GolfChannel.com experts offer up their picks for the the Wells Fargo Championship. Each week a panel of experts will offer up their picks from three groups of players based on Golf Channel’s new fantasy game, Fantasy Challenge. We will also keep track of their scores and standings. The panel consists of: senior writers Rex Hoggard and Randall Mell; contributors John Hawkins and Charlie Rymer; editorial director Jay Coffin; ‘Morning Drive’ hosts Gary Williams and Erik Kuselias; contributor Win McMurry; writer for NBCSports.com’s ProGolf Talk, Ryan Ballengee; and RotoWorld.com’s Rob Bolton.
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*Ranking among the 16 GolfChannel.com experts
| Group A: Rory McIlroy Group B: Group C: | Everyone wants to know when the young Northern Irishman will rebound from his Masters meltdown and there’s no better place than Quail Hollow, where he closed with a round-of-the-year 62 in 2010, to make a statement. Rested since Augusta National, the big-hitting Woodland and Quail Hollow are a match made in bomber’s heaven. The ballstriker showed signs of life last week in New Orleans (T-20) and if his putter cooperates he could surprise. | ||
| Group A: Group B: Group C: | Good finish at Quail Hollow last year (second), some good history there overall (T-7 or better five times in seven years). Youth is served at Quail Hollow, see wins by Rory McIlroy, Anthony Kim and Sean O’Hair. Good finish at Zurich last week (T6), good finish at Quail Hollow last year (T-10). | ||
| Group A: Group B: Group C: | Watney played well in New Orleans. He’s a good fit at Quail Hollow and he’s dying to become a member of the two-win club in 2011. Keep knocking and sooner or later they are gonna let you in. Looked sharp in New Orleans with ball striking and it’s time for him to win again. | ||
| Group A: Group B: Group C: | Drives the ball straight, always a good idea at Quail Hollow. Seems like 100 years since he won this thing, but it was, what, 2008? Seems weird that he’s down there in Group C. Can always contend.
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| Group A: Group B: Group C: | He’s finished in the top-12 at Quail Hollow in six of the past seven years. He may not win, but the odds are that he’ll be in contention Sunday afternoon. Finished sixth here last year in his only appearance at Quail Hollow. Sooner or later the kid is going to win. . . Isn’t he? This is probably wishful thinking, but it’d be great to see DL3 have another great run, especially in his beloved state of North Carolina. | ||
| Group A: Group B: Group C: | Has never missed the cut at Quail Hollow and is one of hottest players on the 2011 PGA Tour. This Charlotte native finished tied for fourth at Quail Hollow in 2006 and is in a great place to continue his 2011 success. Lost in playoff in ’06 to Jim Furyk at Quail Hollow and is continuing his recovery from injury with top-15s at Bay Hill and Augusta. | ||
| Group A: Group B: Group C: | It’s all or nothing for Furyk at Quail Hollow: five top-11s and two missed cuts. And since he is playing well right now, Furyk is my A pick. Has never missed the cut at Quail Hollow in seven appearances and finished T-4 the last time he played in the southeast at Augusta. A Clemson grad who lives in South Carolina, he’s looking to improve on his T-12 finish at Bay Hill. A pair of top-14s at Quail Hollow help his chances. | ||
| Group A: Group B: Group C: | Lefty loves this event. With a win already this season under his belt and his track record that includes four top-5s in seven starts (and six top-12s), he’s the man this week at Quail Hollow. Charlotte has seen flashy young winners like Anthony Kim and Rory McIlroy. This would be a great scene for Rickie to also breakthrough. He finished sixth here a year ago. He’s coming off a T-6 in New Orleans and was T-7 last year at Quail Hollow. Great choice for the C group. | ||
| Group A: Group B: Group C: | Johnson and long-time caddy Bobby Brown split and DJ gets a top-10 in South Korea? Maybe just resetting things will help Johnson get his season going again after some promise at Doral. Seems destined for a career year at this point. While he didn’t win his home state event, he still could take a tourney in one of the Carolinas. Maybe I’m late to the Double P bandwagon, especially since he missed the cut in NOLA after consecutive top-6 finshes. But Perez is showing some promise to get on a good run. | ||
| Group A: Group B: Group C: | Can’t overlook his record here – one win (2006), one runner-up, three other top-11s – and he’s posted top-25s in his last four starts entering the week. Five top-10s in 10 starts this season, including a T-9 in his last event in San Antonio. Arrives with three consecutive top-20s in tow. Ranks eighth in total driving and 26th in greens in regulation. |
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