Wells Fargo Championship
Quail Hollow Club
Charlotte, N.C.
Quail Hollow
Yards: 7,562 as per the scorecard
Par: 72 (36-36)
Greens: Miniverde Ultradwarf Bermudagrass; 6,500 square feet on average
Stimpmeter: 11’
Rough: Bermudagrass, ryegrass at 2.5”
Bunkers: 52
Water Hazards: 3
Course Architects: George Cobb (1961); Tom Fazio (1996, 2013)
Purse: $7,100,000
Winner’s Share: $1,278,000
FexExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Defending Champion: J.B. Holmes defeated Jim Furyk by one shot
Dates: May 14-17
Notes: 156 players; top 70 plus ties will play the weekend; stroke play
History Lessons
Patrick Reed, Jimmy Walker, Bill Haas, Brooks Koepka, Jason Day, Brandt Snedeker, James Hahn, Padraig Harrington, Alex Cejka (PRO), Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Matt Every, J.B. Holmes, Jim Furyk, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler are the first 19 winners of calendar 2015. Hahn (No. 297), Harrington (No. 297), Cejka (No. 285) and Every, No. 96 are the only players outside the top 70 in the OWGR to win this year.
After 28 wins in 45 events last season the USA has won with Snedeker, Koepka, Haas, Walker TWICE, Reed, Hahn and Johnson, Spieth TWICE, Every, Holmes and Furyk in 2015. The USA already picked up wins in 2014 portion from Charley Hoffman, Bubba Watson, Ryan Moore, Robert Streb and Ben Martin. The USA has won 19 of the first 26 events. Cejka, Harrington, Jason Day, Rose and McIlroy make up the rest of foreign legion who have won in calendar 2015. They join Sang-moon Bae (Korea) and Nick Taylor (Canada) from the 2014 as the international winners.
After 13 first-time winners in 2013 there were only 10 last year. Through 23 events in 2015, Hahn, Koepka, Martin, Streb, Taylor and Cejka have broken their maidens.
“The Green Mile”
This is the 13th edition of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte. After seeing Pete Dye designs in three of the last four weeks on TOUR the landscape shifts dramatically as low-lying courses are replaced by an inland monster that stretches almost 7,600 yards.
George Cobb’s original design was enhance by Tom Fazio in the late 90s and as most recently as 2013. After replacing all the greens after the 2013 event (Bentgrass out, Miniverde in) and adding sub air systems, Quail will provide a stern test the week after THE PLAYERS. This is the first year WFC will FOLLOW THEY PLAYERS instead of preceding it.
Quail Hollow’s “Green Mile” is the very difficult stretch of finishing holes (Nos. 16 through 18) that will test the nerve of the game’s best players. Phil Mickelson bogeyed his final two in 2013 and missed out on a playoff; Justin Rose played this stretch five-over last year to finish fifth. J.B. Holmes played these holes even and won. No. 16 plays slightly over 500 yards and has water left of the green if the distance wasn’t enough of a challenge. No. 17 is 221 yards and is surrounded by water on three sides. The finishing hole is almost 500 yards, uphill with trees up the right and a creek down the middle just to test the nerves.
If that’s not enough, the new greens, installed in 2013 after the event, should be in their best shape yet. And with over 6,400 square feet to aim at, those who can roll the rock will have an advantage this week. Finding fairways and greens never hurt but only four of the top 15 last year were inside the top 20 in proximity to the hole. Yet, eight of the top 15 were T16 or better in strokes-gained: putting. Furyk only made five bogeys on the week so it shows that this course can handle bomb-and-gouge and precision, as all good courses should. Furyk was ninth in SGP last year.
Winning Scores
2014: J.B. Holmes 274
2013: Derek Ernst 280*
2012: Rickie Fowler 274*
2011: Lucas Glover 273
2010: Rory McIlroy 273
2009: Sean O’Hair 277
2008: Anthony Kim 272
2007: Tiger Woods 277
2006: Jim Furyk* 276
2005: Vijay Singh* 276
2004: Joey Sindelar 277*
2003: David Toms 278
* playoff winner
Italics: not in field this week
Facts and Figures
Every edition of this event, all 12 of them, have been held on this track but this is year two for the new greens.
In the last seven editions the winner has broken their maiden three times (Kim, Ernst, Fowler) and McIlroy won for the first time in the States. All of these winners were younger than 24. Weird.
