Preview and Predictions for the 2016 Wells Fargo Championship
The PGA Tour leaves soggy New Orleans for North Carolina and this week's Wells Fargo Championship. Last year, Rory McIlroy went wild, carding a record 61 and setting the 72-hole tournament scoring record.
McIlroy headlines this week's field, which includes a total of eight of the top 12 golfers in the Official World Golf Ranking. Still, all eyes will be on Rory this week, as he seeks his third win at Quail Hollow and tees it up for the first time on the PGA Tour since his 10th-place finish at the Masters.
A layout where players try to score on the first 15 holes then hold on through the closing Green Mile, Quail Hollow Club continues its preparations for the 2017 PGA Championship, so course conditions ought to be excellent this week as the likes of Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose tee it up.
Click through for the full preview, as well as our predicted winner.
Where to Watch
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Defending Champion
Rory McIlroy
Where
Quail Hollow Club, Par 72
What
Total Purse: $7,300,000
Winning Share: $1,314,000
FedEx Points to Winner: 500
When
Thursday-Friday: 4-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
Saturday-Sunday: 1-2:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. ET (CBS)
Biggest Storylines
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As mentioned in the intro, Rory McIlroy’s return to a course he dominated last year (and without a win thus far in 2016) will grab much of the early tournament attention this week.
Jim Furyk makes his return from wrist surgery this week, having been out of action since September. Bryson DeChambeau will be teeing it up this week on a sponsor's exemption.
According to the experts at GolfStrat, key stats at Quail Hollow include total driving, proximity to the hole, approaches from 150-175 yards, driving distance and greens in regulation.
Interestingly, five of previous six winners at Quail Hollow have missed the cut in their following appearance. We'll see if that trend continues this year.
Originally slated to be in the field this week, world No. 8 Dustin Johnson has withdrawn without explanation.
The Favorites
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Rory McIlroy: A winner at Quail Hollow last year, Rory McIlroy tied for 10th at the Masters in his most recent start. McIlroy has won twice in six times at the Wells Fargo. McIlroy is 22nd on tour in total driving, 11th in strokes gained: total, fifth in birdie average and 28th in approaches from 150-175 yards.
Rickie Fowler: With his blood alcohol level finally returned to normal following #SB2K16, Rickie Fowler finished 20th at last week's Zurich Classic. Fowler won at Quail Hollow in 2012; he finished 38th last year.
Adam Scott: Teeing it up for the first time since finishing 42nd at the Masters, Adam Scott arrives at a course where's he's missed the cut in both appearances.
Other favorites: Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Phil Mickelson.
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The Dark Horses
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Jamie Lovemark: Nearly a winner at last week's Zurich Classic, Jamie Lovemark eventually finished second. He's missed the cut twice in three starts at Quail Hollow, but if you're looking for a hot golfer, Lovemark is a good play.
Paul Casey: Looking to rebound after a missed cut at the RBC Heritage, Paul Casey has teed it up at Quail Hollow just once, missing the cut in 2011. Still, at No. 23 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Casey deserves a look.
Other horses: Bryson DeChambeau, Daniel Berger, Justin Thomas, Gary Woodland.
Prediction
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Winner: Hideki Matsuyama
Matsuyama has recorded top-10 finishes in his last two stroke-play finishes. He placed seventh at the Masters after faltering on Sunday and sixth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
In two appearances at the Wells Fargo Championship, Matsuyama has finished 20th (2015) and 38th (2014). So, while his course history isn't brilliant, he hasn't been bested by the North Carolina course.
Here's how the Japanese national shapes up in key stats this week:
- total driving: 34
- greens in regulation: 12
- proximity to hole: 16
- strokes gained: tee-to-green: 5
- strokes gained: total: 10
- birdie average: 1
All stats via PGATour.com
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