PGA First Look: CareerBuilder Challenge

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

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Event Preview

After a two-week stretch in Hawaii, the PGA Tour heads to California for the CareerBuilder Challenge. This is one of the more unique tournaments of the year, as it is a pro-am that is played on three different courses. The PGA West facility will host three of the four rounds with their TPC Stadium and their TPC Tournament courses. The other round will be played at the LaQuinta Country Club. If you are new to PGA DFS, golfers will play each course once over the period of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The top 70 and ties will move on and play Sunday, unless more than 78 golfers make the scheduled cut. If that happens, only the top 60 and ties will play on Sunday, even though the top 70 and ties will get paid as if they made the cut. TPC Stadium will serve as the host course where the final round will take place, so golfers will play it twice if they make the cut.

Let’s quickly take a look at each of the three courses:

TPC Stadium: Pete Dye design; Par 72; 7,113 yards, Bermuda fairways and greens; 2017 Difficulty Rank: 30 of 50.
TPC Tournament: Jack Nicklaus design; Par 72; 7,159 yards, Bermuda fairways and greens; 2017 Difficulty Rank: 39 of 50.
La Quinta Country Club: Lawrence Hughes design; Par 71; 7,060 yards, Bermuda fairways and greens; 2017 Difficulty Rank: 49 of 50.

As you can see, each of the courses are ranked below-average in terms of difficulty. With mild conditions in store this week, we are going to see plenty of birdies. Each of the last five winners of this event have been at least 20-under par. It’s worth noting that TPC Stadium is the most difficult of the three and it only became the host course in 2016. We should give a slight bump to the course history over the last two years. None of the the three courses are particularly long and they all require you to keep the ball in play. The best way to contend here is to stay away from trouble off the tee and to knock your approach shots close. This is definitely an event where we want to target the plodders over the bombers.

We can look at the three-day cut in one of two ways for DFS purposes. We can argue that it sets up well for a stars and scrubs approach since all golfers are guaranteed to play three rounds. We can also argue that playing a balanced approach sets up well, as getting six golfers through the cut will be difficult with a field size of 156. Seeing as how there aren’t many studs that I want to pay up for this week, I’m leaning toward the balanced approach in both cash games and tournaments.

Cut Rule: The top 70 golfers and ties will move on after the third round, unless more than 78 golfers are tied for T70 or better. In that instance, the top 60 and ties will move on.

Recent Winners of this Event:Hudson Swafford (2017), Jason Dufner (2016), Bill Haas (2015), Patrick Reed (2014), Brian Gay (2013)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Approach
2) Birdie or Better %
3) Par 5 Scoring
4) Par 4 Scoring
5) Strokes Gained Putting (Emphasis on Bermuda)

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2013-2017)

