Out of the Rough: Wyndham Championship (2026)

After eight long months of the 2026 PGA Tour season, the final stop of the regular season is upon us with this week’s Wyndham Championship.

The event, established as the Greater Greensboro Open in 1938, has been a staple of the PGA Tour’s schedule for the better part of 88 years. 

It has been held at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina since 2008.

The Wyndham Championship serves as the cap to the 2025 PGA Tour regular season as the FedEx Cup Playoffs begins next week.

With that being said, there is plenty to play for for nearly everyone in the field.

Just 70-golfers will make the end-of-season FedEx Cup Playoffs. On top of that, those within the top 100 of the FedEx Cup Standings will secure their PGA Tour cards for next season.

Beyond all of that, there is still shuffling to happen as the BMW Championship welcomes just the top 50 of the FedEx Cup Standings and ultimately, the PGA Championship includes just the top 30.

The Field

A season ago, the unthinkable took place at Sedgefield Country Club - Cameron Young won a PGA Tour event.

Serving as his long-awaited maiden PGA Tour victory, Young is back this season to defend his title. He is also the highest ranked golfer within the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) to be teeing it up this week at third.

Beyond Young, there are just five other golfers within the top-25 of the OWGR to be playing this week. That list includes Ben Griffin (19th,) Aaron Rai (20th,) Justin Thomas (22nd,) Ryan Gerard (24th) and Hideki Matsuyama (25th.) 

As previously mentioned, with this event serving as the cap to the 2026 regular season, there is a lot to be played for.

Just the top-70 within the season-long FedEx Cup Standings will make it to the FedEx Cup Playoffs and next week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship.

As it sits, Ricky Castillo, Matti Schmid, Jordan Smith, Steven Fisk and Jackson Koivun are the first names within the top-70 cut-off line. 

The first five names outside of the top-70 are Mac Meissner, Keegan Bradley, Andrew Putnam, Johnny Keefer and Jason Day.

All ten names will be playing this week.

Other former winners of this event at Sedgefield Country Club playing this week include Rai (2024,) Glover (2023,) Tom Kim (2022,) J.T. Poston (2019,) Brandt Snedker (2018) and Webb Simpson (2011,) 

The Course

Sedgefield Country Club plays as a par-70 at 7,131 yards, placing it below TOUR average in terms of a per-hole standpoint.

It features a standard mix of two par fives, four par threes and 12 par fours and is set as your prototypical short, positional course on the PGA TOUR.

The course is set in a way to reward those who are accurate off-the-tee and calls for a repeated dosage of wedges and mid-iron approaches.

The unique aspect of this week’s track comes with a heavy concentration of short par-fours. Eight-of-the-12 par fours measure between 400-450 yards.

This produces the fact that nearly 30-percent of all approach shots will come from 150-175 yards this week. This, of course, is well above TOUR average.

Beyond the par-fours, Sedgefield also features two very reachable par-fives and two short par-threes that measure under 175 yards. These four holes must be capitalized on as history has proven that any eventful winner has scored well here.

With the mention of needing accuracy off-the-tee, the fairways are funneled to set up these approach shots. It was already mentioned that nearly 30-percent of approach shots will come from 150-175 yards but additionally, the 100-150 yard range of approach shots will be equally as important this week.

The greens of this Donald Ross design are Bermuda, which takes away some of the advantage of elite putters as Bermuda is historically easier to concur than Bentgrass. Still, these greens are nuanced and undulated. 

Catching a hot flat stick will be crucial this week and unlike courses we’ve seen recently that feature Bentgrass, anyone can catch a hot putter and concur these Bermuda greens this week.

In all, just five holes at Sedgefield Country Club have a scoring average over par. Those holes include two 500-plus yard par fours and two 225-plus yard par threes.

The 507 yard par-four 18th hole is the most difficult hole on the entire course and has produced some eventful finishes on Sundays. Take a quick trip back to 2021 where we saw a six man playoff for example.

Course history too is repeatable here due to its need for pin-point accuracy off-the-tee and short approach shots. 

In all, Sedgefield has proven to be one of the easiest tracks on the PGA TOUR to gain strokes on approach. It is very much a point-and-shoot golf course.

