This article is part of our FanDuel PGA DFS Picks series.
Wyndham Championship
Course: Sedgefield Country Club (7,127 yards, par 70)
Purse: $6,400,000
Winner: $1,152,000 and 500 FedExCup points
Tournament Preview
This is the last chance for players to secure themselves in the top-125 of the FedExCup standings to be able to make the three-tournament playoffs. There are also a number of big names that are making the trip all the way across the country from San Francisco to Greensboro to try to better position themselves for a deep playoff run. The biggest of which is Brooks Koepka, who's bid for a third straight PGA Championship fell flat with a final-round 74. The runner-up at TPC Harding Park, Paul Casey, will be in the field this week as well. Recent winners at Sedgefield that are making the long trip over include J.T. Poston, Brandt Snedeker, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, and Webb Simpson. The winner has been at least 21-under-par in each of the last four Wyndham Championships, so expect to see another shootout this week. The winds should be down and the course will be soft from rains that will threaten the area everyday.
Recent Champions
2019 – J.T. Poston
2018 – Brandt Snedeker
2017 – Henrik Stenson
2016 – Si Woo Kim
2015 – Davis Love III
2014 – Camilo Villegas
2013 – Patrick Reed
2012 – Sergio Garcia
2011 – Webb Simpson
2010 – Arjun Atwal
Key Stats to Victory
SG: Approach
SG: Putting
SG: Off-the-Tee
Birdie average
Champion's Profile
This classic Donald Ross design was opened back in 1926 and restored back in 2007. The greens are a tick on the smaller end, but do feature quite a bit of undulation. Because of the lack of rough, it does set up for bomb and gauge, but if you look at the recent winner's you would be hard pressed to find a "bomber." Precise iron shots will take precedent at Sedgefield. You also will need to be making quite a few putts because these greens are as pure as it gets on the PGA Tour. Scrambling is pretty straightforward for the most part with the only concern coming if you short side yourself. Last year J.T. Poston went 72 holes without a single bogey for his first PGA Tour victory. Birdies and eagles will be flying all around this week.
FanDuel Value Picks
The Chalk
Webb Simpson ($11,900)
This should be your unquestioned favorite this week. The Wake Forest product has an incredible record here. How about eight top-11's in his last ten starts, including top-three's in each of the last three editions. Simpson's irons, short game, and putter are all elite in what has been his best season to date. He has the motivation of wanting to win again in his home state.
Harris English ($10,900)
With seven top-20 finishes in his last eight starts, English is an easy player to trust. He has been the eight-best player on Tour this season by both SG: Total and scoring average. The former Georgia Bulldog has no holes in his game to poke and provides solid value in this field at this price point. English has made the cut in all six trips to Sedgefield, including a pair of top-11 finishes.
Brendon Todd ($10,500)
One of the best stories this season has been the comeback of Brendon Todd. He ended 2018 outside the top 2000 in the OWGR. Now after a pair of wins early in the season and consistent play through the summer, the 35-year-old sits inside the top 50 in the world rankings. Todd is coming in with top-25's in four of his last five starts. A shorter course like Sedgefield should suit his game to a tee. Todd currently leads the Tour in scrambling and is fourth in one-putt percentage.
Billy Horschel ($10,400)
Horschel is trending at this event. In his last four starts here the Florida product owns a trio of top-11 finishes. He has said in the past he believes these are one of the best surfaces they putt on all year, and with his success you can see why. Horschel is quietly 20th in SG: Total this season and has top-25's in three of his last four starts. Given the field strength, $10,400 is a pretty solid value.
Longer Shots with Value
Kevin Kisner ($9,800)
The native South Carolinian, but the North side has always treated him well too. In five career starts at Sedgefield, Kisner has made the cut every time with a pair of top-10 finishes. His putter can carry him on these greens. Last week at the PGA Championship, Kisner ranked 10th in SG: Approach and second in putts per GIR. That combo will lead to plenty of birdies at this course. A top-25 this week would be his fourth in his last five starts.
Doc Redman ($9,300)
The name of the game is maximizing your scoring opportunities at Sedgefield and with the way Redman strikes it that should bode well for his chances. The Clemson product ranks top-20 this season in SG: Approach, proximity, driving accuracy, and GIR percentage. Redman also appears to be getting his putter heated up at just the right time, as last week at Harding Park he ranked top-10 in both SG: Putting and putts per GIR. At under $9,500 this week, the 22-year-old definitely deserves a look.
Harold Varner III ($9,200)
There's a big mismatch this week with Varner's salary and his SG: Total in a field on the weaker end, which is always something to keep an eye on from a value standpoint. The former East Carolina standout currently ranks 25th in SG: Total, which includes 20th in SG: Off-the-tee and 14th in SG: Tee-to-green. Putting is still the one concern for Varner, but he's going to have as many quality birdie looks as anyone out here if he strikes it like he has all year. He has made his last three cuts at Sedgefield, including a top-10 finish back in 2017.
Sam Burns ($8,800)
I wanted to include a bomber on here because with the rough at no more than two and a half inches, he should have free reign to swing away. Burns is seventh on Tour in driving distance and 19th in SG: Off-the-tee. He also has gained a lot of confidence on the greens this year, ranking 31st in SG: Putting. Where Burns is losing strokes is around the greens, but as I mentioned this is a course where players are going to hit a lot of greens and scrambling is on the easier side. The 24-year-old was rolling before a MC at the Barracuda Championship with four straight finishes of T32-or-better.
Strategy Tips This Week
Based on a Standard $60K Salary Cap
The field is pretty shallow this week, so you're going to have to be selective in your choices at the top. Although Brooks Koepka showed flashes the last couple weeks, $12,200 is still too much for a guy that shows little interest in non-majors. I also don't think with the way Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth are hitting the ball lately that you can trust them at $11,400 and $10,800 respectively. With a low-cut that should be between three-under and five-under, just getting everyone you draft to the weekend will be a challenge. Trust players with a few years of experience around Sedgefield and those who are dialed in with their irons and/or putter.
