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PGA First Look: CareerBuilder Challenge

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2017-01-19 16:34:52

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The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.

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CareerBuilder Challenge Preview

After a two week stint in Hawaii, the PGA Tour heads to California for the first event of the West Coast swing. For those of you wondering why you can’t find course history for this event before last season, it is because the event changed sponsors. It used to be the Humana Challenge and before that it was the Bob Hope Classic. This week’s event doesn’t quite feature the same field strength as last week, but we do have three of the top 30 golfers in the world. All of the big names in golf are playing this week, but unfortunately they are playing in Abu Dhabi. This is one of the more unique events of the year, as it is a pro-am that features a cut after 54 holes of play. You will see a number of celebrities on the course and over the years, we have seen a lot of interesting swings.

This event is also unique in that it features a three course rotation. It will be played on the TPC Stadium Course, the La Quinta Country Club, and the Nicklaus Tournament Course. After each golfer has played each course, there is a cut after 54 holes. The final round will be played at the TPC Stadium Course. Here is a quick description of each course:

TPC Stadium Course: Par 72, 7,113 yards
La Quinta Country Club: Par 72, 7,060 yards
Nicklaus Tournament Course: Par 72, 7,159 yards

The first thing that you will notice is that all three of the courses are Par 72s. The TPC Stadium Course is the toughest of the three, but all three courses were ranked inside the top ten of easiest courses on tour last season. We’ve had a number of winners shoot 20-under par in recent weeks and that is a trend that we can expect to continue this week. This week is all about giving yourself opportunities to make birdies, so I am looking for strong tee to green and strong approach players. Being able to convert those birdie chances is also important. And finally, since birdies will be made by most, avoiding bogeys could prove to be critical.

Cut Rule:The top 70 and ties will move on after the first three rounds, unless more than 78 golfers are in line to make the cut. In that scenario, the top 60 and ties will move on.

Recent Winners of this Event: Jason Dufner (2016), Bill Haas (2015), Patrick Reed (2014), Brian Gay (2013), Mark Wilson (2012)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Tee to Green
2) Birdie or Better %
3) Par 5 Scoring
4) Strokes Gained Approach
5) Bogey Avoidance

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2012-2016)

