PGA First Look: Wyndham Championship

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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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Event Preview

The final major of the year is officially in the rearview mirror. Before the FedEx Cup, many of the top golfers in the world would go into hibernation at this point of the season, but luckily we have this week and then the four-week stretch of good golf before the season officially comes to an end. Justin Thomas picked up his first major at last week’s PGA Championship. Even though he bogeyed his final hole, he took control of that event with some incredible shots and some incredible putts. Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth (along with a number of other young golfers) were all waiting to congratulate him on the 18th green. It’s nice to see the young guns support each other off the course and go at each other on the course. Even without a healthy Tiger Woods, golf is in good hands moving forward.

Sedge1

The PGA Tour doesn’t have to travel far for this week’s Wyndham Championship. It will be held at Sedgefield Country Club, which is located in North Carolina. While this course is close in proximity to Quail Hollow, it plays significantly shorter. It is a Par 70 course that measures only 7,129 yards. It features Champion Bermuda grass, which can be tricky for golfers that didn’t grow up in the area. Not only are Bermuda greens difficult to judge the speed at times, but the rough can be penal, especially if the course is wet. If you look at past leaderboards, you will see a lot of golfers that grew up in the area (Bill Haas, Lucas Glover, Webb Simpson, etc.) that tend to play well here every season. If you grew up or went to school in the Carolinas, I will be giving you a bump for this tournament.

This course is all about keeping the ball in play. Golfers won’t be forced to hit as many drivers as last week, as the course features a nice mix of holes. There are long and short par fours and both of the par fives should be reachable by most golfers in the field. Keep the ball in play and you should be able to make birdies. The winning score is typically in the high teens with the cut usually around two or three under par (for comparison last week’s cut was +5). My key statistics for the week are strokes gained ball striking (off the tee + approach), birdie or better percentage, par four scoring (since there are only two par fives), and greens in regulation.

With the FedEx Cup starting next week, there are a number of golfers that will be jockeying to get into the playoffs. Only the top 125 in the standings will play in next week’s Northern Trust. One of the biggest narratives that you will hear all week is about the golfers that are right on the bubble. I typically don’t play a golfer solely for a narrative. Unless they are already on my radar (thanks to stats, form, course history, etc.), I’m not going to put much emphasis on a golfer’s FedEx Cup points this week.

Cut Rule:Top 70 and ties move on after the first two rounds. The MDF rule is in effect if more than 78 golfers make the original cut.

Recent Winners of this Event: Si Woo Kim (2016), Davis Love III (2015), Camilo Villegas (2014), Patrick Reed (2013), Sergio Garcia (2012)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Approach
2) Strokes Gained Off the Tee
3) Birdie or Better %
4) Par 4 Scoring
5) Greens (or Fringe) in Regulation