Yet, half of the winners here are major champions (McIlroy, Woods, Singh, Toms, Furyk and Glover).
Ernst was the fourth alternate when he defeated David Lynn in a playoff in 2013. REMEMBER THAT?
Ernst is the only defending champ in the last five to play the weekend the following year as he finished T30. The other four champs either MC or WD.
Half of the 12 editions have needed a playoff to find a winner including two of the last three.
Only McIlroy and Singh have been the internationals to win. That’s not a surprise when big, undulating greens are involved.
Former champs are 0-12 the following year.
Only four of the 12 leaders after 54-holes have gone on to win. Coffee is for closers; The Green Mile for survivalists.
Hometown Heroes
Brendon de Jonge – He’s made six cuts in a row; tied the course record last year, 62, in finishing T6; solo fourth in 2010; run of three T22 or better ended last week at THE PLAYERS.
Robert Karlsson – Nothing better than T26 in 2015 but he was T4 in 2013.
Martin Laird – Nothing better than T26 in six tries and has played half of those weekends; his hot winter has cooled this spring.
Webb Simpson – One of the 54-hole victims here in 2012 as his final round 73 saw him finish fourth; Inconsistent form drives me away
Johnson Wagner – He’s posted two rounds of 24 in the 60s at Quail and nothing better than T33 in eight tries.
Kyle Reifers – He’s been all-or-nothing on this track and all-or-nothing on the season; high risk and even higher reward.
Tournament and Course Records
Brendon de Jonge fired a second round 62 last year to tie Rory McIlroy’s course record set on Sunday in his win in 2010.
Anthony Kim set the tournament mark of 272 with his maiden win in 2008. Ernst and Lynn finished on 280, the highest winning score in 2013.
Bizarre Stats of the Week:
The eight 54-hole leaders that did not win did not break par in the final round.
Lucas Glover is the only champion to post all four rounds in the 60s.
Winner, Winner?
After the dumpster fire last week at THE PLAYERS I’m not panicking and here’s why: With a WGC event the week before there’s an angle to see why some of the world’s best crashed and burned at TPC Sawgrass. This week, the course is right in front of the players so no Jedi mind tricks. There’s a reason all kinds are successful here.
This Will Win You a Bar Bet
Quail Hollow will host the 2017 PGA Championship and the 2021 Presidents Cup.
The Chalk
In order, these are the players that I believe project the best this week (Yahoo! group in parentheses).
Rory McIlroy (A): This will be his third week in a row on TOUR of five scheduled so he won’t be looking at anything except becoming the first player to win here twice. He set the course record on Sunday the first time he played here as he blew away the field for his first TOUR win. He was 20. He made nothing last week and finished T8. After MC the year after his win he lost in a playoff to Rickie Fowler, he finished T10 and was T8 last year after playing the weekend nine-under. He’s 38-under in 18 career -rounds.
Henrik Stenson (A): This will be the week that the Swede imposes his will after he finally has kicked out of his funk. His illness at the Masters carried over until the Match Play but he rebounded last week with T17 at THE PLAYERS. He closed with 68 Sunday when the low round of the day was 67 and he should be excited to see a monster set-up with four more par fives for his taking.
Jim Furyk (A): With a victory, two seconds and two sevenths Furyk is proof that long and strong isn’t the only way to contend at Quail Hollow. He’s hit the top 10 in half of his career starts and has played six consecutive weekends when he’s teed it up in Charlotte. In those six events his worst finish is T26. He was second here last year when he closed with 65 on Sunday. After his win at Harbour Town and fourth place at Match Play I’m not concerned after his quiet weekend at THE PLAYERS where he admitted the course has never fit his eye. Quail Hollow does.
Kevin Kisner (B): Credit where credit is due as he’s been in a playoff (and lost) in two of his last three tournaments. There’s no shame in learning the hard way but he has too much talent not to take advantage down the road. His last four tournaments where he’s played the weekend he’s closed 69-64-67-69 so yeah, he’s quite warm. He began Sunday’s play here last year three shots back in fourth but shot 73 to finish T6. What a difference a year makes! He fits the mold of first-time winner!
Hideki Matsuyama (B): Half of his 10 events this season have seen him finish in the top 10. He has three other top 25s so to say he’s in a grove is accurate. He was T38 in his debut here but course familiarity doesn’t concern me; his ball-striking does. He’s third in strokes-gained: tee-to-green and is 10th in scoring and factors just about every time he tees it up.
