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Welcome to the latest edition of the PGA DFS Hole-By-Hole Breakdown, where Josh Bennett (@JishSwish) breaks down the course the PGA Tour is playing each week. We think this course breakdown is an important slice of the "PGA DFS pie" and will help change the way you do your research for every tournament. A good understanding of the course that's being played is extremely important before diving into individual players. Each week, this article will give you everything you need to know about the course, strategies players could take, and statistics that fit the specifics of the layout.
This week's Breakdown features Sedgefield Country Club, host of the PGA Tour's Wyndham Championship. They'll need to heat up the irons and putters to put low scores up this week. Be sure to also read all of our other top-notch weekly PGA DFS and betting articles to help you win big!
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Sedgefield Country Club: Par 70, 7131 Yards
Hole 1: Par 4, 418 Yards
Off the Tee: Anyone with a little better than average length will have an advantage here by being able to get over the bunker on the left. There is not much else in the way on this one and it is wide open, so as long as they stay out of that one single bunker, they are on their way to a great look at the green.
Approach: A wedge for almost the whole field into the first green which has a "greenside" bunker, but it's far off the green and will not be in play. No other protection on this hole, so there should be lots of scoring to start off the tournament. Green Size: 25x30 yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 2: Par 4, 442 Yards
Off The Tee: A hard dog-leg right on this hole should allow most of the field to cut the corner a little. The long hitters will have to be careful going too far because of the river that cuts off the fairway, otherwise anything to the left of the trees on the right side will be a great shot. They'll want to keep it as close to that tree line as possible to get a shorter approach to the green.
Approach: Due to the curving of this hole and where the landing area is and where the pin is, approaches will span anywhere from 120 yards to 180 yards. The only real trouble is the river that runs down the right side of the green, although there's a very small bunker on the front-left of the green that could be in play for those that have long approaches. It will be a great scoring opportunity for those that can cut the corner without rolling into the water. Green Size: 15x40 yards
Advantage: Ball-Striking, SG: Approach, GIR, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 3: Par 3, 174 Yards
Approach: The first par 3 should be an easy one for decent putters. The green is huge, and although protected by bunkers in the front, the green should be easy to hit. Depending on pin locations, finishing up the hole with only two putts will be the trick. Green Size: 30x30 yards
Advantage: SG: Approach, GIR, 3 Putt Avoidance, Par 3 Scoring
Hole 4: Par 4, 428 Yards
Off The Tee: The landing area on this tee shot is just wide enough to allow for misses, but they'll have to avoid the really big misses to keep it in play. There is a fairway bunker on this hole, but only in play for the longest hitters. The key here is just to make sure the ball stays in-between the tree lines.
Approach: Similar to the first hole, a longer wedge or short-iron to a large green with no protection. As long as the drive stays in play, this should be a scoring opportunity for the field. Green Size: 25x35 Yards
Advantage: Ball-Striking, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 5: Par 5, 529 Yards
Off The Tee: The first of the two par 5's is a short and score-able one with a good tee shot. Like the last hole, the drive has to be mostly accurate so there's a look at the green. With a drive in play, the green is reachable for the field.
Approach: Long hitters will have irons into this green, others will be able to reach with hybrids and fairway woods. Everyone in the field should be able to reach this green in two. With them taking the green on from this far away, the bunkers on the right side and front-left side will be in play. However, the green is large, so we will also see a lot of eagle chances. The only reason we will see anyone lay up on this hole is if they hit a bad drive and get stuck behind trees. Green Size: 45x25 Yards
Advantage: Ball-Striking, SG: Around The Green, GIR, 3 Putt Avoidance, Par 5 Scoring
Hole 6: Par 4, 423 Yards
Off the Tee: The tee shot here will require a club decision, especially for the long hitters. Long hitters may be able to carry Reddicks Creek, but if they miss to the left they will have to carry it even farther to miss the water. If they miss a little right, they bring fairway bunkers in to play. We will more likely see most of the field choose less than driver off this tee to keep it just short of the creek.
