DraftKings have a fantasy game for this tournament with $100,000 first prize. There is a $50,000 salary cap and players can choose from a roster of the full field with salaries from $11,800 down to $5,200. The site displays strike averages, top 10s and cuts made for each player and average fantasy points per game. All four days of the tournament are included in this fantasy contest and here is our team of six players displayed with their salary:
Kevin Streelman $9,600
Streelman is the defending champion who posted seven birdies in as many holes at the end of the fourth round to clinch the title last year. That is a record run for beating par at the end of a tournament win so he will clearly have positive mental associations with TPC River Highlands course that has hosted this event in all its guises since 1993. The course puts a premium on accuracy over distance and the selection is in the top 20 for finding the greens in the correct number of shots. Streelman has made the cut in this event in five of the last six years so his course form is outstanding.
Brendon Steele $8,800
Steele has finished within seven shots of the winner in three of the last four years so has plenty of decent course form in his record. River Highlands is the second shortest course of the year so no player will have an advantage with his driving distance. The key skills for success are greens in regulation, scrambling and putting average and that profile does not exclude Steele from a list of potential champions this week especially as he did not figure in the US Open and will not be suffering from the stress.
Russell Knox $8,400
Six of the last nine winners were winning for the first time in this tournament including four before Streelman and three of the last five champions did not play in the US Open. Knox did not qualify for the second major of the season but before last week had made four cuts in a row, including two top 20 finishes in his latest tournaments. He is currently in the top ten for greens hit and a top 50 player for scrambling. He could record his first win at this level which is moderate after the first dozen fancied players.
Jason Bohn $8,100
Bohn is another player on a decent run of form who did not play in the US Open last week. He excels on courses that require accuracy more than distance. Bohn is in the top 30 for GIR and top ten putting average and those statistics can compensate for average scrambling. He has made his last four cuts and has had four top tens this year. Bohn averages 275 yards of the tee but he rarely misses the fairway and takes advantage of his accuracy with some great putting numbers which suggests he can go well again this week.
Brendon De Jonge $7,800
De Jonge also missed out last week and will be keen to build on some decent efforts before his enforced break. The player from Zimbabwe has made the top ten in the Travelers twice in the last five years. De Jonge has threatened to win a number of times and faltered but with the course set-up in his favour he could win a PGA Tour event for the first time. He is 39th for greens in regulation and outside the top 100 for driving distance and that profile makes him a contender this week.
Cameron Smith $6,500
Each of the last six Travelers winners was higher than 12th in the putting average standings so the importance of a good week on the greens is obvious. In recent seasons the tournament has produced several winners by one shot and the winner rarely runs away with this event. Smith could sneak in to the winner’s enclosure despite finishing just two shots behind Jordan Spieth last Sunday. He is young enough to cope with mental fall out of figuring in the business end of a major and can make the top ten or better this time.
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