AKRON, Ohio -- If you want to get a glimpse at what the upcoming Olympics might look like - at least on the men's side of things - this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational could provide a valuable preview.
Of the 77 players who qualified for the event here in Rubber City, only 61 will compete, a byproduct of the European Tour offering double points to its own Open de France, despite also being a co-sanctioning body of the WGCs. Jordan Spieth and Jason Day highlight a top-heavy and eclectic field that also includes the likes of Nathan Holman and Michio Matsumura.
What that means for DFS players is a few truths that we often save more for Kapalua and East Lake each year:
1. You've got to be close to perfect: On other weeks, with full 140- or 156-player fields, a lineup featuring three or four of the eventual top 10 should be enough for a sizable payday come Sunday evening. This week, with so few players in the field and even fewer who can seriously contend, that might be closer to average. All of which places a greater onus on nailing the guys at the top. Mediocrity isn't going to cut it this week.
2. Finding the right contrarian pick is important: Yes, I know these last two statements sound contrarian in themselves, but your near-perfect lineup should also include a player or two who won't be chalk-ish selections. Last year, Robert Streb finished in a share of fifth place and, well, while that was hardly an out-of-nowhere pick during his strong 2015 campaign, it might have been the difference for some teams at the top of tourneys.
3. You can afford to go low: And by that, I mean you can afford to spend money on a few of the lower-priced options this week, because no matter what, they're still guaranteed four rounds and a top-60 finish.
That last note plays into what's known as the "stars and scrubs" philosophy -- or "studs and duds," if you choose.
Most weeks, I'm a bigger fan of spreading the wealth in GPP lineups rather than spending big and praying for productivity from the bottom of the list. Due to that no-cut nature, though, the opposite strategy might be the stronger play this week, especially if you feel strongly about Day or Spieth at the top of the salary chart.
Of course, this is also incumbent upon picking the right scrub -- or dud -- from the lower-priced players. Find a cheapie who makes a lot of birdies, and you could be in the driver's seat this weekend.
With that in mind, let's get to the picks for Firestone:
