FREE 05/15 PGA Cheat Sheet: PGA Championship DFS Plays

The 2025 PGA Championship kicks off at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., featuring a deep field of 156 golfers and an average salary around $6,600. With three highly owned players all above 20% ownership and no clear strong value plays (12x+ value with a 50%+ cut rate), roster construction will be tricky. Scottie Scheffler is the favorite at $13,400, which limits salary flexibility for the rest of your lineup, but McIlroy ($12,200) and DeChambeau ($11,500) offer more balance while still carrying upside. The course demands length off the tee and solid ball striking, especially with its tough closing stretch known as The Green Mile.

Quail Hollow has hosted multiple majors and regular PGA Tour events, so there’s plenty of course history to lean on. Scoring typically hinges on par-5 birdies and avoiding big numbers late in the round. Weather looks manageable during competition days after some early-week rain softens conditions and could boost scoring. With a large cut line (top 70 plus ties), getting six golfers through to Sunday is possible but requires careful salary allocation given the expensive top tier. Let’s dive into our top plays for this slate.

Premium Plays ($10,000+)

Top Play: Rory McIlroy ($12,200)

Rory McIlroy’s strong ball-striking and course history at Quail Hollow make him a reliable DFS option for the PGA Championship. He ranks second in SG: Off-the-Tee recently and has shown solid putting, despite some lost strokes around the greens. His 83.9% make-cut rate and consistent top-10 finishes this season provide a stable floor, while his four career wins at this venue highlight his upside.

At $12,200 with projected ownership near 27%, McIlroy is chalk but justified given his form and fit here. His value of 6.72x and optimal lineup percentage above 25% reflect his appeal across formats. While he carries high ownership, that aligns with his status as a top-tier player who can deliver both scoring consistency and upside on this particular course.

Other Premium Options

• Scottie Scheffler ($13,400, MakeCut: 85.1%, Own: 21.4%)
• Bryson DeChambeau ($11,500, MakeCut: 84.9%, Own: 24.2%)

Mid-Range Plays ($8,000-$9,999)

Top Play: Justin Thomas ($9,900)

Justin Thomas is coming off solid recent form, highlighted by a T2 at the Truist Championship where he ranked second in SG: Tee-to-Green. His ball striking fits well with Quail Hollow’s demanding layout, which rewards precision off the tee and strong approach play. With a 74.9% make-cut rate and consistent finishes, Thomas offers reliable cut equity, making him a safe floor in this field despite his elevated price.

At $9,900 with projected ownership near 18%, Thomas is clearly chalk in this spot. That level of ownership is justified given his past success at Quail Hollow (2017 winner) and current form. His value of 7.17x and optimal lineup presence over 12% reflect both upside and consistency, so rostering him makes sense if you’re comfortable with paying up for proven course fit and recent momentum.

Other Mid-Range Options

• Patrick Cantlay ($9,500, MakeCut: 71.3%, Own: 13.8%)
• Corey Conners ($8,300, MakeCut: 70.7%, Own: 16.1%)

Value Plays ($7,000-$7,999)

First Value Play: Daniel Berger ($7,900)

Daniel Berger’s recent form and ball-striking metrics make him a strong play at this PGA Championship. He’s gained at least 4.4 strokes tee-to-green in his last three starts, showing solid approach and iron play, which suits the course’s emphasis on precision. His consistency is reflected in a 65% cut rate and a top-10 cash rank, indicating reliable scoring potential even if he hasn’t been a frequent winner recently.

At $7,900, Berger offers good value with a 7.83x return on investment, and his ownership near 13% reflects justified attention given his recent T11 at Truist where he led in GIR percentage. While he is one of the more popular plays, that chalk is supported by his steady form and course fit rather than hype alone. Berger fits well as a core option in balanced lineups targeting both floor and upside this week.

Second Value Play: Keegan Bradley ($7,200)

Keegan Bradley’s strong tee-to-green game makes him a solid option at the PGA Championship, especially given the course’s emphasis on ball-striking. He ranked third in SG: Tee-to-Green and GIR percentage at Harbour Town recently, showing he can hit fairways and greens consistently. His 61% make-cut rate isn’t elite but suggests reasonable cut equity, and his 14th-place cash rank indicates he can deliver steady finishes. At $7,200, his value of 8.01x is appealing considering his ability to avoid big mistakes with the putter.

His projected ownership around 9% is slightly above field average but not overly chalky given his form and course fit. The combination of solid approach numbers and a history of making cuts supports this moderate rostership. While putting has been a bit shaky in some recent events, his overall ball-striking should keep him competitive on a challenging setup like the PGA Championship’s. Bradley offers a good balance between upside and floor for those looking to mix in reliable mid-tier options.

Other Value Options

• Maverick McNealy ($7,800, MakeCut: 57.6%, Own: 5.4%)
• Si Woo Kim ($7,700, MakeCut: 59.9%, Own: 8.0%)

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