PGA First Look: Wyndham Championship

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

What a week we had at the PGA Championship. This may sound like hyperbole, but that’s the best golf tournament that I can ever remember watching. The course was in great shape and produced one of the best leaderboards that we have seen all season. The fact that Tiger Woods was in contention just made it that much sweeter. Some of the shots that he hit took me back in time to when I was a kid that would pretend to be sick on Sundays so that I could watch Tiger rather than going to church with my family (I pulled this trick during the NBA and NFL seasons as well). Come to think of it, I’m surprised my parents weren’t more concerned that I was sick for 45 of the 52 Sundays each year.

It’s always a bit of a letdown the week after a major. There aren’t many big names in the field this week, but it should still be a fun tournament. While there isn’t much at stake for the top golfers in this field, this is a very important week for many of the golfers that are trying to secure their tour card and their spot in the upcoming playoffs. We have a short Par 70 on our hands this week, as the PGA Tour head to Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. I always like these Carolina courses because they are extremely lush and tend to bring all types of golfers into the fold. With only two par fives and with eight of the par fours measuring between 400-450 yards, this is a course where a lack of distance off the tee isn’t going to punish you. It’s more about hitting fairways and giving yourself birdie opportunities (that you have to capitalize on to compete here).

The winning score of this event is typically around 20-under par. It’s one of the easiest courses on tour and last season we saw 25 golfers finish with at score of at least 10-under. Water is in play on seven of the holes, so avoiding the big number will be critical. You can’t afford to post a double or triple bogey when you have to shoot five or six-under par every round in order to be in the mix on Sunday. The greens are average in size and feature Bermudagrass (they replaced the slow Bentgrass greens in 2012). They will run around a 12 on the stimpmeter, which is considerably faster than the greens that we saw last week at the PGA Championship. We shouldn’t rule out any specific type of golfer this week. I’m looking for golfers with a strong approach game that can run hot with the putter (sounds like a Brandt Snedeker week, doesn’t it?).

Good luck everyone, be sure to check out our great premium content each and every 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 initial cut.

Recent Winners of this Event: Henrik Stenson (2017), Si Woo Kim (2016), Davis Love III (2015), Camilo Villegas (2014), Patrick Reed (2013)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

