The PGA TOUR's last regular-season event of the wraparound season tees off this week at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. The Wyndham Championship has been a staple of the regular season for the top players, as well as others grinding it out on the FedEx Cup bubble alike.
Recently, I've had some luck with my First-Round Leader bets and have gone 3 for 3 in the last three events. I have some big shoes to fill (oddly enough, my own), so here's a look at my favorite FRL bets for the Wyndham Championship.
Webb Simpson (+2500)
I'm legally obligated to add Simpson to this list. The dude loves this event so much he even named one of his children after the title sponsor.
He's a North Carolina native. He went to Wake Forest not too far down the road. He calls this area home. We talk a lot about horses for courses in golf betting, so here's your Sedgefield steed.
Despite never winning the Wyndham, Webb has finished third or better in each of the last four years. He comes into the event off two top-20 finishes in his last two events. It would be a shock to not see Webb in contention.
Louis Oosthuizen (+3000)
I know. I sound like a broken record with Oosthuizen. However, he hasn't given me a reason to not bet him of late. He's in the top 10 in first-round scoring average on TOUR this season (no surprise), carding just under 69.7 strokes per round on Thursdays.
As the South African heads into the week, he leads the field in Strokes Gained: Total, SG: Short Game and SG: Putting. There's very little Oosthuizen doesn't do exceptionally well. He's an all-around player who (shockingly) hasn't won on TOUR since the 2010 Open, but he's so consistent it's impossible to fade him.
Brian Harman (+3500)
You know I have been bullish on Oothuizen right now, but I'm also betting a lot on Harman this season. He comes into this event fifth in SG: Total, while also gaining an average of four strokes per round on the field.
Harman isn't a long hitter, but he's accurate and makes putts. Sedgefield is an old Donald Ross course, which rewards players like Harman. He also has a handful of good finishes here, including a T-27 last year.
Harold Varner III (+6500)
Not long ago, HV3 was one of my favorite FRL bets. Varner had a nice first-round scoring average on tour before recently struggling a bit. However, the N.C. native has good history here. He finish T-7 last August, his best finish at this event.
Despite an inconsistent season, it only take one good round to get a guy back in form and regain his confidence. This a good track for the former East Carolina Pirate.
Branden Grace (+6500)
I don't know why, but Grace is my favorite FRL bet. The South African comes into the week seventh in SG: TOT, plus he's gaining an average of almost six strokes per round on the field. His game is trending in the right direction, and I'm surprised we haven't seen more dominating play from him.
Graced missed the cut at The Open in his last start, but finished inside the top 10 in his two starts prior (fourth at Memorial; T-7 at US Open). He has had a nice break from the game as we head into the FedEx Cup playoffs.
