Power Rankings: Wells Fargo Championship

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Already in its ninth year as a PGA TOUR event, the annual stop at Quail Hollow Club is now the Wells Fargo Championship and has traditionally drawn one of the strongest fields of the year. Wells Fargo is on board through at least 2014.

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As usual, the host course offers a stern test of resiliency and patience. Quail Hollow ranked as the second-most difficult of all par-72s in non-majors last year, checking in at +0.918 strokes to par. Its 16th, 17th and 18th holes -- colloquially referred to as The Green Mile -- ranked as the toughest final three holes in non-majors that hosted four rounds. Together, the finishing trio, which plays to a par 4-3-4=11, averaged +1.008 strokes to par last year.

If gunning for pars down the stretch isn't enough of a challenge, Quail Hollow also sat first overall in proximity to the hole, and it ranked third in scrambling. Therefore, bogey avoidance (via scrambling) is at a premium this week. And since the track can be stretched to 7,469 yards, distance off the tee is a bonus.

The threat of rain exits the area by midday Wednesday, setting up a dry and seasonable week, which should allow for ideal conditions. High temperatures will start in the low 70s on Thursday and rise into the low 80s by Sunday. Winds are expected to freshen a bit into the weekend.

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Power Rankings: Wells Fargo Championship

Rank Player   Comment Phil MICKELSON Superb record here: 7-for-7 with six top-12 paydays, including last year's runner-up. Leads the PGA TOUR in birdies or better on par-5s, and sits seventh in adjusted scoring average. First start since T27 at the Masters. Won Shell Houston Open. Bubba WATSON There may not be a course on which he can't win. En route to victory at Zurich Classic, led the field in distance off the tee, greens hit and eagles. Currently leads the TOUR in GIR and sits second in distance. Co-runner-up here in 2009; T22 last year. Rory MCILROY The defending champion brushed off his Masters' disappointment with a solo third in Malaysia. Made the cut on the number here last year, and then shot 66-62 on the weekend with an eagle and 17 birdies. Led the field in total distance of putts made. Jim FURYK Winner here in 2006. No worse than T11 in last three appearances at Quail Hollow. Enters with four consecutive top-25s, showing that his early-season funk is a thing of the past. Ranks 18th on TOUR in bogey avoidance. Martin LAIRD Illustrated his mettle with the victory on difficult Bay Hill in March. Coming off a T9 in San Antonio, his fifth top-10 in 10 starts this year. Ranks ninth in both the all-around and bogey avoidance. Also eighth in distance off the tee. Dustin JOHNSON Makes the trip from South Korea, where he finished fourth at the Ballantine's Championship. It's his second top-five in his last four starts (solo second at World Golf Championships-Cadillac). Finished T29 here last year. Hunter MAHAN Top-25s in his last three appearances at Quail Hollow, ending an 0-for-4 record at the venue. Led the field here in fairways hit last year; ranked T8 in greens. Has posted five top 10s in 10 starts this year. Sits fourth on TOUR in the all-around. Martin KAYMER Rebounded from his fourth missed cut in as many starts at the Masters with a share of ninth the following week in Malaysia. Finished T11 in his only start here in 2009, when he suffered just three bogeys in his first three rounds. Nick WATNEY En route to a T20 in New Orleans, he ranked fourth in driving distance, fifth in accuracy and seventh in greens. Leads the PGA TOUR in the all-around and sits second in adjusted scoring average. Cashed in all six starts here, with five top-25s. Tommy GAINEY Site of his first career PGA TOUR start in 2007 (he missed the cut). Arrives with consecutive third-place finishes and seven straight rounds under par. Ranks 20th on TOUR in distance off the tee, 29th in greens hit and T27 in bogey avoidance.