Wells Fargo Championship Tips

Previews and pre-event analysis from Golf Betting System's PGA Tour and European Tour coverage

Betting Preview - 2014 Wells Fargo Championship

To read Steve Bamford's Wells Fargo Championship Tips for 2014 click here. Follow Steve on twitter: @bamfordgolf

Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina is always one of the highlights of any PGA Tour season. This classical golf course which is held in the highest of regards, always attracts a stellar field, the week before The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. The fact that Quail Hollow is often referred to as 'Augusta like' tells you all you need to know about both the characteristics and quality of the course and now with significant sponsorship; the Wells Fargo Championship is one of the strongest 'domestic' tournaments on the PGA Tour. To read Steve Bamford's Wells Fargo Championship Tips for 2014 click here.

Tournament Facts & Scheduling

Quail Hollow is always the 2nd biggest tournament in terms of field depth in the period between The Masters and the US Open. This Cobb classic which received a Tom Fazio re-design in the late 90's is a long Par 72 which the world's elite golfers including Woods, Mickelson, McIlroy and Stenson have made part of their schedules in recent seasons. However the players will face a new challenge in 2014 as the green complexes have been re-laid with new grass. Bentgrass greens which were always a challenge to get up to tournament speeds in early May have been replaced with hardier Mini Verde Ultrdwarf Bermudagrass strains. This move from bentgrass to bermudagrass mirrors the move made at nearby Sedgefield Country Club; home of the Wyndham Championship in 2012.

Wells Fargo Championship Course Details Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina. Designer: George Cobb 1961 with a course extension in 2013 Course Type: Classical Par: 72 Length: 7,492 yards Water Hazards: 3 Bunkers: 52 Fairways: 419 Bermudagrass with perennial Rye Rough: 419 Bermudagrass with perennial Rye 2" Greens: 6,500 sq.ft average featuring Mini Verde Ultrdwarf Bermudagrass Stimpmeter: 11ft Scoring Avg 2012: 71.8 Ranked 25 of 49 courses for difficulty on the 2012 PGA Tour 2013: 73.0 Ranked 10 of 43 courses in 2013 for difficulty.

Previous Champions 2013: Derek Ernst; 2012: Rickie Fowler; 2011: Lucas Glover; 2010: Rory McIlroy; 2009: Sean O'Hair; 2008: Anthony Kim; 2007: Tiger Woods.

Winners Scores - Post 2009 2013: -8/280; 2012: -14/274; 2011: -15/273; 2010: -15/273; 2009: -11/277. Winners Prices 2013: Ernst - 500/1 2012: Fowler - 50/1 2011: Glover - 110/1 2010: McIlroy - 66/1 2009: O'Hair- 45/1

Pre-Tournament Key Summary

The Wells Fargo Championship at the idyllic Quail Hollow Club seems a difficult puzzle to solve, which has become even trickier with the new PGA Championship inspired green surfaces which have been introduced for the 2014 renewal. You'd expect a tournament which attracts a stellar field, packed for of elite players to feature short price winners. Then when you a read a recent champions roll of honour that includes O'Hair, McIlroy, Glover and Fowler that short price winner angle is confirmed.

But the truth is often stranger than fiction and since 2009 there hasn't been a winner shorter than a generous 45/1 (O'Hair). Derek Ernst's incredible 500/1 win in a Play Off over triple digit David Lynn in 2013, took the Quail storyline to an even more curious place. So it's certainly worth looking a little deeper than the usual suspects here.

Below we track the results of Golf Betting System PGA Tour tipster Steve Bamford who has been producing weekly tips since 2009. You can also follow him on Twitter @bamfordgolf.

2013

• Rory McIlroy 3pts Win 9/1 RESULT: T10
• Bill Haas 1.5pt EW 33/1 RESULT: MC
• Henrik Stenson 1pt EW 45/1 RESULT: MC
• Robert Garrigus 1pt EW 60/1 RESULT: T27
• Kyle Stanley 1pt EW 80/1 RESULT: T6

2012

• Phil Mickelson 2pts EW 11/1 RESULT: T26
• Lee Westwood 2pts EW 14/1 RESULT: T5
• Rickie Fowler 1pt EW 40/1 RESULT: Winner
• Martin Laird 1pt EW 100/1 RESULT: T26