DraftKings Preview for The 2021 butterfield bermuda championship
reduced field yields potential for young studs at butterfield bermuda championship
After a week in Japan for the Zozo Championship, the PGA Tour returns to North America for the 2021 Butterfield Bermuda Championship. Due to Covid, the WGC-HSBC Champions in China originally scheduled to play alongside the Bermuda Championship this week was canceled. That's a big bonus for the players taking part in the Bermuda Championship as it now becomes a full event. Unfortunately, Covid is also putting a damper on this field but golf must be played. The Bermuda Championship kicks off on Thursday at the Port Royal Golf Club for the third straight year. Let's get you set to see some green screens on DraftKings this weekend.Â
What's up golf addicts! AC here, checking in week to week to provide a quick preview of the upcoming PGA Tour event. I’ll give you the lowdown on the course, the players, some key stats, and our favorite DraftKings picks for the week.Â
Well in typical Hideki Matsuyama fashion, his hands flailed around and dropped his club during his pre-tourney presser only to stick it to five feet by the time the tournament was over. He is honestly unreal. I'll never trust a thing he says again. For context, before the Zozo Championship, Deki admitted his game was basically the worst it had ever been and was at a 1 out of 10. Deki won the Zozo Championship by five strokes. Moving on to the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
The Field and Tournament Details for the Bermuda Championship
What started out to be a field of 132 hopefuls having a great shot at winning an official PGA Tour event and all the prizes that come with it, is now a bit smaller. The country of Bermuda (I have to specify country as that has not been clear to some) has strict rules when it comes to Covid and that has put a damper on the strength of the field. While I'm currently writing this on Tuesday, the Bermuda Championship field is now down to 127 with all of the alternate list exhausted. The top 65 and ties will make the weekend.
More than half of the field has never teed it up at the Bermuda Championship including the four highest prized guys on DraftKings; Matthew Fitzpatrick, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Mito Pereira, and Patrick Reed. Seamus Power fill outs the $10k and up with Hayden Buckley, Matthias Schwab, Chad Ramey, Adam Hadwin, Danny Willett, Taylor Pendrith, and Patrick Rodgers rounding out the $9ks. If it was not clear buy that list of guys, this field is getting weird.
This is an event where anyone can compete. We have seen some players come out of nowhere and contend, just look at the top three from last year. Brian Gay and wind-affected affair at -15 with Wyndham Clark and Ollie Schniederjans on his trail. Ya... Ollie, 3rd place. Gay's win wasn't as shocking as he did finish T3 in 2020 at Port Royal GC. Gay is in the field this week though due to an organizational error, Gay was left off of the charter plane to Bermuda because of weight restrictions. Poor form from whoever messed that up. The defending champion should still be able to make it to his tee time but the 2020 champion, Brendon Todd, will not be playing this week. Todd got it to -24 during the Tour's first stop at Port Royal winning by four strokes over Harry Higgs.
Port Royal Golf Course key stats & Course Breakdown
Port Royal Golf Club is another gem from Robert Trent Jones. Opening in 1970, the 6,828-yard par 71 has seen multiple renovations including an overhaul by RTJ himself in 1995. Wrapping around the coast of Southhampton, Bermuda, Port Royal GC is a picturesque landscape that can provide a tough test.
The course itself is not super difficult but due to the location along the coast, the wind plays a big factor in the scoring. 419 Bermudagrass can be found tee to green with TifEage bermudagrass on the putting surfaces. The rough has a zoysia mix but as a resort-style course, is cut down and does not offer much penalization. Water is in play on five holes with 88 bunkers protecting the greens and fairways.
There is expected to be some wind and rain over the weekend with potential storms before Thursday's lock. As with all coastal courses, follow the trends and forecast as close to lock as possible. Especially for single-round showdowns.
Key Stats for Port Royal GC
Unfortunately, we do not have any shot-link data for the Bermuda Championship. We do however have two years of course history to dig into. Accuracy is key. Off the tee and on approach. This is definitely a ball striker's course that will favor guys with a smooth wedge game. Distance isn't going to be a benefit as most will land in similar spots. Around the green game will be a benefit and a strong history of bermudagrass putting should be a good recipe.
