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Power Rankings: Wells Fargo Championship
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May 02, 2022
By Rob Bolton , PGATOUR.COM
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Top 10
All-time shots from Wells Fargo Championship
For the second time in five editions, the Wells Fargo Championship will be contested on a course other than its primary so that Quail Hollow Club can continue preparing for another premier event. In 2017, Quail Hollow was the host of the PGA Championship. This September, it’ll be the stage for the Presidents Cup.
Pinch-hitting is TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. It hasn’t hosted the Wells Fargo Championship, but it’s not a stranger to the PGA TOUR and its sanctioned circuits.
For analysis of the par 70, what the field of 156 can expect and more, continue reading beneath the ranking of projected contenders.
RELATED: Play Pick 'Em Live | The First Look | Inside the Field
POWER RANKINGS: WELLS FARGO CHAMPIONSHIP
RANK PLAYER COMMENT 15 
Abraham Ancer Leaves Mexico (and potential distractions behind) after a disappointing T42 to see if he can replicate a T4 that he logged here in 2018. That week, he ranked T5 in GIR and second in scrambling.Leaves Mexico (and potential distractions behind) after a disappointing T42 to see if he can replicate a T4 that he logged here in 2018. That week, he ranked T5 in GIR and second in scrambling.14 
Sergio Garcia Continues to loiter near the top-50 bubble of the OWGR (at 47th) despite the absence of a top 10 in six months. As the pros say, he’s “close.” Still among the best tee to green out there.Continues to loiter near the top-50 bubble of the OWGR (at 47th) despite the absence of a top 10 in six months. As the pros say, he’s “close.” Still among the best tee to green out there.13 
Brian Harman Took the title the only other time the event was held elsewhere (Eagle Point GC in 2017), but he’s a good fit here, too. Really solid in all primary components on a short, challenging course.Took the title the only other time the event was held elsewhere (Eagle Point GC in 2017), but he’s a good fit here, too. Really solid in all primary components on a short, challenging course.12 
Anirban Lahiri It doesn’t hurt that he finished T13 in his only prior appearance here in 2018, but more recently, he’s piggybacked the close call at THE PLAYERS with top 15s at Valero and in Mexico.It doesn’t hurt that he finished T13 in his only prior appearance here in 2018, but more recently, he’s piggybacked the close call at THE PLAYERS with top 15s at Valero and in Mexico.11 
Seamus Power At 38th in accuracy off the tee, fourth in GIR and 24th in scrambling, it’s no wonder he’s 21st in adjusted scoring with eight top 15s, but he also went 2-for-2 at the QLN on this course.At 38th in accuracy off the tee, fourth in GIR and 24th in scrambling, it’s no wonder he’s 21st in adjusted scoring with eight top 15s, but he also went 2-for-2 at the QLN on this course.10 
Russell Henley Here in 2017 (T46) but his fit and form upon arrival deserves the most respect. Ranks 26th in fairways hit, ninth in greens in regulation and first in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green.Here in 2017 (T46) but his fit and form upon arrival deserves the most respect. Ranks 26th in fairways hit, ninth in greens in regulation and first in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green.9 
Gary Woodland Finished T24 at Vidanta Vallarta to make it five top 25s in seven starts, three of which going for a top 10. Although known for his power and precision, his short game is underrated.Finished T24 at Vidanta Vallarta to make it five top 25s in seven starts, three of which going for a top 10. Although known for his power and precision, his short game is underrated.8 
Cameron Young Off since a T3 at Harbour Town, one of three podium finishes on the season. His savvy in balancing his strengths of power and putting has produced impressive results on tough tracks.Off since a T3 at Harbour Town, one of three podium finishes on the season. His savvy in balancing his strengths of power and putting has produced impressive results on tough tracks.7 
Keegan Bradley Placed T4 (with partner Brendan Steele) in NOLA but he already was performing well on his own ball with five top 15s previously in 2022. The ball-striker also finished T5 here in 2017.Placed T4 (with partner Brendan Steele) in NOLA but he already was performing well on his own ball with five top 15s previously in 2022. The ball-striker also finished T5 here in 2017.6 
Matt Kuchar After a T16 at Copperhead, he’s piled on a T2 at TPC San Antonio and a T3 at Harbour Town. Tops on TOUR in scrambling and second in both SG: Around-the-Green and bogey avoidance.After a T16 at Copperhead, he’s piled on a T2 at TPC San Antonio and a T3 at Harbour Town. Tops on TOUR in scrambling and second in both SG: Around-the-Green and bogey avoidance.5 
