PGA Golf
2012 Wells Fargo Championship
Quail Hollow Club – Charlotte, North Carolina
Par 72, 7,442 yards
Thursday, May 3-Sunday, May 6, 2012, TV: Golf Channel, CBS
Defending Champion: Lucas Glover
All odds courtesy of Bookmaker

Tiger Woods returns to the golf course for the first time since his disappointing tie for 40th place at last month’s Masters. Tiger isn’t the only superstar who returns to the course, as Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy also are playing for the first time since Augusta. Not coincidentally, those are the 4 favorites according to Bookmaker.

Quail Hollow used to be one of the most difficult courses on tour, until last year. The course was restructured and played under par for the first time last year in 9 tournaments at the course. The last 3 holes (nicknamed the Green Mile) are still the most difficult on the course but 17 in particular was made easier by having the pros tee off from the member tees which provide a better angle. The pros have been suggesting this since the tournament’s inception in 2003.

Here is a look at the contenders this week and some head to head match-ups with all odds courtesy of Bookmaker.

Rory McIlroy (8/1)

Like Tiger, McIlroy finished tied for 40th at the Masters. It was only his second finish outside the top 5 in his last 13 events worldwide. McIlroy won this event in 2010 for his first PGA tour victory. He is always worth a play, and I like him at -140 to beat Tiger. He is also a slight underdog to Lee Westwood at -105.

Phil Mickelson (17/2)

Michelson tied for third at Augusta, his fourth top five of the year. He might have won his fourth green jacket had he not missed some key putts. He won at Pebble Beach early in the year. Mickelson has never won this event, but does have 6 top 10s in 8 appearances at Quail Hollow. He was the runner up to McIlroy in 2010. He has never missed the cut, and has only one finish lower than 12th in the event. Mickelson will certainly contend if some of his putts drop. Lefty is -120 to beat Tiger and -105 to beat Westwood.

Tiger Woods (9/1)

After winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational, his first official PGA tour win since 2009, many thought Tiger was back. However, he was never in contention at Augusta. He struggled to make the cut and was an afterthought for the weekend. Tiger won this event in 2007, and has 4 top 11 finishes in 5 starts at Quail. Tiger just need to be more consistent especially with the putter. He leads the tour in adjusted scoring this season. Woods is a +110 dog to beat McIlroy and -110 to beat Mickelson. I don’t think he beats either one, and obviously I am not picking him to win.

Lee Westwood (14/1)

Westwood tied for third at the Masters. He has struggled at Quail Hollow with his best finish a tie for 38th. Westwood is playing really well right now, but I am not sure he should be a -125 favorite over McIlroy and Mickelson based on his history at Quail.

Hunter Mahan (16/1)

Mahan leads the FedEx Cup this season. He has two wins on tour this season. Mhan is also playing for the first time since the Masters. He missed the cut here in 2007 but hasn’t finished lower than 22nd since. He has never won here, but is playing the best golf of his career. He is my pick to win his third tournament of the year. Mahan is fifth in fairways and greens in regulation. I also like Mahan at -122 to beat Webb Simpson.

Jim Furyk (18/1)

Furyk won this event in 2006, and also has a runner up and a pair of 7th place finishes. He has finished in the top 11 in his last 4 starts including at Augusta. He leads the tour in fairways, is fourth in adjusted scoring and sixth in bogey avoidance. I like Furyk to beat Zach Johnson at -115.

Webb Simpson (25/1)

Simpson has 3 top ten’s this season after two wins last year. He is looking to break through for his first win in 2012. He might be a nice semi-dark horse pick to win. Simpson is -108 against Mahan.

Keegan Bradley (30/1)

Bradley won the PGA Championship last year during his rookie year on tour. Bradley missed the cut last week at New Orleans after 10 straight top 27 finishes to start the season. Bradley leads the PGA in the all-around. Bradley is -185 against Jeff Overton.

Zach Johnson (30/1)

Johnson was the runner up two weeks ago at Harbour Town. He has finished in the top 25 his last 4 starts at Quail Hollow, including a tie for sixth last year. Johnson is -115 to beat Furyk.

Bo Van Pelt (33/1)

Van Pelt has 4 top tens this season. Van Pelt has two top tens at Quail Hollow in 2006 and 2010. He is -155 to beat Nick Watney and I think that is a good play.

Bill Haas (33/1)

Haas has struggled since he won at Riviera in February, finishing outside the top 25 in every event since then. He won the FedEx Cup last year. He has finished fourth here twice including last year when he led after the second round. Haas is -115 to beat Rickie Fowler.

Here is a complete list of the odds and matchups courtesy of bookmaker. It should be a great weekend of golf.