Approach: Assuming everyone stays short of Reddicks Creek, the whole field will have an approach of about 150 yards. For long hitters, that will border on a wedge, others will just be short irons. The greenside bunker on the left will only be in play if the pin location is on that side, otherwise there is no protection and should be a scoring hole. Green Size: 20x35 Yards
Advantage: SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 7: Par 3, 223 Yards
Approach: Reddicks Creek back play for another tee shot. It is the only defense to this long par 3 and covers all sides of the green except the back. Misses will error long, but have to be careful with too long with a road behind the green. The length of this hole is the real difficulty, and for that reason, par will be a good score on this hole. Green Size: 20x35 Yards
Advantage: GIR, Scrambling
Hole 8: Par 4, 374 Yards
Off The Tee: This is a short hole, and although Reddicks Creek is in play for the third straight tee shot, a strategically aimed shot can eliminate the water trouble. Longer hitters will have it eliminated just with their length, but shorter hitters will have to move their targets to the right depending on what their carry distance is. Even though the fairway is cut off by the creek, we shouldn't see many, if any, players decide to hit less than driver to the fairway behind the creek.
Approach: A short approach less than 100 yards for most of the field. There are bunkers near the green, but they're only in play for the longer hitters that can get to them from the tee box. The green is large and this will be a scoring hole for the whole field. Green Size: 20x35 Yards
Advantage: SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 9: Par 4, 416 Yards
Off The Tee: The tee shot on hole 9 is similar to the tee shot on hole 1. A little above average length is all that's needed to get it over the bunker on the right side. After that, there is no trouble in the way. Avoiding that one small bunker is the key to scoring on this hole.
Approach: A wedge approach for the field to another green with no protection. There is a bunker hanging out in the middle of nowhere that won't be in play. This is a scoring hole for the entire field. Green Size: 25x30 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 10: Par 4, 440 Yards
Off the Tee: Unlike past holes where the majority of the field could avoid the one fairway bunker, the fairway bunker on this hole is unavoidable for everyone except the longer hitters. That bunker is likely the reason for this hole being the 4th most difficult, those that find the bunker are looking at par at best. Long hitters will be able to avoid the bunker completely and have very short approaches in.
Approach: If they can get it past the bunker, it will be a wedge into the green. If they can't, a short iron will be in play to another green that looks like it has no protection, but a cart path and a road can shoot the ball much farther away from the hole if they hit it there. Although not as much of a penalty as being in a bunker would, having to chip from 30-40 yards instead of right off the green will be a higher penalty. Scoring should be easy, though, especially for longer hitters with short approaches. Green Size: 30x25 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, Ball-Striking, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 11: Par 4, 486 Yards
Off The Tee: Bombs away on this hole. It is wide open here and the fairway bunker will not be in play for anyone. The hole plays difficult exclusively because of its length since there is no trouble off the tee. Long hitters will have an easier time scoring on this hole because of their shorter approaches.
Approach: It is a long approach to this green that again has no protection. Hitting the green shouldn't be difficult, so avoiding 3 putts is the key to making sure shots do not get dropped. Green Size: 25x30 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, SG: Approach, GIR, 3 Putt Avoidance
Hole 12: Par 3, 235 Yards
Approach: Like the last hole, the "difficulty" of this hole is its length. Small bunkers protect the very front-right and front-left corners, but the green is huge and shouldn't be difficult to hit. Again like the last hole, avoiding 3 putts on this large green is the key. Green Size: 30x30 Yards
Advantage: GIR, 3 Putt Avoidance, Scrambling
Hole 13: Par 4, 405 Yards
Off The Tee: This short par 4 may require some long hitters to dial it back off the tee in order to avoid the fairway bunkers up the left hand side. The goal here will be to get the ball out to the 300-ish yard mark, just short of the bunker to have a great look at the green.
Approach: All that should be left after this tee shot is a short wedge to the green that has a smaller bunker guarding the front-right. The bunker shouldn't be in play unless the shot is very poorly hit, and this should be a great scoring opportunity for the whole field. Green Size: 25x30 Yards
Advantage: Ball-Striking, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 14: Par 4, 505 Yards
Off The Tee: Another long hole where the length of the hole is the only reason it plays "hard". A fairway bunker is on the left, but is only in play for shorter hitters. Even then, it can be avoided by moving the target right. This hole is wide open and should leave long looks to the green for everyone no matter what they do with their tee shot.
