This article is part of our FanDuel PGA DFS Picks series.
Wells Fargo Championship – Wilmington, NC
Eagle Point Golf Club (7,259 yards, par 72)
$7.5M Purse
$1,314,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points to the winner
Tournament Preview
With long-time host Quail Hollow in prep for its upcoming PGA Championship in August, Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington will sub in as host of the Wells Fargo Championship this week. The course is ranked in the top 100 by Golf Digest and has hosted some major amateur and junior events in the past, but it has never brought in the world's best to test its Intracoastal landscape. The Tom Fazio design features numerous hazards and some tricky approaches that demand focus on the part of the players. With immaculate fairways and greens, many have labeled it a "poor man's Augusta", but poor simply isn't a word in Tom Fazio's vocabulary. The field is led by Dustin Johnson returning from his four-week absence after an obscure stair accident on Masters Wednesday, followed by young standout Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, and Adam Scott. Though there's ambiguity surrounding the new venue, it has already drawn rave reviews from a few pros and should make for an enticing week of spectating.
Prior Decade Champions
2016 – James Hahn
2015 – Rory McIlroy
2014 – J.B. Holmes
2013 – Derek Ernst
2012 – Rickie Fowler
2011 – Lucas Glover
2010 – Rory McIlroy
2009 – Sean O'Hair
2008 – Anthony Kim
2007 – Tiger Woods
Key Stats to Winning at Eagle Point Golf Club
• Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green
• Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green
• Scrambling
Champion's Profile
On a completely new course this week, course history offers little to no value, other than the assumption it has some resemblance to what Quail Hollow demands. From early reviews, pros are likening the condition to that of Augusta National, meaning fast but fair. With some looming hazards and manmade creeks, players will need a strong tee-to-green strategy to get around. The kicker here is that if the wind picks up like expected, scrambling will become key because of the tricky greenside conditions. In any case, the field's best, especially the top 7-8 players, are polished ball strikers with plenty of all-around game to thrive here.
FanDuel Value Picks
The Chalk
Dustin Johnson, $11500 – The winner of his last three starts and leader in the strokes gained: tee-to-green, Johnson's only downside is the bruised back injury he's returning from.
Jon Rahm, $10500 – Youngster showing signs of a blooming talent, Rahm is an elite ball striker with 11-of-11 made cuts this season, including five top 10s.
Adam Scott, $9900 – Scott has a proven tee-to-green prowess and is among the best in the field this week. He seems to be a great course fit and enters fresh off a top-10 in his last start at the Masters.
Paul Casey, $9400 – Casey enters on the heels of back-to-back top-10s his last two starts and a long string of made cuts dating back to January. He's ranked 16th in strokes gained: tee-to-green in 2017.
Kevin Kisner, $9000 – Fresh off a runner-up at last week's two-man Zurich Classic event, Kisner is a nice fit on a Carolina golf course that will feel like home.
Longer Shots Worth a Risk
William McGirt, $7400 – Playing well with a recent top-5 at Harbour Town, McGirt is an accurate driver of the ball with ties to the Carolinas. It's a nice setup for a possible second victory for the man who broke through at the Memorial Tournament last season.
Hudson Swafford, $6800 – Swafford is top-15 in par-5 scoring this season, breaking through for a win at the CareerBuilder Championship. He's seen some roller coaster play since his win in January, but this week could be a smart week to confide in the Georgia alum.
Brian Harman, $6200 – The short-game guru has earned top-15s in three of his last four events, but it could be a tricky week for him on unknown greens. If his driving accuracy is solid like it's been recently, look for another solid effort from the trending lefty.
Strategy Tips for this week (based on 60k standard salary cap)
It's best to stick with the top guns and solid tee-to-green players this week. If you need to reach into the middle tiers or bargain bin for a few guys, look for guys that have strung together a few cuts or good tournaments recently, since form becomes more important when the entire field is playing it for the first time in competition.
