Layman’s Draftkings Picks for 2021 Masters Tournament
By LOGAN RIPLEY
AUGUSTA, Georgia - Don’t we all feel a little spoiled with the Masters Tournament? Seeing as we just watched them play in November and now, 144 days later, here we are again! Anyway, why don’t we get to the point of the article because I’m missing Bernhard Langer carry drives 238 yards according to a friend who has no idea I bet him this week.
I’m gonna switch it up a little this week and start at the bottom of my lineup and build to the locks. Seeing as I already revealed my pick in the joke above that is where we will begin.
The Long Shot Vet -
BERNHARD LANGER ($6.1K)
I needed a low value but high upside pick to fit this lineup in. I believe I picked the perfect Masters lineup and I’m definitely going to cash this week. With Langer showing out last year in the first round, 68, I think he could replicate that only a few months removed. Yes this is a gamble, but that is why the heading is ‘The Long Shot Vet.’ I’ll need some heavy lifting from the 63-year-old, but the 2-time Masters champ has the fortitude to get under the cut once again.
The 2021 Frequents -
PAUL CASEY ($7.7K) / JOAQUIN NIEMAN ($7.4K)
People that have followed this blog can understand I am enamored with these two golfers. Having played well when I added them in the past, Casey and Nieman have a real shot at the top of the leaderboard and are only in the $7k range.
Casey is having a strong 2021 campaign, with top 10 finishes at four of his last five tournaments. He will be ready to contend this week, but needs to get off to a hot start to stay involved.
Nieman looked like he was going to set the world on fire, after back to back second places finishes in January. But since then the mid-twenty range has called his name too often. This could be a needed refocus, and break out week for Nieman.
The up and comings -
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER ($8.4K) / CAM SMITH ($8.2K)
I don’t take much into account for Scheffler’s second place finish at the Dell Match Play. What that really showed me was the grind of that tournament, because he followed great golf with a T54 at the Valero Texas Open the next week. It probably would have been a good week to take off but the Dallas, Texas native wouldn’t have missed a home tournament just because he was burnt out. I think Valero was a reset week for him and he will find his shape again.
Cam was electric in the ‘Fall Masters.’ A T2 really put him on the map with the golfing world and add in a mullet this season and he’s a fan favorite week in and week out.
The Genesis - Workday - The Players, was a good stretch of golf for him and then he got beat in the Dell Match Play. It’s a trend but I’m just eliminating that tournament in my research and going off of precedent. I have a lot of faith in Cam Smith this week.
THE LOCK (Who Else?) -
DUSTIN JOHNSON ($11.5K)
In building a lineup you have a few ideas of who you want in there. I faded Spieth just for the fact it’s a single-entry slate I’m getting in and everyone is going to have him after the win last week. But where that rule goes out the window is DJ. He played wonderful golf last year and this has all the makings of back to back major wins.
Though he hasn’t showed up lately, he is probably the best player in my generation and you can’t count him out ever when the lights are the brightest. I’ve been reading a lot about the greens and how firm they are this year and that could benefit the more experienced players even more. No more going at pins in certain areas, we could very well see tentativeness on the weekend and those who play that way might back door a win.
The Final Shot -
So this is coming out after the Masters has started on Thursday, but I don’t think anyone really wants to bet my picks with me, even though I’m starting to catch some steam. I’m worried the most about ‘the up and comings’ picks this week. They can go either way in RD1 but so can’t anyone.
All you really need is to pick five guys and have them make the cut and you’re already beating out a lot of participants. DJ will come away with his back to back Masters and Langer will walk into a tough top ten finish to propel me to the top of this $5 DK slate!
Hopefully we catch a little magic this week and turn $5 into $2k!
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