gained metrics referenced in this article come via the Rabbit Hole.

Tool Highlights

  • Build unlimited custom stat models with official PGA TOUR data.
  • Hundreds of filters to find the exact data split you’re looking for.
  • Save custom reports and run them again with next week’s field.
  • Download anything you right to your computer with the click of a button.
  • See expert models each week.
 

DraftKings $10,000+ Range

Scottie Scheffler ($12,500) – Expect a huge bounce-back performance from Scheffler at TPC River Highlands after he finished T41st at last week’s U.S. Open. This finish was solely a result of Scheffler struggling with his putter on the tricky Bermuda greens of Pinehurst No.2. For the week, he finished fifth- to-last in SG: Putting among all the players that made the cut. Conversely, his ball striking remained top-notch, with Scheffler ranking top-10 in both SG: Tee-to-Green and SG: Approach for the major. The world No.1 had gained strokes with his putter in eight of his previous 10 starts before last week, and Scheffler’s flat stick should absolutely rebound at TPC River Highlands, where he finished T4th last season. Overall, Scheffler has been brilliant at Dye designs. The former Texas Longhorn won both the PLAYERS Championship and RBC Heritage this season, which were both played a Dye designed courses and when we compare this field’s last 50 rounds at venues created by the famous architect, Scheffler ranks first by a sizable gap, via the Bet Sperts Rabbit Hole tool. Despite last week, the 27-year-old is heavily favorited to win the Travelers with field-best +400 odds on the DraftKings Sportsbook, and starting your cash game lineups with Scheffler is the right move at this price point, which is a $500 decrease from last week.

Ludvig Aberg ($10,200) – Aberg is a strong building block this week if electing to fade Scheffler. Aberg has been a machine, finishing T14th or better in eight of the past 12 starts, including a T8 at TPC Sawgrass for the PLAYERS Championship and a T10 at Harbour Town for the RBC Heritage, which like this week’s TPC River Highlands, are venues designed by Dye. Also, Aberg ranks second in 400-450-yard par-4 efficiency when we compare this field’s last 50 rounds, which is spectacular news for this week, with eight of the 12 par fours at TPC River Highlands falling this range. Two of the last five victors at this par 70 have led their fields in efficiency on the 400-450-yard par fours, and Aberg is a strong bet for a top-10 finish this weekend.

DraftKings $9,000 Range

Patrick Cantlay ($9,600) – Cantlay finished T4 at last year’s Travelers, which is the sixth year in a row he has finished inside the top 15 at TPC River Highlands. In addition to the terrific resume in Cromwell, Cantlay is coming off an incredible showing at the U.S. Open, finishing T3rd, which is the best he has ever finished at the major. Gaining 10.2 strokes from tee to green, Cantlay had his best ball-striking showing of the season, and if he can carry this momentum over to TPC River Highlands, Cantlay absolutely has a shot at winning the Travelers.

Hideki Matsuyama ($9,200) – Matsuyama is one of the better values on the board and an excellent spend for cash games. Coming off a T6 at the U.S. Open, the veteran has posted a top-12 finish in six of his last eight starts, and in his debut at TPC River Highlands last year, Matsuyama finished T12th. Additionally, the 32-year-old has impressively gained strokes in every major category at back-to-back events, and he ranks sixth in Total Strokes Gained when we compare this field’s last 50 rounds at Dye designs, via the Rabbit Hole.

Now available: our PGA DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.

DraftKings $8,000 Range

Russell Henley ($8,600) – Henley has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA TOUR this season and per usual, he is a very safe choice this week. Fresh off a T7 at the U.S. Open – which is his best finish at that major to date – Henley has recorded a top-25 finish in eight of his 14 starts this season. The veteran’s flat stick caught fire at Pinehurst No.2 last week, leading the major in SG: Putting, and if Henley’s putter can remain hot at TPC River Highlands, he should be in the mix come Sunday afternoon. At this par 70, Henley has generated four top-20 finishes in six appearances.

