We’re not in the business of robbing banks here at IGM Towers but with the oracle setting his sights on Wells Fargo this week, there’s not much we can do to stop the heist.
Favourite Watch
Rory McIlroy is untouchable at 6/1 and has proven in winning here twice that he’s the perfect fit for Quail Hollow. Champion in 2010 when he carded 62 on Sunday before that obliteration of the field by seven shots in 2015. Comes in off a disappointing Masters but had five consecutive top-6 finishes before that culminating in winning The Players. Day Fowler and Rose are next in the betting but at ridiculously mean odds.
Doc’s Top-5 Each Wat Bets
Paul Casey 28/1
Out of sight since a shocking Masters where he failed to break 80 in the first round but Paul Casey is nothing if not resilient and he’ll have dusted himself off and pinpointed this week as a big one. Winner for the past two years at the similarly difficult Innisbrook Resort gives him a huge advantage on this cryptic par-71 where 10 under or thereabouts for four rounds could just get the job done. T5 last year.
Phil Mickelson 28/1
There are a couple of courses on the PGA Tour rota that Phil Mickelson loves and knows he can contend on every single time. Quail Hollow is one of them. Why? Well because Phil can bomb it left and right all day here and as long as he hits it far enough, he’ll have a shot. Add to that his short game prowess and he’ll be in the mix every time. Ten top-10 finishes from 15 starts here; it has been a few months since his Pebble win and with Tiger back on top, Phil will no doubt be secretly smarting and keen to show that he’s not a spent force yet.
Tony Finau 25/1
Never really contended in three attempts at Quail Hollow but brought his season to life at the Masters with a T5 finish. Drove the ball 316 yards off the tee on average at Augusta AND was T5 in the putting stats. In winning the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Justin Thomas drove it 326 yards on average so I’m looking to Tony as an in-form bludgeoner to contend.
Lucas Glover 50/1
Having his best season for ages with something in the order of ten top-20 finishes, I’ve lost count. Last won on the PGA Tour here in 2011 when he beat Jonathan Byrd in a playoff, so even though he might look like the world’s about to end, dear old Lucas will be grinding extra hard this week!
Patrick Reed 40/1
It’s a while since Pat Reed has languished down with the outsiders at 40/1 but nothing has been happening for him of late on the course and you could make a Netflix series of the weirdness of his life off it. But I still fancy his amazing short game given this super tough par-71 with its “Green Mile” finish. Solo 8th and T12 on his last two visits.
Long Odds Glory Shots
Aaron Wise 70/1
Recovered from a 75 in the opening round of The Masters to finish a brilliant 17th. That’s four top-20’s this season to date and Wise played super in coming T2 here last year.
Sam Burns 125/1
Was 9th at the RBC Heritage which included a tally of just 98 putts. That indicates an in-form putting AND chipping
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