2023 Wells Fargo Championship First Round Leader Predictions, Picks: Can Max Homa, Rickie Flower Start Fast?

2023 Wells Fargo Championship First Round Leader Predictions, Picks: Can Max Homa, Rickie Flower Start Fast?

As expected by the oddsmakers, Jon Rahm and Tony Finau led the way last week at the Mexico Open, as “Big Tone” turned on the Sunday jets to run away with the event finishing -24 on the week. Rahm has elected to sit this week out, but Finau is in the field, along with the majority of the Tour’s brightest names. While Scottie Scheffler is another notable absentee, the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship will include the likes of Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, and 30 others of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR). 

Coming in at a staggering 7,538 yards, Quil Hollow Golf Club is amongst the longest courses these guys will see all season long. While it has regularly hosted this event for 20 years, it’s also known for the 2017 PGA Championship and, most recently, the 2022 Presidents Cup. One of the most difficult courses in the world, the world’s best will need their A-game to go low this week.

A big part of the field’s star power this week can once again be credited to the week’s designated status, which brings, among other things, a total purse of $20 million and a top prize of nearly $4 million. With more money and OWGR points guaranteed to this week’s winner, let’s take a look at a few guys I think could get off to a hot start at Quail Hollow Golf Club. 

2023 Wells Fargo Championship Start Time and Where to Watch

• Dates: May 4 - May 7, 2023
• Where: Quail Hollow Club - Charlotte, NC
• Where to Watch: Golf Channel, CBS, ESPN+, Paramount+

Wells Fargo Championship First Round Leader Predictions

Max Homa

Incredibly, in the two decades since this event happened, no one has won it twice. Max Homa will look to change that, as he won this event in 2019 in his first major breakthrough at this level. Playing great here in last year’s Presidents Cup as well, Homa is coming into the week on a major slump, but Quail Hollow could be just what the doctor ordered to get back on the saddle. With two wins to his name in 2023 already, the game is certainly there still, and a hot start is possible.

Rickie Fowler

Rickie Fowler continues to creep up in my rankings, and I think a hot start at this event is very much on the table. In his last four starts on Tour, Fowler has finished in the top 20 in all of them, all of which have had stellar fields. With a pair of top-25 finishes here since 2018, look for Fowler to get hot early at Quail Hollow. 

Keith Mitchell

In the last two editions of the Wells Fargo, Keith Mitchell has finishes of T8 (2019) and T3 (2021), and to this day, some of his best performances on the PGA Tour. Finishing T25 at the Arnold Palmer a few events back, Mitchell has past performances to lean on here, and I expect to see that early. 

Wells Fargo Championship First Round Leader Picks

• Max Homa +4000 is currently the best odds. Click here to find out which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
• Rickie Fowler +5000 is currently the best odds. Click here to find out which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
• Keith Mitchell +6000 is currently the best odds. Click here to find out which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick

Golf Odds

• Can Jon Rahm win the first two majors of the year? The latest PGA Championship odds favor him
• Check out the latest Wells Fargo Championship odds
• The Open is the only major championship Jon Rahm isn't favored to win in 2023. Check out the latest odds from The Open to see who is the favorite at Royal Liverpool