Tour News
7 best bets at the 2016 CareerBuilder Challenge
The PGA Tour heads back to the mainland this week at the CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation where 156 players will tee it up in sunny Palm Springs, California. With a new week of competition, you once again have the chance to earn cold, hard cash on DraftKings.
In this week’s fantasy contest, $200,000 is on the line with $15,000 going to the eventual winner. Some of the world’s best professional golfers on the PGA Tour are scheduled to play in the Coachella Valley; don’t miss out on your opportunity to pick, play, and win, especially since I am here to help by highlighting the best bets to consider below.
The Courses
The 2016 CareerBuilder Challenge field will be tested over three courses: PGA West TPC Stadium Course; PGA West (Tournament) course; and La Quinta Country Club. The Stadium Course was designed by the infamous Pete Dye, measures 7,300 yards and plays to a par of 72. Hole No. 17 is known as “Alcatraz,” while No. 18 is equally difficult, given its intimidating water-lined feature. The Tournament course was designed by Jack Nicklaus, and measures 7,204 yards and also plays to a par of 72. It includes, not one, but two island greens, and has been characterized as forgiving off the tee, with treacherous greens and surrounding complexes. Finally, La Quinta CC is the oldest private club in the city and has been a part of this particular event for 51 of its 56 years. The course has five lakes, which come into play on seven different holes.
Below are the seven players I suggest putting into your DraftKings fantasy lineup this week, and why.
John Senden ($7,200)
2016 PGA Tour season statistics
- Official World Golf Ranking: 85th
- Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: 0.440 (78th)
- Strokes Gained: Putting: 0.324 (70th)
- Strokes Gained: Total: 0.764 (57th)
- Par 5 Birdie or Better Leaders: 52.27% (53rd)
- Birdie or Better Conversion Percentage: 34.87% (43rd)
- 2015 finish at CareerBuilder Challenge: DNP
Senden is a two-time PGA Tour winner, having most recently won the Valspar Championship in 2014. In the 2016 season, he’s made 3 of 4 cuts and finished T16 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas back in October. Unlike other players on this week’s list, Senden does not have any favorable history at this event from 2015.
Known as a consistent ball-striker, Senden’s ability to climb the leaderboard this week will inevitably depend on his putter. Don’t be surprised if Senden threatens to win this week, and with favorable odds to post a strong finish (say top-20), it makes $7,200 a sound investment.
Cameron Tringale ($7,800)
2016 PGA Tour season statistics
- Official World Golf Ranking: 73rd
- Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: 0.851 (37th)
- Strokes Gained: Putting: 0.343 (65th)
- Strokes Gained: Total: 1.193 (26th)
- Par 5 Birdie or Better Leaders: 40.91% (165th)
- Birdie or Better Conversion Percentage: 30.72% (120th)
- 2015 finish at CareerBuilder Challenge: T30
Tringale played last year in the desert at this event and posted a respectable T30, which he will likely improve upon in 2016. In the 2016 season, he’s made 3 of 3 cuts and finished T2 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. That was the third second-place finish of Tringale’s career and a win seems inevitable before he turns 30 in August 2017.
That said, he will need to convert a lot of birdies this week to find himself on the leaderboard late on Sunday. In the event that Tringale stretches his game to find those birdies, he will be competing to win. At $7,800, he could be a great fit in almost any lineup.
Kevin Chappell ($8,100)
2016 PGA Tour season statistics
- Official World Golf Ranking: 109th
- Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: 1.645 (13th)
- Strokes Gained: Putting: -1.245 (219th)
- Strokes Gained: Total: 0.400 (90th)
- Par 5 Birdie or Better Leaders: 24.60% (75th)
- Birdie or Better Conversion Percentage: 30.61% (123rd)
- 2015 finish at CareerBuilder Challenge: DNP
More so than even Tringale, Chappell seems destined to win on the PGA Tour in the next couple years, if not 2016. A Tour veteran at this stage, given his 140-plus starts at almost 30 years old, Chappell finished 2015 calendar year in style with a second place finish at The RSM Classic. In the 2016 season, he’s made 3 of 4 cuts.
While he did not play last year, Chappell finished T8 in 2013 at the CareerBuilder Challenge, when he posted a final-round 62. Not only a best bet this week, but a steal at $8,100, Chappell is a must for your lineup.
