Bud Cauley is the lone sub-$7K golfer Farnsworth feels comfortable using. Cauley owns four top-10s in his last seven starts—all on demanding setups—while gaining ball-striking and flashing an elite short game, aligning perfectly with Mirfield Village’s test.

Polzin urged caution on Bud Cauley despite a flashy T-3 last week and seven consecutive made cuts. His custom model pegs Cauley only 23rd in overall stat fit because he ranks outside the top-40 in ball-striking, par-5 scoring and birdie rate—three categories Polzin says are non-negotiable at Jack’s Place. The Memorial’s thicker rough and longer par-4s differ dramatically from last week’s venue, so Polzin believes the recent podium finish will inflate ownership without offering comparable upside. He plans to come in well underweight or full-fade in GPPs, preferring similarly priced ceiling plays such as Matthias Schmid or Taylor Pendrith if their ownership stays low.

Kenny Kim named Bud Cauley his fourth cash-game cornerstone at a bargain $6.8K, saying the recent form is too strong to ignore even if the ownership balloons in GPPs. Cauley ranks inside the top-10 of Kim's overall model and is 11th in strokes-gained: approach over the past 24 rounds. He has gained across the board tee-to-green during a six-week surge and is 2nd in the entire field in strokes-gained on par-4s, a historical common denominator for Memorial champions. Cauley is also well above average in both key proximity buckets (150-175 and 175-200) and owns a tidy short game that should bail him out of Jack’s rough. Kim believes those metrics create an ideal high-floor profile for cash builds and is willing to eat the chalk, noting that a fade makes more sense only in large-field tournaments.

Rich Gehman identified Bud Cauley as his favorite sub-$7K salary saver, citing the former phenom’s post-medical resurgence. Since regaining full health, Cauley has posted T4 (Valspar), T5 (Valero), T32 (Harbour Town), T28 (Zurich partner event), made the PGA cut, and finished 3rd at last week’s Charles Schwab—gaining strokes in every major category. The RickRunGood adjusted course-fit model slots Cauley 5th overall despite only seven recent starts, underscoring how balanced his profile is right now. Gehman believes Cauley’s consistency lets gamers jam Scheffler while still maintaining six-of-six equity and even tossed out a 150-1 flyer for bettors chasing a storybook comeback win.

At +10000, Bud Cauley caught Reynolds’ eye after regaining full status via three straight top-6 finishes in March while playing on a Major Medical Extension. Cauley ranks 2nd on Tour in proximity from 175-200 yards (15.38) and 8th in Good Drives Gained over the last 36 rounds—two metrics tightly correlated with Colonial winners. Reynolds argues a shorter, ball-striking-heavy setup removes Cauley’s distance deficit and gives the former elite amateur a realistic path to a comeback victory.

At triple-digit odds, Wes Reynolds sees real value in Bud Cauley, who recently fulfilled his major-medical extension with three consecutive top-20s. Reynolds likes Cauley’s history on ‘less-than-driver’ layouts and views Colonial’s demand for heavy ball-striking as tailor-made for a player who ranked inside the top-30 in good-drives-gained and approach before his injury hiatus. If the winds pick up and scoring stalls, Reynold believes Cauley’s tidy short game can keep him in contention late Sunday.

Bamford fired one point each-way on Bud Cauley at 75/1, highlighting the veteran’s renaissance season off a Major Medical exemption. Cauley sits 50th in FedEx Cup after finishes of 6th at THE PLAYERS, 4th at Valspar and 5th at the Valero Texas Open; he also made last week’s PGA Championship cut. The Floridian thrives on Bermuda-based, technical par-70s and boasts a strong Texas track record—3 top-5s, 6 top-10s and 11 top-21s in 24 Lone Star starts, including 5th at TPC San Antonio this spring. Colonial’s tight driving corridors, firm bentgrass targets and predicted 20 mph gusts mirror those settings. Cauley owns three top-29 results here already and gains strokes with a sharp wedge game that should play up if scoring lands in the −10 to −14 zone. A top finish would qualify him for next week’s Memorial and keep Ryder Cup whispers alive, giving Bamford confidence the 75/1 number underrates his ceiling.

