2017 Open Championship: Top DraftKings picks at Royal Birkdale

The Open Championship is an attraction unlike any other in golf. However, there are still plenty of common threads to look for when setting your DraftKings lineup this week.

The Open Championship returns to Royal Birkdale this week, and as with every major, we’re ready for an influx of new Daily Fantasy Golf players. TV viewership is high – when else do you get to stay up late to watch live golf? – and fans turn out in droves. What does that mean for your DraftKings lineup, though? It’s got to be as strong as ever, and that’s where we come in.

Hosting golf’s oldest tournament for the first time in nearly a decade, Birkdale is largely unchanged from what it was back in 2008. A links course through and through, what sets the Southport course apart from the others is its meandering, indirect layout, along with significantly flatter, tighter fairways than, say, St. Andrews or Muirfield.

Don’t worry, though, players will still be tested plenty, as winds and rain are still likely to make their presence felt throughout the tournament. Royal Birkdale will put a premium on shot placement from the tee as well as approach, with players still punished for winding up in the longer cuts of rough.

When setting your DraftKings lineup this week, remember, balance is key. You can’t possibly fill a roster of six with all “top guys”, but you should be able to find some excellent value at a slightly lower price. That’s what this column is here to help with.

As always, picks are based on standard DraftKings golf rules: six players, $50,000 cap, et cetera. Find the rest of the rules at the included link. This week, we’ll be working our way up the salary scale, from lease to most expensive. Let’s get it started.