It's time to turn my luck around in the 2026 PGA DFS season! After three weeks of losses, I'm determined to make a comeback, and the Waste Management Phoenix Open, aka The People's Open, might just be the perfect opportunity.
But here's the catch: I'm not the only one struggling. Despite my hopes, Sky and Sam haven't capitalized on my poor performance, and the ETR Golf community has had mixed results over the past two weeks. So, what's the secret to success? Well, it seems that the key might lie in challenging conventional strategies.
Let's reflect on the Farmers Insurance tournament. Although it wasn't my worst performance, it was still a significant loss (-65%). Here's the deal: in the world of DFS, you either go big or go home. Many players try to compete with the pros using similar strategies, but that's a recipe for blending into the background. The key to gaining an edge is to stand out from the crowd. If you have a larger bankroll, you can afford to take risks and differentiate yourself from the field. It's a bold strategy, but it might just pay off.
Now, let's analyze the winning lineup:
- The lineup had a 9/9/8/7/7/7 build, a common strategy for those who avoided Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Aberg, and Patrick Cantlay. Interestingly, Chris Gotterup, who was fully faded, still managed to squeeze into the winning lineup, showcasing the overall performance of the high-priced players.
- The cumulative ownership was 86%, which is a bit disappointing considering the field and prize size. Congratulations to Jade and Tanner for their success with 300 lineups!
As we move forward to the Waste Management Phoenix Open, I'm hoping for some unconventional roster constructions to keep things exciting. Golf should be about creativity, not chalky and unoriginal like the NFL!
Speaking of the Waste Management Open, it's the PGA Tour's pregame party, held annually on Super Bowl weekend. This tournament is famous for its vibrant atmosphere and the iconic stadium par 3 hole. With Brooks Koepka returning to a course where he's tasted victory twice, the energy is sure to be electric. Here's a look at recent winners:
- 2025: Thomas Detry (-24) dominated with a seven-stroke lead over Daniel Berger and Michael Kim.
- 2024: Nick Taylor (-21) secured a playoff win over Charley Hoffman.
- 2023: Scottie Scheffler (-19) defeated Nick Taylor by two strokes.
- 2022: Scottie Scheffler (-16) claimed victory in a playoff against Patrick Cantlay.
- 2021: Brooks Koepka (-19) edged out Xander Schauffele and KH Lee by one stroke.
And this is where it gets interesting: While we can expect some impressive scoring, it's unlikely to get out of hand. Last year's winner, Thomas Detry, was an exception, as most players typically score around the average for this course. Scottie Scheffler could be a strong contender, but golf is full of surprises.
With a $200K first prize from DraftKings, we're in for another exciting contest. As we approach The Players and The Masters, the stakes will only get higher. Despite last week's winner having slightly higher cumulative ownership, we shouldn't need to adjust our strategies. It's better to maintain a consistent approach and focus on long-term cumulative ownership rather than reacting to every minor fluctuation. I'll aim for the 60-80% range, with a few 50s in the mix.
Take your DFS Golf game to new heights! Our subscription service offers a wealth of resources to elevate your game. Advanced simulation-based projections, data-driven insights, ownership projections, and weekly live shows are just the beginning. Join us and unlock your full potential on the greens.
