The Northern Trust: DraftKings Daily Fantasy Value Picks
Ian Poulter has done more than just survive in 2017, following a time when he nearly lost his PGA TOUR membership. Just one year removed from a season that was cut short by a foot injury, Poulter has come close to winning a few times in 2017. A pair of top-three finishes at Sawgrass and Glen Abbey helped solidify Poulter’s playoff positioning, and he currently is ranked 48th in the playoff points race.
That brings us to Glen Oaks. Poulter begins his 2017 FedEx Cup Playoff run at a course that nobody has ever seen before, but there’s where I’m looking for his experience to shine through. As Poulter regains his form, he’s becoming a much more consistent threat. He’s missed just two cuts all year, and he’s 11-for-11 since taking an early exit from the Valero Texas Open.
Poulter has had his occasional battles with his putter, but his ball-striking is as pure as it’s ever been. He’s currently ranked fifth on TOUR in strokes gained: around the green, and 13th in strokes gained: tee-to-green. At a course that’s been described as “Augusta North”, those skills could be the difference-maker.
Poulter is a low-risk, high-reward pick in the first week of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. He’ll be playing steady, aggressive golf, with every chance to make it into the top 30 before the Tour Championship. He’s averaged just over 65 DraftKings points per start this year, making him a perfect anchor on the lower end of the salary scale.