Fantasy Advice
Truist Championship DFS picks 2025: Why Rory McIlroy is not a great fit for Philly Cricket
After a dominating performance from Scottie Scheffler at TPC Craig Ranch, the PGA Tour heads to the northeast for the Truist Championship. In previous years, Quail Hollow hosted this event, but with Charlotte hosting the PGA Championship next week, Philadelphia Cricket Club will be subbing in for this rare occasion. The A.W. Tillinghast design is one of the most charming clubs in the Philly area with its golf course defined by its devilishly fast greens and 118 bunkers. Philadelphia Cricket Club’s membership takes a tremendous amount of pride in the challenge of its golf course, but it remains to be seen how the Golden Age track will stand up to the best in the world amidst some rainy weather. The course measures just a touch over 7,100 yards as a par 70, but it certainly plays longer than the yardage and features just two par 5s to go along with four par 3s and 12 par 4s.
This will be our last look at Rory McIlroy before he looks to capture his second major championship in a row and his third PGA Championship victory. Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Aberg, amongst others, will also look to dial in their game ahead of the year’s second major championship next week. Let’s dive into the DraftKings slate for the Truist Championship.
$10,000 range
Play: Collin Morikawa, $10,500:
Jared C. Tilton
In my opinion, Philadelphia Cricket Club will heavily accentuate short iron play, and Collin Morikawa remains (at worst) a top-five wedge player in the world. The new caddie change should hopefully provide an extra spark, as the two-time major winner looks to finally get over the finish line for the first time in two plus years.
Fade: Rory McIlroy, $12,000:
While Rory McIlroy has most certainly been the best player on the PGA Tour this season, I’m not entirely sold that Philadelphia Cricket Club is the ideal fit for his game. McIlroy truly gains his advantage on longer, driver-heavy, long-iron intensive golf courses that allow him to create separation with his power off the tee. Philly Cricket is a golf course that is more so defined by precision wedge play and putting from five to 15 feet. If I am going to invest in a player at such a robust price tag, they better be the perfect golf course fit. I’ll take the discount on better wedge players.
$9,000 range
Play: Viktor Hovland, $9,100:
Jared C. Tilton
Viktor Hovland’s approach play continues to trend in the right direction, and he has a sneaky strong resume on firm and fast bentgrass greens, and ortheastern championship style, parkland golf courses. The Norwegian ranks top-10 in this field in recent approach play, bentgrass putting, and strokes gained/total in the northeast, which deem him as a perfect fit for Philadelphia Cricket Club.
Fade: Ludvig Aberg, $9,800:
While Ludvig Aberg is certainly capable of greatness on any golf course, I have significant concerns about his recent approach play. Aberg has failed to truly post an elite approach performance since his victory at the Genesis Invitational in February, and he is coming off a 54th at the Heritage, another wedge-heavy golf course, where he lost 1.6 strokes on approach. There are other options in this price range with far more trustable approach play that I would rather invest in.
$8,000 range
Play: Shane Lowry, $8,500:
Jonathan Bachman
Shane Lowry remains one of the best overall approach players on the PGA Tour, and he carries a tremendous track record on championship-style venues. With seven top-20 finishes in 10 starts in 2025, the Irishman has been one of the most consistent players on tour this year, and I’m expecting another strong performance at Philadelphia Cricket Club.
Fade: Robert MacIntyre, $8,000:
While Robert MacIntyre can certainly feast on long, driver-heavy golf courses with a great deal of wind, I have tremendous concerns about how his wedge play will hold up at Philadelphia Cricket Club. MacIntyre ranks outside of the top-50 in this field in proximity from 100-150 yards, and he is now coming off two sub-standard approach performances in his past two stroke-play starts.
$7,000 range
Play: Brian Harman, $7,500:
Jared C. Tilton
Brian Harman quietly remains one of the best wedge players on the PGA Tour, ranking sixth in this field in proximity from 100 to 150 yards. Harman’s success at TPC River Highlands should also prove valuable at Philadelphia Cricket Club, another Northeastern golf course with small greens and similar proximity buckets.
Fade: Davis Thompson, $7,700:
With zero top-five finishes in 2025, Davis Thompson simply feels a tad overpriced in a signature event. I also prefer Thompson on golf courses where it is easier to separate with the driver, as Thompson is by no means an elite wedge player or putter from five to 15 feet. There are simply far more appealing options in this price range.
Flier: Michael Kim, $7,000:
Jared C. Tilton
Michael Kim has quietly developed into one of the better approach players on the PGA Tour in 2025, and he has gained strokes on approach in his last 10 measured stroke play events. While his putter has kept him from finishing inside the top 25 in his last five starts, Kim is now priced reasonably and presents a ton of value toward the bottom of the board.
$6,000 range
Play: Lucas Glover, $6,600:
David Cannon
Lucas Glover always has my attention on wedge-heavy golf courses, and he ranks top five in this field in proximity from 100-150 yards, and approach play on short courses. Both of Glover’s top-five finishes this season have come at short-iron intensive golf courses in Pebble Beach and TPC Sawgrass, and I expect him to feast on Philly Cricket’s short par 4s in a similar fashion.
Andy Lack is a PGA Tour writer and podcaster from New York City who now resides in Los Angeles. Andy is the founder and CEO of Inside Sports Network, a website devoted to the predictive quality of advanced analytics and golf course architecture. He came to Golf Digest’s betting panel after previously writing for Run Pure Sports, RickRunGood.com, the Score and GolfWRX. In his free time, Andy can likely be found on a golf course. Follow him on Twitter: @adplacksports