Golfer DK Salary FD Salary FDRFT Salary OWGR Odds DK Odds FD Odds FDRFT Odds 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Jon Rahm $11,800 $12,500 $17,300 3 9 0% 0% 0% 34 500 500 500 500
Brian Harman $11,500 $11,600 $16,900 20 18 0% 33% 0% 3 11 500 82 127
Patrick Reed $11,100 $11,300 $16,700 25 19 0% 40% 0% 12 56 24 1 113
Kevin Kisner $10,400 $11,400 $16,400 27 20 0% 0% 20% 25 500 85 48 500
Phil Mickelson $10,000 $11,700 $16,300 43 24 0% -150% 17% 21 3 24 500 37
Jason Dufner $9,800 $10,800 $15,900 41 38 -83% -38% -38% 25 1 85 500 500
Webb Simpson $9,700 $11,100 $16,500 38 31 14% 0% -50% 66 17 7 23 93
Zach Johnson $9,400 $10,800 $16,100 47 31 0% 0% -14% 87 102 73 3 23
Patton Kizzire $9,100 $10,000 $15,900 54 45 -78% -14% -100% 50 42 500 500 500
Chesson Hadley $9,000 $8,700 $15,300 80 39 -20% 71% 20% 500 102 145 149 500
Brendan Steele $8,900 $10,200 $15,700 46 31 36% 42% 30% 6 34 2 94 56
Chez Reavie $8,800 $9,400 $15,700 91 36 25% 55% 10% 12 17 101 500 500
Austin Cook $8,700 $9,800 $14,500 118 60 -85% -50% -4% 500 500 500 500 500
Bill Haas $8,600 $10,300 $14,700 58 54 -36% -90% -6% 17 9 1 6 101
Russell Knox $8,500 $9,700 $15,000 77 46 -13% 0% 0% 500 500 96 13 500
Bud Cauley $8,400 $9,500 $15,500 107 37 38% 44% 17% 3 14 500 136 37
James Hahn $8,300 $9,300 $14,600 59 77 -106% -59% -67% 500 500 20 38 4
Peter Uihlein $8,200 $9,100 $14,700 55 53 0% 36% 0% 500 500 500 500 500
Chris Kirk $8,100 $9,000 $14,500 169 68 -58% 3% -30% 21 500 56 500 113
Charles Howell $8,000 $10,000 $15,500 67 41 30% 0% -17% 12 11 56 58 2
Bubba Watson $8,000 $10,100 $14,600 93 56 -5% -62% 0% 500 500 500 500 500
J.J. Spaun $7,900 $9,000 $14,100 114 58 0% 29% 27% 50 500 500 500 500
David Lingmerth $7,800 $8,500 $14,200 127 61 -13% 42% 7% 34 2 24 78 2
Hudson Swafford $7,800 $8,800 $14,700 90 65 -26% 24% -61% 1 56 73 25 500
Kevin Chappell $7,700 $10,300 $15,100 32 44 40% -50% 6% 500 66 500 58 8
Brandt Snedeker $7,700 $11,100 $15,400 63 40 48% -117% 7% 500 500 85 58 23
Luke List $7,600 $8,200 $13,800 140 84 -33% 36% -3% 41 6 500 500 65
Adam Hadwin $7,600 $9,500 $14,500 60 56 26% -11% 13% 2 6 48 500 500
Jason Kokrak $7,600 $8,900 $13,600 142 97 -59% -23% -13% 500 102 48 94 8
Jimmy Walker $7,600 $9,300 $13,600 73 92 -48% -82% -5% 500 500 500 500 23
Lucas Glover $7,500 $9,100 $14,000 88 73 -3% -14% -3% 41 17 15 94 47
Kevin Streelman $7,500 $9,100 $14,300 170 63 10% 0% -4% 114 11 41 500 10
Grayson Murray $7,500 $9,200 $14,400 112 61 13% -4% -4% 12 500 500 500 500
Jhonattan Vegas $7,500 $8,900 $14,200 39 58 26% 34% 18% 34 126 110 84 113
Brian Stuard $7,500 $8,800 $14,000 168 87 -19% 3% -19% 78 500 101 5 10
Sung Kang $7,500 $8,400 $13,400 83 87 -23% 22% 5% 87 102 500 500 500
Ryan Armour $7,400 $8,500 $13,900 159 61 32% 44% 26% 66 500 127 500 500
Kevin Na $7,400 $9,200 $13,800 94 76 8% -31% 3% 70 3 48 48 101
Martin Laird $7,400 $9,400 $14,000 120 72 16% -55% 0% 9 49 15 25 47
Scott Piercy $7,400 $9,300 $13,800 124 89 -5% -77% -11% 41 500 30 85 500