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

Hole by Hole Breakdown

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

Golfer DK Salary FD Salary FDRFT Salary OWGR Odds DK Odds FD Odds FDRFT Odds Cuts 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Webb Simpson $11,600 $12,200 $17,300 20 11 0% 0% 0% 5/5 3 72 6 5 11
Hideki Matsuyama $11,300 $11,900 $16,800 16 16 0% 33% 0% 2/4 500 3 71 78 15
Henrik Stenson $11,000 $12,100 $16,600 19 16 0% -50% 0% 1/1 1 500 500 500 500
Brandt Snedeker $10,400 $11,800 $15,900 88 23 -25% -25% 0% 3/4 500 3 43 5 83
Rafael Cabrera-Bello $10,100 $11,600 $16,000 28 21 20% 20% 0% 1/2 500 5 500 117 500
Shane Lowry $10,000 $9,800 $15,900 81 24 0% 63% -20% 2/2 7 42 500 500 500
Joaquin Niemann $9,700 $11,100 $15,500 157 27 0% 13% 13% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Billy Horschel $9,600 $9,800 $15,600 95 32 -25% 38% -43% 3/4 60 5 71 47 500
Russell Henley $9,400 $10,700 $15,500 55 33 -22% -10% -38% 1/1 500 46 500 500 500
Daniel Berger $9,300 $11,300 $15,500 42 30 20% -33% 0% 0/1 500 500 136 500 500
Sergio Garcia $9,200 $10,900 $15,200 25 37 -9% -33% 0% 1/1 500 500 500 500 29
Ryan Moore $9,000 $11,200 $15,500 75 32 25% -29% -13% 3/3 24 53 10 500 500
Harold Varner $8,900 $9,300 $14,700 164 46 -15% 35% 0% 1/2 10 128 500 500 500
Si Woo Kim $8,800 $9,600 $14,800 51 41 0% 26% 0% 1/2 500 1 500 500 147
Julian Suri $8,700 $9,700 $14,300 60 56 -20% 0% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ollie Schniederjans $8,600 $9,300 $15,100 104 38 19% 43% 0% 1/2 2 500 71 500 500
Graeme McDowell $8,500 $8,400 $14,300 181 62 -24% 56% -17% 1/2 94 5 500 500 500
Jason Dufner $8,400 $9,900 $14,500 61 56 -6% -27% -19% 3/3 14 22 51 500 500
Steve Stricker $8,300 $10,400 $14,300 155 56 -5% -82% -11% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Matthew Fitzpatrick $8,200 $9,600 $14,500 43 50 20% 16% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kevin Tway $8,100 $9,400 $14,000 138 70 -29% -23% -23% 0/2 86 500 500 107 500
Danny Lee $8,000 $8,300 $14,000 128 70 -18% 49% -18% 0/3 116 106 500 126 500
Jason Kokrak $7,900 $8,600 $14,300 106 55 26% 60% 6% 1/3 16 92 500 500 112
Abraham Ancer $7,800 $9,200 $13,900 149 70 -17% -12% -4% 0/1 500 148 500 500 500
Cheng-Tsung Pan $7,800 $9,100 $14,000 194 70 -4% 7% -14% 1/1 63 500 500 500 500
Peter Uihlein $7,700 $9,500 $13,800 65 76 -23% -52% -7% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chad Campbell $7,700 $8,500 $13,600 210 86 -46% 17% -15% 3/5 42 57 31 92 134
Chesson Hadley $7,600 $10,100 $13,900 69 69 18% -77% 15% 1/5 116 57 90 126 122
Brendan Steele $7,600 $9,100 $14,000 67 69 21% 19% 0% 1/1 500 500 500 500 11
Chris Kirk $7,500 $10,300 $14,000 131 72 3% -142% -32% 2/2 500 46 500 500 65
Johnson Wagner $7,500 $8,800 $13,700 368 81 -10% 6% -3% 3/5 24 5 71 38 75
Jamie Lovemark $7,500 $9,200 $13,800 110 73 0% -20% 0% 0/1 500 500 500 92 500
William McGirt $7,500 $8,400 $13,600 176 83 -13% 29% -3% 3/5 116 106 14 8 65
Rory Sabbatini $7,400 $8,700 $13,900 159 69 29% 38% 11% 2/2 4 500 500 500 8
Keith Mitchell $7,400 $9,100 $13,600 143 75 9% -15% 6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Bronson Burgoon $7,400 $8,300 $13,300 209 97 -38% 8% -15% 0/1 500 142 500 500 500
Whee Kim $7,400 $7,900 $13,400 102 85 -3% 52% 5% 0/3 140 128 116 500 500