J.B. Holmes (A): He’s hit the top 10 in two of his last three starts at Quail Hollow and it doesn’t hurt that he’s the defending champ. He plays well every-other-week so his T51 last week means he’s right on schedule. He went as low as 16-under last year before two meaningless bogeys saw him win by a shot. His length is his advantage this week but beware the curse of the defending champion!
Bill Haas (A): This will be his 12th straight appearance in Charlotte and he’s coming off his best finish of the season after his win at Humana with T4 at THE PLAYERS. After MC at SHO he’s racked up T12 at Augusta, T31 RBC Heritage, T17 in Match Play and T4 with all four rounds at par or better last week. He was solo fourth in 2011.
Ryan Moore (C): After T75-MC-MC-MC Moore finally cracked the code at Quail as his last three years he’s finished T5-T6-T18.He cracked the final round code last year as well. He was one back in 2012 entering Sunday and fired 74 to finish T5. In 2013 he was two back when his 73 knocked him to T6. Last year he closed with 66 to hit the top 20. His problems this winter and spring were also on Sunday but his 69 at Augusta saw him finish T12. Playing from the sprinkler line never hurts and he’s 43rd in overall putting.
Patrick Reed (C): His last seven have all hit the top 25 so I have no problem throwing him back out there again this week. Putting shouldn’t be dismissed this week because of the length of the track and he has the game to handle both. In eight rounds he’s finished T32 twice and fired 66 the first time he played here.
Adam Scott (A): WELL, WE’RE WAITING! Gamers haven’t gotten any love since his T4 early February. Bro, hit it CLOSER to the hole so the putts are easier to make! His length should be an advantage this week and he leads the TOUR in strokes gained: tee-to-green.
Justin Thomas/Daniel Berger (C/B): Each week one of them or both seem to be in contention. Thomas learned a valuable Pete Dye lesson last week with his 65-75 finish. Berger MC by one shot after T6 the week before at Zurich. Both smash it off the tee and have shown that big fields, courses or events don’t really bother them. Thomas is third in the all-around ranking; Berger is eighth in ball-striking. #LEGITX2
Jason Kokrak (C): He began the final round in 2013 just three shots back and shot 80 to finish T50. Last year he fired a pair of 68s, including one on Sunday to finish T23 as he played his final 14 holes bogey-free and six-under. Not bad for finishing DEAD LAST in fairways and T65 in GIR. The man can putt. He’s played four of his last six weekends and nothing has been worse than T18 at a tight Harbour Town.
Phil Mickelson (A): His WD at Match Play didn’t inspire confidence and neither did his MC last week at THE PLAYERS. I’m to the point in the Mickelson puzzle to endorse him on courses where he’s had plenty of success and this week qualifies. He’s never missed the weekend and he’s played every event here besides the inaugural. He’s plugged the top 10 seven times and he only has two finishes outside of the top 12. He shot 63 in the third round here last year and he wasn’t exactly lighting up the TOUR at that point either so he’s a creature of comfort. It’s actually surprising that he hasn’t won here.
Pat Perez (C): He went quietly Sunday at THE PLAYERS with 73 after beginning the day just three back but his last four events on TOUR have been solid. He was T20 at a difficult Valero, T11 SHO, T26 RBC and T17 last week. He’s played here the last eight years in a row and has a pair of 65s and a 66 last year to show for his troubles.
George McNeill (B): After MC in two his first three to start the new season, the Floridian has played 10 of the last 11 weekends. He was T12 at Zurich two weeks ago after opening with 74 and T17 at THE PLAYERS last week after opening with 73. His worst Sunday score in his last six is 71. He has four T22 or better in five weekends (from eight) at Quail.
Form Plays
Guys who are hot, have been hot or have caught my eye recently, in no order.
Ben Martin (A): A solid all-around game has seen him pluck two top-five finishes in his last five starts. He’s posted two of six rounds here in the 60s and two more at 75 or worse.
John Peterson (C): He’s 14 of 15 this season and is six-from-six since March 1. This classic ball-striker prefers the tougher tracks on TOUR and this qualifies. He’ll go as far as his putter takes him most weeks.
Charles Howell III (B): Along with Sabbo, he’s one of the few that’s played all 12 editions of this event and he’s just started to figure it out. After nine in a row without a top 20 he’s played seven of his last eight rounds at par or better to finish T10 and T18. He never plays well at THE PLAYERS so don’t let that 77 on Sunday bother.