Golfer Salary OWGR Odds + / – Cuts 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
Patrick Reed $11,200 9 15 0 3/4 56 24 1 113 500
Phil Mickelson $10,800 21 21 0 4/4 3 24 500 37 49
Bill Haas $10,500 42 23 0 4/5 9 1 6 101 64
Francesco Molinari $10,300 33 25 0 2/2 62 10 500 500 500
Zach Johnson $10,200 37 26 0 3/5 102 73 3 23 8
Paul Casey $10,000 16 29 -2 0/1 500 73 500 500 500
Charles Howell $9,900 97 28 1 5/5 11 56 58 2 49
Emiliano Grillo $9,800 25 28 1 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jon Rahm $9,700 137 31 0 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jamie Lovemark $9,600 85 32 0 2/3 6 500 105 500 66
Russell Henley $9,500 123 34 -1 2/2 49 500 500 56 500
Brendan Steele $9,300 57 36 -1 4/5 34 2 94 56 66
Jason Dufner $9,200 63 33 2 2/3 1 85 500 500 12
Kevin Kisner $8,900 41 36 0 2/3 500 85 48 500 66
Kevin Na $8,800 47 42 0 4/5 3 48 48 101 30
Chris Kirk $8,700 74 47 -2 2/3 500 56 500 113 42
Luke List $8,600 184 46 1 2/2 6 500 500 65 500
Charley Hoffman $8,500 64 48 -3 3/5 84 2 9 10 76
Scott Piercy $8,300 36 46 2 1/3 500 30 85 500 130
Webb Simpson $8,200 84 47 1 3/4 17 7 23 93 500
Kevin Streelman $8,100 117 55 -4 3/4 11 41 500 10 76
Ryan Palmer $8,000 76 47 2 4/5 17 10 2 6 76
Hudson Swafford $7,900 204 54 0 2/3 56 73 25 500 500
Martin Laird $7,800 150 48 2 5/5 49 15 25 47 14
Lucas Glover $7,700 182 59 -1 3/4 17 15 94 47 500
Brian Harman $7,600 136 65 -2 3/4 11 500 82 127 54
Chez Reavie $7,500 118 54 3 2/3 17 101 500 500 39
Adam Hadwin $7,500 196 74 -5 2/2 6 48 500 500 500
Keegan Bradley $7,400 114 71 -2 2/2 500 48 18 500 500
William McGirt $7,400 44 63 2 3/5 113 101 76 56 30
Sean O’Hair $7,300 79 66 1 2/4 28 41 85 145 500
David Lingmerth $7,300 69 65 2 4/4 2 24 78 2 500
Stewart Cink $7,200 247 98 -10 2/4 84 127 58 10 500
Harold Varner $7,200 111 93 -8 0/1 84 500 500 500 500
Blayne Barber $7,100 211 99 -9 2/2 34 48 500 500 500
Shawn Stefani $7,100 316 104 -11 2/3 102 15 500 72 500
Roberto Castro $7,000 68 89 -1 4/4 56 500 25 37 42
John Huh $7,000 216 75 4 2/2 24 30 500 500 500
Anirban Lahiri $7,000 82 92 -2 1/1 28 500 500 500 500
Soren Kjeldsen $7,000 51 84 2 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Grayson Murray $7,000 160 86 0 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brandon Stone $7,000 71 84 2 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Cameron Smith $7,000 113 80 3 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jhonattan Vegas $6,900 67 92 4 1/5 126 110 84 113 92
Graham DeLaet $6,900 202 97 2 3/3 42 30 500 65 500
Aaron Baddeley $6,900 124 100 -1 2/3 42 500 94 27 500
Smylie Kaufman $6,900 107 128 -14 1/1 14 500 500 500 500
Geoff Ogilvy $6,900 194 122 -8 1/3 71 500 117 27 500
Brian Stuard $6,900 144 133 -17 2/3 500 101 5 10 500
Michael Kim $6,900 259 135 -19 1/1 70 500 500 500 500
Ollie Schniederjans $6,900 189 134 -18 0/1 153 500 500 500 500
Alex Cejka $6,800 168 124 -2 2/2 42 15 500 500 500
Robert Garrigus $6,800 229 127 -5 4/5 49 72 94 16 2
Bryson DeChambeau $6,800 122 140 -14 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Henrik Norlander $6,800 270 144 -15 0/2 71 500 500 82 500
Bryce Molder $6,800 190 139 -12 3/5 28 73 38 16 121
Camilo Villegas $6,800 307 128 -6 3/4 122 500 33 47 19
Ryo Ishikawa $6,800 100 115 3 1/3 500 85 25 135 500
John Peterson $6,800 769 167 -26 1/2 500 20 85 500 500
Patton Kizzire $6,700 95 114 12 1/1 42 500 500 500 500
Daniel Summerhays $6,700 73 117 10 3/4 42 73 58 27 500
Cameron Tringale $6,700 209 111 13 5/5 14 30 38 37 30
John Senden $6,700 140 157 -12 3/4 71 500 69 65 6
Johnson Wagner $6,700 180 146 -10 3/4 117 500 25 37 2
Danny Lee $6,700 70 118 9 2/3 500 64 105 500 66
Fabian Gomez $6,700 81 127 4 2/2 500 30 500 27 500
Derek Fathauer $6,700 185 187 -25 0/2 92 110 500 500 500
Michael Thompson $6,600 225 124 14 2/2 28 500 500 500 54
Ben Martin $6,600 170 122 16 1/2 34 500 111 500 500
Cheng-Tsung Pan $6,600 203 144 1 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ben Crane $6,600 401 187 -17 3/5 24 110 9 113 8
Whee Kim $6,600 267 131 8 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Martin Flores $6,600 238 183 -14 2/3 500 59 25 127 500
Trey Mullinax $6,600 351 187 -17 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Rory Sabbatini $6,600 481 204 -28 3/5 137 24 38 135 14
Chad Campbell $6,500 207 158 3 1/5 92 119 69 142 104
Colt Knost $6,500 150 183 -6 3/3 24 10 500 63 500
Seung-Yul Noh $6,500 365 145 7 2/4 17 500 38 125 76
Ricky Barnes $6,500 218 195 -14 3/5 34 110 94 16 49
Xander Schauffele $6,500 299 225 -24 0/1 92 500 500 500 500
Aaron Wise $6,500 488 160 0 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brian Gay $6,500 562 158 2 2/4 137 500 94 1 42
Nick Watney $6,500 488 163 -1 1/2 117 14 500 500 500
Jerry Kelly $6,400 132 139 20 3/5 42 73 13 47 76
Wesley Bryan $6,400 130 155 13 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Vaughn Taylor $6,400 134 160 9 0/1 500 500 500 500 92
