Here’s some Pick ‘Em plays our team is looking at for Thursday’s round one action!

PrizePicks

Cameron Young UNDER 5 Birdies

The defending rookie of the year on the PGA Tour has had a rough go of things as of late, and I don’t see that changing this week. Young has only one finish inside the top 50 since his 7^th place finish at the Masters in April (32^nd at the U.S. Open). The putting just hasn’t been good enough, losing over three strokes to the filed in three of his last five. This is nothing new of course as Young hasn’t gained over a stroke of putting for an event since last year’s edition of the Rocket Mortgage. In addition to the poor form coming in, I don’t like the course fit for Young here. His biggest weapon is off the tee, and that weapon will be neutralized on this course. If he isn’t going to have the putter going, I will just continue to fade Young.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout OVER 4.5 Birdies

TPC Deere Run is an ideal course for Bezuidenhout, evident of his tie for second here last year. Distance off the tee is not required, rather a strong wedge game and excellent putting, which is where Christiaan excels. Bezuidenhout went over on this number in three of his four rounds last year (and the one he didn’t he missed it by one) and I expect more of the same come Thursday.

PrizePicks YTD Record: 2-1-1

ThriveFantasy

Tournament Plays

Emiliano Grillo OVER 3.5 Birdies

Grillo is coming into this week in great form with a victory at the Charles Schwab Challenge at the end of May and a T-15 at the elevated Travelers Championship a couple weeks ago. Grillo also has a T-2 finish at the John Deere last season. The irons are always lights out for Emiliano and when the putter cooperates like it has been, he can score in bunches. Grillo ranks second in the field in birdies or better gained so, on an easier course, I’m taking the over here.

Nick Taylor UNDER 69.5 Bogeys

The Canadian hero promptly missed the cut at the U.S. Open after his emotional win a few weeks ago. Now refreshed, I expect a strong week from Taylor for a few reasons. First would be the strong putting he has displayed recently (which is needed to succeed on easy courses). Taylor has gained in six of the past seven events with the flat stick and the Bentgrass surfaces this week is one of the surfaces he typically gains strokes on. The iron play for Taylor has also been exceptional lately. A brief struggle at the beginning of the year on approach saw Taylor struggle to consistently make the cut, but he has since recovered, which has resulted in three top 15’s in his past seven events.

ThriveFantasy YTD Record: 3-1