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

Golfer DK Salary FD Salary FDRFT Salary OWGR Odds DK Odds FD Odds FDRFT Odds Cuts 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
Henrik Stenson $11,500 $9,800 $17,800 9 12 0% 0% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kevin Kisner $11,300 $9,600 $17,100 24 15 0% 0% 0% 3/3 10 500 8 500 46
Jason Dufner $10,400 $9,200 $16,300 34 23 -100% -50% -20% 3/3 22 51 500 500 7
Bill Haas $10,200 $9,300 $16,400 37 22 0% -33% 0% 5/5 22 6 2 20 7
Webb Simpson $10,000 $8,800 $16,500 59 20 40% 40% 0% 5/5 72 6 5 11 22
Ryan Moore $9,600 $8,600 $16,200 43 22 17% 17% 17% 3/3 53 10 500 500 37
Keegan Bradley $9,500 $8,000 $15,600 95 35 -29% 0% -13% 1/1 46 500 500 500 500
Kyle Stanley $9,300 $7,700 $15,300 61 40 -50% -9% -20% 2/3 14 51 132 500 500
Bud Cauley $9,200 $7,900 $15,700 101 29 22% 30% 0% 2/4 10 500 78 122 3
Grayson Murray $9,100 $6,800 $14,900 85 46 -30% 43% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
James Hahn $9,000 $6,900 $15,400 63 35 9% 44% -11% 1/2 500 500 57 98 500
Byeong-Hun An $8,900 $8,200 $15,100 65 33 33% 0% 27% 1/1 500 18 500 500 500
Ben Martin $8,800 $6,500 $15,100 181 48 -8% 60% -27% 1/2 135 10 500 500 500
Danny Lee $8,700 $8,300 $14,800 89 49 -7% -114% 12% 0/3 106 500 126 500 76
Chris Stroud $8,600 $6,600 $14,700 149 50 -13% 45% 11% 3/4 68 89 500 37 73
Shane Lowry $8,500 $7,600 $14,600 83 56 -31% -75% 0% 1/1 42 500 500 500 500
Lucas Glover $8,400 $7,200 $14,900 105 49 6% 0% -23% 2/4 22 18 132 98 500
Kevin Streelman $8,300 $6,700 $14,700 126 53 -11% 26% -5% 1/1 500 500 500 500 37
Scott Brown $8,200 $6,400 $14,400 127 64 -47% 26% -12% 2/4 33 3 78 500 123
Sam Saunders $8,100 $5,600 $14,300 291 71 -60% 47% -10% 2/2 68 14 500 500 500
Chez Reavie $8,100 $7,500 $14,900 121 38 45% 15% 15% 1/4 118 123 500 112 58
Harris English $8,000 $6,800 $14,200 131 70 -41% -35% 0% 3/3 46 31 500 500 10
Seamus Power $8,000 $6,600 $14,100 282 72 -55% -10% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chad Campbell $7,900 $6,800 $14,900 162 51 25% 22% -38% 3/5 57 31 92 134 4
Chesson Hadley $7,900 $5,100 $14,400 226 63 -13% 70% -8% 1/5 57 89 126 122 76
Martin Laird $7,800 $6,500 $13,900 96 78 -42% -6% 0% 3/3 63 59 14 500 500
Kevin Tway $7,800 $6,600 $14,200 180 70 -15% 3% 3% 0/1 500 500 107 500 500
Robert Streb $7,700 $6,900 $14,500 132 59 11% -39% -9% 3/3 33 500 18 37 500
Billy Horschel $7,700 $7,000 $14,800 47 52 32% -12% -12% 3/4 5 70 47 500 46
Russell Knox $7,700 $7,400 $14,600 44 58 18% -64% -10% 1/2 500 70 500 500 37
Martin Flores $7,600 $5,200 $13,800 275 81 -35% 49% -2% 2/4 500 56 107 16 76
Ollie Schniederjans $7,600 $6,900 $14,000 146 76 -16% -100% -3% 0/1 500 70 500 500 500
Anirban Lahiri $7,600 $6,400 $13,800 74 81 -32% -8% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Cheng-Tsung Pan $7,600 $5,500 $13,400 159 94 -48% 30% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kevin Na $7,500 $7,400 $14,500 80 58 37% -57% 4% 1/1 10 500 500 500 500
Emiliano Grillo $7,500 $6,600 $14,400 55 63 26% 16% -4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Soren Kjeldsen $7,500 $6,700 $13,900 82 79 -9% -41% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Scott Stallings $7,400 $6,000 $13,700 222 84 -16% 8% -2% 1/3 81 500 107 500 14
