Wells Fargo Championship tips: Max Homa targets tournament hat-trick at Quail Hollow

The sixth of eight signature events on the PGA Calendar, the Wells Fargo Championship is held at the Quail Hollow course, which has previously staged the USPGA Championship and the Presidents Cup and serves up a stiff challenge for the stellar 69-strong field. 

Wells Fargo Championship key stats:

• When: May 9-12 2024
• Where: Quail Hollow Golf Club, Charlotte, North Carolina 
• How long: 7,558 yards - par 71
• What to expect: Old-style classic tree-lined course, driving accuracy key with seven water hazards and 61 bunkers
• Who won last year: Wyndham Clark (-19) 

As a three-time winner here in 2010, 2015 and 2021 (and in the notable absence of Scottie Scheffler), Rory McIlroy is our 7/1 favourite this week. 

Although inconsistent by his own standards lately, this is one of McIlroy's favourite courses, and might just serve as a warm-up ahead of next week’s PGA Championship at Valhalla, where the Northern Irishman won the last of his four Majors 10 years ago.

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Our primary pick, however, is Max Homa, who has also enjoyed outstanding recent form here after twice winning this tournament, firstly in 2019 by a relatively comfortable three-stroke margin, and then holding off the challenge of joint runners-up Keegan Bradley, Matt Fitzpatrick and Cameron Young when the tournament was held at TPC Potomac in 2022.

He finished a creditable eighth here last year, albeit a massive 10 shots adrift of runaway winner Wyndham Clark, and after getting his game back on track with a near-miss third at the Masters two starts ago, he could be useful at a track that clearly suits his game.

Suggested bet: Max Homa (28/1) each-way in the Wells Fargo Championship

Elsewhere Xander Schauffele continues to be rated highly by the bookmakers despite not winning. American pundits on podcasts seem to be always putting Schauffele up, which might help explain why bookmakers keep his odds arguably lower than his recent winning conversion rate merits.

Defending champion Wyndham Clark is 14/1, and his win here was part of a memorable 2023 campaign that brought multiple wins, including a memorable maiden Major victory in the US Open. 

At 16/1, Patrick Cantlay is another who keeps getting close without delivering, although he did show up well at The Masters without challenging and this course should suit his game more.

Similarly, Collin Morikawa tends to save his best for the Majors, so it might be wiser to swerve what might be another potential practice session for him here, but keep an eye on his game for next week.

Catching the eye as our second pick is 28/1 shot Sahith Theegala, whose game continues to impress on a going week. As a second-shot golfer this course would appear to suit, as the outcome of this tournament could well be decided by the quality of iron play on approach.

Five top-10 finishes this season include a runner-up spot at the RBC Heritage three weeks ago, where only the unstoppable Scottie Scheffler golf clinic prevented him from adding to the Fortninet Championship that he won as his maiden Tour success last September.

Suggested bet: Sahith Theegala (28/1) each-way in the Wells Fargo Championship

Others to watch:

• Viktor Hovland (25/1) - Difficult to stick with the Norwegian until he irons out whatever technical flaws he perceives in his game
• Cameron Young (28/1) - Often in contention but still a maiden, and hard to back with any confidence until he breaks that duck
• Matt Fitzpatrick (33/1) - Prefers tougher courses and his game appears back on track, could make bookies look foolish at current price
• Jordan Spieth (35/1) - Out of form and still prone to errors that make it wise to leave him a lone at present
• Keegan Bradley (70/1) - Runner-up last year, game suited to this course, his price could look huge by Sunday evening

Suggested bet summary:

• Max Homa (20/1) - 2 points each-way
• Sahith Theegala (28/1) - 2 points each-way

 

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