Quail Hollow Championship golf form guide: other candidates

The PGA Tour will this week head to Charlotte for the Quail Hollow Championship as the players go into battle one last time before the 'Fifth Major' at Sawgrass next week, and Paul Krishnamurty examines the chances of the Tour's leading golfers

OTHER CANDIDATES

SEAN O'HAIR   The defending champion has been in fair form recently, if not quite the same level as this time last year. For that reason, others are preferred.   VIJAY SINGH   Vijay had hinted at a return to form before getting injured before the Masters, even if he couldn't hole a putt. At his peak, he loved Quail Hollow, winning in 2005 and registering four top tens.   GEOFF OGILVY   Ogilvy has twice made the top ten here, without challenging for the title. He's yet to recapture early season form following a short break for the birth of his child, but will be a threat to all when finding his range again.   PADRAIG HARRINGTON   For reasons I can't explain, Harrington has yet to finish higher than 43rd in this event. There's certainly no obvious reason why the three-time Major winner wouldn't like this set-up.   RETIEF GOOSEN   Goosen has been infuriating of late, and almost impossible to predict. His figures are perfectly respectable, without ever looking quite at his best, and for that reason is respected yet avoided.   FRED COUPLES   Who would write off Freddie after those Masters heroics? Inspired by some dominant displays on the Champions Tour, Couples is turning back the clock with his best form for a decade or more. He very much takes the eye at 80/1, on a course where he was eighth on his most recent visit.   RICKIE FOWLER   Fowler has so far reserved his best form for easier golf courses than this, but as Anthony Kim proved, the very best youngsters can thrive here. There are certainly worse 80/1 bets.   JASON DUFNER

Dufner is another interesting outsider, after finishing a close fifth last year. He strikes me as a likely improver, and returned to form with seventh at the weekend.   RORY MCILROY   Given his struggles over the past couple of months, it would be a huge ask for Rory to win on his course debut. Hopefully he's been working hard since last seen at the Masters.   ZACH JOHNSON   Johnson usually warrants consideration, but he's yet to make a top ten on this course and his form has dipped in recent weeks.   2010 STATS: -29pts   LONG-TERM ALREADY ADVISED   20pts TIGER WOODS TO WIN EXACTLY TWO MAJORS @ 5/1 8pts TIGER WOODS TO WIN EXACTLY THREE MAJORS @ 14/1

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