Andy Lack flagged Bud Cauley as a deep-field dart worth sprinkling in single-entry DFS and top-20 props. Cauley survived the cut at the bomber-friendly Quail Hollow despite its long-iron bias, which Lack views as a positive indicator heading to Colonial’s much shorter setup. Colonial caters to Cauley’s strengths: he sits 11th in this field in fairways-gained, 15th in proximity 100-175 yards, and converts putts inside 15 feet at an above-tour-average clip. Lack emphasized that Cauley’s lack of pop with the driver is no longer a major penalty after the corridor widening, while his accuracy now yields a real edge versus players hacking from Bermuda rough. With early odds projected near 150-1 and sub-3% projected ownership, Lack believes Cauley offers asymmetric upside for GPP lineups and a sprinkle on a top-20 finish.

Spencer Aguiar bet Bud Cauley –120 over Lucas Glover in a tournament head-to-head, explaining that Glover’s profile throws every red flag in his mis-cut equity model. Glover sits outside the top 90 in driving distance and outside the top 80 in proximity from 200+ yards—two buckets that account for 70 % of second shots this week. Meanwhile Cauley has quietly gained strokes off-the-tee in five straight starts and ranks 22nd in long-iron proximity over the last 24 rounds. Aguiar’s simulations give Cauley a 58 % outright win rate in the matchup, translating to a fair price of –140, so the –120 currently hanging offers over a 4 % edge.

Rich Gehman singled out Bud Cauley as the most intriguing punt after Cauley ranked fifth in his model. Gehman rattled off the reasons: Cauley is “very good” in par-4 scoring, “very good” scrambling, and has gained heavily on approach over his last 36 measured rounds— the exact periods Gehman weighted at 15%. Although Cauley’s Quail Hollow history is dated, it is positive, and Gehman thinks the wet setup will mask any distance shortcomings. Given the missed time after injury, Cauley’s resurgence has flown under the radar, allowing DFS players to roster a multi-category specialist under $7,000 with realistic top-25 upside. Gehman recommends heavy GPP exposure and a sprinkle on a top-40 ticket.

Brady Kannon considers Bud Cauley an appealing play for RBC Heritage due to his excellent recent performances, including finishing sixth or better in three consecutive starts. High finishes at the Players Championship (6th) and Valspar Championship (4th) indicate strong current form, further supported by Cauley's solid statistical profile: 10th in Greens in Regulation gained, 20th in Scrambling, sixth in hole proximity from 175-200 yards, and fourth in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green over his past 36 rounds. Given his quality statistical fit for a tight, demanding layout like Harbour Town, Kannon is backing Cauley to win outright and finish in the top-20.

Tour coach highlighted Bud Cauley as undervalued at 80-1 odds, emphasizing his current form and notable results. Cauley logged three straight top-10 finishes, including nearly winning The Players Championship, and comes well-rested after taking last week off. Coach believes Cauley's recent impressive play clearly surpasses his earlier career performance, suggesting these odds significantly underestimate his true win equity this week.

Jim Sannes regarded Bud Cauley as a worthwhile DFS consideration based on his excellent recent form. Cauley has produced consistent high finishes with a T6 at the Players Championship, follow-up T4 at Valspar, and T5 at the Valero Texas Open. Although Harbour Town historically hasn't been overly kind to Cauley, his current iron play and overall ball-striking confidence led Sannes to overlook the mediocre historical course fit and identify Cauley as a viable DFS choice in this week's lineups.

Rick Gehman recommended Bud Cauley at $7,500 as a notably undervalued player at the RBC Heritage. Cauley enters with impressive recent form, recording three straight top-six finishes. His standout play includes consistent tee-to-green performance and improved putting metrics. Initially viewed skeptically due to hot putting (6 strokes gained putting at the Players), Cauley subsequently reaffirmed his skillset by sustaining strong ball-striking numbers at both Valspar and Valero, finishing T4 and T5, respectively, without exceptional putting. Although Gehman acknowledged Cauley's prior mixed record at Harbour Town and a five-year competitive absence from the venue, he confidently stated Cauley is likely the best player in the field who didn't play in the Masters last week.

