Sleeper picks: Wells Fargo Championship

Johnson Wagner … Even headliners like Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson and defending champion Jason Day won’t feel as comfortable as Wagner, who is a perennial Sleeper given he’s a member of Quail Hollow Club. He’s a three-time PGA TOUR winner, but this isn’t his club championship, so he’s absolved from the criticism that last year’s T13 was his first top 25 in 11 tries since he splashed onto the circuit in 2007. The course fits his eye in part because he’s a tee-to-green tactician, a skill set rewarded here. However, he’s also averaging over one stroke gained per tournament with his putter this season. His local knowledge mattered last year as he ranked third in strokes gained: putting and led the field in conversion percentage inside 10 feet. Luke List … The last time the long hitter landed in this space, he delivered with a T10 at Bay Hill. He’s cooled since, but inconsistency aligns with his reputation. Quail Hollow aligns with his profile, and it’s paid dividends. He finished T16 as a rookie in 2013 and a T9 last year when he slotted third in strokes gained: tee-to-green. Sits 14th on TOUR in the stat right now as well as ninth in par-5 scoring. Joel Dahmen … After making hay easier tracks last season, he’s replicating the process on stiffer tests in 2018-19. Already with a T9 at Torrey Pines, a T12 at TPC Sawgrass and a T16 at Harbour Town on the board, he’s projecting toward another top 20 at Quail Hollow. In fact, it wouldn’t be his first on the course as he placed T16 in his debut a year ago. The 31-year-old feeds off keeping his ball in play off the tee, and despite his evolving profile, he still doesn’t mind dipping into the red numbers. Currently T3 on TOUR with 39 of them this season. Matt Jones … Currently 110th in the FedExCup, but it wasn’t until a T13 at Torrey Pines three months ago that his rally was sparked. He’s 8-for-8 since with three top 20s in individual competition, including another T13 at Copperhead. The Aussie also is no stranger at Quail Hollow where he’s logged 21 rounds and recorded a pair of top 25, albeit not since a T21 in 2011, but that experience in conjunction with his recent consistency warrants this focus. Currently 50th on TOUR in strokes gained: tee-to-green, 34th in scrambling and T33 in par-5 scoring. Wyndham Clark … While the former Pac-12 Conference individual champ (2017) at the University of Oregon arguably is best known as a long hitter, he ain’t no one-trick pony. Now 25 years of age and in his rookie season on the PGA TOUR, he’s 12th in strokes gained: putting, second in putts per greens in regulation and fifth in putting: birdies-or-better. He also leads the circuit in conversion percentage inside 10 feet. His muscle off the tee means that he won’t be overwhelmed by the biggest of ballparks, but tough ones also are within his mastery. His last two top 20s occurred at PGA National (T7) and TPC San Antonio (T20). With four top 20s on the season, he’s sitting comfortably at 91st in the FedExCup standings as he debuts at Quail Hollow. NOTE: Sleeper is a relative term, so Rob uses unofficial criteria to determine who qualifies. Each of the following usually is determined to be ineligible for this weekly staple: Winners of the tournament on the current host course; winners in the same season; recent major champions; top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking; recent participants of team competitions.

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