GOLF

Daily Fantasy Golf Course Primer: Wells Fargo Championship

The Wells Fargo returns to Quail Hollow this season. What do you need to know about the course?

The Wells Fargo Championship returns to Quail Hollow for the 2018 season, after this event was played at Eagle Point a year ago. The reason? Last year, Quail Hollow hosted the PGA Championship.

But it's back to hosting the Wells Fargo, which is not exactly a major. Still, 9 of the world's top 15 golfers and 14 of the top 25 will be teeing it up at Quail Hollow this week, and the Wells Fargo offers us some DFS potential after a week hiatus for the Zurich Classic, a team-play event.

Here's what you should know about Quail Hollow for this week.

Course and Tournament Info

Quail Hollow had already been a long course -- 7,500-plus yards for three straight seasons -- it was lengthened to 7,600 yards for the PGA Championship. The par also shaved from 72 to 71. The redesigns cause Quail Hollow to play as the PGA Tour's toughest course in 2017 -- after sitting ninth in difficulty relative to par in 2016.

Year Difficulty Rank Course Par Yards Avg Score Avg O/U Par
2017 1 Quail Hollow (PGA Champ) 71 7,600 73.468 2.468
2016 9 Quail Hollow Club 72 7,575 72.953 0.953
2015 20 Quail Hollow Club 72 7,562 71.916 -0.084
2014 13 Quail Hollow Club 72 7,562 72.546 0.546
2013 10 Quail Hollow Club 72 7,492 73.043 1.043
2012 25 Quail Hollow Club 72 7,469 71.844 -0.156
2011 24 Quail Hollow Club 72 7,469 71.953 -0.047
2010 8 Quail Hollow Club 72 7,469 72.918 0.918
2009 19 Quail Hollow Club 72 7,442 72.420 0.420
2008 20 Quail Hollow Club 72 7,442 72.791 0.791


This year, the course will stick at the par 71 and measure 7,554 yards, thanks to three redesigned holes for the 2017 PGA. No matter what, this is going to be a tough test with few birdie opportunities. Also, back in 2014, the greens were changed from Bentgrass to Bermuda.

Key Stats

These are the stats that appear most important at Quail Hollow based on past history.

Key Stats for the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow
Strokes Gained: Tee to Green
Strokes Gained: Putting (on Bermuda)
Scrambling
Driving Distance


As with most difficult courses, no primary stats stand out as afterthoughts. That is to say that golfers can't really have many holes in their game to compete here. Tee-to-green play is always vital, and it matters this week, as there's not much of a split between off-the-tee, approach, and around-the-green stats. Distance is needed off the tee, placement to avoid the bunkers is needed with the irons, and bunker play and scrambling are needed around the greens.

Not only should your golfers excel at everything, they need to be able to putt well on Bermuda to avoid bogeys and make good on the few birdie chances.

Targeting all-around golfers isn't the worst approach this week.

You can also factor in course history, as the Green Mile and difficulty of Quail Hollow lend itself to rewarding those who know the course well. Speaking of that, these golfers have fared well at this event in the past.

Course History Studs

In eight tries at Quail Hollow, Rory McIlroy has six top-10 finishes, including two wins (2010 and 2015). Since a missed cut in 2011, his results have been 2nd, 10th, 8th, 1st, 4th, and 22nd at the PGA last year.

Phil Mickelson has played this course each of the past 12 years. He has nine top-25s in that span, with his last five finishes being a 3rd, 11th, 4th, 4th, and cut at the PGA last summer.

Hideki Matsuyama hasn't played here nearly as often, but his four results all came over the past four years: 38th, 20th, 11th, and 5th last year.

Rickie Fowler tied Hideki last year for 5th at the PGA, and Fowler was 4th at Quail Hollow in 2016; he also won in 2012.

Justin Thomas is the most recent winner at Quail Hollow, and that came at the PGA last year. Prior to that, he was cut in 2016 and 7th in 2015.

Some names lower on the totem pole with usable form here include Stewart Cink (9th, 16th, 23rd, 20th from 2011 to 2015 but no appearances since), John Senden (15th in 2012, 22nd in 2013, and 17th in 2016), and Robert Streb (cut in 2013 before 23rd, 4th, 28th, 22nd).