The PGA Tour heads up to North Carolina this week for the Wells Fargo Championship. There’s a strong field this week; six of the world’s top-20 players will be in attendance.
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson headlines the field and is joined by Jon Rahm, Adam Scott, and Alex Noren. This will be Johnson’s first start since his freak injury in Augusta. He’s had a few weeks off at this point so he should be well rested and the rust will be minimal. Also among the storylines this week is Phil Mickelson’s quest for a W at the Wells Fargo Championship. Lefty has finished in the top-12 in 11 of his 13 starts but is yet to capture the trophy.
- Tournament Record – 267 by Rory McIlroy (2015 at Quail Hollow)
- Single-Round Record – 61 by Rory McIlroy (2015 at Quail Hollow)
The Course
The Wells Fargo Championship has moved to Eagle Point Golf Club for the year as Quail Hollow preps for the PGA Championship. The par-72 course will play more than 7,400 yards including an additional 500 yards that were added specifically for this tournament. The course plays like a classic coastal course with slight elevation changes and undulating bent grass greens. It also features large, perfectly placed bunkers awaiting errant tee shots. Driving length and accuracy will be placed at a premium this week.
Odds
Past Champs in the field:
- Vijay Singh +35000
- Jim Furyk +8000
- Lucas Glover +6600
- Derek Ernst +30000
- JB Holmes +4000
- James Hahn +12500
Favorites:
- Dustin Johnson +450
- Jon Rahm +1200
- Adam Scott +1800
- Paul Casey +1800
- Phil Mickelson +2000
- Kevin Kisner +2500
- Bill Haas +3300
- Daniel Berger +3300
- Webb Simpson +3300
- Wesley Bryan +3300
Picks
My Pick – I’m not exactly coming in with a hot take on this one. I’m going with Dustin Johnson (+450) this week. I don’t love the odds, but until he loses, I’m going with DJ every time he’s in the field. Sticking with the hot hand is the way to go this week. DJ hasn’t played in four weeks so he may have cooled off a bit, but he’s won his last three starts, he’s the No. 1 player in the world and he’s separated himself from everyone else. I just can’t pick against that.
Value Pick – I’m going with Wesley Bryan this week at +3300. Bryan hasn’t been the best off the tee this year, but the rest of his game has been firing on all cylinders. Bryan got his first Tour win a few weeks ago at the RBC Heritage and I think the floodgates might open. After he got his first top-10, he followed it up with two more in his next two starts. Now that he knows he can win, his confidence will be through the roof.
Long Shot – Alex Noren at +5000 is my long shot pick this week. Alex Noren is the No. 12 ranked player in the world. Going off at +5000 is close to a slap in the face. He hasn’t had the best year so far, but if he can put it all together, he has the game to win any given week. I can’t pass on these odds.
Props
Will there be a playoff – Yes (+275) No (-400); I’m going with “no” this week. I’d be surprised if we got to see playoffs in back-to-back weeks. There have been four playoffs in the last six years, but the event is at a new venue so I don’t think history will come into play this week. And I have a feeling Johnson is going to run away with it.
Reed (-150) v. A. Noren (+115); I have to take Noren here. As I said before, he’s the No. 12-ranked player in the world and is getting absolutely no respect this week. Reed hasn’t played well at all this year; he’s missed the cut in three of his last four starts and his only top-10 finish came at the Tournament of Champions back in January.
Hole-in-One – Yes (-115) No (-115); I’m going with “yes” this week. I don’t love the odds on this one, but with this many great players in the field, somebody is bound to get an ace. No. 2, a short par-3, plays well under 200 yards and with no room to bail-out, players are forced to take dead aim at the pin.
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Tom1
May 3, 2017 at 5:30 pm
7400 yards! wouldn’t see that twenty years ago.
ooffa
May 3, 2017 at 9:17 am
Does each competitor get an account at Wells Fargo, even if the don’t want it?