The PGA Tour heads to Charlotte this week for the Wells Fargo Championship at the Quail Hollow Club, where Rory McIlroy is defending.
The Northern Irishman shot a remarkable 66-62 at the weekend 12 months ago to win by four shots from Phil Mickelson and the pair are heading the betting - McIlroy is a general 14/1 shot with Mickelson a top-priced 12/1 with Totesport. The former world No.1 Martin Kaymer is next best at 18/1, followed by a gaggle of classy Americans.
All will have to be on their game as the 7,442 yard track was ranked as the second-most difficult of all par-72s played last year, outside the Majors. Distance off the tee helps but past winners include a couple of short hitters in Jim Furyk and David Toms, so the premium is more on hitting the greens in regulation and scrambling.
My Three Off The Tee:-
Dustin Johnson @ 22/1 Skybet
If in the same sort of form as 12 months, Rory will be a danger to all but his record of no wins since and some indifferent putting performances along the way makes me think twice about taking 14/1 in this classy field. Mickelson has never won here but clearly likes the track as he's posted top-12 finishes in five of his last six starts here, although this season's highlights have been few and far between with his win in Houston the week before the Masters the only real bright spot.
At nearly double his price, I'd much rather back the big-hitting Johnson, who is still looking for his first win of the season but has been knocking on the door with two top-5s in his last four starts: solo second at the WGC-Cadillac Championship and fourth at last week's Ballantine Championship behind Lee Westwood. It's only a matter of time before he turns those near misses into a win and it's more likely than not to come on a tough course like this one. That's not to say he can't win anywhere but toughened tracks seem to bring out the best in him - his excellent record in the Majors is evidence of that - and his tied-29th here last year is better than it looks as he was tied third at halfway after a second round 65 and fourth going into Sunday before losing his way with a 77. Let's forgive him that and get stuck into the 22s while it lasts.
Martin Laird @ 35/1 Paddy Power
Triple-figure prices for the Scotsman were the norm but a superb run of form - tenth at Doral, fifth at Transitions, winner at Bay Hill, 20th at the Masters and ninth in the Texas Open last time out - has attracted the unwanted attention of the bookmakers. Still, the hot Scot is hard to resist right now and he has the game - ranked eighth in distance off the tee and 13th for scrambling - to prosper here too.
Trevor Immelman @ 80/1 bet365
One who might have slipped under the bookies' radar somewhat is the quiet South African, who appears to be coming back to something like his old form with recent finishes of 12th at Bay Hill and 15th at the Masters, which was won by his compatriot Charl Schwartzel. He might take inspiration form that and he will have some positive mental associations with Quail Hollow having finished runner-up here in 2006 and 14th the following year.
Recommended Bets:-
Dustin Johnson 2pts each-way @ 22/1 Skybet
Martin Laird 1.5pts each-way @ 35/1 Paddy Power
Trevor Immelman 1pt each-way @ 80/1 bet365