Cheng-Tsung Pan $7,400 $7,800 $12,300 182 148 -59% 21% -7% 128 500 500 500 500
Johnson Wagner $7,400 $7,700 $11,900 351 185 -105% 12% -9% 97 117 500 25 37
Stewart Cink $7,300 $9,000 $12,700 145 141 -28% -77% -20% 78 84 127 58 10
Ryan Blaum $7,300 $7,900 $12,100 316 142 -30% 15% 8% 25 500 500 500 500
Danny Lee $7,300 $8,600 $12,100 115 154 -44% -48% -2% 41 500 64 105 500
Sean O’Hair $7,300 $9,300 $12,700 102 119 -14% -123% -7% 9 28 41 85 145
Andrew Landry $7,300 $7,800 $12,100 184 109 -5% 40% 26% 500 84 500 500 500
David Hearn $7,300 $8,200 $12,200 306 163 -53% -18% -12% 58 102 137 126 101
Alex Cejka $7,300 $8,400 $11,800 197 162 -51% -33% 10% 87 42 15 500 500
JT Poston $7,200 $8,600 $13,200 291 104 12% -5% -5% 34 500 500 500 500
Robert Garrigus $7,200 $7,600 $12,200 241 156 -26% 33% -7% 17 49 72 94 16
Wesley Bryan $7,200 $8,800 $13,400 69 74 34% 13% 18% 138 500 500 500 500
Vaughn Taylor $7,200 $8,300 $11,800 313 175 -42% -31% 1% 41 500 500 500 500
Chad Campbell $7,200 $8,100 $11,600 256 202 -60% -33% 5% 6 92 119 69 142
Stephan Jaeger $7,200 $7,700 $11,400 281 215 -68% 2% 13% 500 500 500 500 500
Smylie Kaufman $7,200 $7,700 $11,800 243 194 -56% 9% -8% 72 14 500 500 500
Brice Garnett $7,200 $7,500 $11,800 216 176 -46% 26% -1% 500 126 64 48 500
Nicholas Lindheim $7,200 $7,800 $11,700 290 206 -64% -9% -5% 50 500 500 500 500
Jim Herman $7,200 $7,100 $11,400 185 256 -112% 13% -10% 500 49 140 69 500
Fabian Gomez $7,200 $7,600 $11,200 474 256 -112% -13% 1% 78 500 30 500 27
Ryan Palmer $7,100 $8,500 $12,700 212 119 18% -11% -9% 102 17 10 2 6
Brandon Hagy $7,100 $7,800 $12,600 325 127 13% 29% -6% 58 500 73 500 500
Matt Jones $7,100 $7,800 $12,400 253 150 0% 19% -15% 500 34 41 13 23
John Peterson $7,100 $7,900 $11,500 679 198 -30% -20% 12% 58 500 20 85 500
Geoff Ogilvy $7,100 $7,600 $11,700 321 215 -38% 11% -8% 25 71 500 117 27
Camilo Villegas $7,100 $7,800 $11,500 367 233 -56% -27% -6% 97 122 500 33 47
Beau Hossler $7,100 $8,200 $10,900 303 219 -41% -54% 24% 500 500 500 500 500
Michael Kim $7,100 $7,300 $11,300 339 250 -67% 7% 1% 21 70 500 500 500
Matt Every $7,100 $7,100 $11,200 711 265 -80% 10% -3% 152 500 500 13 101
Sang-Moon Bae $7,100 $7,900 $11,300 256 -74% -61% -3% 500 500 500 85 27
Greg Chalmers $7,100 $7,000 $10,400 456 446 -118% 1% -2% 500 500 500 140 47
Andrew Loupe $7,100 $7,100 $10,900 682 306 -95% 2% -5% 156 3 500 117 500
Scott Stallings $7,000 $7,700 $12,400 296 133 26% 37% -2% 8 500 64 58 4
Tom Hoge $7,000 $8,300 $13,000 214 97 42% 22% 2% 500 92 137 500 500
Martin Flores $7,000 $7,500 $12,300 295 149 18% 39% -9% 102 500 59 25 127
Chris Stroud $7,000 $8,100 $12,700 163 95 44% 32% 11% 500 62 140 94 101
Shawn Stefani $7,000 $7,800 $12,300 349 146 21% 23% -5% 41 102 15 500 72
Trey Mullinax $7,000 $7,900 $11,900 352 181 -1% -12% -6% 50 500 500 500 500
Harris English $7,000 $7,900 $12,100 287 170 7% -3% -11% 500 500 30 33 65
Blayne Barber $7,000 $7,800 $11,700 360 225 -23% -20% -15% 114 34 48 500 500
