This article is part of our Yahoo PGA DFS Picks series.
Wyndham Championship
Sedgefield CC (7,127 yards, par 70)
$6.0M Purse
$1,080,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points to the winner
Setting the Stage
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – Job security is on the line as players partake in the regular season finale at the Wyndham Championship. The top 125 in FedExCup points after this event will not only have a spot in the first leg of the FedExCup playoffs; they will also secure a Tour card for next season. An average of around three players have earned their way in at Greensboro in past years. Those outside the top 125 will need to fight their way to a Tour card in other ways with the risk of getting demoted to lesser tours. As such, 90 percent of the players currently ranked 90-190 in the FedEx Cup points race are teeing it up this week in hopes of guaranteeing next year's Tour status and a spot in the playoffs. It goes without saying that this week may be the most nail-biting event of the season for those on the outside looking in. The Donald Ross-designed Sedgefield Country Club is vulnerable to low scoring because of its lack of distance, but precision and great putting are necessary to contend. Expect many scoring swings throughout the tournament as players vie for their Tour life in what should be an exciting finale before the top players compete for the FedEx Cup.
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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: Tee-To-Green
• Strokes Gained: Putting
• Par-4 Scoring Average
• Players already guaranteed a spot in the FedEx Cup Playoffs (approximately inside top 100 entering the week)
Drive it precisely and putt for job security
Sedgefield Country Club is known as a plodder's course that requires careful ball placement off the tee to be able to attack the small, undulating greens that are hallmarks of Donald Ross designs. Most greens are sloped back to front with large drop-offs into collection areas if a player should miss the green. This type of course favors the precise player who can hit it accurately and putt better than his competition. There's plenty on the line this week in terms of job security, especially for those on the bubble. Knowing this, it's prudent to load up your lineups with players who have already secured themselves a Tour card next year and playoff berth next week – they are playing with much less on the line and are more likely to play better as a result.
Yahoo Value Picks
Best of the Best
Webb Simpson, $43 – Simpson is one of the few top talents to return to Sedgefield year after year, making 8-of-9 cuts in his career, including five top-10s. Simpson's combination of great iron play and putting give the North Carolina native an upper hand in a diluted field this week. He's the most expensive option but well worth your dollar.
Rafa Cabrera Bello, $40 – A backdoor top-10 at the PGA Championship last week after a Sunday 64 gives him plenty of momentum heading into Greensboro. The Spaniard is currently ranked 57th in the FedExCup standings and has nothing to worry about as he's firmly in the playoffs. His only goal this week is improving his position in the standings.
Shane Lowry, $37 – Lowry's impressive run last week was fueled by great driving accuracy and putting, both of which are critical to success at Sedgefield. Expect Lowry to continue where he left off last week and make the cut while being in position to notch a top-10 finish.
Bargain Bin
Whee Kim, $26 – Kim missed the PGA Championship cut but prior to that was runner-up at the RBC Canadian Open. With a field strength much like the Canadian Open this week, expect Kim to rise to the occasion and improve upon his FedExCup rank of 54.
Jim Furyk, $21 – Furyk sits at the outside looking in, ranking 171st on TOUR in FedEx Cup points. This means he will need to win this week to have any shot at making it. However, the plodding nature of Sedgefield lends itself to Furyk's methodical game – he's been top-10 the last two times he played in Greensboro (2016 & 2011) – so look for the veteran to bring upside for a top-10 at the bargain price of $21.
Johnson Wagner, $20 – Wagner ranked 16th in Strokes Gained: Putting and 21st in par-4 scoring this season, so he's a no-brainer option at just $20. He has played Sedgefield nine times with six made cuts and a top-5 back in 2016. There really isn't much to dislike about Wagner here, other than the additional pressure of ranking outside the bubble at 136th in the FedEx Cup standings. There will be pressure to play well, but this course favors Wagner's game.
Strategy Tips on Yahoo this week (based on $200 standard salary cap)
As advised above, secure as many guys inside the FedExCup Top-100 points list as you can, as they have played better than their lower-ranked counterparts this season and have the freedom to play more carefree golf without next year's Tour card looming over their head. Beyond that, target precise drivers who can putt well and play the 12 par-4s well. Don't overthink things too much, especially when most of the field is mediocre and very similar in talent level.
