It’s the penultimate tournament on the PGA Tour before the next major on the golfing calendar, The PGA Championship, as the Wells Fargo Championship returns this week at Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Most of the 156 field will be looking to brush up before heading to Kiawah Island and they will be competing this week for the $8.1M purse with the winner receiving $1.3M.
This stunning Quail Hollow parkland course is the longest par 71 track on the PGA Tour so the key attribute will be power with birdies hard to come by especially on the final few holes better known as the Green Mile.
Max Homa will return to defend the title he won in 2019 with last year’s tournament cancelled. It was Homa's maiden PGA Tour victory and he has since went on to win the Genesis Invitational earlier this year.
The weather is forecast to be sunny and warm for the first three days from Thursday to Saturday with strong, stormy winds expected for Sunday’s final round to make it even more exciting.
This event will be screened on Sky Sports Golf with live coverage starting at 12pm GMT Thursday.
Last week as many will be aware I selected Keegan Bradley at 80/1 Each Way to win the Valspar Championship. It was yet another nail biting weekend especially Sundays final round for everyone who followed my selection.
Unfortunately the American hit the drink at the par 3, 13th hole on the final back nine when it looked liked a two-way shoot-out.
He never fully recovered from the double-bogey that followed, leaving Sam Burns to claim a three stroke victory. It was so unlucky as he was in the lead from almost the start until that mishap and looked the most likely winner.
However, can't complain as the runners-up spot delivered yet another extremely profitable weekend to the joy of all our Each Way punters making sure the run of form continues after last week's 12/1 winner and 150/1 winner the week before. Well done to everyone who followed yet another winning selection last week.
So let’s get on with this weeks selections and see if we can keep up the good form with more winners at Wells Fargo.
Rory McIlroy
For my main selection this week I’m going to advise , again many of you may be thinking or shouting aloud “ Oh no! What’s The Caddy doing? Is he OK ?” – I’m going for, wait for it!!!!…. Rory McIlroy 20/1 EW Bet365.
Listen, I’m fully aware Rory hasn’t been firing on all cylinders recently whilst making adjustments on his swing with new coach, Pete Cowan, and yes, it may not make sense to many of you why I’d take the risk but for me it’s simply a risk worth taking.
As I’ve mentioned before, the Irishman is far too good to forget or disregard and he will be back with a bang once that new swing is mastered. Remember, Rory is still ranked 15th in the world not 150th!
McIlroy hasn’t been seen at an event since missing the cut at Augusta but he has won this event twice. The first was in 2010 and he did so again in 2015 with a record breaking 21 under par scorecard. His 276 stokes gained on the field per round at Quail Hollow can be matched by no one.
This year hasn’t been all bad either with three top 10 finishes; 10th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, 6th at the WGC Workday Championship at The Concession and 3rd at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Rory was 8th at this event last time in 2019 and as I’ve mentioned, with this being the longest par 71 track on the Tour, if anyone can power his way to a victory here then it’s Rory McIlroy.
You already know I'm a big fan of the talented 32 year old Irishman and maybe my heart is ruling my head but my head tells me Rory will be back with his first victory in 18 months and it could well be this week with a hat-trick of wins at Wells Fargo and I don’t want to say I missed out when it happens.
Viktor Hovland
For my next selection I’m going to suggest the ever talented 23 year old youngster from Norway, Viktor Hovland 20/1 EW Bet365.
The young Norwegian is simply a model of consistency and has almost made his breakthrough to be amongst the Top 10 golfers in the world, currently ranked 11th.
It would have been 10th if he finished in solo 3rd last week but he had to settle for T3rd with Cameron Tringale at Valspar. He’s almost in the Top 10 with the best in the world and that’s without winning on the PGA Tour, imagine when he does start winning, he’s definitely going to be World No.1 in no time this kid.
Hovland is simply just too hot to ignore especially from a betting perspective. Seven Top 10 finishes in his last twelve starts with a victory at Mayakoba, Runner-up at both the Farmers Insurance and WGC Workday Championship at The Concession with 3rd places at the DP World Tour Championship and last weekend at the Valspar Championship. He just seems to be there or thereabouts on every leaderboard week in, week out.
Surely his maiden PGA Tour victory has to be in the bag bursting to pop out anytime soon – when I say soon, I mean now.
He has been knocking on the door, almost crashing it down with his recent efforts and a big win is almost certain. He definitely has the power to win around here, his putter is hotter than almost everyone and he is ranked 4th shots gained tee to green on the PGA Tour.
This talented kid only has good times ahead and will be a welcome addition to the Ryder Cup team with probably a few more victories to his name before Whistling Straits in September.
This weekend could be the biggest victory to his name so far and it would be a well deserved one at that.
Max Homa
For my next pick I’m going to stick with the defending champion, Max Homa 33/1 EW Bet365 .
The 30 year old American now has two victories on the PGA Tour including this event and The Genesis Invitational he bagged just a few weeks ago.
Homa has shot up to 41st in the world rankings after an amazing run of form. He has finished inside the Top 20 in seven of his last twelve tournaments with four of those inside the Top 10.
An excellent victory at the Genesis Invitational where he seen off stiff competition then got the better of Tony Finau in a play-off claiming the victory with a birdie on the second play-off hole.
In the past few weeks he was 10th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and 6th last week at the Valspar Championship, that would have been much better if it wasn’t for a disappointing final round.
The American has already proven he has the credentials to win around this track and with last year’s tournament cancelled Homa returns to do what not many can do and defend his title.
I just feel that if he brings his recent form to Quail Hollow then he will be in contention yet again and be involved at Sunday’s stormy final round where anything can happen with the strong gales that are forecast.
Rory McIlroy v Webb Simpson
For my final selection I’m going for a 72 hole matchbet with, yip him again, Rory McIlroy to get the better of Webb Simpson 10/11 Nap Betfair.
