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2021 PGA Championship: Dark Horses

By Richard McCusker

KIAWAH ISLAND, SC - AUGUST 12: The Wanamaker Trophy is displayed near the 18th green during the Final Round of the 94th PGA Championship at the Ocean Course on August 12, 2012 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
KIAWAH ISLAND, SC - AUGUST 12: The Wanamaker Trophy is displayed near the 18th green during the Final Round of the 94th PGA Championship at the Ocean Course on August 12, 2012 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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Before I jump into this week’s PGA Championship, I wanted to do a quick recap for the AT&T Byron Nelson. My three dark horses were Vincent Whaley, James Hahn, and Doug Ghim. Whaley played really well this week and was the cheapest of my dark horses. He finished 14-under in a tie for 26th. Hahn finished 5-under (on the cutline) and Ghim finished 2-under missing the cut as well. It is not like either played bad, but the cutline and scoring was so low that if you couldn’t keep up, you were out of it.

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This week, the PGA Tour is heading to The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in Kiawah Island, South Carolina for the PGA Championship. The last time we saw this course was the 2012 PGA Championship, where Rory dominated and won by 8 shots. The top 10 golfers consisted of seven Europeans and three Americans. This makes me lean towards the Euro guys for this week. It is links style and possibly windy, which makes me see one of them coming out on top. As for the dark horses, my plan is to find some of those longshot European players that know these conditions and could find their way through the cut and up to the top of the board.

This week I will be providing three dark horses, meaning players that are longshots, but could play really well for their low salary. These dark horses are golfers that are $7,500 and below. Also I use DraftKings, so these prices will be for their website, but the players can be used on FanDuel as well.

Garrick Higgo ($7,400) – One of my dark horses is Garrick Higgo because this guy has won twice in his past three starts on the European Tour. I do not watch much European golf, but I know the field are not as strong as the PGA Tour. Despite the strength of the field, winning twice in three outings is something I will not ignore. He also has an 8th and a 4th in two of those last five starts on the European Tour. Two of his stats look great for this course which is going to be determined by short game and potentially longer drivers if high winds kick in.

Last Five Finishes on (Euro) Tour: 1st, T8, 1st, 4th, MC

Last Three Finishes Here: He has not played here and the last tournament here was the 2012 PGA Championship.

Key Stats (European Tour’s Website):

SG Around the Green: 165th

SG Putting: 1st

Driving Distance: 33rd

Hit Fairway %: No hit fairway percentage stats on Euro Tour website.

Matt Wallace ($7,400) – Another one of my dark horses because he has been hot lately on the PGA Tour. I think he is due for another great finish. Two top 10’s, a top 20, a top 40, and a missed cut in his last five tournaments. He is a cut maker at majors with his last three finishes being a 34th (2021 Masters), 46th (2020 Masters), and a 43rd (2020 US Open). I expect him to be kind of popular because he is one of the more familiar European names. Still at only $7,400, I think he is underpriced and if he is popular, it is for a good reason. If he is not, more power to people who play him with his high ceiling.

Last Five Finishes on Tour: 6, 18, 34, 3, MC

Last Three Finishes Here: He has not played here and the last tournament here was the 2012 PGA Championship.

Key Stats (PGA Tour’s Website):

SG Around the Green: 29th

SG Putting: 58th

Driving Distance: 73rd

Hit Fairway %: 138th

Next. 2021 Byron Nelson: Winners and Losers from TPC Craig Ranch. dark

Christiaan Bezuidenhout ($6,800) – Bezuidenhout is my final dark horse because he is playing solid, but his short game is one of the best on tour. His driving and fairway hit % is not good by any means, but if he can keep it in the fairway, I am not missing out on him. This is another guy who is a major cut maker; 40th (2021 Masters), 38th (2020 Masters), 55th (US Open). He is the cheapest of the bunch and is someone that will be in a few of my lineups to get in guys like Rory and Vik!

Last Five Finishes on Tour: 33, 40, 41, 7, 32

Last Three Finishes Here: He has not played here and the last tournament here was the 2012 PGA Championship.

Key Stats (PGA Tour’s Website):

SG Around the Green: 2nd

SG Putting: 9th

Driving Distance: 189th

Hit Fairway %: 111th

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