Preview and Predictions for the 2015 Quicken Loans National

After a week north of the border, the PGA Tour returns to just outside the capital of the United States for the Quicken Loans National at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker headline the field this week in Gainesville, Virginia, which features 13 winners from this season on the PGA Tour. 

Of course, It's impossible to talk about the tournament without invoking the name of Tiger Woods, whose foundation organizes the tournament and is its chief charitable beneficiary. Tournament host Woods is in the field as well and will be putting a ball in play for the first time since a disappointing missed cut at St. Andrews. 

Read on for a full preview and predictions. 

Where to Watch

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Defending Champion: Justin Rose

Where 

Robert Trent Jones Golf Club; 7,385 yards, par 71

What

Total Purse: $6,700,000

Winning Share: $1,170,000

FedEx Points to Winner: 500

When

Thursday and Friday: 2:30-6:30 p.m. ET, Golf Channel

Saturday and Sunday: 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET, Golf Channel; 3-6 p.m. ET, CBS

Biggest Storylines

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Tiger Woods

The horror show that is Tiger Woods' golf game and its associated circus of speculation and opinion will be on full display this week.  

Woods looked to be heading in a good direction after his tie for 32nd and final-round 67 at the Greenbrier Classic. He then played miserably at the British Open, firing rounds of 75 and 76 to miss the cut, the eighth-worst two rounds of the week. 

Spectators and car-crash rubberneckers will be eager to see what the former world No. 1 does this week. 

Big names returning to action after Open

Justin Rose, Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler all return to action for the first time since the British Open two weeks ago. It's getting down to the wire for big timers on the PGA Tour: There's just one more chance at major immortality, and the late-season cash grab that is the FedEx Cup Playoffs is right around the corner. 

New venue

The Quicken Loans National heads to former Presidents Cup venue Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in its "Congressional Country Club, then some other club every other year" arrangement. Unless players in the field competed in the biennial competition between 1994 and 2005, they aren't likely to have seen the track, so it's effectively a new venue. 

The Favorites

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Justin Rose

The fifth-ranked golfer in the world, Justin Rose tied for sixth at the Open Championship in his most recent start. He won the Zurich Classic in April and has totaled four top-10 finishes. Rose is third on tour in birdie average and 27th in strokes gained: total. 

Rickie Fowler

The No. 6 golfer in the world, Players champion Rickie Fowler tied for 30th at the Open Championship in his most recent start. He won the Scottish Open the week prior to that and has totaled five top-25 finishes on the PGA Tour this season. 

Jimmy Walker

Twice a winner on the PGA Tour this season, Jimmy Walker tied for 30th at St. Andrews his last time out. He's totaled six top-10 finishes in 17 starts on tour this season. Walker leads the tour in strokes gained: putting and is fifth on tour in strokes gained: total. He's also fourth in birdie average. 

The Dark Horses

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Jason Bohn 

Bohn has been hanging around the top of PGA Tour leaderboards this season. He tied for 12th at the John Deere Classic in his most recent effort and tied for 13th at the Greenbrier Classic in his start prior to that. Bohn has four top-10s this season and is 17th on tour in birdie average.  

Tony Finau

A long-hitting rookie, Tony Finau has been hot lately with top-25 finishes in eight of his last nine starts. Finau tied for 22nd at last week's RBC Canadian Open thanks to an inspired final-round 65. Finau is 11th on tour in birdie average and 32nd in strokes gained: tee-to-green. He's also sixth in driving distance. 

Prediction

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Since the majority of players in the field haven't teed it up at the Virginia venue before, we'll look to a gentleman who has played well on courses he hasn't seen before: tour rookie Justin Thomas. 

At nearly 7,400 yards, Robert Trent Jones Golf Club will take some power to overcome this week. Thomas is 18th on tour in driving distance, averaging 301.2 yards per drive. Thus, the Kentucky native has the firepower to take on the track. 

In his most recent PGA Tour start, Thomas tied for fifth at the John Deere Classic. He's had a couple of weeks off to undoubtedly rest and tighten up any loose elements in his swing, all of which are good things. 

Plus, he's eighth in both eagles and birdies and 22nd in strokes gained: tee-to-green. 

This is the week Thomas puts it all together for his first PGA Tour win.

Stats via PGATour.com