2021 Wells Fargo Championship odds, predictions: Consummate golf insider breaks down PGA Tour field, reveals surprising picks
Golf stats expert Sal Johnson has showed an uncanny knack for picking winners, and now he provides his best bets, including some monster long shots, for this week's event at Quail Hollow
Four of the top five golfers in the world are scheduled to be in action when the PGA Tour's 2021 Wells Fargo Championship tees off Thursday at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C. No. 1 Dustin Johnson is taking the week off after tying for 48th last week at Innisbrook.
World No. 2 Justin Thomas is the 11-1 favorite in the latest 2021 Wells Fargo Championship odds from William Hill Sportsbook, and third-ranked Jon Rahm is at 12-1. Others expected to contend include No. 5 Bryson DeChambeau (16-1), two-time winner Rory McIlroy (18-1) and fourth-ranked Xander Schauffele (20-1).
Before you lock in your 2021 Wells Fargo Championship picks, you HAVE TO see who Sal Johnson is backing.
A media legend and consummate golf insider, Johnson has a strong feel for which players have the momentum and how their games fit the courses.
Before Hideki Matsuyama won the Masters three weeks ago, Johnson made special mention of Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris as golfers to watch.
He listed Spieth and Schauffele in his top three contenders and had Zalatoris as his top rookie. Zalatoris nearly caught Matsuyama and finished as runner-up, while Spieth and Schauffele tied for third.
He also knows when surging players are poised for a breakthrough. He tabbed Sungjae Im as a top contender before his first Tour win at the Honda Classic last season, then touted Tyrrell Hatton before he got his first tour victory the following week. Anyone who has followed Johnson's advice has cashed in HUGE!
Now Johnson, the first producer of "Inside the PGA Tour," a longtime ABC Sports golf producer who worked with Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Greg Norman, and the founder of the world's top golf stats database, has released his highly confident 2021 Wells Fargo Championship picks, and they will surprise you.
We can tell you the golf expert is slightly fading Bryson DeChambeau, who is the third favorite at 16-1! The big hitter certainly has the skill set to succeed at Quail Hollow and has won on similar courses, including at the U.S. Open. DeChambeau is first on tour in strokes gained off the tee but is 136th in driving accuracy, hitting less than 58 percent of his fairways. That could be a serious issue at Quail Hollow, where trees and rough penalize wayward drivers. He hasn't played since tying for 46th at the Masters almost a month ago, and he isn't listed among Johnson's favorites to win.
Instead, Johnson is touting a MAJOR long shot who comes in at well over 50-1 odds! This player has finished in the top 10 at the Wells Fargo more than once. Getting it close to the pin is the key at Quail Hollow, and this player is on a hot streak and could pull off a STUNNER this week! Anyone who backs this underdog could cash in HUGE!
Who wins the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship? Where do Justin Thomas and Viktor Hovland finish? And which MONSTER long shot is a MUST-BACK? ... Join SportsLine now to see Sal Johnson's full leaderboard and picks for the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship, all from the insider who has a strong feel for when these players are in line for a big week!