2023 Wyndham Championship
Sedgefield Country Club
Aug 16, 2020; Greensboro, North Carolina, USA; Billy Horschel reacts after missing a putt on the eighteenth hole to tie for the lead during the final round of the Wyndham Championship golf tournament at Sedgefield Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Hello, DFS Army! It’s your trusted DFS expert, Josh Thomas, aka DFSUpNorth, and we’re back with another comprehensive preview, this time for the 2023 Wyndham Championship. Nestled in the heart of Greensboro, North Carolina, Sedgefield Country Club, the prestigious venue of this tournament, exudes the quintessential southern charm. It’s a place where tradition meets competitive golf, creating an enticing blend for both the players and the fans.
Since its inception in 1938, the Wyndham Championship, the only regular PGA Tour event hosted on a Donald Ross-designed course, has provided the stage for some of golf’s most exciting moments. Sedgefield, with its captivating layout and strategic nuances, has tested the best in the business. As we gear up for the 2023 edition, let’s dive deep into the course’s architecture, its rich history, key stats, and how these factors could affect your DFS lineup decisions.
The Course:
Course Design and History
Sedgefield Country Club, opened in 1926, is a classic Donald Ross design. The par-70 layout stretches out over 7,131 yards, favoring accuracy and strategic thinking over sheer power. Ross, renowned for his course designs that fairly test all aspects of the golfing skill set, has etched his genius into the DNA of Sedgefield. Apart from minor tweaks, the course has remained faithful to its original design, with notable restoration work carried out in 2007 by Kris Spence.
A walk through Sedgefield is a journey back in time. Tree-lined fairways guide you through a strategic masterpiece adorned with undulating Bermuda grass greens and thoughtful bunkering. Sedgefield’s greens are typically smaller than average, testing the golfer’s precision with their iron play and putting prowess.
Course Breakdown
The course features only two par-5s and four par-3s, with the remainder being par-4s. The 5th hole, a challenging par-4, invites trouble with a creek traversing the fairway, demanding smart club selection and accurate placement. Contrastingly, the 18th hole, a short par-4 by modern standards, often decides the tournament’s fate, making for nail-biting finishes.
Sedgefield isn’t overly penal off the tee, but wayward shots can quickly find one of about 48 bunkers dotted strategically around the layout. Water comes into play on five holes, further emphasizing the need for careful navigation. Despite the fairways’ relative generosity, it’s the approach shots to small, fast Bermuda greens that separate the field. Players must bring an extremely precise iron game and a deft touch around the greens to contend here.
Historical Data and Strokes Gained Statistics
A quick look at past Wyndham Championships suggests that driving accuracy and approach play are particularly important. The average driving distance tends to be shorter than the PGA Tour average, emphasizing precision over power. Good drive percentage and greens in regulation percentage are typically higher than average, highlighting the importance of accurate ball-striking.
Historically, past winners have performed well in Strokes Gained: Approach and Strokes Gained: Putting categories, indicating that strong iron play and proficient putting are essential for success at Sedgefield. For instance, in 2020, Jim Herman ranked 1st in Strokes Gained: Putting and 2nd in Strokes Gained: Approach on his way to victory.
Notable History and Moments
The Wyndham Championship boasts a rich history with a winners’ list featuring some of the greatest names in golf. Sam Snead won the inaugural event in 1938 and holds the record with eight total victories.
In more recent times, the Wyndham Championship was the scene for one of golf’s more historic moments when in 2018, Brandt Snedeker shot a 59 in the first round, becoming just the 10th player in PGA Tour history to break 60.
Strokes Gained Insight and Historical Statistics
If we delve into the statistics from previous Wyndham Championships, several patterns emerge. The course places a premium on driving accuracy and precision iron play rather than sheer distance. The average driving distance for the field is typically shorter than the PGA Tour average, and players often fare better with a good drive percentage and greens in regulation.
Examining the strokes gained categories, winners historically perform well in Strokes Gained: Approach and Strokes Gained: Putting. For instance, Jim Herman’s 2020 victory can be attributed to his excellent iron play and putting, where he ranked 1st and 2nd respectively in those categories for the week.
