FREE 04/17 PGA Cheat Sheet: RBC Heritage DFS Plays

The RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links brings us a loaded 72-man, no-cut field just days after an unforgettable Masters. While Rory McIlroy and Hideki Matsuyama are sitting this one out, nearly every other top player is in action, including defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, and Collin Morikawa. With small greens and tight fairways, this Pete Dye design demands precision off the tee and elite iron play. It’s also worth noting that scrambling will be key, as Harbour Town consistently ranks among the toughest courses for greens in regulation.

From a DFS perspective, the average salary comes in at $7,576, making roster construction a bit tricky with four players projected to carry ownership north of 20%. There aren’t any standout value plays this week, so finding mid-range options with upside will be crucial. Players coming off strong ball-striking performances at Augusta or those with solid course history here should be prioritized. Let’s dive into our top plays for this slate.

Premium Plays ($10,000+)

Top Play: Collin Morikawa ($10,900)

Collin Morikawa ($10,900) brings elite ball-striking to a course like Harbour Town that rewards precision over power. Ranking 11th in SG: Off-the-Tee and seventh in SG: Approach at Augusta, his tee-to-green game remains one of the best on Tour, and that skill set should translate well to the narrow fairways and small greens of RBC Heritage. While his short game faltered at The Masters—finishing 45th in SG: Around-the-Green and 41st in SG: Putting—those areas have shown improvement over the past year, giving some hope he can bounce back this week. His consistent form, with six straight top-20 finishes this season, adds confidence to his high salary.

At 24.1% projected ownership, Morikawa is one of the chalkiest plays on the slate, but it’s hard to argue against it given his fit for this course and reliable recent results. He ranks among the top players in optimal lineup percentage (16.1%) and offers a solid floor. While his value isn’t outstanding at this salary tier, his ability to contend at challenging tracks justifies paying up for him in both cash games and tournaments. If you’re comfortable eating chalk, Morikawa is a strong option with legitimate upside at Harbour Town.

Other Premium Options

• Scottie Scheffler ($13,100, MakeCut: 76.1%, Own: 20.4%)
• Patrick Cantlay ($10,000, MakeCut: 63.1%, Own: 20.9%)

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

Top Play: Daniel Berger ($8,300)

Daniel Berger ($8,300) presents an intriguing option for RBC Heritage, but his high projected ownership (22.8%) requires some consideration. He’s coming off a T30 at the Valero Texas Open, where he gained strokes across the board despite struggling with greens in regulation. More importantly, his ability to convert birdie opportunities (15 total at Valero) and rank fifth in putts per GIR highlights a short game that could shine at Harbour Town’s smaller greens. His solid approach play and putting should fit well with the course’s emphasis on precision over power.

At $8,300, Berger offers strong value with a 9.25x projection and an optimal lineup rate of 15.8%. However, his high ownership means you’re not gaining much leverage by rostering him in tournaments, especially given his middling cut equity. That said, he remains a viable cash-game option due to his consistent top-30 finishes this season and reasonable scoring upside (76.78 DK points projected). If you’re comfortable eating the chalk, Berger provides a safe floor with some upside if his approach play clicks this week.

Other Mid-Range Options

• Corey Conners ($9,800, MakeCut: 62.2%, Own: 13.2%)
• Sepp Straka ($8,800, MakeCut: 54.3%, Own: 16.2%)

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

First Value Play: Aaron Rai ($7,900)

Aaron Rai ($7,900) presents an intriguing option at RBC Heritage, especially given his balanced profile and reasonable price point. With a projected 75.3 DraftKings points and a strong value rating of 9.53x, Rai offers solid upside for his salary. His accurate ball-striking and consistent approach play align well with Harbour Town’s emphasis on precision over power, making him a good course fit.

At 16.2% projected ownership—double the field average—Rai is trending toward chalk territory, but it’s not entirely unwarranted. His recent form includes three consecutive top-15 finishes before withdrawing from the Valspar Championship, signaling solid momentum heading into this event. While the elevated ownership limits differentiation in large-field GPPs, his combination of value and course fit makes him a viable option in all formats if you’re comfortable eating some chalk in this range.

Second Value Play: Denny McCarthy ($7,900)

Denny McCarthy ($7,900) presents an intriguing option for the RBC Heritage, especially given his elite putting ability and recent stretch of strong finishes. McCarthy has logged three consecutive top-20 results, including a T18 at the Valero Texas Open, where he led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting. Harbour Town’s emphasis on precision and short-game prowess suits his strengths well, as this course often rewards players who can navigate small greens and capitalize on scoring opportunities.

With projected ownership around 9.5%, McCarthy offers solid leverage as a mid-tier play with upside. His optimal lineup percentage (13.9%) reflects his potential to outperform expectations relative to price, and his moderate ownership avoids being overly chalky. While he doesn’t carry the same cut equity as some higher-priced options, his value at $7,900 combined with a strong course fit makes him worth considering in tournaments where upside is key.

Other Value Options

• Bud Cauley ($7,500, MakeCut: 48.8%, Own: 17.2%)
• Michael Kim ($7,500, MakeCut: 49.3%, Own: 14.1%)

Good luck! Make sure to check the Lineup Optimizer for latest updates before lock. Visit DFS Hero for our full suite of DFS tools including the Lineup Optimizer, Contest Simulator, Player Projections, and Ownership Projections. Use code HEROPLAY15 to get 15% off your first month!