Brandon Hagy $7,400 $6,000 $14,400 221 59 37% 50% 4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Hao-Tong Li $7,400 $6,900 $14,000 67 74 8% -94% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Smylie Kaufman $7,400 $6,100 $13,600 154 83 -13% 4% 2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Richy Werenski $7,400 $5,500 $13,300 207 95 -24% 29% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Graeme McDowell $7,300 $6,700 $14,200 110 66 33% -7% 6% 1/1 5 500 500 500 500
Blayne Barber $7,300 $5,000 $13,300 228 96 -12% 48% -2% 1/2 14 70 500 500 500
Brian Gay $7,300 $5,100 $12,900 199 121 -40% 33% -11% 0/2 500 500 117 500 76
Jason Kokrak $7,300 $5,800 $13,500 103 86 -5% 13% 0% 1/3 92 500 500 112 73
Ryan Palmer $7,300 $6,900 $14,300 120 71 23% -83% -14% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Harold Varner $7,300 $5,900 $13,300 156 98 -16% 0% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Nick Watney $7,200 $6,500 $13,900 299 80 18% -14% -8% 3/4 500 31 5 83 31
William McGirt $7,200 $6,700 $12,900 64 109 -10% -100% 0% 3/5 106 14 8 65 94
Rory Sabbatini $7,200 $5,400 $13,300 454 97 0% 30% -4% 1/2 500 500 500 8 94
Patton Kizzire $7,200 $5,400 $12,900 224 113 -18% 17% -7% 1/1 53 500 500 500 500
Morgan Hoffmann $7,200 $6,200 $12,700 165 115 -20% -44% 6% 2/4 81 26 132 65 500
Andres Romero $7,200 $5,000 $12,900 175 121 -24% 34% -13% 1/4 144 500 14 83 110
Matt Jones $7,100 $5,600 $12,300 289 170 -58% -45% -9% 1/3 118 500 500 5 76
Daniel Summerhays $7,100 $6,800 $13,900 97 80 29% -70% -5% 1/3 500 43 500 83 110
Tyrone Van Aswegen $7,100 $5,600 $12,900 296 133 -16% -7% -19% 1/2 500 89 74 500 500
Tom Hoge $7,100 $4,900 $12,600 435 148 -33% 28% -14% 1/2 148 38 500 500 500
Padraig Harrington $7,100 $5,300 $12,600 147 143 -25% 9% -8% 0/2 500 500 132 141 500
Luke Donald $7,000 $6,200 $13,200 100 98 15% -24% 2% 2/2 2 26 500 500 500
Jonas Blixt $7,000 $5,300 $12,100 306 174 -50% -18% 0% 3/3 33 10 500 500 55
Johnson Wagner $7,000 $5,300 $12,500 277 147 -20% 5% -7% 2/4 5 70 38 75 500
D.A. Points $7,000 $4,800 $12,400 216 133 -8% 40% 12% 3/4 14 135 18 500 37
Cameron Smith $7,000 $6,100 $12,900 170 111 8% -22% -2% 1/2 92 18 500 500 500
Ricky Barnes $7,000 $5,700 $13,300 248 102 13% 9% -11% 2/4 500 123 24 20 123
Nick Taylor $7,000 $5,700 $12,800 195 111 7% 2% 8% 0/2 81 70 500 500 500
Kyle Reifers $7,000 $5,200 $12,500 243 142 -12% 19% 0% 2/4 144 47 500 98 37
Aaron Baddeley $7,000 $5,100 $12,500 148 152 -28% 14% -15% 0/3 500 89 132 152 500
David Hearn $7,000 $6,300 $13,000 205 103 12% -33% 0% 0/2 135 500 500 500 144
Camilo Villegas $6,900 $5,800 $12,500 383 129 11% -19% 7% 4/5 92 26 1 29 70
Willy Wilcox $6,900 $5,500 $11,900 493 208 -40% -48% -1% 2/2 500 26 24 500 500
Brett Stegmaier $6,900 $4,800 $11,500 518 274 -67% -7% -6% 1/1 5 500 500 500 500
Shawn Stefani $6,900 $5,400 $12,300 455 162 -17% -17% -3% 3/3 14 500 51 45 500
Geoff Ogilvy $6,900 $5,400 $11,900 252 151 -9% -9% 22% 2/2 22 500 500 37 500
Peter Malnati $6,900 $5,900 $12,200 605 164 -20% -68% 5% 2/2 42 500 64 500 500
Greg Owen $6,900 $4,800 $12,400 303 161 -14% 27% -8% 2/3 42 500 500 60 76
Spencer Levin $6,900 $4,900 $11,800 328 212 -44% 0% 3% 1/1 500 18 500 500 500
Bryce Molder $6,900 $5,000 $11,300 341 298 -74% -31% -3% 2/5 106 59 107 16 110