Key Holes
Certain holes at Sedgefield stand out for their unique challenge and history. The par-4 5th is a prime example, demanding accuracy off the tee to avoid a creek that bisects the fairway. The second shot requires equally meticulous execution to land the ball on a sloping green guarded by deep bunkers. The par-3 16th is another stern test, where a carry over water to a well-bunkered, undulating green tests the player’s nerve and precision.
Architectural Notes
Donald Ross is famous for creating courses that test all aspects of a golfer’s game, and Sedgefield is no exception. The Scottish-born architect believed in making golfers ‘use their mind ahead of their muscles,’ and his design philosophy is evident at Sedgefield. The course demands thoughtful strategy, precision, and a diverse shot repertoire. The small and undulating greens, a Ross signature, place a premium on a solid short game and putter.
Previous Major Events
Sedgefield has a rich history of hosting notable golf events. Aside from the annual Wyndham Championship, it hosted the 1936 and 1974 Carolinas Opens, the 1938, 1941, and 1965 Greater Greensboro Opens. Sedgefield Country Club also hosted the 1951 Ryder Cup match where the United States secured a resounding victory over Great Britain.
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Tournament Set-up:
Sedgefield Country Club
Par: 35-35–70
Yardage: 7,131
Stimpmeter: 12.5+
Average Green Size: 6,000 sq. ft.
Total Property Acres: 130
Acres of Fairway: 25
Acres of Rough: 75
Number of Sand Bunkers: 52
Number of Water Hazards: 5
Number of Holes Water is in Play: 6
Greens: Champion bermudagrass .120”
Collars: Bermudagrass .325”
Approaches: Bermudagrass .325”
Tees: Bermudagrass .325”
Fairways: Bermudagrass .400”
Rough: Bermudagrass 2.5”
• No. 18 plays as a par five for members, but is a par four for the tournament.
• The Wyndham Championship was founded in 1938 as the Greater Greensboro Open.
• Prior to the 2020 tournament, a tee box was added on No. 14 extending the hole 25 yards.
Links to DFS Army Tools
- PGA Research Station – Every single stat you could want for this week’s event!
- PGA Cheatsheets – Notes on all the viable players in the field
- PGA Domination Station – One-click Optimized Lineups in Seconds
Golfers with 🔥🔥🔥 Wyndham Championship History
Webb Simpson: 47.06 SGT
Sungjae Im: 36.45 SGT
Billy Horschel: 34.78 SGT
Russell Henley: 33.83 SGT
Denny McCarthy: 23.11 SGT
Golfers coming in 🔥🔥🔥
Lucas Glover: 34.42 SGT
J.T. Poston: 32.47 SGT
Garrick Higgo: 22.15 SGT
Stephen Jaeger: 22.00 SGT
Vincent Norrman: 21.21 SGT
Course Fit and Player Profiles
We can see through the guys who have great history here that they excel in one of two areas, either with their irons, or with the putter. They also all are somewhat short off the tee and often do a good job of finding fairways.
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Weather:
Right now, early in the week, we are looking at lots of rain on Thursday and Friday. We’re still aways out so that could change, be sure to check in in our VIP Discord for weather updates.
Final Thoughts:
As we prepare for the 2023 Wyndham Championship, we look forward to a tournament that combines strategy, precision, and a touch of daring. Sedgefield Country Club is a classic test of golf, and typically produces very deserving winners.
Stay locked in to DFSArmy.com as we continue to break down the player field, key statistics, and all the elements that can lead you to DFS success. It’s shaping up to be another exciting week at the Wyndham Championship, and I’m thrilled to be guiding you through it. I will break it all down for our VIPs with my weekly PGA Cheatsheets! Until next time, DFS Army, keep driving for show and putting for dough!
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Featured Image:
Aug 16, 2020; Greensboro, North Carolina, USA; Billy Horschel reacts after missing a putt on the eighteenth hole to tie for the lead during the final round of the Wyndham Championship golf tournament at Sedgefield Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports