Paulie’s Picks: 2021 Wyndham Championship

Sedgefield Country Club, host of this week’s Wyndham Championship, isn’t your typical PGA Tour course. Like Colonial, Harbour Town, and Innisbrook, it rewards accuracy off the tee more than distance. Also, it will put short irons in players’ hands with unusual frequency. On a normal week, we see about 20% of approach shots from 150-175 yards. At Sedgefield, that number jumps to 29%.

So in this final event before the FedEx Cup Playoffs, we should target players who are 1) good with short irons, 2) decently accurate off the tee, and 3) above average with the putter. In other words, Webb Simpson.

Here are a few players to consider for your fantasy leagues:

DraftKings

Hank Lebioda $7,600

Lebioda racked up three straight top-eight finishes prior to his family emergency-related withdrawal from the 3M Open three weeks ago. This week, he is the second-ranked player overall in my statistical model. He is a great fit for Sedgefield and the only player in the field who is top 20 in putting, driving accuracy, and proximity from 150-175 yards.

Ryan Armour $7,000

Armour is the 13th in my model this week, which makes sense: while he’s not long off the tee, he is extremely accurate and has an above-average short-iron game. In his past four appearances at the Wyndham Championship, Armour finished in the top 25 each time and in the top eight twice. Also, in his two starts prior to his MC last week at the Barracuda, he placed fifth and sixth. Sitting at 122 on the FedEx Cup points list, this tour veteran needs a good week.

One-and-Done

Webb Simpson

If you are near the top of your league and still have Webb Simpson available, he is a must-play at the Wyndham Championship. He has finished 11th or better in nine of the past 11 years at this event, placed in the top three five times, and won once. Simpson’s game suits Sedgefield perfectly; he is accurate off the tee and elite with his short irons and putter. Plus, in the unlikely event you forgot this fact, Webb named his daughter after this tournament!

Robert MacIntyre

If you either don’t have Simpson available or need to make up ground in your league’s standings, MacIntyre is a great choice. As a non-member of the PGA Tour, he is in this field on temporary-membership status and will need about a ninth-place finish to earn his card for next year. MacIntyre is an elite ball-striker who can make birdies by the bunch when his putter cooperates. In the past two years, he has missed only three cuts worldwide, and he has made good showings in elite fields: 15th at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, 12th at the Masters, and eighth at the Open.