Tour News
The 7 most underrated players at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
We commence one of the best two-week stretches on the PGA Tour on Thursday, with the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational before the pros travel to Whistling Straits for the year’s final major.
DraftKings has taken note of this week’s stellar field (48 of the top 50 in the world) and is offering a $400,000 contest. First place gets the usual $100,000, but runner-up takes home $20,000 and a bronze showing garners a whopping $10,000.
As usual, it’s a measly $3 entry fee. Enter HERE to play!
Next week’s PGA Championship is offering $1 million to the winner, so for this two-week stretch, it’s definitely time to dial in your fantasy picks and earn some big money.
Let’s start with my advice for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
The Course
A par-70 that plays 7,400 yards, the South Course at Firestone Country Club is a long layout that some say tends to favor bombers. But the fairways here are tree-lined and the rough is no joke, so accurate drivers have been known to excel here, too.
Actually, combine those two and you see the long, accurate hitter really finds himself at a distinct advantage at Firestone. As Keegan Bradley noted, you have to hit a lot of drivers here and getting in the fairway is key.
Otherwise, Firestone has been characterized as a ball-striker’s layout, further promoting the idea of driving’s importance as well as trumpeting great iron play.
I created a five-year, top-10 sample at this event from 2010-2014 to check these assumptions, though.
What I found: Approach play and driving were paramount in the sample. Short game and putting mattered but not nearly to the same extent. Accurate hitters were advantaged, but short hitters fared just as well as bombers.
If you can hit it long and straight at Firestone, that’s still huge, but’s it certainly more important to be accurate than long.
This is indeed a ball-striking layout, where precision counts the most.
My Underrated Players
With the heightened and condensed field, the lowest DraftKings total for a given player is $7,000 — that figure is also inflated by this being a no-cut event. Consequently, I have several players in the $7,000s this week who I feel are underpriced.
With that caveat, here we go…
Keegan Bradley ($8,800)
Bradley had a miserable Open Championship (75-72 and a MC) but he had put together a great stretch previously.
He’s also a perfect course fit as one of the premier long, accurate drivers in the world with a robust approach game. Combine that with his results to show for it (1-T2-T4 in his past three Firestone starts) and he’s a no-brainer pick at any price this week.
Billy Horschel ($7,900)
The former Gator is a borderline long-hitter but commands outstanding accuracy. Horschel’s transformed into a great putter but he retains his roots as the precise tee-to-green player that the South Course favors.
Billy Ho has also put together an extended run of great golf since the Players Championship. All that’s missing from that run is a really high finish, and it’s time to capitalize on this week’s attractive layout.
Branden Grace ($7,800)
His play is all just too good right now to ignore; Grace has top-20s in five of his past seven starts, and at varied layouts as well. He should definitely be at a higher price given his form, we’re happily taking him here.
Ryan Moore ($7,600)
A T16-T23-T33-T8 slate at Firestone is honestly a pretty good one, but Moore should be better.
After all, he possesses a really accurate game tee-to-green that screams for Firestone. He really started to work off that in last year’s T8, but there’s still room to grow.
Moore’s play is up-and-down at the moment, but I have to go with a guy who’s bound to break out on this course quite soon. It should only help that Moore is overdue for a big performance this season.
J.B. Holmes ($7,500)
This is a total flyer pick. His course fit is pretty bad (not accurate and a poor approach player) and his last two events are CUT-MDF.
Holmes’ game was on point just last month, though, and when things have been clicking for him in 2015, the results have been wildly successful. I have a hunch his game returns this week. If it does, it will in a big way, enough to overcome poor course fit.
Shane Lowry ($7,500)
The Irishman really did have a good stretch going before a missed cut at the Open Championship.
And even then a fluke quadruple-bogey was really the only thing that stilted his week.
I just like the way he’s playing, which means I’ll gladly scoop him up here.
