Betting tips / Paul Bugeja / 02 May 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Steve Rawlings believes Phil Mickelson's the pick for the punter once again at Quail Hollow, a course where only the best will survive the Wells Fargo Championship

Tournament History
This will be just the tenth staging of the Wells Fargo Championship but the event has already established itself as one of the best in the calendar and yet again it's a sell-out. As always, it's attracted a very high quality field.

Venue
Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina
Course Details
Par 72 -7,442 yards
Stroke Index in 2011 - 71.95
Quail Hollow is an exceptional venue that attracts the very best players. Designed by George Cobb in 1961, it underwent an extensive renovation by Tom Fazio in 1997. It's famous for one of the toughest finishing stretches in the game and the last three holes are known as the Green Mile. There is a change to the 17th hole this year. The players have made noises about changing the tee on the par three penultimate hole and the organisers have listened. They'll be using the member tee over all four days, which offers a more direct route to the green

This is a course where the cream tends to rise to the top - of the nine winners to date, six are major champions. Only two of the nine ranked outside the top-11 for Greens In Regulation, so accurate iron-play is key, as is good scrambling. Lucas Glover got himself into the playoff last year by getting up-and-down from off the green on four of the last five holes.

Although Jim Furyk and David Toms have both won here, length off the tee is a distinct advantage.

Last Five Winners
2011 - Lucas Glover -15 (playoff)
2010 - Rory McIlroy -15
2009 - Sean O'Hair -11
2008 -Anthony Kim -16
2007 - Tiger Woods -13

Market Leaders
Rory McIlroy heads the market and his price looks about right. This is where he announced his arrival in no uncertain terms when he came from the cut-line to blitz the field two years ago. And that was the day the American crowds fell in love with him and the day his relationship with Lee Westwood must have altered.

Westwood had just been beaten up by Phil Mickelson at Augusta National, failing in his latest attempt to win a major. Rory came storming in after he'd won and turned to Lee, in front of the TV cameras, beaming pictures to the entire world, and said: "Now that's how you win a golf tournament."

The exuberance of youth maybe but I fancy, if there is a rift between the two, and I fancy there is, that's what started it.

Tiger Woods will be looking to bounce-back from his disappointing performance at the US Masters and although a former winner here, he's too short to tempt me. The same can't be said of third best in the market, Phil Mickelson.

Selections
With a solid bank of Quail Hollow form, Lefty has just the right game for the venue. In eight appearances he's only once finished outside the top-12, and he comes here fresh off his tied 3rd at the Masters.

I do have a slight concern that the disappointment of not winning at Augusta could have left its mark but it's impossible to ignore his chance. He's performed well here when nowhere near in the form he's in this year and I would think this is a title he's desperate to win. Along with the majors, this would have been a big target for 2012 and he should be well prepared.

Mickelson's very much the main bet but I also thought both former winner, Sean O'Hair, and the in-form Robert Garrigus, looked slightly over-priced at 120.0. Some lucky sod got 200.0 about Garrigus but I was too tired after last week's early morning starts in Korea to get stuck into this event on Sunday.

Wells Fargo Championship Selections
Phil Mickelson @14.0
Sean O'Hair @120.0
Robert Garrigus @120.0