Wyndham Championship Preview: Betting Tips & How To Watch
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The PGA Tour heads to Greensboro, North Carolina this week for the Wyndham Championship, and there’s plenty on the line for players hoping to make the Ryder Cup. But who should you be backing?
Henrik Stenson returns to Sedgefield Country Club after setting the tournament record of 258 last year to edge out Ollie Schniederjans on an exciting final day in North Carolina. This time, he isn’t just looking for a title defence but a good result that will help him secure his spot on the European Ryder Cup team.
Others in that same category teeing up this week are Stenson’s 2016 Ryder Cup teammates Rafa Cabrera Bello and Sergio Garcia, while Shane Lowry will be hoping another successful week could increase his chances of grabbing the attention of Captain Thomas Bjorn.
Meanwhile, Players Champion Webb Simpson enters as the bookies favourites thanks to a successful history in Greensboro, but there are plenty of others flying under the radar this week who we think have a good shot at gaining their first PGA Tour victories (Niemnann, Schniederjans and Varner III).
How to watch the Wyndham Championship
Those that found the new online-only platform Eleven Sports frustrating viewing for the PGA Championship last week will be pleased that the PGA Tour returns to Sky Sports Golf this week for regular service. Here’s how to watch.
Thursday & Friday
Featured Groups: Live PGA Tour, Sky Sports Golf (17:00)
Main Coverage: Sky Sports Golf (20:00)
Saturday
Sky Sports Golf (18:00), Sky Sports Main Event (21:00)
Sunday
Sky Sports Golf (18:00), Sky Sports Main Event (20:00)
Betting Tips: Wyndham Championship
Webb Simpson – 11/1
The Players Champion just locked up his spot on the USA Ryder Cup team, and will come in with a lot of confidence given that he’s had three top 25s in a row and has a good history here. Simpson was third last year, T6 in 2015, T5 in 2014, T11 in 2013, T8 in 2010 and was the 2011 Champion – talk about horses for courses. The World No. 20 ranks 3rd for Scrambling, 6th for Scoring Average, 12th for SG: Putting and 18th for SG: Approach the green.
Henrik Stenson: 14/1
The defending champion was struggling with an elbow injury after his T6 at the US Open, and it forced him to withdraw from the Scottish Open. He has since gone T35-T39-MC, but the positive is that here he doesn’t need to hit any drivers: last year he set the 72-hole scoring record without using a single driver all week. Stats wise, there’s noone better in the field this week; Stenson ranks 1st for GIR, 2nd for Driving Accuracy, 3rd SG: Approach the green, 5th SG: Tee to green and 10th for scoring average.
Rafa Cabrera Bello – 22/1
Another Spaniard hoping to claim his spot on the European Ryder Cup team. He’s currently only 5 points behind Ian Poulter – who holds the fourth qualifying spot on the World Points list. Rafa is hitting his stride at the right time, going T17-T10 in his last two starts at the WGC Bridgestone and PGA Championship. Was 5th the last time he played here in 2016. Ranks 12th SG: Approach the green, 13th SG: Tee to green, 23rd for Scoring average and 29th for overall putting average.
Ryan Moore – 25/1
Three top 13s in his last six starts, including a T12 at The Open. Finished T59 last week, but he did lift the trophy here in 2009 so not to be overlooked. Ranks inside top 20 on Tour for SG: Tee to Green, SG: Around the green, Driving Accuracy, Par-4 Scoring and is 22nd for Scoring Average (actual).
Brandt Snedeker – 25/1
Snedeker claimed the Wyndham Championship title when it was last played at Forest Oaks in 2007, and has since had four top 10s at Sedgefield (including a T3 the last time he teed up in 2016). He’s had a mixed bag of results recently, with two MCs and three top 10s in his last seven starts – the last of those a T8 at the RBC Canadian Open before a T42 at the PGA Championship. Ranks inside top 25 on Tour for SG: Putting and SG: Around the green.
Shane Lowry – 25/1
Lowry is in form and could well contend again this week. He’s gone T12-T15-T12 in his last three starts and finished T7 here in 2017, and a win here could push him from outsider to real hopeful for a Ryder Cup spot.
Joaquin Niemann – 28/1
The former World No.1 Amateur has impressed since turning professional just after the Masters. He’s already had four top 10s on the PGA this year and earned his tour card in just eight starts, so it wouldn’t be all that surprising if he was to win this week on his debut here.
Sergio Garcia – 33/1
He might not be performing very well minus a T8 at the HNA Open de France leading up to the Open, but Garcia needs a big week if he wants to secure a spot on the Ryder Cup team, and we reckon this is the time to do it. He won here in 2012, 4th in 2009 and was T29 in 2013 – the last time he teed up here. His major problem is the putter, ranking 154th in SG: Putting on the European Tour and 164th on the PGA Tour.
Daniel Berger – 33/1
More of an outside bet and largely flying under the radar here, but Berger finished 12th last week and 6th in the US Open so could likely be a contender on his first trip back here since a MC in 2015. Inside top 50 on Tour for scoring average, putting average and SG: Total.
Ollie Schnierderjans – 35/1
After a close run final-round tussel with Henrik Stenson, Schniederjans finished runner-up in last year’s Wyndham Championship and is still searching for a first PGA Tour win. Since, he’s had three other top 10s on the PGA Tour, including a T5 at the Barracuda Championship two weeks ago. He ranks 11th in putting average, 21st in SG: Around the green and 25th on Tour for birdie average.
Harold Varner III – 50/1
With two top 10s and a T17 in his last three starts, this could well be the week Varner III gets his first PGA Tour victory, having previously won on the European Tour. He finished T10 last year, and while he doesn’t have any stand out stats, his recent results indiciate a good week.
Jason Kokrak – 50/1
Another outside who has gone T3-MC-T12-T19 in his last four starts, the last start an impressive top 20 at the PGA Championship. He finished T16 here last year, which was his best result in five starts. Ranks 30th GIR and 32nd for SG: Off the tee.
