Rory McIlroy will be back in action this week at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club. He returns to the site of his memorable win back in 2010, where he shot a final round 62, to clinch the title. This at the tender age of twenty was a major stepping stone in his career. He was again in the thick of it last year and only lost out in a three way play-off to first time tour winner Rickie Fowler. It’s a course he obviously likes and it may be the confidence booster that he needs heading into next weeks Players Championship at Sawgrass. A good performance here could set him up for the rest of the year and put to rest the question mark over his equipment change, both Rory and Nike will be hoping for a result.
Other notables in the field are, obviously the defending champion, Rickie Fowler. He held off Rory McIlroy and D.A. Points to win the event last year at the first play-off hole but more notable is along with his first ever PGA Tour win, he hasn’t finished worse than 16th in three starts here. His form this year to date hasn’t been anything special, but like McIlroy he’s returning to a course where he will fancy his chances.
Phil Mickelson also tees it up this week and apart from his win in Phoenix, it has been a disappointing season for the left-hander thus far. After having a very poor Masters, Big Phil will be looking to get back on track here also. He too carries form around this course, finishing in the top two here on six occasions.
This is a big hitters course and the 7442 yards on the card says as much. The last three holes, known as ‘the green mile’ are as tough as can be found anywhere. Apart from those already mentioned, Webb Simpson may bd the one to watch. He lives in the Quail Hollow development, his home is a mere mile from the clubhouse and he would love to win in his own back yard. Simpson was in with a great chance last year and led after 54 holes only to shoot a final round 73 and miss the playoff by a single stroke. He is the current U.S. Open champion, which he will defend in six weeks time. He is playing well this year and with all that, he is the one to watch this week.