Seung-Yul Noh $6,900 $5,800 $12,900 206 112 19% -10% -6% 0/2 76 500 500 112 500
Zac Blair $6,900 $5,500 $11,900 325 180 -31% -39% 5% 0/1 500 123 500 500 500
Trey Mullinax $6,900 $6,200 $12,600 251 140 6% -61% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ryan Blaum $6,900 $5,800 $12,300 293 143 3% -31% 15% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Rick Lamb $6,900 $4,900 $12,500 281 147 -1% 30% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Sebastian Munoz $6,900 $5,200 $12,400 295 162 -16% 2% -9% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Cameron Tringale $6,900 $5,600 $12,500 249 150 -7% -25% -12% 0/2 106 500 500 141 500
John Huh $6,800 $5,000 $12,300 266 170 -1% 6% -9% 5/5 63 59 57 3 19
Cameron Percy $6,800 $5,000 $12,300 329 154 9% 16% 3% 3/3 33 38 500 60 500
Matt Every $6,800 $4,600 $11,900 751 218 -21% 15% -7% 2/3 92 500 500 5 14
Roberto Castro $6,800 $4,900 $12,300 143 183 -9% 7% -18% 3/5 20 66 18 122 94
Stuart Appleby $6,800 $4,700 $12,000 453 211 -16% 15% -5% 3/4 92 500 38 45 70
Retief Goosen $6,800 $5,200 $12,100 278 190 -10% -14% -6% 1/2 81 500 51 500 500
Derek Fathauer $6,800 $4,900 $12,300 236 173 -3% 12% -11% 0/2 76 89 500 500 500
Dicky Pride $6,800 $4,700 $11,800 852 230 -22% 10% -1% 2/4 33 500 78 141 50
Vaughn Taylor $6,800 $6,200 $12,500 190 145 19% -71% -4% 1/2 500 47 500 500 123
Michael Kim $6,800 $5,600 $12,100 232 180 -7% -53% -2% 1/1 75 500 500 500 500
Billy Hurley $6,800 $5,300 $12,000 145 210 -15% -30% -4% 0/3 500 89 107 500 76
Andrew Loupe $6,800 $4,500 $10,900 412 376 -58% -3% -1% 1/3 128 151 24 500 500
J.J. Spaun $6,800 $5,800 $12,400 152 149 14% -42% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
JT Poston $6,800 $5,600 $12,100 227 163 3% -38% 8% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Dominic Bozzelli $6,800 $5,400 $11,900 173 216 -20% -47% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ryan Brehm $6,800 $4,900 $11,200 330 280 -37% -17% 2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ben Crane $6,800 $6,100 $12,800 385 131 27% -40% -3% 0/3 128 107 500 147 500
Carl Pettersson $6,700 $5,000 $11,500 1168 265 -12% -24% -5% 3/4 500 6 18 83 4
Andres Gonzales $6,700 $4,600 $11,900 304 190 8% 22% 2% 2/3 46 107 500 8 500
Bob Estes $6,700 $4,500 $10,900 374 -31% -2% -1% 1/2 500 500 500 8 94
Greg Chalmers $6,700 $4,800 $11,900 340 215 1% 6% -5% 3/4 33 51 107 52 500
Jonathan Byrd $6,700 $5,300 $12,400 508 158 23% -4% -7% 1/3 500 18 78 98 500
Tag Ridings $6,700 $4,700 $12,400 458 165 17% 27% -15% 0/1 500 500 500 83 500
J.J. Henry $6,700 $5,300 $12,300 445 169 17% -13% -8% 2/4 135 107 32 45 500
Brian Davis $6,700 $4,500 $10,800 414 -36% -6% -2% 1/4 500 123 38 83 133
Chad Collins $6,700 $4,800 $11,500 267 245 -6% 0% 1% 0/3 81 132 92 500 500
Ryan Ruffels $6,700 $5,200 $12,100 432 194 6% -17% -8% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Cody Gribble $6,700 $4,500 $11,800 271 235 -4% 19% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brett Drewitt $6,700 $4,600 $11,000 671 330 -29% -9% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Whee Kim $6,700 $5,300 $11,800 188 240 -5% -42% -4% 0/2 128 115 500 500 500
Jonathan Randolph $6,700 $5,000 $11,200 320 287 -17% -29% 0% 0/1 500 132 500 500 500
Mark Anderson $6,700 $4,500 $10,400 452 461 -38% -8% 5% 0/1 500 500 500 500 133
