GOLF DFS: THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2026 — DRAFTKINGS PICKS, TARGETS & LINEUP STRATEGY

COURSE OVERVIEW

Royal Portrush Golf Club returns to host The Open Championship in 2026, and links golf mastery is once again the name of the game on the Dunluce Course in Northern Ireland. Stretching to over 7,300 yards along the Causeway Coast, Royal Portrush demands precision off the tee, creative shot-making around undulating fairways, and an ironclad short game capable of handling tight, fast-running bentgrass surfaces. Wind is the defining variable — gusts off the Atlantic can render a scorecard unrecognizable in a matter of holes. Players who thrive here consistently rank among the elite in Strokes Gained: Approach, scrambling efficiency, and putting on Poa/bentgrass surfaces. Bombers need not apply unless they can also shape the ball both ways and grind through adversity. This is a week to prioritize ball-strikers with links pedigree and mental toughness over raw power metrics alone.

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TOP TARGETS THIS WEEK

Rory McIlroy — $12,400

There is no player on the planet more emotionally and technically suited to Royal Portrush than Rory McIlroy. The hometown hero grew up on this very course and has consistently produced elite ball-striking performances on links layouts throughout his career. His SG: Approach numbers in major championship conditions remain elite, and the crowd energy only seems to sharpen his focus rather than apply pressure. Expect massive ownership — but in large-field GPPs, his upside ceiling justifies the chalk. Ownership: High (35–45%)

Shane Lowry — $10,800

The reigning fan favorite on links soil, Lowry's Open Championship pedigree speaks for itself. His trajectory-controlled iron play and relentless scrambling make him a nightmare to compete against when conditions turn ugly. Portrush suits his draw-heavy ball flight perfectly, and his comfort with wind management elevates his floor in any weather scenario. A sensible mid-range anchor. Ownership: Mid (18–25%)

Tommy Fleetwood — $9,900

Fleetwood quietly owns one of the best links records among the current generation and consistently finishes inside the top 20 at British Isles events. His patience off the tee and exceptional iron play fit the Portrush blueprint to a tee. At this price relative to his upside, he represents sharp leverage against higher-owned names. Ownership: Mid (12–18%)

Min Woo Lee — $8,700

The most exciting sleeper on the board. Min Woo Lee's creativity and natural links feel — inherited through years competing in Australia and across Europe — make him a dangerous dart at a manageable price. His course history at Portrush is limited but trending in the right direction, and any low-wind morning wave gives him a real scoring window. Ownership: Low (6–10%)

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VALUE PLAYS

Thriston Lawrence — $7,600

The South African has quietly assembled a strong European Tour links record and flies well under the radar for American DFS players. Strong wind management, elite scrambling metrics, and a contrarian ownership profile make him a lineup differentiator.

Daniel Hillier — $7,200

The New Zealander has developed his game extensively on links courses and showed serious form heading into the summer. At this price, he offers massive upside with minimal ownership risk — the ideal value profile for tournament-winning lineups.

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FADES

Scottie Scheffler — $12,500

World No. 1 but a historically poor fit on true links layouts. His high-ball flight struggles against sustained Atlantic winds, and his Open results relative to his ranking remain underwhelming. Too expensive for the risk.

Collin Morikawa — $11,200

Despite winning a Claret Jug, Morikawa has been inconsistent in recent links appearances and enters Portrush without strong current form momentum. Fading at this chalk-heavy price point is the smart GPP play.

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LINEUP CONSTRUCTION

Build your core around one of two strategies this week: pay up for McIlroy and Lowry while finding value in the $7,200–$