Ryan Brehm $6,400 235 217 -14 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Seamus Power $6,400 341 188 -4 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tim Wilkinson $6,400 361 201 -9 1/3 62 145 126 500 500
Nick Taylor $6,400 411 246 -20 0/2 71 85 500 500 500
Zac Blair $6,400 290 201 -10 0/2 126 73 500 500 500
Brett Stegmaier $6,300 274 179 12 1/1 34 500 500 500 500
Jason Bohn $6,300 219 217 -6 4/5 84 30 33 76 30
Kelly Kraft $6,300 403 177 13 0/1 131 500 500 500 500
Scott Brown $6,300 224 203 -3 1/4 142 85 48 500 104
Will MacKenzie $6,300 478 267 -18 1/2 145 500 13 500 500
Steve Marino $6,300 364 281 -23 1/2 500 500 500 82 19
Sam Saunders $6,300 269 -19 0/3 152 151 500 500 125
Peter Malnati $6,300 317 296 -25 0/2 71 500 105 500 500
Ryan Blaum $6,200 366 183 18 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
David Hearn $6,200 165 196 9 0/5 102 137 126 101 104
Andrew Loupe $6,200 230 181 19 1/2 3 500 117 500 500
Kyle Reifers $6,200 146 231 -2 2/3 49 119 500 500 42
Cameron Percy $6,200 410 254 -6 0/2 500 137 500 101 500
Boo Weekley $6,200 288 258 -7 2/3 142 7 WD 65 500
Spencer Levin $6,200 241 269 -11 2/4 92 96 38 500 64
Bobby Wyatt $6,200 526 273 -14 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Sung Kang $6,100 201 194 19 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jonas Blixt $6,100 233 229 7 1/4 28 101 126 500 111
Troy Merritt $6,100 172 265 -1 1/3 131 48 111 500 500
J.J. Spaun $6,100 175 319 -12 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brad Fritsch $6,100 416 385 -22 2/2 500 500 48 65 500
Miguel Angel Carballo $6,100 441 423 -28 1/2 102 500 500 500 30
Carl Pettersson $6,100 621 381 -20 2/5 71 73 117 47 42
Ken Duke $6,100 339 481 -35 2/4 500 140 69 113 39
Jonathan Randolph $6,100 413 381 -20 0/1 500 73 500 500 500
Bud Cauley $6,000 323 200 25 3/4 14 500 136 37 30
Scott Stallings $6,000 397 238 14 3/3 WD 64 58 4 WD
Jon Curran $6,000 131 246 13 0/2 84 96 500 500 500
Tyrone Van Aswegen $6,000 239 323 -4 1/3 151 140 25 500 500
JT Poston $6,000 331 269 6 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Andres Gonzales $6,000 289 215 20 0/3 92 119 500 145 500
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano $6,000 675 258 10 1/1 500 59 500 500 500
Richy Werenski $6,000 266 298 -1 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Sebastian Munoz $6,000 608 -34 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Nicholas Lindheim $6,000 320 412 -17 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Angel Cabrera $6,000 601 358 -8 1/1 42 500 500 500 500
Hunter Mahan $6,000 433 350 -6 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ryan Armour $6,000 404 396 -15 0/1 500 127 500 500 500
Zack Sucher $6,000 467 504 -31 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Julian Etulain $6,000 453 496 -28 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brian Campbell $6,000 391 500 -30 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Max Homa $6,000 549 442 -20 0/1 500 96 500 500 500
Mark Anderson $6,000 458 565 -32 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chris Evans $6,000 750 -35 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kenny Pigman $6,000 773 -36 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brandon Hagy $5,900 369 327 15 0/1 500 73 500 500 500
Mark Wilson $5,900 590 288 21 3/5 56 30 126 101 1
Joel Dahmen $5,900 527 350 14 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tag Ridings $5,900 624 365 10 1/1 500 500 500 56 500
D.A. Points $5,900 637 362 11 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kevin Tway $5,900 428 308 18 0/1 500 500 136 500 500
Mark Hubbard $5,900 482 388 6 2/2 28 20 500 500 500
Steven Alker $5,900 573 419 2 1/1 500 59 500 500 500
Dominic Bozzelli $5,900 321 473 -5 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chad Collins $5,900 396 458 -3 2/4 117 41 8 500 104
Brett Drewitt $5,900 703 400 4 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
J.J. Henry $5,900 513 462 -4 2/3 500 48 82 500 104
Bob Estes $5,900 454 -1 2/2 500 500 500 16 22
D.J. Trahan $5,900 454 -1 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Rick Lamb $5,900 386 492 -7 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Charlie Beljan $5,900 1083 496 -8 2/5 113 148 9 154 75
Matt Every $5,900 583 565 -12 1/2 500 500 13 101 500
Steven Bowditch $5,900 287 865 -17 2/3 500 110 48 47 500
John Cook $5,900 1308 -18 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Mark Brooks $5,900 1308 -18 0/5 147 127 145 156 136

Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside of the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.

Legend

Term Description
+ / – The difference between a golfer’s salary and odds rank. This can help you spot underpriced golfers.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons.
2012 – 2016 Columns Course history at this event in the last five seasons.

About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on Twitter – @RG_Notorious