Since 2016, the winning score has failed to reach -20 twice (2024 and 2021.) This puts the Wyndham Championship in the ‘birdie-fest’ category. 

The Weather

As of the time of writing this, Thursday is calling for a 30-percent chance of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Friday calls for a 35-percent chance of isolated thunderstorms. Saturday is calling for a 35-percent chance of afternoon thunderstorms and Sunday a 50-percent chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Winds are set to reach 10 miles-per-hour across all four days this week. Temperatures are currently set at a high of 88-degrees for Thursday through Saturday. Temperatures will drop to 87-degrees on Sunday.

Key Stats

• Strokes Gained: Approach (SG: APP)

• Ball Striking

• Strokes Gained: Putting on Bermuda (SG: PUTT Bermuda)

• Strokes Gained: Off the Tee (SG: OTT) / Driving Accuracy

• Proximity to the hole from 150-175 yards

• Proximity to the hole from 100-150 yards

• Par Four Average Scoring

• Birdie or Better Percentage

• Greens in Regulation Percentage (GIR%)

• Bogey Avoidance

Betting Card

Ryan Gerard (+3300)

I guess I enjoy pain or something. Gerard has been great as of late but just hasn’t been able to cross the finish line. He placed eighth last week at the Rocket Classic. Prior to that he placed ninth at The Open Championship, 26th at the Genesis Scottish Open, 44th at the Travelers Championship, missed the cut at the U.S. Open, placed second at the Memorial Tournament and tenth at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Now, he hasn’t been great here at Sedgefield with two missed the cut in 2025 and 2023, but I think we can all agree that he is a completely different golfer at this point. Gerard is currently third on Tour in proximity to the hole from 100-150 yards, 13th in birdie-or-better percentage, 14th in par-four average scoring, 22nd in proximity to the hole from 150-175 yards, 24th in SG: APP, 37th in driving accuracy percentage, 43rd in ball striking, 54th in SG: OTT, 62nd in GIR%, 63rd in bogey avoidance and 84th in SG: PUTT Bermuda. Gerard continues to model well, has been in great form and is priced correctly. I can’t take my finger off the pulse yet. 

Tom Kim (+3900)

Surprise. Not. If you know me, you knew this was coming. Since his victory at the Genesis Scottish Open, Kim missed the cut at The Open Championship and placed 20th at the 3M Open. Prior to his victory he placed 46th at the John Deere Classic, third at the U.S. Open and 15th at the RBC Canadian Open. He’s also played this event just once, in which he won in 2022. Kim is currently fifth on Tour in both SG: APP and par-four average scoring, seventh in bogey avoidance, eighth in proximity to the hole from 100-150 yards, 26th in proximity to the hole from 150-175 yards, 31st in driving accuracy percentage, 37th in ball striking, 39th in GIR%, 56th in birdie-or-better percentage, 95th in SG: OTT and 145th in SG: PUTT Bermuda. He continues to be priced extremely well and I won’t be leaving him on the board. 

Mac Meissner (+5500)

This is not as much of a model play as it is a course history play. That doesn’t mean he modeled poorly however. Meissner is currently 20th on Tour in proximity to the hole from 100-150 yards, 22nd in bogey avoidance, 23rd in birdie-or-better percentage, 27th in SG: PUTT Bermuda, 29th in proximity to the hole from 150-175 yards, 35th in par-four average scoring, 66th in SG: APP, 92nd in GIR%, 93rd in SG: OTT, 104th in driving accuracy percentage and 109th in ball striking. Meissner placed 26th last week at the Rocket Classic. Prior to that he missed the cut at the 3M Open, placed 30th at the Genesis Scottish Open and sixth at the John Deere Classic. Mesissner was the runner-up here a season ago and placed 12th in his debut in 2024. The next logical step in progression would be a victory. There is also added motivation for Meissner as he currently sits 71st in the FedEx Cup Standings.  