Brian Harman ($8,300) – Harman is a true course at TPC River Highlands. The veteran finished runner-up at this track last season, which is the sixth time in the last nine years Harman has finished T8th or better at TPC River Highlands. Combine this outstanding course record with the fact that Harman has finished T26th or better in four of his last six starts, and the lefty is an elite target at this reasonable salary.

DraftKings $7,000 Range

Si Woo Kim ($7,500) – Kim is always a sharp target at Dye-designed tracks and is an awesome value at this salary. Two of his four PGA TOUR wins have come at tournaments that feature Dye courses, and Kim has carded a top-25 finish in each of the three instances he has competed at a Dye design this season. The 28-year-old has notably produced 10 top-25 finishes in 17 starts this season, which can be attributed to him becoming one of the best ball strikers on the PGA TOUR. Kim ranks top-10 in both SG: Approach and SG: Tee-to-Green this season and when we compare DFS salaries to odds to win, Kim jumps off the page. On the DraftKings Sportsbook, the veteran carries +4500 odds to win the Travelers this weekend, which are the same odds as the defending champion in Bradley, who is much more expensive for DFS at $8,700.

Harris English ($7,100) – English boasts a terrific resume at TPC River Highlands, making 8-of-10 cuts at the track, including four top-25 finishes, one of which was a win in 2021. The veteran now returns to the Travelers in the midst of a strong campaign, providing a top-25 finish in eight of his 16 starts this season. English’s flat stick has been his best club – he ranks sixth in SG: Putting for the year – and his masterful work on the greens should translate into another quality finish at TPC River Highlands, where putting is crucial. Of the last four Travelers champions, three finished the event top-five in SG: Putting.

Thomas Detry ($7,100) – Ignore that Detry missed the cut in his Travelers debut a year ago and roster the Belgian professional with confidence this week. While ranking top seven in both SG: Approach and SG: Putting at the demanding Pinehurst No.2, Detry recorded the best major finish of his career at the U.S. Open this past week, finishing T14th. Detry has now finished inside the top 15 in both of his starts at majors this season, and he has supplied seven top 25s overall. 

DraftKings $6,000 and Below Range

Austin Eckroat ($6,800) – Eckroat finished T24th at the Travelers last year and brings similar upside this weekend. Highlighted by a convincing three-shot victory at the Cognizant Classic, the 25-year-old has tallied six top-30 finishes this season. Eckroat just finished T17th at another Dye design in Harbour Town for the RBC Heritage in April, and his irons have been great, with him gaining strokes on approach at four tournaments in a row. Eckorat’s +1100 odds to win the Travelers on the DraftKings Sportsbook are strong relative to his cheap salary, and he is one of the best options under $7,000 this week.

Lee Hodges ($6,400) – Hodges is vastly underpriced for his current form. The veteran has made five straight cuts and has carded three top-25 finishes during this stretch. Hodges has collectively gained strokes with his irons and putter in three of his past four starts, setting him up perfectly for TPC River Highlands, where he finished T22nd two years ago. At TPC River Highlands, being in pristine form with both your irons and flat stick is essential, as four of the past five winners at this par 70 have finished the event top 10 in both SG: Approach and SG: Putting.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Shriners Children’s Open Top PGA DFS Picks, Values and Sleepers for Large-Field GPPs PGA DFS: Top Cash Game Picks for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship PGA DFS: Top Cash Game Picks and Conviction Plays for the World Wide Technology Championship Hero World Challenge: Top PGA DFS Picks and Values for Large-Field GPPs on DraftKings

About the Author

Alex Hunter is an avid DFS player who produces NFL and NBA content for FantasyLabs. He has been playing DFS for nearly a decade, dating back to the DraftStreet days and has been in the fantasy/betting content business for over eight years. Alex earned his bachelor’s degree in communications at Worcester State University and has contributed content for some of the biggest outlets in the industry, such as DraftKings Network, Stokastic (formerly Awesemo) and RotoWire, covering NBA, NFL and PGA. Alex is a data-driven analyst that has multiple wins and high finishes in GPPs on his DFS resume, as well as years of being a successful cash-game player. If you have any questions or need any lineup advice, Alex can be found @Hunta512 on Twitter.