Ben Martin ($7,300)
The recent results (CUT-T64-T74) are misleading. Martin was near the halfway lead at the U.S. Open before faltering to T64 and was in line for a potential top-20 at the Open Championship before a final-day 77.
So he’s playing a lot better than you may think.
Martin’s first appearance at this event comes this week, but Firestone is the exact type of classic accuracy-based ball-striker’s course where his game excels.
Even if they’re buried, the positive signs for Martin at Firestone are overwhelming.
Don’t forget to enter the $400,000 contest here!
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Valero Texas Open.
The event has been around since 1922, making it one of the oldest on the PGA Tour calendar. Over the years, it’s been held at a variety of courses across the Lone Star State, but it’s found its home at TPC San Antonio in recent years. Some of the biggest names in golf have taken home the title here, including Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, and Ben Crenshaw.
GolfWRX has its usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs and special pull-out albums. As always, we’ll continue to update the links below as more photos come in from TPC San Antonio.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Ben Taylor – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Paul Barjon – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Joe Sullivan – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Wilson Furr – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Willman – SoTex PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Jimmy Stanger – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Rickie Fowler – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Harrison Endycott – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Vince Whaley – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Kevin Chappell – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Christian Bezuidenhout – WITB (mini) – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Scott Gutschewski – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
Pullout Albums
- Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Taylor with new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Swag cover – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Greyson Sigg’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Davis Riley’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Josh Teater’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hzrdus T1100 is back – – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Mark Hubbard testing ported Titleist irons – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Tyson Alexander testing new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Cobra putters – 2024 Valero Texas Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Raul Pereda – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Tony Finau’s new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Chris Eckes
Aug 5, 2015 at 3:27 pm
I went with Na/Willett/Leishman/Horschel/Koepka/Fowler
JD
Aug 5, 2015 at 11:51 am
KB….it’s over!
Christosterone
Aug 5, 2015 at 10:15 am
Ryan Moore is an assassin with a beautiful tempo…
It is befuddling why he has not done more on tour…while he has been solid, many of us thought he would take the tour by storm…
My only thought is that his wrist injury(very early in his pro career) sent him into a rabbit hole…we all remember when he decided to start his backswing at 3 o’clock for about half a season…
I am a huge fan of his and hope he can make a Ryder Cup at some point because Moore can curb stomp opponents in match play….
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Christosterone
Aug 5, 2015 at 5:13 pm
Another solid post from the champ
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Pat M
Aug 4, 2015 at 8:16 pm
I cannot stand Keegan Bradley and his sidekick Pepsi. I do like the other guys especially JB Holmes.
Christosterone
Aug 5, 2015 at 5:12 pm
I’m a Mountain Dew man myself
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Christosterone
Aug 5, 2015 at 9:18 pm
Mountain Dew is kinda gross…
As the actual, original Christosterone, I love diet dr pepper…
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Martin
Aug 4, 2015 at 7:04 pm
Keegan underrated?
Probably the most overrated US pro the past couple of seasons, and painful to watch.
Kevin Casey
Aug 4, 2015 at 7:30 pm
I’m not saying he’s underrated overall in the landscape of golf. I’m saying that he’s underrated for this week’s event. For Bradley, I think $8,800 or less is a pretty accurate price most weeks, but, like any player, if he really excels at a certain event, his value is worth a lot more than his average.
I feel that is the case this week. Firestone is a really good course for him (and if you don’t take my word for it, he’s already said it’s his favorite Tour track) and his recent results here are, as I noted above, 1-T2-T4. This is a layout that really brings his game up, and thus his value for the week. While most weeks he plays like an $8,000-ish player, he’s generally competed like an $11,000-$12,000 player at the Bridgestone.
So, that’s why I say Keegan is underrated at $8,800 this week. He’s underrated at $8,800 for the Bridgestone, historically his best event on the entire schedule. I’m only talking about his value and how it pertains to this event. Just wanted to clarify my point there. And yeah I agree with you on watching him play. Painful is definitely the right word there haha.