Ranking the Wyndham Championship field: Webb chased by playoff hopefuls
The last regular-season stop on the 2017-2018 PGA Tour schedule is here. Despite not hosting the strongest field, there's plenty up for grabs at the Wyndham Championship with the looming FedEx Cup playoffs. After this week, only the top 125 players in the season-long points race will advance to the postseason.
Playoff hopefuls will take on Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. The 7,127-yard par-70 Donald Ross design rewards premium ball-strikers and birdie-makers. Playing out of the fairway will be crucial for attacking pins and sinking putts.
Here, we rank the top 10 in the field (betting odds in brackets):
10. Shane Lowry (22-1)
Lowry is still hunting for a spot in the FedEx Cup playoffs. He's recorded three straight top-15 finishes in PGA Tour events, including last week's PGA Championship. The Irishman is 139th in FedEx Cup points, and he needs a strong week at Sedgefield to vault inside the top 125.
9. Sergio Garcia (33-1)
Surprisingly, Garcia ranks 131st in FedEx Cup points. He'll have one shot at turning around a forgettable season, and it comes at an event Garcia won back in 2012. He's clearly an elite talent in the field based on his track record, but the Spaniard is in serious danger of missing the postseason for the first time.
8. Daniel Berger (28-1)
Berger led the field last week in strokes gained: approach en route to his T-12 finish at Bellerive. Despite having a lingering wrist issue, the fact he's still playing in the Wyndham suggests Berger is healthy. His strong iron play should lead to another solid finish at Sedgefield.
7. Julian Suri (45-1)
Similar to Berger, Suri rode a remarkable approach game at the PGA Championship to finish T-19. According to the official world golf rankings, the 27-year-old American is one of the better players in the Wyndham field. The Duke University product will feel right at home at this North Carolina tournament.
6. Billy Horschel (28-1)
As a former FedEx Cup winner, Horschel knows what it takes to kick it into gear at this point of the season. He finished second at the Barbasol Championship in July and played well at Bellerive last week. Look for him to match his T-5 result at Sedgefield from 2016.
5. Hideki Matsuyama (16-1)
Although Matsuyama is comfortably in the top 125, he's another elite player looking to salvage a mediocre season. Uncharacteristically, his putter saved him at the PGA Championship last week. He typically doesn't struggle with his ball striking for long, and Matsuyama finished T-3 at Sedgefield in 2016.
4. Rafa Cabrera Bello (22-1)
This will be a rare appearance for Cabrera Bello at a regular PGA Tour stop, as his last five tournaments stateside were the three majors, The Players Championship, and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. The Spaniard is trying to earn a spot on the European Ryder Cup team, and a breakthrough win at the Wyndham would certainly help his case.
3. Henrik Stenson (16-1)
Stenson is likely a lock to be a captain's pick for the Ryder Cup, but he needs to improve his play before the team event. He's the defending champion of the Wyndham Championship - winning without a driver in the bag. He has all the tools to take the tournament again.
2. Joaquin Niemann (28-1)
The 19-year-old Niemann is already on the path to greatness, and winning at the Wyndham would solidify him as the next big thing. His ball-striking ability is rivaled by few in the field, and that should lead to the Chilean being in contention come Sunday.
1. Webb Simpson (11-1)
Simpson is the course horse in the field, and he's putting together a career season. He finished inside the top 20 at all four majors, won The Players, and secured his spot on the 2018 Ryder Cup team. The North Carolina native loves playing the Wyndham so much that he named his daughter after the event.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
(Betting odds: Bodog)