Last week: Winner, winner. We picked last week’s winner, Cam Young, at a nice +1200 margin. Young dominated the Cadillac Championship, winning by six shots for his second victory of the season. There was a secondary prize as well, with Si Woo Kim delivering for us with a top 20. That came in at -135.
This week: The Truist Championship is another Signature event being played at Quail Hollow and coming a week before the PGA Championship. Seven of the top 10 world-ranked players are in the field this week, including Rory McIlroy, who makes his first start since slipping on his second Green Jacket. Not playing this week is the world’s top-ranked player, Scottie Scheffler, who will not only play next week at the year’s second major, but also likely play the two stops following the PGA which are both in his home state of Texas.
To win
Rory McIlroy +600
McIlroy will be well rested after skipping the last three weeks of tour events. He could have taken one more week off to rest up for the PGA but his record at Quail Hollow is superb with four victories, including the last time this tournament was held here. His overall game is still quite impressive and the last time he was in the negative at a tournament for Strokes Gained: Total was last year’s RBC Canadian Open.
Xander Schauffele +1000
The last two times the PGA Tour stopped by Quail Hollow, Schauffele finished second. In his last six starts this season, he has posted five finishes inside the top 12. That’s a good combination as he comes into this week looking for his first victory. A scoring average on the year of 69.38 is also eye-catching.
Top 10
Sepp Straka +280
Coming in off a tie for fourth at the Cadillac Championship, Straka looks to be finding some form, especially with the putter. He’s been in the negative for Strokes Gained: Putting just once in his last six starts.
Tommy Fleetwood +175
Started the season well with top-10 finishes in four of his first five events. Has cooled off somewhat but a closing 67 at the Cadillac Championship last week means he’s arriving at Quail Hollow on a good note.
Top 20
Akshay Bhatia +125
ne of the tour’s best putters, Bhatia is third in Strokes Gained: Putting. He has three top-10s this season including his win at the Arnold Palmer. If he can smooth out his game off the tee, he will be a factor this week.
Ben Griffin -110
Coming in off a third-place finish at the Cadillac Championship, Griffin seems to have regained his form after missing three cuts in March. Has one of the best short games on the PGA Tour which will help him at Quail Hollow.
Extras
72-Hole Match Fleetwood vs. AbergFleetwood +110 -- We’ll take Tommy with his consistency
Winning Score Over/Under 273.5 Under +110 – It’s been under the last two times at Quail Hollow
