Quail Hollow

So the PGA calendar turns the page from the least entertaining event since Mayakoba to the most anticipated non major tourney of the year in Charlotte, Quial Hollow.  This tournament is formerly known at the Wachovia, and it usually draws a huge field.  This year is no exception, and the favorites are likely to take charge this week.

It's hard to pick a winner outside of this group of five: Mickelson, Woods, Kim, Furyk, and Westwood.  Three first four have all won here before, and all play well here every year.  Westwood has the length to tame the Quail, and has been playing as consistent as anyone outside of Els (who is one of the only big names to skip this week) all year long.  Kim won in 2008, Tiger in 2007 and Furyk in 2006.  Mickelson has five top 12 finishes in six tries here, Tiger and Furyk hace three top tens a piece, while AK has two.  It really comes down to the big guns this week.  The only one I shy away from a bit is Kim, who is dealing with a wrist thing, and he played in South Korea last week, which gives me slight pause.  Still, he's played brialliantly through the injury over the last month.

Outside of the big guns there are questions.  Lucas Glover has three top 10s here including a second a year ago, but has failed to gain any traction in 2010.  Sean O'Hair won the event last year, but disappointingly has also failed to find his form.  Retief has this course down too, but he has been all over the map in 2010.  Trying to predict whether his game is on is akin to meteorology in West England.

Two other big names to watch this week are Ogilvy and Vijay.  Is Vijay back from the back?  He was playing very well when he went down, and he has a win and three other top 10s here.  Ogilvy hasn't played well this year, but has been in the top 25 five times in six tries at this event.

Other big names in the field this week who have played well in 2010 include Mahan, Allenby, Couples, Villegas, Watney, Harrington and Fowler.  It wouldn't be surprising to see any of those guys in the mix Sunday either, save maybe Couples, who flamed in his last non Masters event with the big boys.

Sleepers this week include Boo Weekley, who has quietly (unless you're following him on the course) rebounded the last couple of weeks with back to back strong showings at Hilton Head and Louisiana.  Boo tied for 11th here a year ago.  I also really like Stuart Appleby.  He has no good history here, so call it a hunch, but he is finding his game.  It wouldn't surprise me at all if we're talking about Appleby in a few months joining Ernie and Vijay as guys who regained the spotlight in 2010.

Most Talent
Woods
Mickelson
Westwood
Kim
Harrington

Course History
Woods
Mickelson
Furyk
Kim
O'Hair

Who's Hot
Furyk
Kim
Mickelson
Westwood
Kuchar

Who's Not
Glover
McIlroy
O'Hair
Scott
Love

My Picks
Mickelson
Woods
Furyk
Kim
Appleby

Cheers,
TFAM