Tyrrell Hatton With a strong spring and at 50th in the FedExCup, his class is permanent. His tee-to-green game leaves lots of room for improvement, but he leads the TOUR in Strokes Gained: Putting.With a strong spring and at 50th in the FedExCup, his class is permanent. His tee-to-green game leaves lots of room for improvement, but he leads the TOUR in Strokes Gained: Putting.4 
Matt Fitzpatrick After a rare missed cut at Harbour Town, he’s keen on flipping the script. Currently fifth on the PGA TOUR in SG: Tee-to-Green, seventh in scrambling and 16th in bogey avoidance.After a rare missed cut at Harbour Town, he’s keen on flipping the script. Currently fifth on the PGA TOUR in SG: Tee-to-Green, seventh in scrambling and 16th in bogey avoidance.3 
Rory McIlroy He’s the defending champion but he’ll be putting his game to the test at TPC Potomac at Avenal Farm for the first time. Rested since an inspiring and career-best solo second at the Masters.He’s the defending champion but he’ll be putting his game to the test at TPC Potomac at Avenal Farm for the first time. Rested since an inspiring and career-best solo second at the Masters.2 
Corey Conners After a mini-slump earlier this year, he’s back to doing Corey Conners things with four top-12 finishes in his last six starts. Sixth in SG: Off-the-Tee, third in GIR and T19 in proximity.After a mini-slump earlier this year, he’s back to doing Corey Conners things with four top-12 finishes in his last six starts. Sixth in SG: Off-the-Tee, third in GIR and T19 in proximity.1 
Marc Leishman Give the Aussie a stern test with a little wind and he’ll usually elevate. Superbly balanced throughout his bag and sits No. 1 in par-3 scoring. Went T5-T13 when the QLN was held here.Give the Aussie a stern test with a little wind and he’ll usually elevate. Superbly balanced throughout his bag and sits No. 1 in par-3 scoring. Went T5-T13 when the QLN was held here.
Francesco Molinari, Tony Finau, Webb Simpson, Patrick Reed and Rickie Fowler will be among the notables reviewed in Tuesday’s Draws and Fades.
A thorough history of the role that TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm has played for the PGA TOUR can be read in “Five Things to Know”. It’s experienced a variety of changes, and that’s an understatement.
After its position as an annual par 71 for the old Kemper Open and its subsequent iterations into 2006, it underwent a full-scale renovation in 2007. That included a revision of overall par to 70. The PGA TOUR Champions made a stop in 2010, and then the Korn Ferry Tour descended twice in an eight-month period stretching in 2013. All who showed were challenged by what was a new, fresh examination.
The course returned to the PGA TOUR to host the last two editions of the Quicken Loans National in 2017 and 2018. With a scoring average of 71.458 in the former, it was the hardest par 70 in a non-major that season. Scoring eased to 69.894 the following year when Francesco Molinari was the kind of zone that would make present-day Scottie Scheffler seem like he’s misfiring. (Molinari is committed this week; Scheffler is resting.)
Both previous contests were in late June. In 2018, moderate winds gave way to calm, hot air by the final round. No such conditions this week with springtime weather in the mid-Atlantic. (TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm is about 10 miles northwest of Washington, D.C.) With the threat of rain on Friday and Saturday, daytime highs will drop from the mid-70s to potentially no higher than 60 degrees by the weekend. Winds also will freshen.
After 2018, the par-5 second and 10th holes were extended by a respective 22 and 31 yards. Now tipping at 641 and 591 yards, respectively, TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm maxes out at 7,160. Bentgrass greens average just 4,265 square feet, and they’ll be ready to run 12½ feet on the Stimpmeter, weather pending.
As of Monday afternoon, 44 of this week’s entrants were here in 2017. Of them, 26 returned in 2018 from which there is a total of 51 back this week. Just as it was for them a few years ago, the pair of par 5s will not be a reliable source of par breakers.
Overall, for a course with small greens, the challenge to salvage par is multiplied by the combination of fescue and bluegrass rough, the longest of which is trimmed to 2½ inches, but there’s an intermediate cut that’s 1¼ inches high. Although greens are not entirely foreign, they’re relatively unfamiliar with the passage of time, so, just as Molinari showcased during his incredible display en route to an eight-stroke victory four years ago, the premiums to eliminate the big numbers are equal parts splitting fairways and hitting greens in regulation.
ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE
PGATOUR.com’s Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous perspectives. Look for his following contributions as scheduled.
MONDAY: Power Rankings
TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Draws and Fades
WEDNESDAY: Pick ’Em Preview
SUNDAY: Medical Extensions, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Rookie Ranking* - Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesday.
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