Wyndham Championship Preview, Picks & Analysis

Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements

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WHEN you have been named US Ryder Cup captain, the last thing you are meant to do is go out and win a regular PGA Tour event, but that is precisely what Davis Love III did at the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club, Greensborough, North Carolina, last year - at the ripe old age of 51. It immediately raised questions as to whether Love would pick himself to line up against Europe at Hazeltine.

Love said that if he was playing well enough then he would have no qualms about playing, but he suspected that it wouldn't be an issue. And, of course, he was correct. It was a flash in the pan.

But this has been a good year for golden oldies, with 49-year-old Steve Stricker in contention on a couple of occasions, Jerry Kelly, another 49-year-old, nearly winning the Travelers Championship, and Vijay Singh proving it is possible to remain competitive at 53. Of course it is a young man's game, but these guys, together with the likes of Colin Montgomerie and Miguel Angel Jimenez, provide hope for us all. After all, we are talking about men of all different shapes and sizes. And don't forget 58-year-old Bernhard Langer, still hitting the ball as far and as straight as he ever did, and still making millions of dollars from his play.

Sedgefield Country Club has designed by Donald Ross and was opened in 1925. It measures 7,127 yards and is a par 70. It was one of two courses used for the inaugural Greater Greensboro Open in 1938. Later years saw the event return to Sedgefield in alternating seasons, before a 16-year run as host from 1961-76. The 1965 edition was the last of Sam Snead’s record 82 PGA Tour victories. After a 2007 restoration to its original specifications, the Tour's annual Greensboro stop returned to its roots after a 31-year hiatus.

The tournament was won in 2010 by India's Arjun Atwal, in 2011 by Webb Simpson, Sergio Garcia in 2012, Patrick Reed in 2013 and Camillo Villegas in 2014.

So can another fortysomething win the Wyndham again? The laws of probably dictate that the answer to that question is, probably not.

However, Jim Furyk may have something to say about that. The 46-year-old shot an astonishing 58 during the final round of the Travelers Championship and narrowly missed a putt on the final green for a 57. Furyk is making a last-gasp bid to secure a place in Love's Ryder Cup team. He has a truly dreadful record in the event, so Love will have mixed feelings about his current form.

Believe it or not, this is the final regular event of the PGA Tour season before the FedEx Cup playoff series gets under way. And that means many golfers still have a great deal to play for, as only the top 125 players make it to the first event, the Barclays Championship. Among those whose hopes hang by a thread are some very big names - Ernie Els is 158th, Retief Goosen is 135th and Angel Cabrera is 183rd.  But the pressure is really on Bronson Burgoon (124th), Johnson Wagner (125th) and Matt Jones (126th).

All eyes will be on Jimmy Walker, playing in his first event since winning the US PGA Championship. He will arrive at Sedgefield with a spring in his step, which is more than can be said for Reed and Rickie Fowler, who return to PGA Tour action after playing in the Olympic Games golf tournament. Fowler began the season so brightly, but his flame has burnt out and it is difficult to see where his next victory is coming from. Reed is without a win in 2016 and is surely too good a player to go through the entire year without winning. He had the look of a man in Rio who was trying a little bit too hard. He needs a couple of big weeks to secure his place in Love's team. Rafa Cabrera Bello, of Spain, and New Zealand’s Danny Lee also head to Sedgefield from Rio.

It is also impossible to ignore Jon Rahm, the Spaniard who has enjoyed a meteoric rise since turning professional after the US Open. He has already secured his playing privileges for next season - next up for the 21-year-old must surely be a win. Darren Clarke could do an awful lot worse than give the Spaniard a Ryder Cup wild card, but that may be a little too left-field for the European captain.

Wesley Bryan, who was promoted to the PGA Tour after his third Web.com Tour victory this season, led the John Deere Classic after 36 holes. He is yet another young American with a big future and he gets another chance to shine at Sedgefield.

Wyndham Championship Picks & Tips

To Win: Jim Furyk. On the crest of a wave

Each Way: Jon Rahm. A very special young talent

Each Way: Patrick Reed. Needs a win, and soon

Wyndham Championship Fantasy Picks

Jim Furyk. Just keeps rolling along

Jon Rahm. Potential superstar

Patrick Reed. Back from Rio

Graham DeLaet. Showed signs of life in Rio

Luke Donald. This course should suit him

Jason Dufner. If he putts well he will contend

Bill Haas. Highly underrated American

Chris Kirk. Coming into good form

Patton Kizzire. Another brilliant young gun

Jimmy Walker. As confident as he has ever been