QUAIL HOLLOW hosts the Wells Fargo Championship after a year’s break to accommodate the PGA last year.
There are three redesigned holes which make it even tougher than before. It’s closing stretch is known as The Green Mile (16-18 holes) and has annually been deemed one of the most difficult on Tour.
The course has narrow, tree-lined fairways and plenty of dog legs. The Bermuda grass greens are expected to run around 12 on the stimpmeter. Driving Distance, GIR and Par 5 scoring could be the stats to look for.
- Course: Quail Hollow Club, 7,554 yards, par 71.
Rickie Fowler
One man who has good form at Quail Hollow is Fowler. The Californian won here in 2012 and has a further two top-six finishes. In the PGA here last year he finished T5 (2010, 2016). He once again had a good showing at the Masters last month, where he just couldn’t catch the consistent Patrick Reed.
His current and course form both look good enough to do the business but we all know Rickie. It’s hard to believe he has only won four times on the PGA Tour. The guy is really too good to not have won more and he must surely bag a Major soon.
- Driving Distance: 293.50 yards (110th). GIR: 70.83% (10th). Par 5 Scoring: 4.62 (64th).
Kevin Kisner
A final-round 77 last weekend in New Orleans for a T15 finish was a real sickener for Kisner as two of his previous rounds were a 62 and a 64. Two weeks before he had three sub-70 rounds which saw him finish T7 in the RBC Heritage.
Both these results followed a second place in the Dell Match Play and a credible T28 in the Masters. Kisner has some form at Quail Hollow with a sixth place in 2014 and a T7 at last year's PGA Championship last year. He is slowly getting back to the form he showed last year and a win is expected soon.
- Driving Distance: 284.6 yards (184th). GIR: 67.14% (64th).Par 5 Scoring: 4.57 (17th).
Phil Mickelson
If you like taking guys who are known to play well on a certain course then look no further than Mickelson. In his last 13 appearances in this tournament at Quail Hollow he hasn’t missed the cut once. In that run he also has nine top-10 finishes (seven top fives) but has not been able to win it year.
Could this be the year? With a win at the Mexico Championship, when I tipped him, and four other top 10s he is better form than last year and although at the moment all the young kids on the block are sharing out the prizes it wouldn’t surprise me if Big Phil won again this season.
- Driving Distance: 298.0 (64th). GIR: 64.10% (127th). Par 5 Scoring: 4.53 (7th).
Tommy Fleetwood
Was only going to pick three for the Wells Fargo but just couldn’t leave out Fleetwood. Although this is his first appearance here, playing on unknown courses doesn’t seem to phase him, as shown to two fourth-place finishes at the Honda and Zurich.
He has also had three top 20 finishes this year. Since his T4 finish at the US Open last year the Americans seem to have taken to Tommy and it looks like he has taken to the courses. I like Tommy and don’t think it will be long before he gets his maiden title on the PGA Tour.
- Driving Distance: 303.4 (28th). GIR: 66.20% (89th). Par 5 Scoring: 4.58 (26th).
Recommended Bets
- 1.5pts ew Rickie Fowler (Betfair 12-1)
- 1.5pts ew Kevin Kisner (Betfred 50-1)
- 1.5pts ew Phil Mickelson (William Hill 28-1)
- 1.5pts ewTommy Fleetwood (Paddy Power 28-1)
