2016 Wells Fargo Championship Preview And Picks
Ready for 2016 PGA Wells Fargo Championship betting predictions? The Wells Fargo Championship (formerly known as the Quail Hollow Championship), takes place at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina this week after a topsy turvy week in Louisiana. Quail Hollow Country Club will play host to the world’s best on its par 72 -7,562 yard layout.
2016 Wells Fargo Championship
Location: Quail Hollow Country Club, Charlotte, NC
Date: May 5 – 8, 2016 on Golf Channel/CBS
Defending Champion: Rory McIlroy
Purse: $7,100,000 / Winner Share: $1,278,000
Updated Sportsbook Bonuses For Today
Length off the tee will be important this week – accuracy is not necessarily at a premium. Good touch around the greens will be more of a factor – greens In Regulation has always been an important stat here as are scrambling. A hot putter, as always will also help.
With that in mind who should we be keeping an eye on this week? Let’s take a look.
2016 PGA Wells Fargo Championship Favorites:
Rory McIlroy +450
How good has Rory been at Quail Hollow? The defending champion is five-for-six with five top 10s, including two wins and a co-runner-up. He won last year by an incredible seven strokes in a tournament he led in driving distance and greens-in-regulation.
He hasn’t been seen since the Masters but overall has three top 10s in his last four starts – two top 5s over that span. Rory is in fine form and ready to terrorize on arguably his favorite track.
With the Players Championship next week expect Rory to be a motivated guy.
Dustin Johnson +1400
Driving distance is important here so DJ has to be in the conversation.
Somehow he’s made the cut here just once in his last three trips but enters this week in a groove – top fives in four of his last five starts including solo third at the Shell Houston Open and a T4 at the Masters.
His game seems perfectly suited for this track – let’s see if he can finally realize that this week.
Adam Scott +1600
FedExCup points leader has missed the cut his last three appearances – that’s a head-scratcher considering he leads the TOUR in par 5 scoring and he is traditionally one of the better all-around players in the game.
Scott is on a different level than in years past and is poised to make some noise this week for sure.
Rickie Fowler +1600
2012 champion has made the cut here every time he’s teed it up with three top 20s over that span and a T6.
He enters this week #1 on TOUR in the all-around, T1 in par-4 scoring, third in par-5 scoring, fifth in greens in regulation and second in total strokes gained – what’s not to like?
His current form is just OK but if he is going to snap a mini-slump it is here.
2016 PGA Wells Fargo Championship Contenders:
Henrik Stenson +2000
Somehow hasn’t finished inside the top 55 in two tries here but one of the world’s best ball strikers has to come around at some time!
Justin Rose +2000
Missed the cut last week in New Orleans but that may play to his benefit considering the crazy nature of that event. He has been inside the top 20 five time the last couple of months and did finish fifth here in 2014.
Hideki Matsuyama +2500
Has finished inside the top 20 in three straight tournaments ahead of this week including top 10s at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Masters where he finished T7. His history here is OK – he’s made the cut both times with a T20 last year.
On TOUR he’s fifth in strokes gained: tee-to-green, 11th in the all-around ranking and 12th in GIR and third in birdies-or-better conversion percentage.
If his putter ever wakes up Matsuyama could be a threat.
Patrick Reed +2500
Hasn’t been great at Quail Hollow – he has yet to record a top 30 in three appearances.
But Reed has been playing some good golf lately – a solo second at Valero was his TOUR-leading eighth top 10 of 2015-16 – he’s been inside the top 10 in four of his last five starts.
Reed’s game is suited for this track – my guess is that success here will come sooner than later.
Phil Mickelson +2500
Worth a mention because he’s made the cut all 12 times he’s played Quail with six top 5s.
J.B. Holmes +2800
2014 champ obviously has the perfect game to contend here and with his current form (six top 15s in his last eight starts including a T4 at the Masters) it is easy to make a case for Holmes this week.
Daniel Berger +4000
Last year’s PGA Rookie of the Year has top 15 finishes in four of his last five starts and loves the Bermuda greens! He has just one start here – a T28 last year but his current form is difficult to ignore.
2016 PGA Wells Fargo Championship Sleepers (+5000 or higher):
Jamie Lovemark +5000
Bomber off the tee should be motivated to avenge a playoff loss in New Orleans. He has five top 10s on the season and is T16 on TOUR in par-5 scoring, seventh in scrambling and 13th in adjusted scoring.
Bill Haas +6600
Local boy has been decent of late – four straight top 25 finishes including at playoff loss at the Valspar. He is a decent striker of the ball and one of the better scramblers out there. Haas is an intriguing +6600 indeed this week.
Webb Simpson +7500
Plays well on track he loves and as a member here – Simpson obviously has an affinity for Quail Hollow. He finished T2 here last year, has been OK lately and is a good bet to make some noise this week as well.
2016 PGA Wells Fargo Championship Picks:
I‘m going with the favorite here. Rory McIlroy at +450 is the pick.
His history here is just too tough to ignore and on a track that awards driving stats and not necessarily accuracy the defending champ has my vote.
My sleeper is Webb Simpson at +7500. I only consider him on tracks that he thrives on – Quail Hollow is definitely one of those.
Golf handicapper DAVE B weighs in each week with his top selections. Including top picks and sleepers!
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