The Power Fade: 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship
The Approach to fading big names for the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship
What’s going on TJ Nation! Ann Arbor's Own Good Ol' AK Allen Klutts here bringing you another edition of the Power Fade: The Fades 8K and Above You Need to Smash Your DraftKings GPP's!
The PGA TOUR regular season has come to an end, and its now time for the PLAYOFFS... WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PLAYOFFS.
That's right Coach Mora.. it's playoff time. Our first stop takes us to Memphis, Tennessee and TPC Southwind.
TPC Southwind plays as a Par 70, 7,200 yards. Water, Water, Water, is lurking everywhere as this course sees the most water balls on the PGA TOUR.
Iron play will be key this week, especially from 150-175 yards. Consequently Greens In Regulation will also be pivotal, as the rough at TPC Southwind can be daunting.
After a week in Greensboro that saw the Power Fade nail a Si Woo Kim Missed Cut and Mav McNealy floundering to a T45, we roll into a Playoff Power Fade. Let's go "Walkin' In Memphis" and bring on the Power Fade for the FedEx St. Jude.
Corey Connors ($9,100)
Our first Power Fade of the week is a man who many DFS players love as a FOMO play. Corey Connors, The darling of Canada is our first Power Fade at $9,100 on DraftKings.
Why The Fade Works:
Corey Connors is a mystery wrapped in an enigma. If golf was played on spread sheets, he would be a PGA TOUR winner many times over.
When we look at the stats, Connors does shine in a few categories, but his struggles are concerning.
Around the Green play is the first concern with Corey Connors. Corey comes into the week ranked 61st in Scrambling. On a course where danger lurks on many holes, this could be problematic.
Connors hasn't been his elite self Off the Tee either. Our favorite Canadian ranks 27th in Strokes Gained Off the Tee. Keep in mind this is a 70 man field.
Connors has interestingly struggled on courses where elite off the tee game is required to be successful. Heritage, Memorial, and Travelers, all courses that meet this criteria have shown to be a struggle for Connors.
Ironically, this is also where Connors' putter lapses as well. Corey is a notoriously bad putter. Ranking 38th in this field, combined with the stated case above makes fading the Canadian a prudent move this week.
Russell Henley ($9,000)
Our second Power Fade of the week will be popular on many touts betting cards, thus bumping his ownership in DFS. Russell Henley is our second Power Fade of the week coming in at an even 9K on DraftKings.
Why The Fade Works:
Henley has quietly taken that next step this season and elevated himself to a new level. In years past, we might see Henley at 7.8 to 8K in this field. Now we see him at 9K, and with this comes heightened expectations.
Statistically, Henley does still have some struggles that warrant a fade for the FedEx St. Jude.
In my BTN model this week, Strokes Gained Approach from 150-175 yards was a key metric. Henley ranks 49th in the field in Approach from this distance. Furthermore, the Georgia Bulldog ranks 64th in GIR from this distance.
That's it folks for this week's edition of the Power Fade! We will return to you next week, for the second leg of the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs, as we head to beautiful Colorado for the BMW Championship.
Follow me on X @AllenKlutts and on Instagram @Allen_Klutts906
Until Next Time.... Be Bold, Be Brave, and Let's Ride the Power Fade!
"Connors has interestingly struggled on courses where elite off the tee game is required to be successful. Heritage, Memorial, and Travelers, all courses that meet this criteria have shown to be a struggle for Connors."
— AK
Meet the Author:
Allen Klutts
A long time Tour Junkies fan and Nut Hut Member, Allen has always been an enthusiastic PGA DFS player and is looking to bring that passion to his writing. A frequent participant on the Wednesday Night Live Stage Chat, who DB once compared to Norm from the TV show "Cheers" for always kicking off the live stage segment, Allen lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his wife and two year old son.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and commentary in this post belong to its author and do not necessarily represent the Tour Junkies as a whole.