The 2024 Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club is the final stop on the PGA Tour calendar before players shift focus to the PGA Championship. Boasting signature status for the second straight year, the Wells Fargo Championship will welcome 69 of the top players the PGA Tour has to offer, all of whom should be around for the weekend with no cut at the 36-hole mark.
Headlining the field is the man who has seemingly done no wrong at Quail Hollow throughout his career: Rory McIlroy. The world No. 2 arrives fresh off his 25th PGA Tour victory alongside Shane Lowry at the Zurich Classic. With the Masters now behind him, McIlroy hopes to continue running downhill and should have a great chance to do so given his history at this venue.
Three times a winner at Quail Hollow, including his first ever back in 2010, McIlroy must love his chances. Another player to love his chances this week is the defending champion Wyndham Clark. This time last year, Clark was without a PGA Tour victory and hardly a household name. Oh, how the times have changed.
The reigning U.S. Open champion is now among the best in the world and has consistently factored in these signature events with a win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and close calls at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Players Championship and RBC Heritage. While Clark fell short to world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in all three of those instances, he and the rest of the field need not worry about the top man in the sport as he remains on the sideline awaiting the birth of his first child.
Scheffler's absence could give way for a number of players experiencing a drought of their own with names like Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele and Cameron Young among them. This crop of top talent hasn't entered the winner's circle in a couple of years and hope to change that this week.
Masters contenders like Collin Morikawa and Max Homa should find themselves in the picture this weekend as well, while others like Viktor Hovland and Will Zalatoris search for a little bit of form.
Dates: May 9-12 | Location: Quail Hollow Club — Charlotte, North Carolina
Par: 71 | Yardage: 7,558 | Purse: $20,000,000
Winner (10-1): It's a short number for a guy who hasn't won in two years, but Schauffele is close. He continues to knock on the door and it is bound to bust open with this week at Quail Hollow. Schauffele finished runner-up at this tournament a season ago and arrives as one of the most well-rounded players in the field. He ranks second in total strokes gained over the last three months, and while I hate to say that he is "due," that fact is that he is. |
Contender (30-1): The man from Japan was among the hottest names before the Masters, but that shine has worn off due to a disappointing showing at Augusta National. He hasn't played since, but Matsuyama should relish the challenge of a difficult major championship-type test given the well-rounded nature of his game. He leads the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the green this season, ranks first in strokes gained tee to green in this field over the last three months and has had success at this golf course before. |
Sleeper (55-1): The pre-tournament withdrawal from the CJ Cup Byron Nelson doesn't necessarily exude confidence, but Zalatoris must be considered whenever the conditions and course present a challenge. The wiry right hander has been solid this year with quality outings at the Masters, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Genesis Invitational and Farmers Insurance Open. He ranks third in this field in strokes gained approach and sixth in strokes gained tee to green over the last three months. |
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2024-05-07T14:51:44Z dg43tfdfdgfd