Brendan Steele ($9,000)
2016 PGA Tour season statistics
- Official World Golf Ranking: 79th
- Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: 0.818 (40th)
- Strokes Gained: Putting: -0.103 (136th)
- Strokes Gained: Total: 0.715 (61st)
- Par 5 Birdie or Better Leaders: 50.00% (62nd)
- Birdie or Better Conversion Percentage: 34.57% (52nd)
- 2015 finish at CareerBuilder Challenge: T2
Steele is a gamble in that so far in the 2016 season, he’s missed 2 of 4 cuts. Contrarily, in those two events where Steele played on the weekend, he posted a T17 at the Frys.com Open and T3 at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia. And it is hard to overlook last year’s T2 at this same event.
All things considered, Steele is a great fit for almost any lineup, given his modest salary of $9,000. When considering mid-range options this week for the CareerBuilder Challenge don’t shy away from Steele, but understand the risk based on his recent play.
Charley Hoffman ($9,200)
2016 PGA Tour season statistics
- Official World Golf Ranking: 54th
- Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: -0.202 (136th)
- Strokes Gained: Putting: -0.768 (196th)
- Strokes Gained: Total: 0.970 (181st)
- Par 5 Birdie or Better Leaders: 16.67% (246th)
- Birdie or Better Conversion Percentage: 24.44% (244th)
- 2015 finish at CareerBuilder Challenge: T2
Hoffman is a former winner (2007) of this event and finished T2 last year finishing 63-69-64 after opening with a 72. Never known as a model of consistency on the PGA Tour, 2016 to date has been no different. In just two events this season, Hoffman has made zero cuts, including missing the weekend in his adopted hometown of Las Vegas at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
As a three-time PGA Tour winner, Hoffman has proven he can close and take it incredibly low for weeks at a time. In order to put him in your lineup this week, you will have to ignore Hoffman’s recent play and have faith that Palm Springs (a place where he has historically played well) will rejuvenate a lackluster 2016 season. For $9,200, there is significant upside, but no guarantees.
Webb Simpson ($9,600)
2016 PGA Tour season statistics
- Official World Golf Ranking: 72nd
- Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: 0.996 (30th)
- Strokes Gained: Putting: -0.832 (201st)
- Strokes Gained: Total: 0.164 (112th)
- Par 5 Birdie or Better Leaders: 50.00% (62nd)
- Birdie or Better Conversion Percentage: 30.83% (117th)
- 2015 finish at CareerBuilder Challenge: T7
Whether Simpson will ultimately survive the anchoring ban remains to be seen, but unlike some other PGA Tour players, he made the change early in 2015 to prepare for Jan. 1, 2016. Based on the numbers, the putter is still a work-in-progress, despite making 2 of 3 cuts in 2016 as well as finishing T13 last week in Hawaii.
Simpson’s spot on this list is, in part, due to his strong finish at this same event in 2015 (T7) and history overall (2014: T23; 2011: T13; 2010: T33; and 2009: T5). It is also a result of being a former U.S. Open champion and four-time PGA Tour winner. Simpson offers the real possibility of getting a win at a reasonable price.
Ryan Palmer ($11,000)
2016 PGA Tour season statistics
- Official World Golf Ranking: 57th
- Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: 1.253 (19th)
- Strokes Gained: Putting: -0.289 (155th)
- Strokes Gained: Total: 0.964 (40th)
- Par 5 Birdie or Better Leaders: 67.86% (6th)
- Birdie or Better Conversion Percentage: 33.59% (73rd)
- 2015 finish at CareerBuilder Challenge: T10
A three-time PGA Tour winner, Palmer is not necessarily a bargain this week at $11,000, but a best bet nonetheless. He is coming off a strong finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where Palmer finished T13. In the 2016 season, overall, he’s made 2 of 3 cuts and also finished T16 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas.
Long enough off the tee, and a capable ball striker, Palmer needs a hot putter to find the winner’s circle. As between Palmer and say, Matt Kuchar, however, get some value for your investment, and go with the former this week.
Pick your lineup here for a chance to win $200,000!
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Monday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Emiliano Grillo – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Kevin Tway – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Eric Cole’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matt Kuchar’s custom Bettinardi – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Justin Thomas – driver change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler – putter change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s new custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Tommy Fleetwood testing a TaylorMade Spider Tour X (with custom neck) – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Cobra Darkspeed Volition driver – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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