The Donatos Shootout Preview: Enter the Gauntlet

The sun sets slowly over Reynoldsburg, Ohio, but the DGA Tour is moving full speed into the most pivotal stretch of the season. This Saturday, the Tour returns to action for its fifth event: The Donatos Shootout. And while this isn’t a major, you’d be foolish to think it doesn’t carry major weight. Prize money, leaderboard momentum, and legacy all hang in the balance as the Tour crosses the halfway point.

Thanks to a generous sponsorship from Donatos, players will be treated to pizza before the round—fueling the field with cheesy goodness and championship aspirations. There’s never been a better time to show up hungry.

The Slam Hunt Continues—If His Back Lets Him

Kyler Messner rolls into the Donatos Shootout as the undisputed alpha of the 2025 season. He’s fresh off winning his second major of the year at the Westchester Wildcard, joining The Masters and Eaglesticks on his growing list of trophies. With just one major left on the calendar—the Turnberry Showdown—Messner’s Grand Slam bid is officially alive. He’s the winningest player on tour, the par king (106 and counting), and boasts a ridiculous 80.25 scoring average.

But there’s a wrinkle: a lingering back injury may limit his full capabilities this weekend. Sources say he’s committed to playing, but how close he’ll be to 100% is a mystery. The Vegas books still have him listed as the favorite at +250, but for the first time in weeks, there’s a crack in the armor.

The Pack Behind: Spence, Sorg, Eyman, and Monk

Jack Spence continues to be one of the Tour’s most dangerous contenders. He’s tied with Messner for the most birdies on the season (8) and ranks second in total strokes (327), but has been brutalized by his double bogey count (12) and an unlucky handicap system. Still, he’s second in the standings and +400 to win The Donatos Shootout—don’t be shocked if he finally breaks through.

Auston Sorg, sitting third in points, has posted back-to-back top finishes and quietly climbed to 192 total points. He’s a fiery front-nine player with the ability to go low early, and his birdie-or-better percentage (8.33%) shows he’s knocking on the door. A win here would make him a serious title threat (+600).

Will Eyman—last week’s co-leader in net score—may have stepped aside to honor Messner’s moment, but his performance didn’t go unnoticed. He moved into 4th place in the standings and is one of the Tour’s most intriguing stories: only 2 birdies all year, but 36 bogeys and 8 triples? He’s a boom-or-bust machine, and at +800, he’s exactly the kind of guy who could shock everyone at The Donatos Shootout.

And don’t forget Trevor Monk, who continues to fly under the radar. He’s top five in par and bogey percentages, fifth in points, and hasn’t finished outside the top half since the season opener. He enters The Donatos Shootout at +650 with all the tools to make a run.

Shea Watch, Gilmore’s Comeback, and the Window Heard ’Round the Tour

It’s been an emotional few weeks for Shea McGuire, who’s now racked up three top-five finishes without a win. He ranks 6th in points, and despite having only one birdie all season, his par and bogey percentages prove he’s a grinder. After going viral last week for putting a ball through someone’s window on hole 10, he’s now also the clubhouse leader in off-course property damage. He’s listed at +900, but don’t let the chaos fool you—this dude is hunting a win.

Harry Gilmore returns for his fourth event of the season, and quietly sits 9th in points despite missing the opener. He has more birdies than Shea, Monk, Mike, and Eyman, and ranks top-three in both par and birdie-or-better percentage. He’s the ultimate wildcard at +750.

The Redemption Crew: Mike, Paszke, Dylan, and Gianni

Mike sits seventh in the standings, still trying to recapture the magic from his Pine Hill performance. He swapped clubs earlier this year, but after mixed results with his new irons, the latest rumor is that he’s now eyeing an 11-wood or 13-wood to fill a troublesome yardage gap. It’s been that kind of season. He’s second in fewest pars among full-time players but still ranks second in total strokes.

He’s long overdue for a clean round. If he avoids the big numbers early, he could post a top-five for the second time this year (+800 odds).

Seth Paszke, meanwhile, is rolling into The Donatos Shootout with more mystery than momentum. He leads the Tour in total strokes (369) and has zero birdies in four events, but continues to make headlines. His mid-season switch back to a right-handed putter (while still swinging lefty) raised eyebrows, but didn’t help—he had 42 putts in his last round. Still, there’s a belief that if he puts it together, the talent is there. Rumor has it he had added a new putting grip that could make all the difference. He’s +1800 this weekend.

Dylan Sharp and Gianni Young have both had flashes of brilliance and moments of misery. Dylan was top three at the turn in Westchester before imploding late and currently ranks bottom three in triple-bogey percentage. Gianni, on the other hand, quietly jumped into the top ten in standings last event, and has more birdies than two players above him. Expect fireworks—or total collapse—from both.

The Outsiders: Arter, Jamichael, and the Question Marks

Ryan Arter has quietly impressed, ranking top-five in scoring average and par percentage despite playing just two events. His swing is clean, his pace is fast, and his ceiling is high. He’s a dark horse at +1400 this weekend.

Jamichael Billups is the enigma. Still sitting at 0 points after his only round didn’t count for handicaps, he actually owns the best scoring average on Tour (76.00) and the best birdie-or-better rate (16.67%). If he plays, all bets are off.

What’s at Stake

Kyler’s dominance has been undeniable—but a logjam is forming behind him. Spence and Sorg are lurking. Eyman is peaking. Shea is burning for a breakthrough. The Donatos Shootout is no throwaway—it’s the last standard event before a major and the final chance to generate momentum before the Turnberry Showdown.

Bring your wedges. Bring your nerve. And for the love of God, watch the windows.

The DGA Tour is proudly sponsored by Haywood Golf