Approach: A long approach to another huge green with only a tiny bunker in the front right for defense. Once again, avoiding 3 putts will be important. Hitting the green won't be hard with how large it is, but the putter distances will have to be dialed in because there will be long putts. Green Size: 30x35 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, GIR, 3 Putt Avoidance
Hole 15: Par 5, 545 Yards
Off The Tee: This is one of the easiest holes on the course, and for good reason. As long as the drives don't stray too far left, there is no trouble off the tee. Bomb it and get ready for a long carry over Freemon Lake.
Approach: Most of the field can get to this green with fairway woods or even irons for the long hitters. They have to carry the lake, but there's plenty of room between the lake and the green. The trouble is leaving the ball short of the green where it will fall into bunkers protecting that side. Two others protect the left and right sides that might be more in play if anyone has to lay up left of the green and approach from that direction. Either way, short wedges and around the green game will be in play if they don't get to the green in two, and scoring should be easy. Green Size: 20x25 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, Ball-Striking, GIR, SG: Around the Green, Par 5 Scoring
Hole 16: Par 3, 175 Yards
Approach: A second par 3 in the 175 yard range, this one a little more difficult than the earlier one. Although the green is still large, The bunkers in the front could be a problem on misses short to pins in the front. Water is in the area, but like the last hole, it's too far away from the green to really be in play. Good iron players can still score well here. Green Size: 35x20 Yards
Advantage: SG: Approach, Par 3 Scoring
Hole 17: Par 4, 406 Yards
Off The Tee: They can let loose on this short par 4. It is wide open, and they'll want to be closer on this hole since the green is one of the smaller ones on the course.
Approach: A short approach with wedges for all of the field on this hole. This is a smaller green, but since the approach is short it shouldn't matter much. A bunker is on the left side, but that shouldn't be in play much either. Another great chance at scoring coming down the stretch on this hole. Green Size: 30x20 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 18: Par 4, 507 Yards
Off the Tee: More of the same coming down the last hole. Again, this hole is only difficult because it is long. It is wide open off the tee so they can just let it rip and then play it from wherever it ends up.
Approach: The approach on 18 will actually be difficult. Like the last green, this one is smaller than the others on the course as well, but this one has large bunkers that will provide some defense. One of them spans the entire left side, and another on the front-right. Getting it onto the green will be plenty good on this hole and finishing out with a par will be a great way to end the round (unless, of course, they need better to win) Green Size: 20x30 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, Ball-Striking, GIR, Scrambling
Conclusions
Great iron players will be able to tear up this event. There are just a handful of long holes, otherwise most approaches are shorter into large greens and will provide tons of scoring opportunities. SG: Approach should be a heavily weighted stat this week.
The greens are very large and won't be difficult to hit. GIR % should be sky high for the whole field this week. What becomes important, then, is converting birdie opportunities first of all, but also avoiding 3 putts to keep bogey off the scorecard.
The course is wide open for the most part, and even though you don't NEED to hit the ball long on this course, there will be an advantage to length here since there is no trouble off the tee. In addition, longer hitters will be able to take a handful of fairway bunkers out of play.
Other stats to consider: Scrambling, SG: Around The Green, Ball-Striking, GIR, Par 4 Scoring
Assumptions
Images and measurements were done on Google Earth. These satellite images can sometimes be up to five or more years old and not show very recent changes to courses if there were any.
Carry distance is used for off-the-tee distances shown in the images. The average carry distance on tour in 2022 was 281 yards, so that is what is used here.
I used a total dispersion off-the-tee of 60 yards. This comes from an article that Jon Sherman wrote for Practical Golf (@practicalgolf) discussing average dispersion, and I took 5-10 yards off from that number.
I assumed a 10-15 yard roll out from the carry distance to start the measurement to the green. Measurements to the green were rounded to the nearest five yards and measured from the center of the fairway to the center of the green.
Green measurements were also measured to the nearest five yards.
Things like weather, rough length, elevation, etc. are not taken into consideration on the measurements. I can only see and assume so much from satellite images. However, I do note where possible on each hole if things like elevation and wind could impact how the hole plays.
Scorecard:
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