Patrick Rodgers $7,400 $8,800 $13,300 146 94 -29% -26% -7% 1/1 500 500 38 500 500
Tyler Duncan $7,300 $8,600 $13,100 299 95 -15% -7% 4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Richy Werenski $7,300 $8,900 $13,300 180 93 -8% -31% -2% 1/1 10 500 500 500 500
Sam Ryder $7,300 $8,600 $13,300 198 99 -26% -17% -20% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Martin Laird $7,300 $8,700 $13,300 140 90 -3% -3% 2% 3/3 500 63 59 14 500
Ryan Blaum $7,200 $8,200 $12,600 242 116 -37% 0% -5% 0/1 131 500 500 500 500
Scott Piercy $7,200 $9,000 $13,500 224 94 0% -43% -19% 2/2 500 63 500 12 500
Chris Stroud $7,200 $7,900 $12,600 199 117 -40% 18% -7% 2/4 94 68 90 500 37
Bill Haas $7,200 $8,800 $12,800 122 104 -26% -54% 0% 5/5 75 22 6 2 20
Jhonattan Vegas $7,200 $9,000 $12,600 86 106 -28% -83% 2% 1/2 500 500 116 8 500
John Oda $7,200 $8,000 $12,700 525 117 -42% 10% -11% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brian Gay $7,100 $10,000 $13,400 116 88 20% -179% -5% 1/2 50 500 500 117 500
Nick Watney $7,100 $8,900 $13,400 118 85 24% -16% 0% 2/4 104 500 31 5 83
Sam Saunders $7,100 $8,200 $13,300 174 85 27% 39% 12% 3/3 37 68 14 500 500
Scott Stallings $7,100 $8,300 $12,500 162 123 -37% -31% -3% 0/3 116 81 500 107 500
Ryan Armour $7,100 $8,500 $13,000 112 96 6% 0% 4% 1/2 4 500 136 500 500
Blayne Barber $7,100 $7,600 $12,300 427 132 -43% 20% -1% 2/3 64 14 71 500 500
Jim Furyk $7,100 $8,600 $12,900 301 99 -2% -19% 0% 1/1 500 10 500 500 500
Hudson Swafford $7,100 $8,200 $13,400 182 92 16% 31% -11% 1/2 500 500 108 67 500
JT Poston $7,000 $8,900 $13,000 274 97 16% -50% 0% 1/1 50 500 500 500 500
John Huh $7,000 $8,400 $12,600 227 116 -2% -21% -4% 5/5 60 63 59 57 3
David Lingmerth $7,000 $8,300 $12,900 211 102 9% -2% -4% 1/2 500 500 500 74 122
Tom Lovelady $7,000 $8,000 $12,600 279 119 -12% 6% -14% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Robert Garrigus $7,000 $7,600 $12,300 262 133 -25% 19% -3% 3/4 500 22 116 47 11
Fabian Gomez $7,000 $8,100 $12,000 552 164 -33% -21% -1% 0/1 500 500 500 500 75
Andres Romero $7,000 $8,200 $12,000 270 176 -40% -36% -7% 1/4 94 144 500 14 83
Steve Wheatcroft $7,000 $7,400 $11,800 691 185 -53% 11% -4% 0/2 500 118 71 500 500
Grayson Murray $7,000 $8,800 $12,600 158 118 -9% -77% -11% 0/1 86 500 500 500 500
Hunter Mahan $6,900 $8,000 $12,900 546 99 23% 25% -2% 1/2 16 106 500 500 500
Brandon Harkins $6,900 $8,100 $12,600 216 119 3% -2% -14% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Vaughn Taylor $6,900 $8,700 $12,400 239 114 14% -46% 15% 2/2 50 500 47 500 500
Trey Mullinax $6,900 $7,700 $12,000 195 177 -23% 2% -8% 0/1 94 500 500 500 500
Matt Jones $6,900 $8,100 $12,600 280 118 5% 0% -13% 1/3 104 118 500 500 5
Peter Malnati $6,900 $7,600 $11,800 573 189 -36% -2% -7% 3/3 50 42 500 64 500
David Hearn $6,900 $7,700 $11,900 476 183 -29% -2% -6% 1/2 64 135 500 500 500
Wesley Bryan $6,900 $8,100 $12,000 154 161 -14% -19% 0% 0/1 500 118 500 500 500
Sung Kang $6,900 $7,600 $11,900 126 175 -20% 10% 1% 1/1 500 46 500 500 500
Mac Hughes $6,800 $8,000 $12,600 219 114 25% 18% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ricky Barnes $6,800 $7,800 $11,900 509 183 -12% -9% -5% 3/4 16 500 124 24 20
Seamus Power $6,800 $8,100 $12,900 317 103 29% 16% -6% 1/1 83 500 500 500 500