Richy Werenski $7,000 $7,700 $11,500 286 221 -19% -1% 3% 9 500 500 500 500
Ricky Barnes $7,000 $7,500 $11,200 356 267 -53% -14% -5% 114 34 110 94 16
Keith Mitchell $7,000 $7,400 $11,600 335 206 -12% 21% 2% 500 500 500 500 500
Jonathan Randolph $7,000 $7,400 $11,500 239 244 -36% 5% -10% 87 500 73 500 500
Joel Dahmen $7,000 $7,200 $10,600 523 367 -71% -8% 0% 102 500 500 500 500
Dou Zecheng $7,000 $7,000 $10,200 595 -104% -11% -1% 500 500 500 500 500
Ben Martin $6,900 $9,000 $13,000 210 111 46% -52% -9% 102 34 500 111 500
Whee Kim $6,900 $7,900 $12,000 111 171 21% -5% -3% 17 92 96 500 500
Adam Schenk $6,900 $7,800 $11,200 294 275 -31% -52% -7% 500 500 500 500 500
Maverick McNealy $6,900 $7,700 $11,500 221 0% -1% 3% 500 500 500 500 500
Corey Conners $6,900 $7,800 $11,400 625 223 -2% -19% 7% 500 500 500 500 500
Steve Wheatcroft $6,900 $7,000 $10,600 572 363 -43% 7% 1% 500 102 2 500 500
Sam Ryder $6,900 $7,100 $10,300 268 438 -52% -8% -1% 500 500 500 500 500
Ethan Tracy $6,900 $7,100 $10,300 499 588 -70% -21% -13% 500 500 500 500 500
D.J. Trahan $6,900 $7,000 $10,300 546 -64% -7% -9% 500 500 500 500 500
Tom Whitney $6,900 $10,200 815 564 -67% 1% 500 500 500 500 500
Mark Wilson $6,900 $7,000 $10,300 1042 542 -62% -5% -8% 138 56 30 126 101
John Daly $6,900 $7,100 $10,300 1144 550 -66% -18% -10% 500 500 140 105 500
Mark Brooks $6,900 $7,000 $10,100 1329 -78% -16% -1% 128 147 127 145 156
Harold Varner $6,800 $8,500 $12,500 146 123 49% -13% 0% 78 84 500 500 500
Aaron Wise $6,800 $7,300 $12,100 223 145 43% 48% 7% 34 500 500 500 500
Brian Gay $6,800 $8,000 $12,300 206 111 54% 26% 16% 123 137 500 94 1
Nick Taylor $6,800 $7,700 $12,800 202 124 48% 40% -16% 34 71 85 500 500
Scott Brown $6,800 $8,900 $12,500 108 118 52% -37% 6% 58 142 85 48 500
Rory Sabbatini $6,800 $7,500 $11,700 366 202 20% 18% -3% 72 137 24 38 135
Dominic Bozzelli $6,800 $8,400 $11,700 255 190 23% -57% 1% 5 500 500 500 500
Tyler Duncan $6,800 $7,400 $11,500 244 1% 5% -10% 500 500 500 500 500
Hunter Mahan $6,800 $7,900 $11,200 639 244 1% -50% 7% 78 500 500 500 500
Tom Lovelady $6,800 $7,000 $10,300 391 429 -31% 2% 0% 500 500 500 500 500
Lanto Griffin $6,800 $7,100 $10,500 382 404 -30% -7% -2% 500 500 500 500 500
Lee Janzen $6,800 $7,000 $10,200 654 -50% -12% -2% 500 500 134 117 135
Matt Atkins $6,800 $7,000 $10,300 427 571 -46% -9% -11% 500 500 500 500 500
Seamus Power $6,700 $8,200 $12,100 348 163 42% -18% -8% 21 500 500 500 500
Benjamin Silverman $6,700 $7,900 $11,800 248 173 38% -6% 3% 500 500 500 500 500
Brandon Harkins $6,700 $8,400 $12,000 329 176 36% -47% -7% 500 500 500 500 500
Xin-Jun Zhang $6,700 $7,500 $11,400 271 235 15% 2% 0% 500 500 500 500 500
Cameron Percy $6,700 $11,600 397 250 10% -21% 87 500 137 500 101
Mac Hughes $6,700 $8,400 $11,700 147 225 20% -84% -15% 500 500 500 500 500
Peter Malnati $6,700 $8,000 $10,700 692 329 -8% -97% 0% 77 71 500 105 500
Nate Lashley $6,700 $7,300 $10,900 269 273 0% -3% 0% 500 500 500 500 500