My models will of course feature Fantasy National's opps gained and good drives gained. Pair those with birdie or better and DK scoring. More specific to course fit; par 5 scoring is a good look. There will be a bunch of 350-400 yard par 4s and the par 3s will be tough. The guys who can score the best on the par 3s, more so the 200+ yard par 3s, have the best chance to win. I will also be looking at the top players in moderate and windy AF conditions on Fantasy National.
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The Picks & Fades
Each week we will give you some plays and a fade from each DraftKings salary range. For all of DB and Pat’s thoughts and picks make sure to check out and subscribe to the Tour Junkies Podcast.
To Play or Not to Play Brooks Koepka
Brooksy is not in the field this week
$9K & AboveÂ
- DB: Play - Danny Willett | Fade - Christiaan Bezuidenhout
- Pat: Play - Mito Perreira | Fade - Christiaan Bezuidenhout
- AC: Play - Mito Pereira, Hayden Buckley, Adam Hadwin | Fade - Patrick Reed
Mito tops my model and nearly every stat in the field minus putting. A solid week on and around the greens and he is your winner. The price for Buckley is quite steep but that may help keep his ownership down. The fact is, the kid can play and his story is awesome. He also just got engaged a couple of days ago. As for Hadwin, well the course sets up really nice for him and he's been paying off for me lately. Gotta stay on the train.
I will continue to fade Patrick Reed until he shows even a glimpse of good form.
$8K Range
- DB: Play - Stefan Jaeger | Fade - Garrick Higgo
- Pat: Play - Ryan Armour | Fade - Denny McCarthy
- AC: Play - Sahith Theegala, Ryan Armour | Fade - Garrick Higgo
Theegala leads the $8k range in strokes gained total over the last six events. Over that time, he's 2nd tee to green. Big spot for the newcomer. Ryan Armour is obviously a fan of Port Royal GC. Two T8s in back-to-back years. It does set up well for an accurate short knocker.
Higgo is the only player in the $8k who is traveling from Japan. Even without the poor form, that is reason enough for me to look away.
$7K Range
- DB: Play - Russell Knox | Fade - Vincent Whaley
- Pat: Play - Nick Hardy | Fade - Lucas Herbert
- AC: Play - Nick Hardy, Alex Smalley, Jason Dufner | Fade - Russell Knox
Hardy only has eight rounds on the PGA over the last six months but they came just a few weeks ago and he impressed in both. Amongst this field, he checks a lot of boxes for me. Same with Smalley. These kids are hungry and they will be chomping at the bit to make a run here. Dufner is by no means in that category but he's had four weeks off and is 1st in opps gained, 2nd tee to green, and 5th in par 3 scoring over his last 44 rounds.
Knox didn't check enough boxes anyway but he's currently projected as the highest owned guy in the field. At over 20% even, that's a no from me.
$6K Range
- DB: Play - Cameron Percy, Vaughn Taylor, Andrew Novak
- Pat: Play - Austin Smotherman, Cameron Percy
- AC: Play - Seth Reeves, Adam Svensson, Jim Knous,
In a field like this, the $6k range isn't going to be that appealing. I always try to give you three different picks down here than the boys do. Reeves pops a bit for me due to his ball-striking. He has missed two of his last three cuts but one was the Shriners and in between that was a T8 at the Sanderson Farms. Svensson is likely more of a Canadian-homer play but the dude won twice and had eight top 10s on the Korn Ferry Tour. Knous may surprise some here but let me fill you in on a tidbit. Knous chose this week as his last start on a medical extension. He needs a T6 to retain his full playing card. Coming off a T11 at the Fortinet, I can dig it.
There ya go. Pay attention to the weather. Pay attention to the field. Both can change very quickly. Don't blow your roll. There are only a couple guys worth chasing if ownership gets too high and even then, wind and rain can be a very
THE INS & OUTS
*Field is down to 127 with the top 65 and ties making the cut after 36 holes.