Daily Fantasy Golf Helper: Olympic Women's Golf Competition
By now, you've probably dabbled in daily fantasy sports, but if not, don't worry. Now is a great time to start, especially with FanDuel's daily fantasy golf offering.
Golf can be one of the most exciting DFS sports to follow, as tournaments span four days and allow ample time to prepare each week. It's a great balance between time to research and time spent tracking your team.
Let's take a look at some golfers to target this week.
Key Stats for the Olympic Women's Golf Competition at Kasumigaseki Country Club
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- Driving Distance
- Birdie or Better Rate
- Strokes Gained: Putting on Bentgrass
- Strokes Gained: Around the Green
For a more detailed breakdown on the course, check out my course primer.
Daily Fantasy Golfer Picks for the Olympic Women's Golf Competition
All stats cited below originate at LPGA Tour's stats page. Strokes gained estimates are derived from regressing traditional stats this season.
Best of the Best
Nelly Korda, United States (FanDuel Salary: $12,000 | Golf odds Win Odds: +700) - Nelly Korda is the betting favorite and the favorite in my win simulation model for a reason. She's won two of her past four starts, including the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. She ranks second in the field in estimated strokes gained: off the tee, eighth in approach, ninth in driving distance, and second in birdie-or-better rate.
Inbee Park, South Korea ($11,700 | +1000) - Park ranks just 46th in driving distance among this 60-golfer field but still has managed to rank third in strokes gained average on long courses, which Kasumigaseki is for the women's field. Park rates out first in accuracy and is fourth in estimated strokes gained: putting.
Lydia Ko, New Zealand ($10,900 | +1600) - Ko comes in ranking fourth in adjusted strokes gained average once weighted for recency but is available to roster at a $10,900 salary. Ko ranks fifth in strokes gained average on long courses and ninth on courses with bentgrass greens. She's also eighth in birdie-or-better rate on the LPGA Tour this season.
The Near Elites
Brooke M. Henderson, Canada ($10,600 | +2200) - Henderson's elite driving stats have her ranked first in estimated strokes gained: off the tee. She ranks 5th in distance and 14th in accuracy. She's also second in the field in greens in regulation. She's finished top 25 in three of her past four starts but no higher than 17th. The ball-striking seems really promising, though.
Lexi Thompson, United States ($10,500 | +2000) - Lexi also rates out as an elite ball-striker. She ranks third in expected strokes gained: off the tee and first in expected strokes gained: approach, primarily because she's third in distance gained. Thompson's past five starts have led to finishes of 3rd (U.S. Women's Open), 34th, 20th, 52nd (KPMG Women's PGA Championship), and 12th. She ranks seventh in strokes gained average on long courses over the past year.
Leona Maguire, Ireland ($10,000 | +2000) - Maguire rates out with no real red flags in her data. Across all four strokes gained stats, driving distance, driving accuracy, greens in regulation, putts per round, and birdie-or-better rate, she ranks outside the top-30 (so, top half in this field) in just driving distance (33rd). Her finishes are elite lately, too: 9th, 2nd, 15th (KPMG Women's PGA Championship), 15th, 6th (The Amundi Evian Championship).
Mid-Range Picks
Jessica Korda, United States ($9,800 | +2900) - I don't think we should give all the attention to Nelly Korda here. Jessica makes a lot of sense at this salary. Jessica is sixth in driving distance and fourth in greens in regulation, ultimately leading to the eighth-best birdie-or-better mark in the field. She's also 12th in strokes gained average on long courses.
Yuka Saso, Philippines ($9,500 | +2700) - The 20-year-old Saso has a small LPGA Tour sample, but it's incredibly promising. She's 17th in driving distance, which should stabilize faster than any other stat, yet she is first in putts per round and in birdie-or-better rate. Saso won the U.S. Women's Open and since finished 21st at the KMPG Women's PGA Championship before two more top-fives.
Xiyu Lin, China ($9,300 | +3300) - Lin sits ninth in strokes gained average on long courses and 14th on courses with bentgrass greens. I mentioned balanced stats for Maguire, but that's even better for Lin, who rates out top-20 in all of those stats. Her long-term adjusted strokes gained average puts her 15th in the field.
Low-Salaried Picks
Celine Boutier, France ($9,000 | +4100) - Boutier isn't the longest hitter in the field (37th in distance) but has fared well across 35 rounds on long courses this past year (21st in strokes gained: average). Boutier's recency adjustments make her look good. She has finished 5th, 7th (KPMG Women's PGA Championship), 8th, 28th, 29th (The Amundi Evian Championship).
Matilda Castren, Finland ($8,900 | +3300) - It's really hard to argue with Castren's form. She won the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship before missing the cut at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. She bounced back with a runner-up at the Volunteers of America Classic, a 15th at the Marathon LPGA Classic, and a 19th at The Amundi Evian Championship. She ranks third in the field in expected strokes gained: approach.
Gaby Lopez, Mexico ($8,300 | +5000) - Lopez gets on the map due to her distance (10th) and greens in regulation numbers (12th). She should rack up FanDuel points across four guaranteed rounds, as she ranks 10th in birdie-or-better rate this season. She has missed two cuts in her past three starts, bookending a third-place finish at the Volunteers of America Classic. The no-cut setup should really help.