Rod Pampling $6,700 $8,000 $11,100 257 265 3% -77% 2% 500 49 500 500 500
Brett Stegmaier $6,700 $7,200 $10,500 674 385 -12% -9% 0% 97 34 500 500 500
Charles Reiter $6,700 $7,300 $10,200 721 -35% -39% -4% 500 500 500 500 500
Troy Merritt $6,700 $7,100 $10,300 507 400 -14% -6% 2% 87 131 48 111 500
Martin Piller $6,700 $7,200 $10,800 305 288 -4% -1% 2% 500 24 500 500 500
Jeff Gove $6,700 $10,300 876 543 -26% -8% 500 500 500 500 113
Sam Saunders $6,600 $7,800 $12,000 250 156 50% 16% 6% 114 152 151 500 500
Talor Gooch $6,600 $7,900 $11,800 198 183 41% -14% -4% 500 500 500 500 500
Tyrone Van Aswegen $6,600 $8,000 $11,400 337 238 24% -56% -1% 144 151 140 25 500
Nick Watney $6,600 $8,600 $11,600 400 229 27% -121% -11% 87 117 14 500 500
Cameron Tringale $6,600 $7,400 $11,400 333 252 18% 0% -8% 138 14 30 38 37
Zac Blair $6,600 $7,700 $11,600 398 231 26% -9% -12% 34 126 73 500 500
John Huh $6,600 $7,600 $11,600 433 225 29% 4% -7% 148 24 30 500 500
Ben Crane $6,600 $7,400 $11,300 435 254 17% -1% -2% 78 24 110 9 113
Billy Hurley $6,600 $7,100 $10,300 237 450 -6% -10% -2% 500 500 48 117 500
Derek Fathauer $6,600 $7,200 $10,900 355 281 9% 0% -3% 128 92 110 500 500
Abraham Ancer $6,600 $7,000 $10,900 272 310 6% 10% -6% 500 126 500 500 500
Denny McCarthy $6,600 $7,000 $10,300 586 525 -9% -4% -6% 500 500 500 500 500
Andrew Yun $6,600 $7,000 $10,300 419 571 -15% -9% -11% 500 500 500 500 500
D.A. Points $6,600 $7,100 $10,300 284 458 -7% -11% -4% 66 66 500 500 63
Michael Block $6,600 $7,000 $10,100 1375 -23% -16% -2% 500 500 500 500 500
Jonathan Byrd $6,500 $7,500 $11,400 264 242 31% 0% -2% 500 500 500 58 500
J.J. Henry $6,500 $7,200 $10,300 519 454 5% -16% -3% 102 500 48 82 500
Rob Oppenheim $6,500 $7,400 $10,900 249 277 19% -11% -2% 500 131 500 500 500
Ted Potter $6,500 $7,300 $11,300 221 262 23% 1% -6% 500 500 500 105 500
Bronson Burgoon $6,500 $7,100 $10,800 451 290 17% 3% 1% 500 34 500 500 500
Colt Knost $6,500 $7,000 $10,700 552 369 11% 6% -3% 128 24 10 500 63
Jason Gore $6,500 $10,100 544 389 10% 16% 500 17 85 500 500
Corey Pavin $6,500 $7,000 $10,200 692 -7% -13% -3% 500 500 500 500 500
Andrew Putnam $6,500 $7,100 $10,700 371 358 13% -1% -1% 500 500 127 500 500
Jon Curran $6,500 $7,000 $10,300 491 475 3% -3% -5% 41 84 96 500 500
Roberto Diaz $6,500 $7,300 $10,300 539 525 2% -26% -6% 500 500 500 500 500
Kyle Thompson $6,500 $7,000 $10,500 354 471 4% -2% -8% 500 500 500 500 500
Conrad Shindler $6,500 $7,200 $10,800 368 325 15% -4% -2% 500 500 500 500 500
Mike Weir $6,500 $7,000 $10,100 875 -8% -15% -1% 500 500 153 117 101
Charlie Beljan $6,500 $7,000 $10,200 667 -6% -13% -3% 149 113 148 9 154

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
Site Odds The percentage differential between a golfer’s salary rank and odds rank. The higher the %, the better.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons.
2013 – 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