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.
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.
Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums
- 2026 PGA Championship – Monday #1
- 2026 PGA Championship – Monday #2
- 2026 PGA Championship – Monday #3
- 2026 PGA Championship – Monday #4
- 2026 PGA Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2026 PGA Championship – Tuesday #2
- 2026 PGA Championship – Tuesday #3

WITB Albums
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Bryce Fisher – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB (mini) – 2026 PGA Championship
- Martin Kaymer – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Francisco Bide – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Travis Smyth – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Cameron Smith – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Chris Gabrielle – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Ian Holt – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Ben Kern – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Angel Ayora – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Zach Haynes – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Daniel Hillier – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Mikael Lindburg – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Paul McClure – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Garrett Sapp – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Austin Hurt – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Mark Geddes – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Adrien Saddier – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2026 PGA Championshi
- Derek Berg – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Timothy Wiseman – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Tyler Collett – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Andy Sullivan – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Jesse Droemer – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Michael Block – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Jordan Gumberg – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Braden Shattuck – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship
- Elvis Smylie – WITB – 2026 PGA Championship

Pullout Albums
- Cameron putter covers – 2026 PGA Championship
- Custom Cameron made for Brooks to test – 2026 PGA Championship
- Cameron putters – 2026 PGA Championship
- Haotong Li’s custom Cameron putter – 2026 PGA Championship
- L.A.B. Golf putter covers – 2026 PGA Championship
- TaylorMade putter covers – 2026 PGA Championship
- New L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i putter for Adrien Saddier – 2026 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2026 PGA Championship
- TaylorMade staff bag and covers – 2026 PGA Championship
- Callaway staff bag and covers – 2026 PGA Championship
- Xander with a new Odyssey milled 7X putter – 2026 PGA Championship
- Srixon driver head cover – 2026 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2026 PGA Championship

Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2026 Truist Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week for the Truist Championship from Quail Hollow Club.
While Titleist’s tour seeding of its new GTS300 mini driver has grabbed early headlines this week, there’s plenty more to see from North Carolina.
Check out links to all our photos below, and be sure to check back throughout this week as we add more.
General Albums
- 2026 Truist Championship – Monday #1
- 2026 Truist Championship – Monday #2
- 2026 Truist Championship – Monday #3
- 2026 Truist Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2026 Truist Championship – Tuesday #2
- 2026 Truist Championship – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2026 Truist Championship
- Tony Finau – WITB – 2026 Truist Championship
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2026 Truist Championship
- Patrick Cantley – WITB – 2026 Truist Championship
- Kristoffer Reitan – WITB – 2026 Truist Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2026 Truist Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2026 Truist Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Titleist GTS 300 “mini” – 2026 Truist Championship
- Cameron putters – 2026 Truist Championship
- Cameron putter made for Justin Rose – 2026 Truist Championship
- Jason Day bag update – 2026 Truist Championship
- Tom Hoge’s Odyssey Ai-Dual 2-Ball Ten putter – 2026 Truist Championship
- Hideki’s “special made CT” Cameron putter – 2026 Truist Championship
- New Cameron for JT to test – 2026 Truist Championship
- Rory McIlroy’s 3 wood change – 2026 Truist Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2026 Cadillac Championship
GolfWRX Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, is on site in Florida for the PGA Tour’s return to Doral at the 2026 Cadillac Championship.
While the star of the show is no doubt Justin Rose’s new McLaren irons, there’s plenty more to see from the Sunshine State.
Check out links to all our galleries from the Blue Monster below.
General Albums
- 2026 Cadillac Championship – Monday #1
- 2026 Cadillac Championship – Monday #2
- 2026 Cadillac Championship – Monday #3
- 2026 Cadillac Championship – Monday #4
- 2026 Cadillac Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2026 Cadillac Championship – Tuesday #2
- 2026 Cadillac Championship – Tuesday #3
- 2026 Cadillac Championship – Tuesday #4
WITB Albums
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Kurt Kitayama – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Brian Campbell – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Sam Stevens – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Nicolai Hojgaard – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Hideki Matsuyama – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Adam Scott – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Hideki Matsuyama – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Adam Scott – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Ryan Fox – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Collin Morikawa – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Ryan Gerard – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Patrick Rodgers – WITB – 2026 Cadillac Championship
Pullout albums
- Justin Rose’s new McLaren irons – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- New Super Stroke grip – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Odyssey S2S Tri-Hot Rossie putter murdered out – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Odyssey TRTL putter & grip – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Odyssey TRTL – left hand model – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Matt Wallace’s custom Cameron putter – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Michael Kim’s Titleist GTS 2 driver – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Ryan Gerard Cameron putters – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Cameron Young’s custom Cameron putters – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Scotty Cameron Kombi – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Alex Fitzpatrick’s custom stamped Vokey wedges – 2026 Cadillac Championship
- Sung Jae Im’s custom Cameron putters – 2026 Cadillac Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Equipment2 weeks agoJustin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
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Equipment1 week agoWhat’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
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Equipment2 weeks agoCadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
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Whats in the Bag3 days agoKristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
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Whats in the Bag1 week agoCameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
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Whats in the Bag3 weeks agoNelly Korda WITB 2026 (April)
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Equipment2 weeks agoJustin Rose on the switch to McLaren Golf, learnings from previous equipment moves
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Tour Photo Galleries2 weeks agoPhotos from the 2026 Cadillac Championship





