Wells Fargo Betting
The PGA pros move to Quail Hollow for the Wells Fargo Championship this week as a tune-up for the Players Championship next week. Quail Hollow is a 7,562-yard par 72, featuring four par 5s and four par 3s – new greens await the players after a issues at Quail Hollow forced the organizers to replace the greens altogether.
2014 Wells Fargo Championship
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Course: Quail Hollow Country Club
Date: May 1-4, 2014
Total Purse: US $ 6,900,000
Winner’s Share: US $ 1,170,000 (17% of total purse)
Golf Odds from Bovada
Defending Champion: Derek Ernst ($1,206,000)
Last year this track was the second toughest par 72 in on majors
Distance off the tee is important here as well as the total driving stat. Scoring on the par 4s and 5s is also crucial. Quail Hollow will look a lot like a major in its set-up – and this has been done on purpose. Quail Hollow will be the scene of the 2017 PGA Championship and this week acts as a good test.
The Favorites:
Rory McIlroy 7/1
This is the event that started it all back in 2010 when he won – he lost in a playoff here in 2012 and has a T10 here as well. Needless to say, this track fits Rory’s eye very well – he owns the course record (62). He enters off consecutive top 10s on TOUR – at the Masters and at Houston and should be right in the thick of it again this week.
Phil Mickelson 14/1
Has never won here but has never missed a cut in 10 appearances and has seven top 10s over that span. He will be out to avenge and unfathomable missed cut at the Masters after an OK T8 at Houston. Phil is maddeningly inconsistent again – I have no idea what to think!
Lee Westwood 16/1
Is playing his best golf of the year as we head into this weekend – a T17, then a seventh at the Masters in his last two starts in the US and a win in the Malaysian Open by seven strokes last time out. He also plays well on this track – a T5 (2012) and T4 (2013) in last two starts here. Westy is a big-time player that is trending upward.
The Contenders:
Justin Rose 18/1
Has struggled here – zero top 25s in five appearances but he has been playing well as of late and is a shoe-in to break his miserable streak at Quail Hollow. He has a T8, a missed cut and a T14 in his last three starts overall and enters as one of the bigger names in the field.
Rickie Fowler 25/1
Surprisingly missed the cut last week but he does have a win in this tournament – back in 2012 and he also has a T6 and a T16 on this track as well. He entered last week having finished top 10 in his last two starts on TOUR before his missed cut and should be good for a bounce back this week.
Jimmy Walker 28/1
FedExCup points leader is coming off a very respectable T8 at the Masters – his fifth top 10 this season. He has played this track three times – improving each and every time out – T68 to T48 to T22 last time he played here. Walker is the most consistent guy on TOUR right now and should be in the mix Sunday.
Jim Furyk 33/1
Had a rough week last week but has been in the top 20 in each of his last four start on TOUR overall. He has made seven of nine cuts here with four top 10s including a win and a runner-up. Furyk has been consistently good this year and may be due on a course he clearly likes.
Zach Johnson 33/1
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Looked terrific a few months ago but he has cooled off significantly. He has four top 10s on the year and is coming off a T6 at the Valero and will be looking to regain his form this weekend.
Hunter Mahan 40/1
Has three top 20s in his last six starts on this track but hasn`t been great lately – a T31-T26-MC in his last three starts overall. Mahan will break out at some time – just don`t think it’s this week.
Ryan Moore 40/1
Finished T5 here in 2012 and T6 last year but hasn`t looked great most recently. Moore has four top 10s this year but hasn`t been in that rarified air since a T6 at Phoenix. Best to stay away this week.
The Sleepers (50/1 or higher):
J.B. Holmes 50/1
Has four top 20s in his last five starts overall – T12-T18-T11 in his last three starts. He is a bomber that should do well with the length this week on a track he finished T9 on in 2011. Holmes has been trending upward and is an intriguing 50/1 this week.
Webb Simpson 50/1
Has really slumped lately – zero top 25s in the last three months MC-T61-MC in his last three starts – amazing! He is a member at Quail Hollow however and did finish fourth here in 2011. His game is well suited for this track – he may be worth a shot if his present form doesn`t scare you off.
Kevin Na 66/1
Has played very well of late and may be the best value on the board. He has five top 20s with two missed cuts in last seven starts and he has played well on this track – a T14 in 2010 and a solo fifth in 2011.
The Pick:
The Pick this week is Lee Westwood at 16/1. He has been terrific at Quail Hollow and has been very good the last month or so. Westy is trending upward and is certainly due for a win on American soil.
My sleeper is Webb Simpson at 50/1. He hasn`t been great I know but he is a former winner on this track and he is a member here. No excuses Webb!
