The PGA Tour makes its way to Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, for the highly anticipated Wyndham Championship. As the final tournament of the 2023 regular season, the stakes are high for players to secure their positions in the FedEx Cup standings. Only the top 70 players will advance to the next week’s St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind, making this event crucial for those looking to extend their season.
Sedgefield Country Club, designed by the legendary golfer and architect Arnold Palmer, offers a challenging yet rewarding Par-70 layout for the players. Despite being a parkland-style course, it has earned a reputation as one of the easier stops on the Tour, with winning scores consistently reaching -20 or lower in recent years. The course features two reachable Par-5s that add excitement to the competition, along with eight Par-4s falling within the 400-450-yard range.
Among the players to watch this week, Si Woo Kim stands out as a top contender at +3,500 odds. Kim has previously expressed his fondness for Sedgefield, making it his favorite course on Tour. His game is well-suited for the challenges it presents, with PGA Tour wins coming on corollary courses that demand accuracy off the tee and strong wedge play. Notably, he had a spectacular win in 2016 and achieved three consecutive top-five finishes in the tournament from 2019 to 2021. While putting may be a bit of an adventure for him, he excels on Bermuda grass, which is the preferred surface for his putting game. Ranking third in SG: Tee-to-Green over the past 24 rounds, Kim is expected to perform well if he can maintain his birdie opportunities and putt close to the field average.
Denny McCarthy, also at +3,500 odds, is another player to keep an eye on this week. Although he faced a disappointing outcome at The Open, McCarthy displayed impressive form prior to that event. With a solo second at Memorial and solid finishes at the U.S. Open, Travelers, and John Deere Classic, he has proven himself on shorter Par-4s in the 400-450-yard range. Sedgefield’s eight such Par-4s align well with McCarthy’s strengths, although he missed the cut at the venue last year due to an unusual off-the-tee performance in Round 1. However, his previous solid finishes in the tournament show that the course suits his game. Additionally, his putter skills are strong enough to keep him in contention, boasting a gain of 0.84 strokes per round in his 18 career rounds at Sedgefield.
Alex Smalley, priced at +7,000, has the advantage of familiarity as a Greensboro native and Duke graduate who calls Sedgefield Country Club home. Recently displaying excellent form with a T2 finish at the John Deere Classic, Smalley has shown solid performances throughout the bag. While his approach play dipped slightly in Scotland, which is expected on links-style tracks, he is expected to bounce back on familiar turf. His strong Par-4 scoring, accuracy off the tee, and elite iron play from 175 yards and in position him as a strong contender this week. Though putting may be the weakest part of his game, he has managed to gain 0.75 strokes per round in his two career starts at his home course, finishing in the top 30 and 13 last year and in 2021, respectively. With home advantage on his side, Smalley is likely to attract considerable attention and rightfully so.
Finally, Adam Schenk at +9,000 presents an intriguing opportunity for bettors. His season has been marked by highs and lows, with several missed cuts interspersed with top-seven finishes since March. Despite gut-wrenching runner-up positions at the Valspar and Charles Schwab, Schenk showcased a string of T7 or better finishes in five starts prior to The Open, where he missed the cut. Though his course history at Sedgefield may not be remarkable, his current form suggests he is playing the best golf of his career. Schenk’s game is well-suited for the challenges of the course, as he ranks as the best player in the field in proximity from 150-175 yards over the past 24 rounds. With an average gain of 0.9 strokes per round on the field tee-to-green over the same period, Schenk’s strong performance from that range positions him as a worthy contender. Given his recent sub-30/1 odds at the John Deere Classic, the value he offers at +9,000 is highly appealing, especially as the field at the Wyndham Championship, while strong, may not be three times better.
With Sedgefield Country Club providing the backdrop for this exciting event, the Wyndham Championship promises a week of intense competition and thrilling golf moments as players vie for their spots in the FedEx Cup standings and a chance to extend their seasons in the upcoming St. Jude Championship. The easy yet challenging course, coupled with the array of talented players in the field, ensures that golf enthusiasts will be treated to an enthralling spectacle of skill, strategy, and determination as the 2023 PGA Tour regular season reaches its climactic fina