Shane Bacon identified Bud Cauley as a sleeper candidate at Harbor Town for the RBC Heritage, stating his game aligns neatly with this event's demands. He called out that the course's emphasis on precise driving and accurate short irons will strongly benefit Cauley's style of play. Cauley has quietly demonstrated a proficiency for courses requiring controlled distance and accuracy, which Harbor Town prominently features, making him a smart outside bet this week.

Landon Silinsky recommends Bud Cauley as a DFS option this week due to his extraordinary recent form and impressive ball-striking metrics. Cauley enters the RBC Heritage coming off three consecutive top-six finishes (The Players, Valspar, Valero). In this stretch, Cauley astonishingly ranks second in the field for SG: Ball-Striking and first in Total Strokes Gained. He gained a remarkable 12.6 strokes with his approach shot alone in his last two starts. Cauley's recovery and improved form following his severe car accident in 2018 stand out as a remarkable comeback narrative. Although he hasn't played Harbour Town since 2020, his previous T9 and T23 finishes illustrate he can handle this course. At a friendly DFS price of $7,500, Cauley's excellent recent play and ball-striking prowess make him difficult to fade this week.

Byron Lindeque advocated placing an outright bet at 80-to-1 odds on Bud Cauley at the RBC Heritage, driven by Cauley's surprising recent form. Despite a quiet reputation historically, Cauley recently secured sixth place at the Players Championship followed by a top-five finish at the Valero Texas Open, contradicting assumptions he'd fade after the Sawgrass result. Byron was notably impressed seeing Cauley demonstrate this sustained quality against strong fields and believes the good form warrants attention. Given Cauley’s precise iron game, comparable strategic course demands between Valero and Harbour Town likely bode well, making Cauley an attractive bet this week.

Pat Perry strongly advocates for Bud Cauley at 75 to 1 odds at RBC Heritage, citing Cauley's exceptional recent play. Despite a missed cut in his last RBC Heritage appearance, Perry emphasized Cauley's recent form as 'nuts,' implying outstanding, and believes Harbour Town perfectly suits Cauley's accuracy-focused game. Perry confirmed Cauley as a definite bet given his recent hot streak and course fit.

Andy Lack plans to back Bud Cauley strongly at RBC Heritage, specifically highlighting Cauley’s skipping of The Masters as a strategic benefit. Avoiding the draining experience of Augusta could help keep Cauley positively energized and mentally fresh for Heritage. Lack has previously been consistently buying Cauley due to recent excellent finishes and Cauley's strong correlation historically with precise, iron-driven golf courses like Harbour Town. Lack identifies Cauley as a prime bet and DFS option given these favorable conditions and his recent success at similar venues.

Andy Lack strongly advocated continuing to back Bud Cauley at RBC Heritage. Cauley has now accumulated three straight top-six finishes, including strong results at similar agronomic and architectural courses leading into the Heritage. Lack, who successfully featured Cauley at the Valero Texas Open and Valspar Championship, described Cauley as playing excellent and highly sustainable golf currently, gaining strokes consistently across all categories (approach, off the tee, around greens, putting). Given Cauley's record at the event and optimal course suitability for his precision and iron-driven style, Lack believes bettors and DFS players must persist in buying Cauley's hot streak despite fears of regression.

Eric Polzin highlighted Bud Cauley as a viable player to bet on in the placement market (top 20 odds) at the RBC Heritage due to his impressive recent form. Cauley has delivered three consecutive finishes of sixth place or better, clearly demonstrating sustained, high-level golf. Though a missed appearance at the Puerto Rico Open represents a confounding missed opportunity, his continued consistent form since has bolstered his betting appeal. Polzin particularly emphasizes Cauley's appealing statistical profile, rating him among the top 12 best statistical fits for Harbour Town. Given current 80-to-1 outright odds on Cauley, Polzin sees strong potential value in the top-20 placement market for fantasy purposes and betting scenarios.

