Quail Hollow Club hosts the 20th edition of the Wells Fargo Championship this week, but it’s just its fourth turn of the last six. Following a pair of events featuring below-average fields, we're back to a designated event, although Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler, the top two players in the Official World Golf Ranking, have elected to take the week off. That leaves Rory McIlroy to headline a still-strong field as the tournament favorite at 7-1 odds. This also is the first designated event to host as many as its 156 entrants, 15 of whom are ranked below as contenders for the title.
Exhibiting its strength and flexibility, it went on hiatus in 2017 and 2022 in exchange for its role as the stage for the PGA Championship and the Presidents Cup, respectively. So, while this week’s Wells Fargo Championship is a designated event, Quail Hollow has proven to be a reliable test for multiple purposes.
Picks To Win Outright:
Justin Thomas (+2100)
I know Thomas hasn't had the best year, but he reportedly has dealt with a hip injury, and a couple weeks off should have done him some good after a busy stretch to start the year. Thomas should have fond memories of Quail Hollow, where he won his first major championship, and his putting has to round into form at some point.
Max Homa (+2400)
He’s the defending champion, just not at Quail Hollow, but he did prevail here in 2019. It was his first PGA TOUR title. He’s tacked on another five, including two since last year’s Wells Fargo. When he returned to Quail Hollow for the Presidents Cup, he went 4-0-0.
Rickie Fowler (+4100)
This is the spot. This is the one you’ve been waiting for, the week when Rickie’s resurgence is really going to pay off. Experiencing a career renewal this season with five top 10s among nine top 20s with seven of his last eight starts. As absurd as it sounds, he’s improved at just about everything. Quail Hollow has been the site of so much success, including his breakthrough victory in 2012.
Top 10 Finishers:
Jason Day (+260)
He hasn’t played since the Masters and deserved the break, considering he had seven straight top-20 results to start the year before that. I think a this is recency bias, even if the Masters wasn’t all that recent anymore, will keep the masses from betting him again this week, but he makes as much sense here as just about anywhere, with two top-10s (including a win in 2018) in five starts, plus a T7 result at the 2017 PGA Championship.
Gary Woodland (+550)
Coming off a top-10 win with Cameron Champ last week, I'll start with Woodland, who took fifth the last time the Tour visited Quail Hollow. Woodland has made five straight cuts, including a top-15 at Augusta. He is a good fit for the course, ranking top-10 this season in driving distance and approaches from over 200 yards.
Player Matchups:
Tommy Fleetwood (-110) over Shane Lowry
In a matchup between players going in opposite directions, I'll go with the golfer in better form in Fleetwood. Lowry has just one top-10 this season and has struggled at this venue, with a best finish of T48 in four appearances. Fleetwood is coming off a T14 in 2021.
Taylor Moore (-110) over Matt Kuchar
Kuchar has certainly had a nice season, but Moore has had an even better one, winning the Valspar Championship in March and posting a pair of top-15s since. Moore is making his Quail Hollow debut but should be a good fit with above average length and a solid all-around game. Kuchar has traditionally skipped this event with his lack of distance making him a poor fit.