PGA PrizePicks for the Rocket Mortgage Classic

PrizePicks offers a different way to play fantasy sports than simply building a lineup of different golfers on a salary. There are different categories of props and matchups, which are not often offered anywhere else. I’m going to go through a few plays of mine for the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

PrizePicks has birdie matchups, fairways hit, greens in regulation, score and occasionally scoring on set holes on the course. These props are setup for single-round action allowing you do adjust as you go and get more information as the tournament progresses. Occasionally, such as for majors, PrizePicks will offer “holes played” which is basically picks golfer to make or miss the cut, in which case the props will take place over the first two rounds.

If you have never played on Prize Picks or what more background, I highly suggest reading this article by FTN’s Tyler Loechner on how it works. It’s a great breakdown of the site works.

Rocket Mortgage Picks

For Round 1, I am going to be targeting birdie matchups. I believe there are a few lopsided matchups in terms of overall talent and current skill and although that doesn’t always lead to more birdies, it’s a strong indicator. 

Birdie Matchups

• Max Homa OVER Nate Lashley
• Matt Kuchar OVER John Hugh

If you just scratch the surface and look at birdie averages, Lashley is higher on the list than Homa. While it is true that Lashley can make a fair number of birdies, when adjusted for the course/field, Homa is actually higher. Couple that with Homa being the much better golfer and it was a matchup I couldn’t pass up. Lashley has had pass success here and the course is a bit more variable but it’s hard not to side with Homa in this matchup. 

There isn’t quite the same skill separation between Kuchar and Huh but in my current skill ratings it’s still a sizable difference at this point in time. Kuchar isn’t the same golfer he was even just a few years ago but coming to a course like Detroit GC should suit his current game and his putting ability should be a nice edge. A lot can happen over 18 holes but the overall gap between these golfers, like the first matchup, is enough to put it over the edge for me.