The PGA DFS 2026 Season: A Rocky Start, But Hope Remains
Three weeks in, and my PGA DFS journey this year has been a tale of losses. But I'm not alone in this struggle, as my fellow contributors Sky and Sam haven't capitalized on my misfortune to gain an early lead in our contest. However, I remain confident that my victory in the $200 SE is just around the corner.
Next up is the Waste Management Phoenix Open, a fan favorite known for its lively atmosphere. But with the Super Bowl happening simultaneously, will the DFS contests suffer? DraftKings has been unpredictable, but the ETR Golf community has shown resilience.
A Recap of Farmers Insurance:
My performance at Farmers Insurance was a mixed bag, but it was my best week so far in 2026, despite being down -65%. In the world of DFS, it's crucial to understand that success often comes from standing out from the field. Many players try to compete with the pros using similar strategies, which is a recipe for mediocrity. Bankroll management and long-term goals are key. Those with larger bankrolls can afford to play it safe, aiming for consistent returns rather than high-risk, high-reward strategies.
The winning lineup at Farmers Insurance had a 9/9/8/7/7/7 build, a common strategy for those who avoided top players like 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 high-priced players.
The winning lineup's cumulative ownership was 86%, which is somewhat disappointing given the field size and the top prize. Congratulations to Jade and Tanner for their success with 300 lineups.
Preview of Waste Management Phoenix Open:
The Waste Management Phoenix Open, held annually on Super Bowl weekend, is the PGA Tour's grand party. The iconic stadium par 3 hole sets the stage for an exciting tournament. With Brooks Koepka returning to a course where he's won twice, the energy will be electric. The tournament, hosted in Scottsdale, Arizona, at TPC Scottsdale, typically offers a moderate challenge for PGA Tour players.
Recent winners include Thomas Detry (-24) in 2025, Nick Taylor (-21) in 2024, Scottie Scheffler (-19) in 2023, and Scottie Scheffler again (-16) in 2022. These scores indicate that while we can expect some impressive scoring, it's unlikely to get out of control. Detry's performance last year was exceptional, but the rest were relatively average for this course.
DraftKings continues to deliver with a $200K-to-first lotto, ensuring exciting contests to kick off the year. As we approach The Players and The Masters, the excitement will only grow. Despite the large field size, cumulative ownership rules shouldn't be a significant concern. It's better to focus on the long-term strategy rather than reacting to weekly fluctuations.
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