This article is part of our FanDuel PGA DFS Picks series.
Wells Fargo Championship – Charlotte, NC
Quail Hollow (7,554 yards, par 71)
$7.7M Purse
$1,386,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points to the winner
Tournament Preview
After a temporary change in venue last season to accommodate the PGA Championship, the Wells Fargo Championship returns to Quail Hollow and resumes to its normal position on the calendar. Though playing a bit shorter and not as speedy as it did during the riveting PGA Championship just nine short months ago, Tom Fazio's latest update of three new holes to the course remains, playing as a par 71 layout as it did in the PGA. Featured are the untouched final three holes, appropriately named "The Green Mile", comprised of the 508-yard par-4 16th, the 221-yard par-3 17th, and the 493-yard par-4 18th. This closing stretch is among the PGA Tour's toughest, averaging more than one stroke over par in tournament play. The loaded field consists of 14 of the top 25 in the world rankings on last season's toughest course on Tour, laying way for a grind-it-out battle among the best in the game.
Recent Past Champions
2017 – Brian Harman (Eagle Point Golf Club)
2016 – James Hahn
2015 – Rory McIlroy
2014 – J.B. Holmes
2013 – Derek Ernst
2012 – Rickie Fowler
2011 – Lucas Glover
2010 – Rory McIlroy
2009 – Sean O'Hair
2008 – Anthony Kim
Key Stats to Winning this Week
• Driving Distance
• Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green
• Scrambling percentage
Champion's Profile
Virtually all former champions at Quail Hollow have one major trait in common: length. Pros have hit only around 50 percent of their fairways here since 2011, the worst on the PGA Tour. However, this has not affected overall scoring much, giving bombers a distinct advantage - especially on the par-5s. But severe contours around the green require precision iron play and/or a great short game to avoid high numbers on the scorecard. Even with one less par-5 than most historical events here, the 2017 PGA Championship proved the par-71 layout it's still a long-hitting ball striker's venue.
FanDuel Value Picks
The Chalk
Justin Thomas, $12400 – Thomas was a great pick on paper heading into last season's PGA Championship, and he managed to break through for his first major, solidifying the profile for this course. In his first return to the course since that triumph, Thomas should have plenty of great memories to fall back on. He's the highest-ranked player in the field and easily capable of capturing another victory here.
Rory McIlroy, $12300 - McIlroy's unparalleled driving ability and overall tee-to-green ball striking have proven a huge advantage in his two wins and other top finishes at Quail Hollow. Only Phil Mickelson can hold a candle to McIlroy's record of high finishes here, making Rory my overall favorite for the event and a great value as well.
Jason Day, $11900 – Day hasn't played this event since 2012, but last season at the PGA, he was one big number away from really contending for victory. Day has all of the length, iron play, and short game to excel on the tough Quail Hollow track, so he is well worth your trust this week.
Phil Mickelson, $11600 – Mickelson has done just about everything but win at Quail Hollow in his career, finishing inside the top 10 nine times in 14 career starts. At one of Mickelson's "favorite courses", the veteran should feel plenty comfortable in his first start since the Masters.
Longer Shots Worth a Risk
Louis Oosthuizen, $10300 – Though Oosthuizen missed the cut in his only Wells Fargo Championship showing, his tie for second at last year's PGA at Quail Hollow earns him a mention in this week's notes. The South African is an elite driver of the ball with decent iron play. He will just need his short game to show up if he wants to crack the top 10, which is worth a gamble at his price.
Kevin Kisner, $9800 – Kisner was the 54-hole leader at last year's PGA Championship before struggling early on Sunday. Kisner's familiarity with southern Bermudagrass combined with his recent play (as 54-hole leader in the two-man Zurich Classic last week) make his value palatable. Sure there's some risk here, but the upside is high.
Chesson Hadley, $9200 – Hadley has enjoyed a career year thus far on Tour, ranking sixth in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green and 14th in overall Strokes Gained. The North Carolina native should feel comfortable in his home state at Quail Hollow, where he has put up a pair of top-20s in three career starts at the Wells Fargo Championship.
Lucas Glover, $8300 – How many players in this week's field have more top-10s at Quail Hollow than Lucas Glover? The answer is just two: Rory and Phil. With five top-10s in 14 career starts – including a win in 2011 – Glover is a horse for this course. At just $8300, he's an absolute steal. At the very least, he's a great candidate to play the weekend, which is huge for any player in this price range.
Strategy Tips for this week (based on 60k standard salary cap)
The season's deepest non-major field includes 14 of the top 25 in the world rankings making an appearance. This lends itself nicely to a studs & duds lineup of three studs + three duds. Long hitters and ball strikers thrive on this course, but the eventual winner will need to show adequate short game ability – at least for a week - to handle the tricky green complexes around Quail Hollow.