Chesson Hadley (B): Ok, I dig the snaps. There. I said it. It’s good for the game. It’s not the Chi-Chi Rodriquez sword fighting but it’s original and it works. He’s happy. He’s excited. I’m down. After a slow start to 2015 he’s rattled off seven of his last eight and like Martin, he has two top 10s in his last five.
Rory Sabbatini (C): He came out of absolutely nowhere last week at THE PLAYERS with four rounds under-par to finish T6. He’s been known to play hot in bunches and this isn’t a bad track to see if that theory flies. He is one of three players to tee it up in every event at Quail Hollow and has a solo third in 2011 and T8 last year sandwiching two MCs.
Sean O’Hair (C): The 2009 champ has enjoyed a very profitable rejuvenation this spring with three top 12s in his last six. He was nothing short of dreadful last week (76-76) but the last time he pulled that (77-77 at Valero) he rebounded with solo sixth his next time out.
David Hearn (C): Another final round heartache for the Canadian as his 78 last Sunday saw a chance at back-to-back top 10s evaporate. He was 26-under in his previous seven rounds so something is working. He’s played the weekend in his last three here but nothing better than T43. Nice fill this week.
Louis Oosthuizen (C): He’s all-or-nothing but there is more all than nothing as he’s been T19 or better in four of his last six. His ball-striking was nothing short of awful last weekend as he finished T69 at THE PLAYERS but form is temporary while class is permanent. He’s probably underrated by me this week but this is his first trip to Charlotte.
Scott Pinckney (C): The name of the category is form. His last five are T6-MC--T8-MC-T12. The T8 was at Valero, a bit of a beast such as Quail. Noted.
Russell Knox (C): He’s played his last 11 rounds on TOUR at par or better and nine of those are under-par. He’s played eight of his 11 weekends in 2015 and has five T18 or better including two of his last three. He closed with 68 at THE PLAYERS.
Morgan Hoffmann (C): He hits it a mile and can really putt. He played his final 15 holes at THE PLAYERS bogey-free and four-under to MC by a shot so I’m not souring on him for that. He’s hit the top 10 in two of his last five starts.
Gary Woodland (B): I almost made a section entirely for him. How does he play so well at Match Play and then stink up THE PLAYERS the following week 79-74. He’s played all four weekends he’s teed it up at Quail including his best, T18, last year.
Course Horses
Jonathan Byrd (C): Gamer’s dream! His only finish better than T62 was T16 at PRO but there’s no arguing his love for Quail. After MC in his first five tries, he’s rattled off T5-MC-2nd-T9-T80-T14. He lost in a playoff to Glover in 2011. The last four events have seen him post 13 of 15 rounds at par or better.
Kevin Streelman (B): He begins this week at media day at the Travelers as gets ready for his defense in June. Streelman’s only top 25 in 12 events in 2015 was T12 at Augusta so he falls into this category. He was T6 in 2013 and T14 last year and all eight rounds were 72 or better. Shhhhh.
Jason Bohn (C): Large stretch here so be patient. I’m not going to ignore a guy who played the final three rounds here last year 12-under to finish fourth. His final round included a double at the 71st hole and a bogey on the 72nd. #Revenge
Geoff Ogilvy (C): He’s never missed in 10 starts including the last three seasons. His worst finish is T38 and has two top 10s. He was T24 last week at THE PLAYERS. Whatever you do, DO NOT LOOK UP HIS PUTTING NUMBERS. It’s like looking directly into the sun for half an hour. #NotRecommended.
Stewart Cink (C): He’s played in eight of the last nine and made the weekend six times. All six finishes are T26 or better with three top 10s. He’s finished T9-T15-DNS-T23 in the last four years. His last finish on TOUR inside the top 30 was last August at The Barclays.
David Toms (C): He hasn’t played in two years but his five before that in a row were T17-T18-MC-T24-T15. Yes, I noticed his T13 last week at THE PLAYERS as well. Yes, I know he’s 48. Now you do as well.
John Merrick (C): He’s five of six with four T40 or better and has made four straight at Quail. He’s three of his last six on TOUR with T22-T15-T25 those results. #SupportStaff
Nick Watney (B): He’s pegged top 10s in two of his last four. The other two have been MC including last year. This sums up his last four years on TOUR.