Pat Mayo likes Bud Cauley's chances of finishing in the top 10 at +500 odds, despite reservations about the shorter odds. Mayo cites Cauley's excellent recent form, particularly his proficiency in approach—it’s among the best in this field. Over his past two events, Cauley's outstanding short game and scrambling skills were clearly evident (ranked fourth in sand saves, 11th strokes gained around-the-green). Mayo also emphasizes Cauley's iron accuracy, which perfectly matches the course layout of TPC San Antonio, giving confidence Cauley continues his hot streak with another high finish.

Ryan Andrade recommended Bud Cauley as an undervalued DFS option given his impressive recent resurgence. In his last eight tournaments, Cauley made seven cuts, secured five top-30 finishes, and comes off back-to-back top-6 results. Highlighting his second-place ranking in SG Approach at the Valspar Championship (+8 shots), Andrade emphasized that Cauley's game fits TPC San Antonio perfectly, backed further by his top-five placement in SG Total and adjusted scoring average this season.

Joe Champion identified Bud Cauley (+5500) as a valuable sleeper pick at the Valero Texas Open, citing his return to impressive form following an extended battle with injuries from a 2018 car crash. Cauley has previous solid course form (18th in 2012 debut and 10th in 2017). Champion underscored Cauley's encouraging results recently—sixth at the Players Championship and particularly impressive with his irons finishing fourth at the Valspar Championship. Cauley's rejuvenated iron play and strong recent results suggest he's making up for lost time and poised for another good performance this week.

Chris Breece recommends Bud Cauley for a Top 20 finish (+220) at the Valero Texas Open, citing Cauley's excellent recent play with top-six finishes at earlier prestigious events such as THE PLAYERS Championship and Valspar. Cauley ranks 20th in Strokes Gained: Approach and eighth in Par-4 Scoring in the current season, stats heavily weighted for success at TPC San Antonio. These factors point towards continued strong performance this week.

Will Gray picks Bud Cauley (+5000) as a potential outright winner at the Valero Texas Open, highlighting Cauley's recent hot stretch including consecutive top-six finishes coming into this event. Gray notes Cauley ranks fifth on TOUR in Strokes Gained: Total and cites his excellent iron play as foundational to competing at TPC San Antonio. Cauley's current form and statistical strengths make him a compelling sleeper pick.

Kelley Bydlon expressed enthusiasm for Bud Cauley as a top-10 bet, impressed by Cauley's recent finishes—T4 and T6—in the past two weeks and his high standing in statistical models. Bydlon highlighted his strong overall play and ranked him highly based on recent data, backing him at +450 odds for a top-10 finish. He cited Cauley's impressive recent form and solid metrics across the categories typically valued in his betting model. Bydlon specifically mentioned this was partly a narrative bet, humorously calling Cauley "Matt Brown's guy" due to Brown's frequent support earlier this season.

Jim Sannes identified Bud Cauley as a desirable top-10 wager at FanDuel Sportsbook with appealing +450 odds. Cauley's strength in recent events includes a strong finish (6th) at The Players Championship and a 4th at the Valspar Championship, primarily driven by excellent iron play and solid driving performance. While Cauley isn't historically known for elite short game compared to specialists like Sam Burns and Harry Hall, he's been performing above his baseline recently. Cauley finished 39th at TPC San Antonio last year, despite lacking his current strong form. Given his positively trending iron play at varied courses and previous decent course results (making cuts four of six times), Sannes believes Cauley's current form justifies the appealing odds for a top-10 finish.

Brandon Gdula highlighted Bud Cauley as an undervalued DFS selection at $9,800 on FanDuel. He pointed to Cauley's excellent recent form, which includes a 6th-place finish at The Players Championship and a T4 at Valspar. Significantly, Cauley has produced positive strokes gained data across all facets of recent performances, demonstrating consistency and balance in his game recently. Gdula's positive assessment suggests Cauley provides an attractive combination of steady performance lately paired with accessible pricing in DFS lineups this week.

Bo McBrayer is bullish on Bud Cauley's betting value at 45-1 odds, highlighting exceptional recent form and elite ball striking attributes. Cauley ranks third overall in McBrayer's model for TPC San Antonio, notably third in tee-to-green stats, seventh in birdie production, and top ten in par-4 performance—critical measures for success here. McBrayer sees incredible betting opportunity at these odds and plans to bet Cauley aggressively across outright, top 10, and top 20 markets.

