Wyndham Championship Preview and Picks

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🏆 Wyndham Championship Field

The Wyndham Championship boasts a competitive field this year, featuring 56 of the top 100 and 21 of the top 50 players in the latest Official World Rankings. This is a slight decrease from last year's event, which saw 58 top 100 and 21 top 50 players. Among the notable names are Keegan Bradley (ranked 7th), Hideki Matsuyama (12th), Robert MacIntyre (14th), Ben Griffin (17th), and Sungjae Im (28th).

Looking at the FedEx Cup standings for 2025, five players from the top 25 are participating: Ben Griffin (7th), Keegan Bradley (10th), Andrew Novak (12th), Robert MacIntyre (15th), and Hideki Matsuyama (23rd).

The tournament also welcomes back ten past champions, adding a layer of experience and intrigue to the field. These include Aaron Rai (2024), Lucas Glover (2023), Tom Kim (2022), Kevin Kisner (2021), Jim Herman (2020), J.T. Poston (2019), Brandt Snedeker (2018 & 2007), Si Woo Kim (2016), Camilo Villegas (2014), and Webb Simpson (2011).

This week’s field also includes 23 of the top 25 in the FedExCup standings, ensuring a competitive battle for early-season points. Past champions in the field include Matsuyama, Max Homa (2021), and Adam Scott (2020 & 2005), adding historical intrigue to the tournament. For our fantasy players and bettors, GolfStats offers in-depth performance charts, highlighting past results at Riviera and an additional breakdown of player records at the Farmers Insurance Open (Torrey Pines), another key west coast event. With a rich field and historic venue, the Genesis Invitational promises world-class golf and plenty of action for fans and bettors alike.

📊 Data-Driven Insights for Fantasy & Betting

If you’re serious about making the best picks this week, our GolfStats tools have you covered.

• Our Performance Chart ranks players by their average finish of all players in the Wyndham Championship, helping you identify those who consistently contend.

• Our GolfStats Custom Formula highlights the best performers at this event over the last five years, factoring in course history and key stats.

• Our Sortable 8-Year Glance lets you track trends, breakout performances, and potential sleepers in the Wyndham Championship.

These tools are invaluable whether you’re betting, setting a DFS lineup, or simply looking for an edge in your fantasy league. Check out the full blog post for DK fantasy advice.

⛳ An Important Week (for some)

This week's Wyndham Championship carries significant weight for many players, serving as a crucial opportunity to secure a spot in the FedExCup playoffs. While in years past this was the final regular Tour event, the 2025 schedule now includes seven PGA Tour events after the playoffs. This shift means that for some, the focus is squarely on breaking into the top 70 to qualify for the playoffs. For those already above that threshold, the goal is to maintain their position within the top 100 to retain their tour cards for 2026.

Last week's 3M Open saw some dramatic shifts in the FedExCup standings. Kurt Kitayama's victory propelled him from 110th to 53rd, virtually guaranteeing his playoff berth. Similarly, Matt Wallace's T-3rd finish moved him from 123rd to 92nd, and David Lipsky, also finishing T-3rd, jumped from 114th to 88th. While both Wallace and Lipsky still have work to do at the Wyndham, they are now much closer to the top 70.

Conversely, some players who were in strong positions earlier in the season have struggled and now find themselves on the playoff bubble. Karl Vilips, who won the Puerto Rico Open, is currently 83rd and needs a strong performance this week. Garrick Higgo, winner of the Corales Puntacana, is 93rd, and William Mouw, who claimed the ISCO Championship, is 80th. All three need significant finishes to make the playoffs.

The reduction to just three playoff events and the top 70 qualifying has intensified the pressure on players. Of the 156 players in the field, 34 are safely within the 7th to 66th range and are guaranteed playoff spots. However, 15 players are currently on the bubble, fighting for their playoff lives. These include Emiliano Grillo (66th), Cam Davis (67th), Patrick Rodgers (68th), Byeong Hun An (69th), Matti Schmid (70th), Nicolai Hojgaard (71st), Keith Mitchell (72nd), Chris Kirk (73rd), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (74th), Gary Woodland (75th), Kevin Roy (76th), Alex Smalley (77th), Davis Thompson (78th), Eric Cole (79th), and William Mouw (80th). All of these players are competing this week.

Even some big names are in jeopardy. Max Homa, currently 106th, likely needs a win to make it to Memphis. Matt Kuchar (126th), Nick Dunlap (133rd), Adam Scott (85th), and Tom Kim (89th) are all players who have experienced the playoffs but might be watching from home this year.