Off the Radar
Derek Fathauer (C): Oh, wait. Maybe I meant Derek Ernst (C). Maybe not. He was 11-under on the par fives last week. #flier
Erik Compton (C): Ok, that’s five in a row. Time to kick the door down after closing with 68 last week.
D.A. Points (C): T2-T16-MC in his last three but eight of 10 rounds have been par or better. Toss in 65 to close at Zurich his last time out and all of sudden the dots connect.
Scott Brown (C): He’s now played six weekends on the bounce. None of them have been better than T30. I have to hide him down here because my weekly league opponents won’t read the whole column, he, he, he…
Bo Van Pelt (C): Nice course form here and has played the weekend in three of his last four.
Rookie/Up-and-Comer of the Week Last Week
Once called the “Jordan Spieth” of the week, I had to retire that name after his last two seasons on TOUR. Now, we’ll keep a broad view of newer names/faces that gamers should pay attention to as the season moves on. Some former examples in this column include Hideki Matsuyama, Patrick Reed and Chesson Hadley.
Frys.com: Jon Curran, T8; Zach Blair, T12; Tony Finau, T12;
Shriners: Finau, T7
McGladrey: Robert Streb, WIN
CIMB: Cameron Smith, T5
SFC: Nick Taylor, WIN; Peter Uihlein, T4; Justin Thomas, T4; Blayne Barber, T9; Carlos Sainz, Jr., T9; Cory Whitsett, T14.
OHL: T7 Finau, T9 Barber, T9 Carlos Ortiz, T9 Oscar Fraustro,
HTOC: Taylor played his sixth event as a pro. He’s won 1/6 of the events he’s entered. That’s worth keeping an eye on for the foreseeable future.
Sony: Blair and Thomas finished T6 in their Sony debuts.
Humana: SJ Park (T2) is new to the TOUR but is hardly a rookie; Oh, look: Thomas in the top 10 again (T7).
WMPO: Koepka won so he graduates from this column like Reed, Spieth and Matsuyama before him. Justin Thomas is now the current mayor. Daniel Berger was T10, Thomas T17 and Finau returned with another top 25.
Farmers: Blair and Ortiz were T11 and Finau and Berger were T24. Not bad on a big, bad course!
Pebble Beach: Another top 10 for Berger and Curran as they had low rookie honors at T10. Will Wilcox was T18.
Northern Trust: Barber checked in at T12 and all that took was firing a tournament-low 65 on Sunday. No shame in Ortiz’s final round 75 from the final group as he played two very tough SoCal courses, Torrey South and Riviera T11 and T20. Noted.
Honda: Berger lost in a playoff. He’s played 10 TOUR events.
PRO: Young Argentine Emiliano Grillo missed a three-footer for his first win on TOUR. Curran hit another top 10, his third this season. Grillo has three TOUR starts; Curran has 17.
Valspar: There’s that pesky Thomas back in the top 10 AGAIN!
API: Berger just missed out on another top 10 with T13 and Blair and Ortiz racked up another top 25 each on T21.
VTO: Welcome Scott Pinckney to the proceedings as his T8 was quite stout. Ortiz hit the top 20 AGAIN with T15.
SHO: Berger, T25. He just keeps on keepin’ on.
Masters: Now you see why Spieth (WINNER) and Matsuyama (5th) were retired from the column? Koepka has already won as well. So has Henley. And Reed. Nobody this week fits.
RBC Heritage: Thomas, T11.
Zurich: Berger, T6. Thomas T12.
WGC-Match Play: N/A but Tommy Fleetwood is only 24 on the European Tour.
THE PLAYERS: Thomas fell from T5 to T24 closing with 75. #learningexperience
Coming Later TUESDAY Afternoon
Playing the Tips will be up and running this and every Tuesday afternoon and will list all of the Rotoworld experts picks in the GolfChannel.com game, the Yahoo! Fantasy Golf game, DFS plus the European Tour! Oh, and my One-and-Done feature. Look for it around 4 ET every Tuesday for the rest of the season.
Coming Wednesday
And the analysis doesn’t end here. Rotoworld’s Rob Bolton and I will be co-hosting a one-hour live chat Wednesday at noon ET. We will be breaking down the field at WFC and answering your questions. Simply return to the golf home page to join in on the chatter. Don’t forget to follow Rob (http://twitter.com/RobBoltonGolf) and Glass (http://twitter.com/MikeGlasscott) on Twitter.
