2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson: Top DraftKings Showdown Plays & Live Bets Ahead of Round 3
The 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson heads to the weekend with yet another 30 under par winner in sight. Si Woo Kim has absolutely blitzed the field through the opening two rounds, carrying a 5-stroke lead into the weekend at -18.
Looking ahead, we have new data at our disposal to adjust our approach in DFS formats before Round 3 gets underway on Friday. Conditions have been wet and rainy thus far, and that should continue as the week goes on. Ahead, we’ll look to identify the players who have shown they are most due for a Round 3 breakout.
Take a look at some of the best pillar players for PGA Championship DFS contests and live betting opportunities.
DraftKings Showdown Golf Strategy
DraftKings Golf Showdown Golf is a one-round Daily Fantasy format in which players aim to construct the best-scoring one-round lineup while staying within the allotted salary cap. To identify value in Golf Showdown, it’s typically best to focus on buy-low opportunities on players who’ve shown uncharacteristically poor putting in the prior round. There is also an opportunity to find leverage by identifying favorable weather splits and players who are more likely to card birdies-or-better.
Round 3 PGA Championship Showdown Pillar Plays
At the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, the opening rounds have helped answer some open questions about how the new-look TPC Craig Ranch would look post-renovation. The answer? Exactly the same as the old one. In soft conditions, TPC Craig Ranch’s wide Zoysia fairways continue to be an easy target for the field at large, creating a birdie-fest for the best approach players with the hottest putters.
Identifying value players who check each of these boxes can provide valuable bonus points in the DraftKings Showdown format. The three players below will be foundational plays in my Round 3 Showdown lineups for these reasons.
Jordan Spieth ($10,300)
The masses will flock around Jordan Spieth this week, as one of Texas’s biggest stars finds himself in contention at home. A second round 9-under-par effort has catapulted Spieth to T6 at 12 under par for the tournament, only 6 strokes off Si Woo Kim’s mark.
Spieth has looked great in 2026, posting six top-20 finishes over his last 10 starts. The results would be even better if his putter could cooperate, and we’re starting to see a glimpse of that this week at TPC Craig Ranch. Spieth ranks 11th in SG: Putting through the first two rounds. A hot putter will be crucial over the weekend, as TPC Craig Ranch has failed to offer any resistance to this field from tee-to-green.
Max Greyserman ($7,900)
Greyserman was a popular consideration heading into this week, hot off of a T14 showing at the PGA Championship last week. He’s done well to pay off those expectations thus far, currently sitting T23 at 9 under par. That comes despite getting nothing going on the greens, which should turn around soon for the player who ranked top-30 in SG: Putting leading into this week.
Greyserman was exceptional on Friday, firing a 9-under-par round. He led the field in SG: T2G and SG: OTT, and ranked 2nd in SG: APP. With everything clicking except for the putter right now, he is a prime breakout candidate once the putts start to fall.
Kensei Hirata ($6,700)
Hirata is a true out-of-nowhere story this week at TPC Craig Ranch. But as it turns out, the easiest of scoring conditions can usher in plenty of surprise contenders regardless of their form.
Hirata’s form was amongst the worst in this field, leading in, with no finishes better than T46 over his last 10 starts. It’s been a different story at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, however, as Hirata is T2 through the first two rounds at 13 under par. Interestingly, his surprise success has come despite having a cold putter. He ranks 1st in the field in SG: T2G, but 76th in SG: Putting. Even if the putter remains neutral, Hirata has proven he can go low as a discounted price in Showdown formats.
Live Bets To Consider Entering Round 3
Tournament Matchup: Blades Brown over Doug Ghim
Best Available odds: -115 (DraftKings)
Blades Brown was a live top-20 target for me after the opening round, and has put himself in position to go low over the weekend. He has some extra motivation to remain inside the top-20 this week, as a solo 21st finish or better will secure him temporary membership and unlimited sponsors’ invitations through the end of the year.
Doug Ghim is even with Brown heading into the weekend, but continues to battle his putting woes, ranking 100th in SG: Putting through the first two rounds. With TPC Craig Ranch offering no resistance to this field, I’ll side with the player in better form with higher upside on the greens.
Winning Score: Under 259.5
Best Available odds: -130 (DraftKings)
In other words, this prop has the over/under winning score at -25.5. In order for the under to hit on this prop, Si Woo Kim would need to shoot 8 under par over the next two rounds. That is not asking much on what has proven to be the easiest golf course on the PGA Tour five years running.
This prop does not hinge on Si Woo Kim alone, however. Kensei Hirata, Jackson Suber, Scottie Scheffler, Sungjae Im, and Wyndham Clark are all on pace to shoot -26, all heading into the weekend at -13. Scheffler shot -31 at this event last year, and seems to have a head full of steam going into the weekend. With so many ways for this to cash, this prop is my favorite value on the board today.
Best of luck with your CJ Cup Byron Nelson DFS lineups and bets!
Photo Credit: AP/Ashley Landis
