Truist Championship Tips

Rory is the statistical gold standard at Quail Hollow, gaining +2.33 strokes per round here over his career. His 2026 form is peak, coming off a Masters win and ranking first in the field's predictor model. Softened conditions from morning rain will only widen his advantage off the tee, where he can carry hazards that shorter hitters must navigate around.

Schauffele was the opening-round co-leader here in 2024, and one shot off the first-round lead in 2023. He has shot opening rounds in the 60s in six of his last seven events.

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Tommy Fleetwood is still looking for his first victory of 2026 after playing ten events and making the cut in all ten of them.

Chris Gotterup is among the leaders on Tour in first-round average. He has made a significant step forward in his development, so he can hang with the toughest company. I like him for a 1st round bet at the given odds.

Harris English is a 'course horse' who thrives on the specific sightlines and grass types of Quail Hollow. He ranks 26th in SG: Total and 17th in scrambling, making him highly resilient to the 'Green Mile' stretch. While he lacks the raw power of McIlroy or Lee, his ability to one-putt (ranked 5th on tour) allows him to post a low number through efficiency rather than brute force.

Kitayama’s aggressive driving suits Quail Hollow perfectly. He’s posted multiple opening rounds of 65 or better this season, thrives on difficult layouts, and softer conditions should reward his elite long-iron approach game

Min Woo Lee has successfully transitioned from a volatile scorer to a reliable, top-tier threat in 2026. His elite driving distance is well suited to Quail Hollow’s 7,500+ yard layout. With rain softening the course, Lee’s ability to use his length to shorten the par-5s (7th and 15th) gives him a statistical path to a 5-under start. While less consistent than McIlroy, his ceiling is world-class.

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Keegan is always a very good bet to go low in the first round. He tends to play his best golf fresh and, having led after the first round on a number of occasions over the last few seasons, he looks a good bet in this market.

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Ryan Fox has been having good starts, especially on the PGA, where he has finished top ten after day one in three of his six events played. He has opening rounds of 68, 67 and 65 in three of his last six events on the PGA, so he looks a good bet to go low here as well.