Miguel Angel Carballo $6,700 $4,600 $10,800 672 411 -35% -14% -1% 0/3 106 500 143 500 110
Ryan Armour $6,700 $4,600 $11,200 543 288 -17% 1% -1% 0/1 500 135 500 500 500
Davis Love $6,600 $5,700 $10,500 849 258 7% -96% 23% 2/4 500 1 107 112 10
K.J. Choi $6,600 $5,000 $11,500 324 255 8% -19% -1% 2/2 500 63 500 37 500
Troy Merritt $6,600 $4,800 $11,400 341 259 6% -4% 1% 2/2 74 500 51 500 500
Tim Wilkinson $6,600 $4,500 $11,000 403 311 -6% 4% 2% 1/2 22 115 500 500 500
Brad Fritsch $6,600 $4,500 $10,500 574 487 -22% -11% -1% 1/2 500 500 8 139 500
Brian Stuard $6,600 $4,600 $11,400 182 267 3% 5% -2% 2/4 46 123 32 98 500
Ernie Els $6,600 $5,200 $11,400 426 263 5% -37% 0% 3/4 106 68 64 20 500
Mark Hubbard $6,600 $4,800 $11,800 632 230 12% 3% -2% 0/2 92 70 500 500 500
Hunter Mahan $6,600 $5,400 $11,300 809 285 1% -70% -1% 0/1 106 500 500 500 500
Alex Cejka $6,600 $5,200 $12,200 234 176 24% -10% -3% 0/1 500 89 500 500 500
Arjun Atwal $6,600 $4,600 $11,100 1080 307 -4% -2% 0% 2/5 144 107 117 71 66
Steve Wheatcroft $6,600 $4,900 $11,600 471 251 8% -9% -1% 0/3 118 70 500 500 123
Julian Etulain $6,600 $4,900 $11,200 457 302 -3% -22% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brian Campbell $6,600 $4,800 $11,100 429 304 -3% -14% 1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Joel Dahmen $6,600 $4,700 $11,100 448 307 -4% -7% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Sam Horsfield $6,600 $4,600 $11,000 326 -10% -8% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ted Purdy $6,600 750 -26% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ken Duke $6,600 $4,600 $11,200 485 313 -8% -7% -8% 0/4 118 89 92 500 123
Ryo Ishikawa $6,500 $4,500 $11,000 177 337 3% -2% -4% 3/4 500 31 70 26 76
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano $6,500 $4,700 $11,000 707 311 8% -9% 2% 1/2 500 38 92 500 500
Brendon De Jonge $6,500 $4,500 $10,600 917 475 -4% -9% -2% 2/5 81 89 132 52 14
Troy Kelly $6,500 $4,500 $10,500 698 -9% -14% -3% 2/2 500 66 500 500 63
Steven Alker $6,500 $4,600 $11,100 759 320 5% -7% -5% 0/1 500 70 500 500 500
Bobby Wyatt $6,500 $4,500 $10,500 758 565 -7% -12% -2% 1/1 500 500 70 500 500
Mark Wilson $6,500 $10,600 806 408 0% 2% 2/4 72 115 51 75 500
Hiroshi Iwata $6,500 $4,500 $10,900 553 380 1% -4% -2% 0/1 92 500 500 500 500
Steven Bowditch $6,500 $4,500 $10,400 1120 870 -12% -17% -3% 2/4 152 500 57 29 94
Savio Nazareth $6,500 $4,500 $10,400 904 -12% -17% -3% 0/1 500 500 500 500 123
Brad Miller $6,500 806 -11% 0/1 500 123 500 500 500
Y.E. Yang $6,500 $11,400 563 313 7% -13% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Nicholas Lindheim $6,500 $4,500 $10,800 520 417 -2% -7% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tyler Aldridge $6,500 $4,500 $10,700 882 466 -4% -8% -2% 0/1 128 500 500 500 500
Shane Bertsch $6,500 $4,500 $10,500 598 -8% -13% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Dru Love $6,500 $4,500 750 -9% -14% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jason Bohn $6,500 $4,500 $10,600 644 483 -5% -10% -3% 0/3 118 500 500 112 110
Max Homa $6,500 $4,500 $10,600 739 524 -7% -11% -4% 0/1 500 141 500 500 500

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.
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 X – @RG_Notorious