From a gambling perspective, this adds a unique variable. The nerves and pressure on these players can significantly impact their performance. A prime example is Jim Herman in 2020. Despite being 192nd on the points list, he won the Wyndham, climbing to 54th and playing in the first two playoff events, earning a $150,000 bonus. His motivation was financial, not his tour card. Last year, Lucas Glover mirrored this feat. After being 185th on the points list, he had three top-six finishes before winning the Wyndham from 112th, securing his spot in the FedEx St. Jude and ultimately the Tour Championship. These examples highlight how a player's situation and motivation can influence outcomes at this critical event.

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🏆️ Tournament Information

Established in 1938, the Wyndham Championship celebrates its 86th edition in 2024. Originally known as the Greater Greensboro Open, the tournament was the brainchild of the Greensboro Jaycee’s Chapter. Joseph Bryan provided the financial backing to get the event off the ground, and the PGA Tour added it to the 1938 schedule.

The legendary Sam Snead is synonymous with this event, having won it a record eight times, including the inaugural tournament. This record for most wins by a player at a single tournament stood until Tiger Woods matched it in several events. The tournament has been held annually, with the exception of 1943 and 1944 due to World War II.

The event's name has evolved over the years. In 1988, Kmart became the title sponsor, and it was known as the Kmart Greater Greensboro Open. Chrysler took over in 1996, and in 2003, the name changed to the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts assumed sponsorship in 2006. Since 2014, the Wyndham Championship has been the final event before the FedEx Cup playoffs, making it a pivotal tournament for players vying for a spot in the postseason.

From 1977 to 2007, the tournament was held at Forest Oaks Country Club. However, the course was not considered fan-friendly and lacked memorability. Sedgefield Country Club, the original host, lost the event in 1977 because it was deemed too short and lacked the necessary space and parking for large crowds. However, after a 31-year hiatus, the tournament returned to Sedgefield in 2008, where it has been held ever since.

 🔑 Key Stats for Success at Sedgefield

Success at the Wyndham Championship, particularly at Sedgefield Country Club, often hinges on a player's proficiency in specific statistical categories. This analysis is based on vital stats from Sedgefield C.C., data from last year’s Wyndham Championship, and current player statistics from 2025. Here are the four crucial categories:

Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green: This measure looks at the combination of length off the tee and accuracy, then gets the ball on the green to determine who is best at all of these items. At Sedgefield, hitting it straight and positioning drives for the approach shot are essential. Lucas Glover, the 2023 winner, exemplified this, ranking 1st in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green, Driving Accuracy, and Greens in Regulation. Even Aaron Rai, last year's winner, despite not being a long hitter, was 1st in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green, T-8th in Driving Accuracy, and T-3rd in Greens in Regulation. This stat is paramount on a Donald Ross course like Sedgefield, where getting the ball into play off the tee is critical.

Scrambling: This stat identifies who gets it up and down after missing a green. Given the challenging nature of Donald Ross greens, scrambling becomes vital when a player misses the green. Last year, Sedgefield ranked 13th in Scrambling, and winner Aaron Rai ranked T-6th in this category. Lucas Glover, in his 2023 victory, was T-5th in scrambling, getting it up and down on 5 of the 7 greens he missed. This highlights the importance of a strong short game to save pars and maintain momentum.

Strokes Gained Putting: This metric looks at who picks up the most strokes on the greens. While Sedgefield's greens are flat, making them accessible for both good and average putters, strong putting is still a key differentiator. Last year, Sedgefield was 7th in putting average, and winner Aaron Rai was 28th in Strokes Gained Putting. Lucas Glover, during his 2023 win, was 15th in Strokes Gained Putting, making 66 of 70 putts inside ten feet. This demonstrates that while the course might be forgiving, gaining strokes on the greens is crucial for overall performance.

Birdie Average: This category focuses on players who average the most birdies made per round. Sedgefield is a course where birdies are made, with 1,674 birdies made last year, ranking 36th out of 50 courses on the PGA Tour. A high birdie average indicates a player's ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities and build a strong round. For example, Kurt Kitayama, the 3M Open winner, made 32 birdies, the best for the week, and Jhonattan Vegas, the 2023 winner, made one eagle and 25 birdies. Lucas Glover, in his 2023 Wyndham win, made 24 birdies, which was the best for the week. This emphasizes the need for players to consistently make birdies to contend at the Wyndham Championship.

Check out our Golf IQ Composite Rankings to see where the field ranks in these 4 crucial categories.

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Who to watch for at the Wyndham Championship

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