Model Musing's: Mexico Open
There are other golfers than Jon Rahm!
Ball Strikers: Unite!
Gary Woodland ($9,500): The woodland creature has been hitting the proverbial cover off the proverbial ball of late. He’s made the cut in seven of his past eight events and ranks first in this week’s field in ball striking over the past 16 rounds. A mere four players in the field have been better on approach, and three guys have been longer off the tee. Woodland, who has putted reasonably well this season, will probably be among the lowest-rostered high-priced options on DK this week, giving him GPP appeal.
Wyndham Clark ($9,700): There’s no way around it -- Clark is going to draw a ton of rostership and profile as a chalky option. Not nearly as chalky as Jon Rahm -- who can fade only if you have a good relationship with at least one deity -- but certainly popular. Clark’s ball striking has been absurd over the past couple months; he’s fifth in the category among Mexico Open players. Rahm and Tony Finau are the only players ahead of Clark in approach. The model, as per usual, is obsessed with Clark. He’s a bomber (11th in driving distance on the season), which doesn’t hurt at the Mexico Open.
Emiliano Grillo ($8,500): Making the cut in five of his past six events, Grillo heads into the Mexico Open with successful outings at Vitanda. No one in this week’s field has more experience on paspalum grass greens, and no one has been as good as Grillo on paspalum. Last year, he gained 2.74 strokes on these greens. But back to ball striking: Grillo enters this week ranked eighth in ball striking among Mexico Open players. He’s a respectable if not spectacular 16th in approach play -- an outsized factor at Vitanda. I don’t expect Grillo to “get steamed” ahead of Thursday’s opening round. He makes for a sensible GPP play.
Byeong Hun An ($9,100): Among the longest hitters on tour this season, An comes into the Mexico Open with the ninth best ball striking numbers in the field. The model is begging us to give An a shot in our lineups this week. From tee to green, only Finau and Rahm have been better than An (among this week’s field) over the past 16 rounds. An could be priced too high for GPP players’ liking this week. If you can hold your nose and pay up for An over options like Aaron Rai and Ben Martin, it could pay off for you.