Lanto Griffin $6,800 $7,700 $11,700 333 186 -17% -6% 1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Benjamin Silverman $6,800 $7,800 $12,500 246 126 9% 12% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Retief Goosen $6,800 $7,100 $11,700 337 203 -31% 12% -10% 2/3 42 81 500 51 500
Brian Stuard $6,800 $7,400 $11,600 290 221 -39% -6% -5% 2/5 116 46 124 32 98
Conrad Shindler $6,800 $7,100 $11,400 487 236 -44% 3% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Martin Flores $6,800 $7,100 $11,800 417 194 -27% 14% -13% 3/4 7 500 56 107 16
Satoshi Kodaira $6,800 $8,300 $12,000 38 167 -3% -51% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Alex Cejka $6,700 $8,000 $12,200 253 123 22% 3% 7% 0/2 116 500 90 500 500
Denny McCarthy $6,700 $8,300 $12,400 400 127 19% -35% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Shawn Stefani $6,700 $7,400 $11,800 401 190 -7% 7% -8% 3/4 131 14 500 51 45
Brice Garnett $6,700 $7,600 $11,600 151 193 -11% -7% 5% 2/3 500 20 136 32 500
Dylan Meyer $6,700 $8,300 $11,800 727 183 0% -67% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Derek Fathauer $6,700 $7,300 $11,700 327 200 -13% 7% -8% 0/2 500 76 90 500 500
Parker McLachlin $6,700 $7,400 $10,900 1138 322 -48% -29% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Cody Gribble $6,700 $7,100 $10,900 463 297 -44% -10% -2% 0/1 144 500 500 500 500
Jonathan Randolph $6,700 $7,000 $11,000 421 281 -40% 2% -3% 1/2 83 500 133 500 500
Cameron Percy $6,600 $7,500 $11,700 470 181 12% 12% 7% 3/4 104 33 38 500 60
Zac Blair $6,600 $7,900 $12,100 532 156 21% -1% -1% 1/2 80 500 124 500 500
Aaron Baddeley $6,600 $7,700 $12,100 263 150 23% 13% 1% 1/4 75 500 90 132 152
Robert Streb $6,600 $7,800 $11,900 256 169 17% -1% 3% 4/4 72 33 500 18 37
Scott Brown $6,600 $7,400 $12,200 184 151 22% 26% -3% 2/4 86 33 3 78 500
Doc Redman $6,600 $7,800 $11,600 222 -12% -36% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Stephan Jaeger $6,600 $7,800 $11,700 241 203 -4% -27% -10% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tyrone Van Aswegen $6,600 $7,200 $11,100 362 258 -22% -10% -2% 2/3 28 500 90 74 500
Jonas Blixt $6,600 $7,000 $11,000 308 275 -26% 3% -2% 2/3 86 33 10 500 500
Corey Conners $6,500 $8,300 $11,700 352 186 15% -73% 1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tom Hoge $6,500 $7,500 $11,700 207 192 10% 1% -4% 1/3 116 148 38 500 500
Michael Thompson $6,500 $7,900 $11,700 356 178 20% -12% 8% 2/3 500 92 47 64 500
Jonathan Byrd $6,500 $7,000 $11,000 386 251 -9% 8% 3% 2/4 37 500 18 78 98
Harris English $6,500 $7,200 $11,600 283 208 2% 4% -2% 3/3 50 46 31 500 500
Sean O’Hair $6,500 $7,500 $11,100 135 214 0% -10% 9% 1/3 500 22 500 107 98
Rob Oppenheim $6,500 $7,000 $10,900 351 283 -17% 2% 0% 0/1 500 76 500 500 500
Ethan Tracy $6,500 $7,500 $11,300 551 249 -7% -17% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Davis Love $6,500 $7,200 $11,300 981 232 -4% -2% 0% 2/4 10 500 1 107 112
Ernie Els $6,500 $7,000 $11,300 588 238 -6% 11% -2% 3/4 500 106 68 64 20
Ben Crane $6,400 $7,800 $11,700 312 190 19% -18% -2% 1/4 37 128 108 500 147
John Merrick $6,400 $7,300 $11,400 1057 222 7% -2% 0% 1/2 500 500 71 32 500
Nick Taylor $6,400 $7,600 $11,700 291 201 14% -10% -9% 1/3 50 81 71 500 500
Brett Stegmaier $6,400 $7,100 $11,200 852 263 -3% -5% -4% 2/2 85 5 500 500 500