Neil Parker identified Bud Cauley as a strong sleeper pick at +5500 odds to win the Valero Texas Open, highlighting Cauley's remarkable comeback after multiple serious injuries that sidelined him for an extensive period. Cauley enters Valero following back-to-back top 10 finishes at THE PLAYERS Championship and the Valspar Championship. Parker pointed out Cauley's impressive statistical profile: third in adjusted scoring average this season and eighth in the field for true strokes gained tee-to-green over his last 10 events. His past performances at TPC San Antonio include a T10 finish in 2017 and consistent play, including a respectable T39 finish in his return to the event last year. Given his current form and positive history at the course, Cauley offers significant value at these odds.

Pat Perry predicted Bud Cauley’s DFS popularity due to his strong recent play and compelling comeback story from injuries. Cauley ranks number one in the Bet the Number (BTN) model and sixth in Perry's personal model, reflecting strong statistical form. Perry admitted previously underestimating Cauley but noted his solid recent results coupled with a narrative the DFS community embraces will drive popularity, making him both a viable and strongly projected play despite the potential high ownership.

Eric Polzin endorsed Bud Cauley as a strong DFS value option, backing him due to impressive recent form—including a 4th and 6th place finish at the Players Championship—and an elite statistical profile. Cauley ranks third among all golfers in key statistical categories crucial for this event: birdie-bogey ratio, strokes-gained approach, par-4 scoring, and tee-to-green performance. Aside from one outlier missed cut in Puerto Rico, Polzin views Cauley's recent play as indicative of a strong performance at this event.

John Haslbauer highlights Bud Cauley as a potentially strong underdog bet at Valero Texas Open based on statistical modeling. Cauley rates highly across multiple metrics including strokes gained approach, around-the-green play, bogey avoidance, and strong performances on comparable windy courses. Haslbauer emphasizes Cauley ranking inside the top-40 in key statistics such as SG: APP, SG: ARG, Fairways Gained, and Bogey Avoidance. Haslbauer intends to closely monitor Cauley's opening odds for potential value and considers him a prime candidate for longshot bets and DFS lineups due to his suitability to TPC San Antonio's specific demands.

Neil Parker identifies Bud Cauley as a strong sleeper pick to win at +5500 odds in the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio. Cauley enters the tournament fresh off two consecutive Top 10 finishes at THE PLAYERS and Valspar, showcasing exceptionally strong form. Parker notes that Cauley's recent play isn't a fluke, pointing out his ranking as third in adjusted scoring average this season and eighth among the Valero field in true strokes gained tee-to-green over his past 10 tournaments. Historically, Cauley has also demonstrated solid performances at TPC San Antonio, highlighted by a T10 finish in 2017, T18 in his 2012 debut, and a respectable T39 last year while still working his way back from major injuries. Considering Cauley's recent hot streak and past success at the course, Parker sees excellent betting value in his current price.

Rick Gehman expressed confidence in Bud Cauley continuing his strong recent play at the Valero Texas Open. Cauley has been solid since the fall PGA schedule reset, significantly improving his strokes gained metrics and achieving highly impressive finishes, including a T4 at Valspar and T6 at The Players Championship. Although he has concerns about Cauley transitioning successfully outside Florida, Gehman views his recent performance trend—consistently ranking among the top players in this field since September—as indication that the improvements are sustainable, making him a solid DFS play at his reasonable $8,300 salary.

Pat Mayo flagged Bud Cauley as an intriguing sleeper pick for betting and DFS at Valero Texas Open based on Cauley's improving form. Cauley's recent success, including excellent performances at The Players Championship and Valspar Championship, were fueled significantly by improvements in his approach game and putting. Though previously unsuccessful at Valero, finishing only 39th last year due to struggles with his irons, Cauley notably has a long-past top 10 at this venue and historically had strong approach play. Mayo also likes Cauley's reliable short game and current consistent draw off the tee. While Mayo anticipates expectations may be somewhat tempered due to fading recency bias—a sixth-place finish at The Players is fading from public memory—he still expects Cauley is likely priced attractively enough around the 100-125 to 1 range, making him a worthwhile sleeper target.