Wells Fargo Championship Preview: How to watch and who to watch
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This week the PGA Tour returns to Quail Hollow for the Wells Fargo Championship. Here’s how to watch, and who to watch this week.
After last week’s pairs-event Zurich Classic, the PGA Tour resumes it’s 72 hole strokeplay format on its final stop before the Players Championship next week, with 15 of the World’s top 25 players heading to Quail Hollow.
The Charlotte course resumes its staging of the Wells Fargo Championship after a one year absense having been used instead as the PGA Championship venue in 2017 – the site of Justin Thomas’ first major victory last August.
Brian Harman’s win last year instead came in Wilmington, NY, so while he may be defending champion, it might just be Thomas who feels the bigger advantage.
Thomas and Harman will be joined by Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Hideki Mastuyama, Masters Champion Parick Reed and Tiger Woods – who is making his first appearance since his T32 finish at Augusta National, complete with a new set of proto irons.
So who should you be backing this week? Read on below…
How To Watch
Thursday:
Featured Groups* – Live PGA Tour, Sky Sports Golf (12:00), Live Sky Sports Main Event (12:00)
Live Coverage – Sky Sports Golf (19:00)
Friday:
Featured Groups* – Live PGA Tour, Sky Sports Golf (12:00), Live Sky Sports Main Event (14:00)
Live Coverage – Sky Sports Golf (19:00)
Saturday:
Live Coverage – Sky Sports Golf (18:00)
Sunday:
Live Coverage – Sky Sports Golf (18:00)
Wells Fargo Championship: Featured Groups (BST)
Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Brian Harman
-Tee Times: Thursday 5:40 p.m, Friday 11:30 a.m. (off No. 10)
Patrick Reed, Tiger Woods, Brooks Koepka
– Tee Times: Thursday 5:50 p.m., Friday 11:40 a.m.(off No. 10)
Phil Mickelson, Jason Day, Daniel Berger
-Tee Times: Thursday 11:40 a.m. (off No. 10), Friday 5:50 p.m.
Paul Casey, Rory McIlroy, James Hahn
– Tee Times: Thursday 11:30 a.m. (off No. 10), Friday 5:40 p.m.
Who To Watch
Rory McIlroy: A two time winner here in 2010 and 2015, McIlroy was also T4 in 2016 and lost in a playoff to Rickie Fowler in 2012. Coming off a disappointing T5 in The Masters after struggling on the final day, but hoping to bounce back. Had three top 5s and a victory in nine starts this year, and is currently ranked 9th in scoring average and 5th in both overall putting average and driving distance.
Justin Thomas: The FedEX Cup leader hasn’t finished worse than T22 in 2018 (excluding MC at the pairs Zurich Classic last week), which includes a victory and three other top 10s. Second appearance here after a MC in 2016. Ranks 3rd in SG Total, 2nd in Scoring Average, 5th in SG off the tee, 13th in GIR and 7th for putting average.
Jason Day: Returning here for first time since 2012 where he finished T9, Day has already had a victory in 2018 and hasn’t finished worse than T36 in his last six starts. Ranks 1st for SG:Putting, 8th for SG:Total and 14th for Scoring Average.
Phil Mickelson: A consistent performer in this tournament, Mickelson has had seven top 5s and four other starts of T12 or better in 13 starts here at Wells Fargo. Three top 5s and a victory in 2018 already, and comes in to the tournament with a most recent finish of T36. Ranks 1st for putting average, 1st for sand save, 2nd for SG: Total, 3rd in birdie average and 11th in scoring average.
Rickie Fowler: A champion here in 2012, Fowler’s last start at Wells Fargo was in 2016 (T4). He comes in to Quail Hollow after his 2nd place finish at The Masters to Patrick Reed. Currently ranks 16th in Scoring Average, 10th in GIR and 8th in birdie average.
Tiger Woods: Returning to play Wells Fargo for the first time since MC’s in 2010 and 2012, but before that had gone 4th, WIN, T11, T3. First appearance since The Masters, and has gone T32-T5-T2-12th in his last four starts. Only player on tour ranked ranked in the top-10 in both strokes gained around the green and strokes gained putting. Also ranked 10th scoring average and SG Total.
Patrick Reed: The Masters Champion played in last weeks Zurich Classic with Patrick Cantlay and ultimately ended up T7, continuing his impressive form in the last month. His last four individual starts? 1st-T9-T7-T2. Ranked 4th for SG around the green.
Tony Finau: Three top 10s in eight starts, including his T10 at The Masters on a post-dislocated ankle, and followed it up with a T6 at the Zurich Classic with partner Daniel Summerhayes. Ranked inside the top 20 on tour for scoring average, SG Tee to green and SG Approach to green.
Ryan Moore: Has three top 10s in last seven starts including a 7th place at the Valero Texas Open two weeks ago and a T5 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Ranks 7th Driving Accuracy, 15th Scoring Average.
Kevin Kisner: A player worth a watch this week. A best finish of T6 at Wells Fargo in 2014, but has gone T7-T28-2 in his last three starts, and he and partner Scott Brown had a good run at the Zurich Classic title for the second year in a row before finishing T15. Strongest stat is 7th SG Putting.
Webb Simpson: Could be a real contender this week. Back to back MCs in the Wells Fargo Championship but was runner up here in 2015 and has three top 10s in his last seven starts (with a worse finish of T37). Ranked 9th in SG Putting, 11th SG Total and 4th for scoring average.
Tommy Fleetwood: First time teeing up here for Fleetwood, who has a victory and two other top 10s in 2018 already (plus a T4 at last week’s Zurich Classic). Prior to that had back-to-back T17s at The Masters and WGC Matchplay, and is ranked 8th in scoring average, and top 5 for SG off the tee, tee to green and around the green.
Bryson Dechambeau: Has finished T3-T38-2 in his last three starts so is clearly on form, but is a bit of a riskier bet given he’s missed 2/2 cuts at the Wells Fargo Championship.
