This article is part of our FanDuel PGA DFS Picks series.
Wyndham Championship – Greensboro, NC
Sedgefield CC (7,127 yards, par 70)
$6.0M Purse
$1,080,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points to the winner
Tournament Preview
Closing out the regular season schedule is the Wyndham Championship, where those on brink of making the FedExCup playoffs come to improve their positions or squeak into the top 125 and keep their seasons afloat. In fact, 90 percent of players ranked between 90th-190th in the FedExCup standings will tee it up this week, further confirming the importance of this event for those who want to ensure their Tour card for next year while also earning a spot in next week's playoffs. As is customary, many top players rest this week after the taxing PGA Championship in order to prepare for the pressure-packed playoffs ahead. However, top-30 ranked FedExCup entrants Webb Simpson and Chesson Hadley will tee it up alongside world No. 17 Henrik Stenson, who looks to defend his title from last year. The Donald Ross designed par-70 layout features just two par-5s but offers plenty of scoring opportunities. Expect plenty of birdies and drama to unfold as players compete with many future implications on the line.
Recent Past Champions
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
2009 – Ryan Moore
2008 – Carl Pettersson
Key Stats to Victory
• Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee
• Strokes Gained: Putting
• Par-4 Scoring Average
• Players already guaranteed a spot in the FedEx Cup Playoffs (approx. inside top 100 entering the week)
Champion's Profile
Length is not a major key to success at Sedgefield; it's more about driving with precision. The par-70 course has 12 par-4 holes – two more than a par-72 – so par-4 scoring is important. Past champions have shown a propensity for strong Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and strong Strokes Gained: Putting numbers, so focus on these metrics to guide your lineups. Though some players respond well to the additional pressure of playing for PGA Tour status and a playoff spot, most tend to play worse than normal, so it's best to avoid guys in that position. Target players who are guarantees or virtual locks for making the top 125, which means those starting the week 100th or better in the FedExCup standings.
FanDuel Value Picks
The Chalk
Webb Simpson, $12200 – Simpson stands out as a player to watch as he combines a top 15 par-4 scoring average with top-15 Strokes Gained: Putting. His familiarity with the course and six top-11 finishes in his last eight starts at Sedgefield are hard to ignore as you set your lineups this week.
Henrik Stenson, $12100 – Stenson is the top ranked player in the field at World No. 17 and defends last year's title this week. Though he missed the cut at last week's PGA Championship, the field is decidedly weaker and should offer him a chance at redemption.
Daniel Berger, $11300 – Though Berger missed his only cut here in 2015, his maturity and consistency should do well at Sedgefield, especially considering last week's top-12 at the PGA Championship. His game doesn't necessarily fit the typical bill of past champions, but much like his quick ascension on the PGA Tour, he's in a great position to surprise this week.
Joaquin Niemann, $11100 – The teenage phenom is ranked 12th in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee this season and has plenty to play for this week. As a non-PGA Tour member he needs to win to get into the FedExCup playoffs; but he has already secured enough FedEx Cup points this year in limited starts to earn his card for next season. In this unique situation he won't have the pressure of next year's job security over his head, so he will be free to aggressively pursue victory.
Longer Shots Worth a Risk
Shane Lowry, $9800 – Last week's 12th-place finish at the PGA Championship made it three straight top-15s; and he's in good form, as he led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting while finishing second in driving accuracy. Both aspects are key to success at Sedgefield, where Lowry will need to play well to get into the FedExCup playoffs.
Billy Horschel, $9800 – Horschel has three top-10s this season, which include a runner-up at the recent Barbasol Championship and a win at the Zurich Classic team event. He has played well at Sedgefield before too, with a top-5 finish back in 2016 and 5-of-6 made cuts at this event. Expect another made cut with upside for a top-5 in a weaker field this week.
Harold Varner III, $9300 – Varner was 10th at the Wyndham Championship last year as he squeaked into the FedExCup playoffs in clutch fashion and made it to the second leg before bowing out. His form is great entering this week, with top-20s in his last three events, including a fifth-place at The Greenbrier and a sixth at the John Deere Classic. His upside is great and his price reasonable, making him a solid value play this week.
Graeme McDowell, $8400 – Sedgefield could not be more fit to McDowell's game of great driving accuracy and putting. The one-time major champ is 13th in Strokes Gained: Putting this season and has hit over 65 percent of his fairways this season. It's no wonder he was top-5 back in 2016 here. As a "down-the-list option", you could do much worse than McDowell.
Strategy Tips for this week (based on 60k standard salary cap)
Consider using Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and Par-4 scoring for most of your research. This week there are generally some large talent differences between the top players in the field and the rest, so make sure you grab a few top guns and then take some shots down the salary list, especially if they have already qualified for the FedExCup playoffs, as again, there will have less pressure on them.