Davis Thompson (+6200)

This was one of my two first-clicks this week (if we’re not counting Kim as a first click.) Thompson is currently tenth on Tour in proximity to the hole from 100-150 yards, 14th in par-four average scoring, 18th in bogey avoidance, 21st in SG: APP, 23rd in ball striking, 26th in GIR%, 36th in SG: OTT, 44th in proximity to the hole from 150-175 yards, 71st in driving accuracy percentage, 83rd in birdie-or-better percentage and 103rd in SG: PUTT Bermuda. What is promising about Thompson, although on Bentgrass, he gained 1.386 strokes-per-round putting last week at the Rocket Classic. He also gained 0.052 strokes-per-round putting at the 3M Open. The putter has always been what has held him back so that run-of-form is great to see. Across those last two outings, Thompson placed eighth last week at the Rocket Classic and seventh at the 3M Open a week prior. He’s also been rather good at Sedgefield CC. He placed 11th a season ago, 12th in 2024, 22nd in 2023 and missed the cut in 2021. 

Ryo Hisatsune (+9000)

We’re back to a short positional golf course so we knew Hisatsune was going to pop in our models. Now, he’s not in the form he was to start this 2026 season, but he isn’t playing horribly. He placed 50th last week at the Rocket Classic. Prior to that he placed 53rd at The Open Championship, ninth at the John Deere Classic and 38th at the Travelers Championship. Although he missed the cut here a season ago, he placed third in 2024. Hisatsune is currently sixth on Tour in GIR%, seventh in ball striking, 30th in SG: OTT, 35th in par-four average scoring, 36th in driving accuracy percentage, 43rd in SG: APP, 56th in proximity to the hole from 150-175 yards, 59th in birdie-or-better percentage, 60th in bogey avoidance, 61st in proximity to the hole from 100-150 yards and 85th in SG: PUTT Bermuda.

Kristoffer Ventura (+21000)

This was my second aforementioned first click this week. A massive number for a guy who models well at Sedgefield and is in great form. Ventura placed fifth last week at the Rocket Classic. Prior to that he placed 51st at the 3M Open, 15th at the Corales Puntacana Championship and fifth at the ISCO Championship. Ventura is currently fifth on Tour in par-four average scoring, 13th in bogey avoidance, 14th in both ball striking and SG: OTT, 19th in proximity to the hole from 100-150 yards, 22nd in SG: PUTT Bermuda, 30th in proximity to the hole from 150-175 yards, 43rd in GIR%, 48th in driving accuracy percentage, 98th in birdie-or-better percentage and 126th in SG: APP. He has played this event three times across the past six seasons without much success however. He missed the cut a season ago and in 2021. He placed 37th in 2020. 

Austin Smotherman (+33000)

I had no intention of adding another long-shot to my card this week but when I saw this number, I had to take it. This one of those prime examples of potentially turning a little into a lot. Smotherman is currently sixth on Tour in SG: APP, 11th in proximity to the hole from 150-175 yards, 16th in GIR%, 23rd in both ball striking and driving accuracy percentage, 33rd in proximity to the hole from 100-150 yards, 53rd in SG: OTT, 66th in birdie-or-better percentage, 98th in par-four average scoring, 129th in SG: PUTT Bermuda and 133rd in bogey avoidance. Now, we’re talking about a guy who is 300/1+ so the form isn’t great. He missed the cut last week at the Rocket Classic but did place 24th at the 3M Open recently. He last played this event in 2023 where he placed 27th. He missed the cut in 2022.

2025 Betting Card

• Robert MacIntyre (+3300) - T44th

• Michael Thorbjornsen (+6600) - T38th

• Davis Thompson (+7000) - T11th

• Emiliano Grillo (+8000) - T44th

• Adam Svensson (+17000) - MC

• Ben Kohles (+25000) - MC

2024 Betting Card

• Cameron Young (+3000) - T22nd

• Brian Harman (+4000) - T45th

• Aaron Rai (+4000) - 1st

• Ben Griffin (+8000) - T7th

• Ben Silverman (+17500) - MC

2023 Betting Card

• Hideki Matsuyama (+1800) - MC

• Si Woo Kim (+2500) - T33rd

• Aaron Rai (+5000) - MC

• Alex Smalley (+6000) - MC

• Lucas Glover (+11000) - 1st

• Kevin Yu (+12000) - MC