Here's everything you need to know about 2024 Wyndham Championship first-round leader picks — including my three Thursday FRL bets for this week's PGA Tour event in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The Ross Course at Sedgefield Country Club will host the Wyndham Championship this season, something it has done annually since 2008.
Sedgefield Country Club is a par-70, 7,131-yard track designed by Donald Ross. In typical Ross fashion, this course rewards accuracy more than anything else as players attempt to stick their approach shots close on these near-perfect greens.
Tony Sartori's Wyndham Championship First-Round Leader Picks (FRL)
Shane Lowry +5000 (FanDuel | 0.15 Units)
Thursday Tee Time: 7:34 a.m. ET
Shane Lowry enters this week in great form as he's made the weekend in 16 consecutive tournaments. He boasts eight top-20 finishes over that stretch, including his team win at the Zurich Classic, alongside Rory McIlroy.
However, McIlroy carried him down the stretch that weekend, and I don't necessarily trust Lowry's ability to close at the moment. At the same time, I do trust his ability — or potential — to at least take down an individual round.
So, why not the first round? Lowry ranks ranks 45th on Tour this season in first round scoring average. He has also played well at this venue, making the weekend in five of his six career appearances, including a T7 finish.
Lowry was the first-round leader at this year's Arnold Palmer Invitational and a similar result could be in store this week.
Thomas Detry +7000 (FanDuel | 0.15 Units)
Thursday Tee Time: 12:32 a.m. ET
Thomas Detry continues to play terrific golf and is coming off a ninth-place finish at last week's Olympic Tournament. Prior to that, he had made the weekend in 11 of his past 12 tournaments and posted three top-eight finishes over that stretch.
Detry hasn't been much of a closer, but opening a tournament hasn't been an issue. He ranks 17th on Tour this season in first round scoring average.
He posted a 66 here on Thursday last year, so 70-1 is too long of a number to pass up.
Ryan Fox +8000 (FanDuel | 0.15 Units)
Thursday Tee Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
Ryan Fox seems like a high-floor option who should be much more trustworthy on a Thursday than a Sunday. He has made the weekend in 11 of his past 12 tournaments and has posted three top-seven finishes over that stretch.
However, Fox hasn't won across his decade-long career on Tour, and I simply think the best way to back him this week is in the Wyndham Championship First-Round Leader market. When you combine his recent form and the fact that he ranks 41st on Tour this season in first round scoring average, 80-1 becomes a solid flier to take.
Here's my full betting card for the 2024 Wyndham Championship, and you can find more of my thoughts on this week's tournament on the Links + Locks podcast:
- Davis Thompson Outright Winner (+3500 at FanDuel) – 0.3 Units
- Aaron Rai Outright Winner (+3500 at BetMGM) – 0.3 Units
- Keegan Bradley Outright Winner (+5000 at FanDuel) – 0.3 Units
- Jhonattan Vegas Outright Winner (+6000 at FanDuel) – 0.3 Units
- Justin Rose Top 10 (+450 at DraftKings) – 0.24 Units
- Max Greyserman Top 10 (+550 at DraftKings) – 0.23 Units
- Shane Lowry FRL (+5000 at FanDuel) – 0.15 Units
- Thomas Detry FRL (+7000 at FanDuel) – 0.15 Units
- Ryan Fox FRL (+8000 at FanDuel) – 0.15 Units