Matt Every $6,400 $7,000 $11,300 694 253 0% 7% -6% 2/3 13 92 500 500 5
Adam Schenk $6,400 $7,100 $10,900 389 283 -6% -8% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
George McNeill $6,400 $7,000 $10,500 1156 406 -19% -11% -3% 2/2 500 500 31 500 60
Doug Ghim $6,400 $7,200 $11,000 1110 256 -1% -9% 2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Daniel Summerhays $6,400 $7,000 $10,700 502 381 -16% -7% -3% 1/3 104 500 43 500 83
Carl Pettersson $6,400 $7,000 $10,900 315 -10% -2% -3% 2/4 144 500 6 18 83
J.J. Henry $6,300 $7,100 $11,600 443 206 19% 10% -1% 3/5 16 135 108 32 45
Dominic Bozzelli $6,300 $7,700 $11,500 345 210 17% -23% 2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Billy Hurley $6,300 $7,100 $10,400 664 397 -8% -20% 1% 0/3 86 500 90 107 500
Dicky Pride $6,300 $10,300 1018 458 -13% #VALUE! 1% 2/4 50 33 500 78 141
Stuart Appleby $6,300 $7,200 $10,600 799 364 -5% -23% 1% 3/4 75 92 500 38 45
Padraig Harrington $6,300 $7,000 $11,300 334 249 11% 10% -3% 1/3 80 500 500 132 141
Sang-Moon Bae $6,300 $7,000 $10,800 1073 350 -4% -5% -2% 2/2 500 500 500 14 52
Roberto Diaz $6,300 $7,000 $10,500 721 367 -6% -7% 1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ken Duke $6,300 $7,000 $10,400 475 -16% -17% -7% 1/4 80 118 90 92 500
Rod Pampling $6,300 $7,100 $10,400 541 414 -12% -24% -3% 0/2 500 92 500 500 141
Talor Gooch $6,200 $7,000 $11,100 247 264 12% 4% -4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Norman Xiong $6,200 $7,100 $10,700 336 5% -14% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Martin Piller $6,200 $7,000 $10,700 282 319 6% -2% 2% 0/1 500 92 500 500 500
Xinjun Zhang $6,200 $7,000 $10,400 403 -1% -10% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Matt Atkins $6,200 $7,000 $10,500 634 383 1% -8% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Nicholas Lindheim $6,200 $7,100 $10,900 353 308 8% -11% -3% 0/1 136 500 500 500 500
Tommy Gainey $6,200 $7,000 $10,200 606 -12% -22% -2% 2/3 94 500 500 67 52
Kris Blanks $6,200 $7,000 $10,300 517 -8% -18% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jason Bohn $6,200 $7,000 $10,400 408 -2% -11% -1% 0/3 144 118 500 500 112
Andrew Yun $6,200 $7,000 $10,200 687 669 -13% -23% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Will Zalatoris $6,100 $7,200 $10,200 569 -3% -40% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Cameron Tringale $6,100 $7,000 $10,400 511 408 5% -11% -1% 0/3 94 106 500 500 141
Kyle Thompson $6,100 $7,000 $10,300 625 461 1% -16% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Arjun Atwal $6,100 $10,200 468 471 1% #VALUE! 3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Zecheng Dou $6,100 $7,000 $10,200 765 558 -2% -20% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brendon De Jonge $6,100 $7,000 $10,300 569 -3% -20% -4% 1/5 104 81 90 132 52
Brian Davis $6,100 $10,300 521 -1% #VALUE! -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Shane Bertsch $6,100 $7,000 $10,200 739 -6% -24% -3% 0/1 116 500 500 500 500
D.A. Points $6,100 $7,000 $10,400 540 458 3% -14% -4% 3/4 69 14 136 18 500
Charles Frost $6,100 $7,000 $10,100 900 -6% -25% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500

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.
2013 – 2017 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