2023 PGA Picks: Wells Fargo Championship Odds and Expert Betting Predictions
The PGA Tour heads to Charlotte this upcoming weekend for the heavily anticipated Wells Fargo Championship. Held annually at the Quail Hollow Golf Club, this tournament always attracts a solid playing field. Even with the top-two players in the world, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler, opting to skip this weekend to prepare for the PGA Championship, there is no shortage of studs teeing off. Three-time winner Rory Mcllroy will lead the field against a worthy crop of challengers that include Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, Max Homa, Xander Schauffele, amongst others. We will look below at who can navigate this challenging George Cobb course.
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A Look at the Field
Here is a look at the Top 12 and ties with the lowest golf odds to win it all at online sportsbooks.
Rory Mcllroy +700 – Patrick Cantlay +1200 – Tony Finau +1400 – Xander Schauffele +1600
Viktor Hovland +1800 – Jordan Spieth +1800 – Cameron Young +1800 – Justin Thomas +2000
Sungjae Im +2500 – Matt Fitzpatrick +2500 – Jason Day +2500 – Collin Morikawa +2500
Course Characteristics of Those Who Can Win or Secure Winning Golf Bets
The Quail Hollow Club was designed in 1961 by George Cobb but has undergone numerous changes in the past decade to make it one of the toughest challenges on the PGA Tour. The course now plays at a par 71 and stretches over 7,500 yards on the scorecard. All four of the par 3s traditionally play over par and five par 4s measure close to and over 500 yards. Overall, five holes have a birdie rate over 15%, while 13 holes have a bogey rate over 15%. Distance off the tee and long iron play is key to being in contention on Sunday.
Xander Schauffele should be able to take home the hardware this weekend in Charlotte. It is very surprising he has not wound up in the winner’s circle since winning back-to-back last summer. In 16 starts since, he has finished top-10 over half the time. He is also one of only four players gaining over a stroke per round on approach this season.
This may be one of the more disappointing seasons for Justin Thomas, but the value at +2000 is too good to pass up. He won the PGA Championship in 2017 at this course, and his ball-striking has remained intact. Thomas has gained over five strokes ball-striking in three of his last five starts and still has seven 2023 top-25 finishes in nine starts.
I have been on team Im for a while now, and no reason to abandon him this weekend. He has been playing some of his best golf of his career in 2023 and has a current streak of six straight top-25 finishes. Im ranks seventh in this field off the tee on long courses, fourth in difficult scoring conditions, and 21st in long iron play. After close calls to win at RBC Heritage and Zurich Classic, look for Im to be in contention on Sunday.
The last two players I like to compete this weekend are Jason Day and Webb Simpson. Jason Day is due for a win. He has 11 top-10 finishes in 14 events this season and has not registered a victory in five years. Now he comes to a course where he won in 2018 and finished ninth in 2017. The former number one’s game is in top form, and he should compete throughout the weekend. I am also going to throw some money on the North Carolina native Webb Simpson. In his last Wells Fargo Championship appearances, he has two top-25s and three top-35 finishes. A top 20 bet might be worth a risk with Simpson this weekend.
Golf Picks: Who to Consider This Week:
To win: Xander Schauffele +1600, Jason Day +2500, Sungjae Im +2500
Top 5: Justin Thomas +450
Top 10: Jordan Spieth +220
Top 20: Webb Simpson +650
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