Steve Palmer's Wells Fargo Championship predictions & free golf betting tips

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the Wells Fargo Championship at TPC Potomac on the PGA Tour.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from midday on Thursday

Best bets

Keegan Bradley
2.5pts each-way 33-1 Coral, Hills, Ladbrokes
Corey Conners
2.5pts each-way 20-1 Hills
Brandon Wu
1.5pts each-way 75-1 bet365
Matthew NeSmith
1pt each-way 80-1 bet365

Click here to add Steve Palmer's golf tips to your Hills betslip

Rory McIlroy is 17-2 favourite for the Wells Fargo Championship in the wake of his Masters runner-up finish, but his chances of winning this title for a fourth time have been dented by a venue change. TPC Potomac has taken over from his beloved Quail Hollow, providing a contrasting assignment.

Potomac is being employed for one year only - Quail Hollow is being prepared for September's Presidents Cup - and the tight, fiddly, par-70 layout in Maryland may not be to McIlroy's liking. There are only two par-fives and the naturally attacking Northern Irishman could be left frustrated.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Keegan Bradley 33-1

Accurate, tidy players have flourished at TPC Potomac in the Quicken Loans National - the two tournaments staged there since significant course changes - and Keegan Bradley could be about to follow Kyle Stanley and Francesco Molinari onto the honours board.

Bradley is a Major champion in fine fettle. He was fifth in the Players Championship in March despite being on the wrong side of a significant draw bias - and despite suffering a hugely unfortunate two-shot penalty in round two.

Bradley finished eighth in the Texas Open in his last start as an individual, then fourth alongside Brendan Steele in the Zurich Classic pairs event.

The Florida-based 35-year-old is well suited to the Potomac assignment and can threaten a fifth PGA Tour title on Sunday. In his only previous appearance at the course, he closed with a 67 for fifth place in the 2017 Quicken Loans National.

Next best bet

Corey Conners 20-1

Accuracy from tee to green is the recipe for success at TPC Potomac - and Corey Conners should be licking his lips. The Canadian has become one of the most consistent operators on the PGA Tour and a second victory will surely come soon.

Conners was third in the WGC-Match Play in March, signing off with victory over Dustin Johnson, then sixth in the Masters. Last time out, the pride of Ontario finished 12th in the Heritage, enjoying the fourth hole-in-one of his PGA Tour career along the way.

One previous visit to Potomac resulted in 41st place in the 2018 Quicken Loans, but he was 340th in the world rankings for that event. This time, he tees off as an increasingly confident world number 31, threatening to peak in his early 30s.

Other selections

Brandon Wu 75-1

Matthew NeSmith 80-1

Brandon Wu has clearly settled into life on the PGA Tour and the rookie has started threatening silverware. Two juicy cheques have been banked and his future on the main circuit seems assured. Third place in the Puerto Rico Open in March was followed by 21st spot alongside Patrick Rodgers in the Zurich Classic, then a final-round 63 for a share of second in the Mexico Open on Sunday.

Wu, a superstar amateur who won the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour Championship, looks capable of winning multiple PGA Tour titles. The haul may start on Sunday.

Matthew NeSmith, also a champion on the Korn Ferry Tour, is another who seems good enough to prosper in the higher grade. NeSmith is a perfect fit for TPC Potomac - his accurate driving should stand him in great stead - and the 28-year-old Carolinian is bursting with form and confidence.

NeSmith was running away with the Valspar Championship at the end of March - his second-round 61 was a thing of beauty - but he ended up a shot shy of the Sunday playoff between Sam Burns and Davis Riley. Four solid rounds for 12th place followed in the Heritage, then NeSmith finished fourth last time out in the Zurich Classic with Taylor Moore as his partner.

Players to note

Abraham Ancer
If the Mexican has returned to full fitness in the wake of back problems, he could threaten on the course where he finished fourth in the 2018 Quicken Loans. He played in the Masters against doctors' advice (missed cut), then finished 42nd in his homeland on Sunday.

Cam Davis
A final-round 63 for third place in the Heritage last time out was eyecatching form from the talented Aussie. A Potomac dangerman.

Matthew Fitzpatrick
This course seems a good fit for the Englishman, but pre-tournament showers are set to be followed by more rain on Friday and Saturday. The lack of run on drives is unhelpful for Fitzpatrick.

Max Homa
The three-time PGA Tour champion deserves respect in this modest line-up. He could take a shine to Potomac on his course debut.

TPC Potomac course guide

Course TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, Potomac, Maryland
Prize money $9m ($1.458m to the winner)
Length 7,160 yards
Par 70 two par-fives; 12 par-fours; four par-threes
Field 156 The cut Top 65 and ties qualify for round three
Highest-ranked players in the field (world ranking in brackets) Rory McIlroy (7), Tony Finau (18), Abraham Ancer (20), Tyrrell Hatton (23), Matthew Fitzpatrick (25)
Course records- 72 holes 259 Francesco Molinari (2018 Quicken Loans National) 18 holes 62 Kevin Streelman, Abraham Ancer, Francesco Molinari (2018 Quicken Loans National)

Course winners taking part Rory Sabbatini, Francesco Molinari

When to bet By 11.50am on Thursday

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from midday on Thursday

Time difference Maryland is five hours behind the UK and Ireland

Last week - Mexico Open 1 J Rahm (5-1), T2 B Wu (125-1), T Finau (20-1), K Kitayama (160-1), 5 D Riley (60-1), T6 A Wise (33-1), D Lipsky (80-1), A Smalley (90-1), C Champ (55-1)

Course type Parkland

Course overview TPC Potomac takes over from Quail Hollow for one year, as Quail Hollow is hosting the Presidents Cup in September. The Kemper Open (which became the Booz Allen Classic) was a PGA Tour event played at TPC Potomac from 1987-2004 (and 2006), then the Quicken Loans National was staged there in 2017 and 2018. The Mid-Atlantic Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour was at TPC Potomac in 2012 and 2013. The course has changed a lot through the years and is no pushover, despite its short yardage, with dense sets of trees added as well as more water hazards.

Story of last year Rory McIlroy edged Abraham Ancer by a shot at Quail Hollow, ending an 18-month PGA Tour victory drought.

Weather forecast Pre-tournament showers are expected to soften the course, before more rain on Friday and Saturday. Calm for two days before a breezy weekend.

Type of player suited to the challenge Kyle Stanley and Francesco Molinari are the two most recent Potomac champions - both accurate, unflashy operators. One of the two par-fives at this track is 641 yards - a three-shot hole - and precise plodders can flourish.

Key attribute Accuracy

Spotlight insight Four of the last six champions at TPC Potomac have been non-Americans

Not got a bet365 account? Bet £10 & get £50 in free bets

Open account offer. Minimum deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as bet credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Minimum odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude bet credits stake. Time limits/T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Sign up to emails from Racing Post Sport and get all the latest news and tips

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport