The Cheat Sheet provides DraftKings fantasy golf players with course info, player history, and the most noteworthy trends of the week to help them with their roster selections.
Set your DraftKings fantasy golf lineups here: PGA TOUR $150K Sand Trap [$50K to 1st]
The Field
The PGA TOUR is off to Bermuda this week for the 2026 Butterfield Bermuda Championship, taking place Oct. 22-25 at Port Royal Golf Course. This is the fourth event of the FedExCup Fall and features a 120-player field competing for a $6 million purse, with $1.08 million and 500 FedExCup points going to the winner.
Benjamin James ($10,900) enters as the betting favorite at +1175 on DraftKings Sportsbook. The young American is joined by Corey Conners ($9,800), Eric Cole ($9,900), Chris Kirk ($9,500), Kevin Roy ($9,700) and Ben Kohles ($9,600) at the upper end of the DFS salary board.
It’s another relatively weak fall field, but one with plenty of players capable of winning at this level. Former Bermuda champions Seamus Power, Adam Schenk, Rafael Campos, Camilo Villegas and Brendon Todd are all scheduled to compete. The tournament is also important for players looking to improve their FedExCup Fall standings, which would help secure playing opportunities in 2027.
Unlike recent no-cut events in Japan, the Butterfield Bermuda Championship has a regular cut line, with the top 65 players and ties advancing.
That makes finding reliable ball-strikers and players with proven success on short, coastal layouts especially important this week.
The Course
Port Royal Golf Course — Southampton, Bermuda
Par 71, 6,828 yards
This is the eighth year in a row that this event will be played at Port Royal GC, a shorter Robert Trent Jones-designed course. At one time, the venue did host the now-defunct “Grand Slam of Golf” and underwent massive renovations just to be able to properly host this event before its inaugural running in 2019. The Oceanside Course is the longest on the admittedly tiny island, but still only stretches out to just over 6,800 yards, making it extremely short by PGA TOUR standards.
The venue fits alongside many of the other seaside venues that we see on the PGA TOUR, as it has at least six holes that stretch out and run alongside the ocean. While pure length isn’t necessarily a big bonus here, wind control will be. Three par 5s inhabit the course this week and will all be reachable in two by nearly the entire field. These holes, as a group, played as the three easiest on the course the first three years, and they will be near-must birdies on a week where low scoring will likely prevail.
With short par 5s and an open course where wind can wreak havoc, you can start to see why shorter hitters like Brendon Todd (win) and Brian Gay (T3; win) have been able to dominate when their short games and putters get hot. Most holes at Port Royal will allow all modern-day PGA TOUR pros to have short approaches if they hit a decent drive, so position and short-iron play weighs far more here than distance—especially with many holes skirting the water where even a small error off the tee can court disaster.
In many ways, just knowing how to manage your way around a short course like this will be a huge advantage, and that’s the strength of many veteran PGA TOUR players.
Brian Gay was an unlikely winner at Port Royal in 2020 and averaged just 287 yards off the tee in the win, but he ranked 10th in Putts per GIR and 17th in GIR percentage. In 2021, Lucas Herbert ranked seventh in driving distance but was also fourth in scrambling. 2022 winner Seamus Power was also 9th in GIR% and 3rd in putts per GIR. Solid putting or around the green play, with some decent ball-striking mixed in, has been the key at Port Royal.
It’s also worth noting that Gay and 2019 winner Brendon Todd have done the best work of their career at other shorter venues like Waialae (Sony Open), Hilton Head (RBC Heritage), and El Camaleon (former host of the Mayakoba Classic in December). So those will be good correlation venues to look to when comparing venues. Additionally, Open Championship performance isn’t a terrible indicator for this week either. Herbert tied for 6th at the 2026 Open Championship and the wind and open nature of those venues tend to correlate well with what players will see this week.
2026 Weather Outlook: Wind is always a factor at Port Royal, and was once again last season where players were up against nasty winds on the final day and the winner managed to get home with just a single birdie on his card. This season, the expectation is once again for a tougher, wind-filled event as we are expected to see heavier gusts on all four days.
For DFS, the biggest thing to watch will be whether one tee-time wave gets noticeably calmer conditions on Thursday and Friday. Gusts up to 20-25 mph are expected on Friday afternoon but Thursday morning starters may get considerably better starting conditions, with gusts 5-10 mph lower than the afternoon wave on Thursday. As the forecast stands, I’d look to target Thursday AM starters over the PM counterparts, especially as a tiebreaker when deciding between golfers this week.
What Last Year’s Winner Did at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship
Adam Schenk entered the 2025 Butterfield Bermuda Championship in poor form, having made just 11 cuts in 27 starts and sitting 134th in the FedExCup standings. He had gone his entire PGA TOUR career without a victory, but finally broke through at Port Royal in his 243rd start.
His previous five PGA TOUR starts were:
- World Wide Technology Championship: T69
- Bank of Utah Championship: T47
- Sanderson Farms Championship: T21
- Procore Championship: T30
- Wyndham Championship: MC
Schenk had no top-20 finishes in his previous five starts, making his victory one of the more surprising results of the fall. His season-long statistics were equally unimpressive, ranking 115th in SG: Approach, 110th in SG: Putting and 131st in SG: Total entering the tournament.
He opened with rounds of 69-65-67 to reach 12-under through 54 holes, then survived extremely difficult Sunday conditions with an even-par 71. His final score of 12-under (272) was enough to beat Chandler Phillips by one stroke and secure his first PGA TOUR victory.
Schenk’s key performance notes:
- Shot 65 (-6) in Round 2, his lowest round of the tournament.
- Played his final round in winds gusting above 30 mph, making several crucial par saves and longer putts.
- Made just one birdie on Sunday, showing how difficult scoring became in the wind.
Entered the tournament having gained 0.224 strokes per round putting over his previous five starts, despite struggling on the greens for much of the season.
The biggest takeaway: Port Royal continues to produce unexpected winners, particularly when difficult weather brings short-game execution and course management into play. Schenk wasn’t arriving with elite ball-striking statistics or strong recent finishes, but he took advantage of the easier scoring opportunities early and then avoided costly mistakes when conditions deteriorated.
Last 5 Winners
- 2025 — Adam Schenk: -12, one shot over Chandler Phillips
- 2024 — Rafael Campos: -19, three shots over Andrew Novak
- 2023 — Camilo Villegas: -24, two shots over Alex Noren
- 2022 — Seamus Power: -19, one shot over Thomas Detry
- 2021 — Lucas Herbert: -15, one shot over Patrick Reed and Danny Lee
Finding Values on DraftKings Sportsbook
Odds to win are one factor to consider when picking players (but not the only one, so be careful not to put too much weight on them). This section is going to detail a few of the players who have the best fantasy value compared to their DraftKings Sportsbook odds of winning this week.
Seamus Power +2450 and $9,300
Comparables:
- Corey Conners (+2350 and $9,800)
- Chris Kirk (+2500 and $9,500)
- Ben Kohles (+2700 and $9,600)
Power provides similar outright equity to players costing several hundred dollars more, while also bringing proven winning experience at this venue.
David Ford +2900 and $8,800
Comparables:
- Rico Hoey (+2800 and $8,900)
- Austin Smotherman (+2800 and $9,100)
- Eric Cole (+3000 and $9,900)
- Kevin Roy (+3400 and $9,700)
Ford’s price creates an opportunity to access a player the betting market rates highly without paying into the upper $9K range.
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook as of Oct. 19, 2026, and subject to change.
Recent Form
1. Benjamin James ($10,900)
James enters Bermuda with strong underlying form, having now recorded four top-five finishes in his last 10 starts, a run which includes a runner-up at the Biltmore Championship. He’s also averaging an impressive +2.256 SG: Total over his last five events, gaining strokes off the tee, on approach and with the putter. While this isn’t an event to chase favorites, James deserves a shout out for his recent run.
2. Austin Smotherman ($9,100)
Smotherman arrives following a win at the Bank of Utah Championship, where he shot 26-under and beat Doug Ghim by two strokes. His rounds of 63-62-65-68 demonstrated his ability to go extremely low when his irons are working. That said, with heavy winds in play this week, he could struggle if short game becomes a bigger factor.
3. David Ford ($8,800)
Ford produced one of the best performances at the Bank of Utah Championship, finishing T3 at 23-under after closing with a 64. He played all four rounds in the 60s and finished just three shots behind Smotherman. The result was another indication of his growing confidence at the PGA TOUR level, and his $8,800 salary makes him an appealing alternative to the expensive players at the top of the board.
4. Seamus Power ($9,300)
Power’s recent results have been supported by some strong putting and short-game statistics. He’s averaging +0.895 SG: Total over his last five starts, including +0.651 putting and +0.324 around the green. The former Bermuda champion also finished T11 here last season, giving him an appealing combination of improving form and course history heading into another potentially windy week.
5. Eric Cole ($9,900)
Cole hasn’t produced the same high finishes as the other names on this list, but he’s been relatively consistent about playing four rounds. His recent results include T24 at the Biltmore Championship, T28 at the BMW Championship and T29 at the Wyndham Championship. He’s also 13th on the PGA TOUR in SG: Putting and 12th Around-the-Green, making him an interesting fit for Port Royal despite his lack of recent top-20 finishes.
DRAFTKINGS DFS STRATEGY
Cash Games: Corey Conners and Seamus Power
Corey Conners ($9,800) is the first player I’d consider for cash games. His traditionally strong ball-striking and accuracy provide a reliable foundation for a course where keeping the ball in play and generating consistent approach opportunities are especially important. Even if his short game falters a bit, if the winds increase, his ability to control the ball should become even more valuable.
Seamus Power ($9,300) is another player I’d feel good building around this week. His past victory at Port Royal obviously makes him a solid course fit, and his short game and putting have been on an upswing of late, which is great considering the windy conditions we’re likely to see this week.
GPP Targets
Taylor Moore ($7,400) is an interesting GPP target at this price, particularly given his ability to get hot with the putter. Moore ranks 26th on the PGA TOUR in SG: Off-the-Tee and 52nd in Putting, and finished runner-up at the Cognizant Classic earlier this season, another event where high winds are often a factor. His recent form has been inconsistent, but at this salary, Moore offers enough scoring potential to consider as a lower-owned option in larger-field GPPs.
Vince Whaley ($7,400) is another player worth considering for tournaments. He finished T3 here last season at 10-under, showing that he can handle the exposed layout and difficult scoring conditions, and like Power, his strength tends to be his short irons and putting. The salary discount to other comparable players makes him an interesting lower-owned option.
Adam Schenk ($6,800) offers a very different kind of tournament opportunity. The defending champion returns at an extremely cheap salary and +13000 outright odds. His 2025 win doesn’t guarantee another strong performance, but getting a recent winner at this course below $7K is enough to make him worth considering in large-field GPPs.
GPP Differentiator: Mackenzie Hughes ($7,900)
Hughes is the kind of player I’d prefer to use as a tournament differentiator rather than a foundational or core lineup play.
His short game and putting have traditionally been among his biggest strengths, which makes Port Royal an appealing fit. When the wind increases, players who can scramble and consistently save pars can gain a meaningful advantage over stronger ball-strikers who struggle around the greens.
At $7,900 (and +3900 to win), Hughes offers an interesting combination of course fit, potential ownership leverage and enough winning upside to justify his inclusion in larger-field tournaments.
MY PICK: Haotong Li ($7,500)
Li’s recent improvement, international experience and ability to perform on exposed courses make him an appealing option at Port Royal. The four-time DP World Tour winner has shown he can compete in difficult coastal conditions, finishing third at the 2017 Open Championship and T4 at the 2025 Open Championship. That experience alone should be valuable at a Bermuda venue where controlling ball flight and handling changing winds can be crucial.
Li has also shown encouraging form across both tours this fall. He finished T18 at the Omega European Masters and T14 at the Irish Open on the DP World Tour before returning to the PGA TOUR and finishing T10 at the Biltmore Championship. At Biltmore, he shot a third-round 61 and finished 19-under, showing the kind of scoring upside that can make him dangerous in weaker fields. His recent results also suggest he’s beginning to rediscover some consistency after a difficult summer.
Li can be very inconsistent, especially with the short game, but he has some appealing qualities for Port Royal beyond results at correlating courses. He ranks 14th on TOUR in Greens in Regulation (70.37%) and 30th in SG: Off-the-Tee, giving him the ability to create scoring opportunities through his ball-striking. While his putting can be inconsistent, the shorter layout should allow him to attack with more wedges and short irons, reducing the importance of pure driving distance.
At +6300 on DraftKings Sportsbook, Li is an interesting outright target in an event that has regularly produced longshot winners. He’s not without risk, especially after finishing T68 in Utah, but his improving form, pedigree and experience competing in windy conditions give him the upside I’m looking for this week.
MY SLEEPER: Ben Martin ($6,600)
Martin is certainly not going to be a player you hear many people talk about this week, but that has also been true for almost every winner of this event over the past five-six years. The veteran struggled in the first half of the season but his recent Korn Ferry Tour form and accurate ball-striking make him an interesting longshot at Port Royal, and a player I could see outperforming if conditions get wild. The former PGA TOUR winner doesn’t rely on distance to compete, and this shorter coastal layout should allow him to lean on his irons and course management.
Martin’s recent results are also more encouraging than his PGA TOUR record initially suggests. He finished T6 at the Simmons Bank Open on the Korn Ferry Tour in September, shooting 19-under after closing with consecutive rounds of 64. He also finished T6 at the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic earlier this season, another event played on an exposed coastal layout where wind can be a significant factor. Both results are solid evidence that he can still contend when the course suits his strengths.
The statistical profile also makes sense for Bermuda. Martin averages just 298.9 yards off the tee, but he’s hitting 70.88% of his fairways and nearly 69% of his greens in regulation. He’s also gained 0.576 strokes per round on approach over his last five starts, suggesting his irons have been improving. The putter, as always, remains a concern, but Martin has shown throughout his career that he can produce strong putting weeks when he gets comfortable on the greens.
At +21000 on DraftKings Sportsbook, Martin is a genuine longshot, but history tells us that this is exactly the kind of player who has succeeded at this tournament before. Port Royal has produced several winners at triple-digit odds, and Martin’s recent Korn Ferry results, coastal-course experience and accurate ball-striking give him a plausible path to outperforming his price.
