2019 Wells Fargo Primer: History, TV, Field, Odds

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Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson plays a shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club on May 6, 2018 in Charlotte, NC. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

The PGA Tour returns to its normalcy of stroke-play this week with the 17th edition of the Wells Fargo Championship.

Contested at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, the field this week will be headlined by three of the world’s top-10 ranked players in Justin Rose (No. 2), two two-time tournament winner Rory McIlroy (No. 4), and Rickie Fowler (No. 10).

Also in the field is world No. 14 Jason Day, who returns to defend his 2018 title, alongside top-ranked stars Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Tony Finau, Patrick Reed, and Webb Simpson.

As we do each week, here’s a round up of information and historical data to get you prepped for a weekend of golf in North Carolina.


THE SKINNY

Tournament: Wells Fargo Championship
Dates: May 2-5, 2019
Where: Charlotte, N.C.
Course: Quail Hollow Club
Distance: Par 71, 7,554 yards
Architect: George Cobb, Tom Fazio
Format: 72-holes, stroke play, 36-hole cut
Purse: $7,900,000
Winning Share: $1,422,000
Defending Champion: Jason Day


TV AND ONLINE

Rd 1: Thu 4-7:00 pm
Rd 2: Fri 4-7:00 pm
Rd 3: Sat 1-2:30 pm, 3-6:00 pm
Rd 4: Sun 1-2:30 pm, 3-6:00 pm
Broadcasts via Golf Channel other than 3-6pm on Sat-Sun (CBS).
Web | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Wikipedia


HISTORY

The Wells Fargo Championship is a relatively young tournament, with the inaugural tournament (then called the Wachovia Championship) teeing off in 2003. The first event winner was David Toms, who at 10-under par, won by two shots. Each of the next three editions were decided by playoffs.

Wells Fargo Championship Flag
A detailed view of the pin ahead of the Pro-Am for the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club on May 2, 2018 in Charlotte, NC. Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Notable champions include Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Rickie Fowler.

McIlroy is the only two-time winner – taking the 2010 and 2015 titles. In that 2010 victory, McIlroy made the cut on the number and then exploded on the weekend, shooting 66-62 to win by four strokes over Phil Mickelson.

Quail Hollow Club is a famously difficult course, highlighted by a brutal finishing stretch (16-18) referred to as the “Green Mile.”

HISTORY: TOURNAMENT NAMES

2011-18: Wells Fargo Championship
2009-10: Quail Hollow Championship
2003-08: Wachovia Championship

HISTORY: RECENT WINNERS

2018: Jason Day (-12)
2017: Brian Harman (-10)
2016: James Hahn (-9)
2015: Rory McIlroy (-21)
2014: J.B. Holmes (-14)
2013: Derek Ernst (-8)
2012: Rickie Fowler (-14)

HISTORY: RECORDS
  • Scoring: 267 (-21) – Rory McIlroy (2015)
  • Wins: 2 – Rory McIlroy (2010, 2015)

THE GOLF COURSE

Quail Hollow Club is considered one of the top golf courses in the United States. It was originally laid out by noted golf course architect George Cobb in 1961, and in the intervening years, the course has undergone a series of improvements, including modifications to several holes by Arnold Palmer in 1986, a redesign by Tom Fazio in 1997 and further modifications by Fazio in the summer of 2016 in preparation for the 2017 PGA Championship.

Quail Hollow Club
Jason Day walks the 13th hole during the third round of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club on May 5, 2018 in Charlotte, NC. Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, the course’s elevation is approximately 600 feet above sea level. It is part of an extensive real estate/housing development.

From 1969-1979, it played host to the PGA Tour’s (now defunct) Kemper Open, and since 2003, the club annually hosts the Wells Fargo Championship. In 2017, it hosted its first major – the PGA Championship. In 2021, it will host Presidents Cup matches.

The par-71 course measures 7,600 yards during championship play, and is considered one of the most challenging tracks on the PGA Tour circuit.


DEFENDING CHAMPION

Jason Day fired a final-round 69 at Quail Hollow Club to win the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship by two strokes.

Jason Day poses with the trophy after winning the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, NC on May 6, 2018. Credit: Getty Images/Streeter Lecka

Day entered the Sunday finale with a two-shot lead and that’s exactly where he ended up, aided greatly by going 2 under through the Green Mile that comprise hole Nos. 16-18.

The win was Day’s second of the 2018 PGA Tour season.

Nick Watney, who was paired with Day in the final round, made a long-bomb birdie on No. 18 to move to T2 alongside Aaron Wise at 10 under par.

FINAL TOP 5

1. Jason Day -12
2. Aaron Wise -10
2. Nick Watney -10
4. Bryson DeChambeau -8
5. Phil Mickelson -7
5. Paul Casey -7
5. Peter Uihlein -7


THE FIELD

The top-ranked player in the field is No. 2 Justin Rose, who won earlier this season at Torrey Pines (Farmers Insurance Open). In his most recent start at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club, the Englishman finished T3 in 2016.

Justin Rose
Justin Rose checks the pin on the 18th green during day two of the TOUR Championship at East Lake GC on Sep. 21, 2018 in Atlanta, GA. Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

The betting favorite is two-time Wells Fargo winner Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman, who will turn 30 on Saturday, has been reborn in 2019. In eight starts on the year, McIlroy owns a win (PLAYERS Championship), along with six additional top 10s. His only non-top 10 of the year occurred at the Masters earlier this month, where he posted a T21.

Defending champ Jason Day also enters in strong form, having posted four top 10s in his five most recent stroke-play starts, highlighted by a T5 at the Masters.

This year’s field also includes 2012 Wells Fargo winner Rickie Fowler, who enters with a world ranking of No. 10, and fresh off another top 10 at the Masters. The 30-year old Oklahoma State product is also a 2019 winner (Waste Management Phoenix Open), and one of the top-5 betting favorites this week.

Rickie Fowler
Rickie Fowler hits from a green side bunker on the 4th hole during the second round of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club on May 6, 2016 in Charlotte, NC. Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Alongside Rose, Fowler and McIlroy, eight additional 2019 tournament winners will be in the field this week, including Cameron Champ (Sanderson Farms), Charles Howell III (The RSM Classic), Phil Mickelson (AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am), Adam Long (Desert Classic), J.B. Holmes (Genesis Open), Martin Trainer (Puerto Rico), Keith Mitchell (The Honda Clssic), and Paul Casey (Valspar Championship).


TOP-10 BETTING FAVORITES

1. Rory McIlroy (6-1)
2. Jason Day (10-1)
3. Justin Rose (11-1)
3. Rickie Fowler (11-1)
5. Hideki Matsuyama (18-1)
6. Sergio Garcia (20-1)
6. Webb Simpson (20-1)
8. Tony Finau (22-1)
9. Paul Casey (25-1)
9. Phil Mickelson (25-1)

Bet on the Wells Fargo Championship at Bovada


FULL FIELD & ODDS

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