The Power Fade: 2024 Open Championship
The Approach to fading big names for the 2024 Open 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!
Coming off the heels of Bobby MacIntyre taking down his national open, we head to Royal Troon for the oldest major, The Open Championship.
Royal Troon plays as a Par 71, 7300 yards. The first 7 holes play with the sea and are often down wind. The wind and weather play as the best defense on Royal Troon. If there is no weather, this course is rather defenseless.
Weather, as stated before is the great defense of Royal Troon. Calling Troon a chameleon would not be a stretch as based on the weather, different skills sets can take precedence.
With the final and oldest major at stake, let us take a look who will not be in contention to hoist the Claret Jug. Bring on the Power Fades!
Tommy Fleetwood ($9,300)
Our first Power Fade of the week is someone who will be a polarizing player in both DFS and the betting markets. Tommy Fleetwood returns to the PF this week, coming in at $9,300 on DraftKings.
Why The Fade Works:
Tommy Lad certainly has the firepower to hoist a Claret Jug. I really don't think this is the debate. The debate becomes when is he going to tie four rounds together.
Statistically, Fleetwood does have some flaws that lend itself to a fade. Tommy ranks 50th in Approach from the key yardage range of 120-180. Furthermore, Fleetwood hasn't been stellar around the greens. Ranking 43rd in SG ARG, Fleetwood may be in some trouble when needs to scramble this week.
Like many weeks on the PGA TOUR, distance proves itself valuable. Tommy comes into the week ranked 76th in Ball Speed. Should the wind play a major factor, Fleetwood may struggle to keep up.
The house model on BTN also has an interesting statistic that makes this fade worthy. While we do see Tommy light the scorecard up, he ranks 72nd in Birdies per round. This is the "stuck in neutral" problem Fleetwood has had over the years that holds him back every week.
Closing out or reasoning of the Tommy Lad fade, keep in mind this final note: In 2016, Tommy Fleetwood played in the Open here and missed the cut shooting +7.
Viktor Hovland ($9,700)
Our second Power Fade of the week is an all world talent, yet he just hasn't found his stride in 2024. Viktor Hovland makes an appearance in the Power Fade this week, coming in at $9,700 on DraftKings.
Why The Fade Works:
When it comes to Viktor Hovland, we know what his issues are. We all know Vik struggles around the greens. Royal Troon being a course where you have to scramble could present problems for the man ranking 72nd in SG ARG.
From all accounts on social media during the practice rounds, the Par 3's this week will be daunting. Vik has not excelled in this area either. Hovland ranks 69th in Par 3 scoring, which could be problematic for the Norwegian Sensation.
That's it folks for this week's edition of the Power Fade! Be on the lookout for our POWER PLAYS article for the Open Championship! We will be returning to you next week with the Power Fade, as we return to the United States and the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes! Minnesota and TPC Twin Cities play host to the 3M Open!
Follow me on X @AllenKlutts and on Instagram @Allen_Klutts906
Until then Be Bold, Be Brave, and Let's Ride the Power Fade!
"The house model on BTN also has an interesting statistic that makes this fade worthy. While we do see Tommy light the scorecard up, he ranks 72nd in Birdies per round. This is the "stuck in neutral" problem Fleetwood has had over the years that holds him back every week."
— 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.