Daily Fantasy Golf Course Primer: Dell Technologies Championship
Bryson DeChambeau ran away with the first of four events in the FedEx Cup playoffs last week, and he vaulted himself to the top of the FedEx Cup standings as a result.
With three more events and a smaller and smaller field in each, the playoffs continue on.
This week, the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings get to head to TPC Boston to try to advance deeper into the playoffs. Here's what you should know about the course.
Course and Tournament Info
Course: TPC Boston
Par: 71
Distance: 7,342 yards
Greens: Bentgrass
Fairways: Bentgrass
Rough: Fescue
Last year, the field comprised 96 golfers, and 79 of them made the cut. It's not a no-cut event (obviously), but 82% of the field played the weekend, rather than 50% to 60% like usual. That's a big change from what we're used to in the regular PGA Tour season.
As for the course itself, TPC Boston is a par 71 that runs 7,342 yards and features fescue. Via Josh Culp's Future of Fantasy, the greens are smaller than average and faster, as well. The fairways are easier than normal to hit, and the greens are about average. In all, the course is about average when it comes to relative-to-par difficulty.
| Year | Difficulty Rank | Course | Par | Yards | Avg Score | Avg O/U Par |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 28 | TPC Boston | 71 | 7,342 | 70.781 | -0.219 |
| 2016 | 30 | TPC Boston | 71 | 7,297 | 70.243 | -0.757 |
| 2015 | 19 | TPC Boston | 71 | 7,242 | 70.956 | -0.044 |
| 2014 | 34 | TPC Boston | 71 | 7,216 | 70.473 | -0.527 |
| 2013 | 39 | TPC Boston | 71 | 7,216 | 69.207 | -1.793 |
| 2012 | 31 | TPC Boston | 71 | 7,216 | 70.647 | -0.353 |
| 2011 | 37 | TPC Boston | 71 | 7,214 | 70.327 | -0.673 |
| 2010 | 35 | TPC Boston | 71 | 7,214 | 69.959 | -1.041 |
| 2009 | 37 | TPC Boston | 71 | 7,202 | 69.948 | -1.052 |
| 2008 | 42 | TPC Boston | 71 | 7,207 | 69.869 | -1.131 |
The past few years have added some strokes to the average, as the course has been lengthened. Overall, it's nothing to be overly concerned about from a difficulty standpoint, though.
TPC Boston rated as the 16th-longest course in 2017 but fifth among par 70s and par 71s (and just four yards shy from being the third-longest).
Key Stats
These stats have led to standout performances at TPC Boston in past years, according to data from FantasyGolfMetrics.
| Key Stats for the Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston |
|---|
| Strokes Gained: Approach |
| Birdie or Better Rate |
| Greens in Regulation |
| Scrambling |
| Par 5 Scoring |
This is a pretty catch-all list, but we're dealing with some high-level golfers at this event, and we need to find few weaknesses.
Not on the list are any off-the-tee stats, such as distance, accuracy, or strokes gained: off the tee. Via datagolf, strokes gained: off the tee has mattered less at TPC Boston than at the average PGA Tour course, and the splits from FantasyGolfMetrics suggest the same.
Approach, rather, stands out yet again. It's the most vital stat to consider almost each and every week, and it bakes in tee shots on par 3s anyway.
Golfers finishing top-10 here have averaged a birdie or better rate of 27% since 2003, via FantasyGolfMetrics. It's 15% for the trunk-slammers.
Greens in regulation and scrambling marks of 70% were maintained by the top-10 finishers. Those missing the cut put forth marks of 59% and 53%, respectively.
The three par 5s were three of the four most scorable holes on the course last year (naturally), and the 18th (a do-or-die 530-yard par 5) featured 17 eagles but 51 bogeys.
Course History Studs
Via datagolf, Henrik Stenson (+2.84) leads the charge in adjusted strokes gained average at this course. He didn't play here in 2017 but was 41st in 2016, 2nd in 2015, 26th in 2014, and 1st in 2013, with just 2 of those 16 rounds over par and 9 rounds in the 60s.
Louis Oosthuizen (+2.75) shot a 69-69-74-69 en route to a T30 last year, his worst finish in four tries at TPC Boston. Prior to that, he was 8th, 12th, and 2nd. In all, just 2 of his 16 rounds were over par, and 10 were in the 60s.
Paul Casey (+2.50) has had consecutive top-fives here. He was second in 2016 (66-66-66-73) and fourth last year (70-65-67-70). He withdrew in 2015 but had shot a 74-68 to open.
Jason Day (+2.28) has played here 10 years straight and made all 10 cuts. 8 of his 10 finishes were top-25s, and 3 were top-10s. His past five finishes were 13th (in 2013), 7th, 12th, 15th, and 25th, giving him five straight top-25s. Just 2 of those 20 rounds were over par (including last year's opening 75).
Tiger Woods (+2.27) has a win, two runner-ups, and a third in his nine tries at this course, though none have come after 2013. Woods' scoring average on the par 71 has been 68.19.
