Truist Championship 2026: Picks and Leans For Quail Hollow This Week

By Thomas Leary

May 5th, 2026 2:44 PM EDT

McIlroy makes his first start this week since capturing his second green jacket (USATODAY)

1

7 Players redeemed today!

$1,500 Paid Back in Bonus Bets If You Don't Win + $50 in BetMGM Rewards Points
Bonus Code: BOOKIESBRP1500

Bonus Code

BOOKIESBRP1500

Visit Site

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR), Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See http://BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable and Expire in 7 Days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

After a somewhat sleepy week at Doral thanks to a Cam Young blowout (which our Len Hochberg was all over), the PGA Tour is back in Charlotte this week for the latest Truist Championship.

Quail Hollow of course played host to last year's PGA Championship, where Scottie Scheffler captured his first major win outside of the Masters.

Unfortunately, no Scheffler this week. But we do get our first sight of Rory McIlroy since winning his second green jacket, as well as a star-studded field that includes Young and Matt Fitzpatrick.

This golf betting season, Bookies.com continues to provide analysis from a variety of experts across the space, including leans on first round leaders, longshots, top 20s, matchups and much more.

Check out insight from a variety of sources below before you head to your favorite U.S. sports betting app.

Now let's pick 'em!!!

Truist Outrights

Len Hochberg, RotoWire - Sam Burns +3100

Burns tied for 13th last time this tournament was played at Quail Hollow in 2024. He was a so-so T30 at last year's PGA at quail. He is kind of quietly having maybe his best season ever, but certainly in years. Burns was 13th at THE PLAYERS and seventh at the Masters. Putting is sneaky important this week and Burns is one of the best on Tour.

Josh Carpenter, Sports Business Journal - Xander Schauffele +1150

Hard to believe Xander only has one win (2025 Baycurrent) in nearly two years, but his game is trending and it finally feels like he's over those nagging injuries. Seven straight Top 25s on tour, and he finished solo second at Quail Hollow in both 2023 and 2024 before surprisingly being a non factor at last year's PGA.

Thomas Leary, Bookies - Rory McIlroy +580

Rory at a course he loves in a field without Scottie Scheffler. I expect him to play much better this season than he did after the Masters last year. Looks and sounds like a man on a mission.

Jared Kimble, Bookies - Xander Schauffele +1150

Back-to-back runner-up finishes at Quail Hollow in 2023 and 2024, with the lowest scoring average at the course over the last five years (69.13 across 16 rounds). Seven straight top-25 finishes and his controlled game is exactly what the Green Mile demands. At +1150 the best course performer behind McIlroy has unfinished business here.

David Rumsey, FOS - Rory McIlroy +580

No matter how much the public loves Rory this week, it’s for good reason: Pickling against McIlroy at Quail Hollow on a PGA Tour setup would be irresponsible. McIlroy showed at the Masters that a little rust doesn’t slow him down, so there’s no reason to think the time off since Augusta would have any negative impact this week. Give me Rory claiming his fifth victory in Charlotte all day long.

Bill Speros, Bookies - Xander Schauffele +1150

Quail Hollow demands a long-ball hitter – but one who keeps it straight. You’ll see more drivers here than during rush hour in LA on this par 71, 7,583-yard monster. Course comfort will determine winner. Xander Schauffele breaks through this week after a finishing solo-second twice. He’s carded seven consecutive top-25s and comes here overdue for a win.

1

7 Players redeemed today!

$1,500 Paid Back in Bonus Bets If You Don't Win + $50 in BetMGM Rewards Points
Bonus Code: BOOKIESBRP1500

Bonus Code

BOOKIESBRP1500

Visit Site

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR), Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See http://BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable and Expire in 7 Days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

Quail Hollow Top 20 Picks

Len Hochberg, RotoWire - Akshay Bhatia +162

Bhatia has fallen off the radar a bit since winning at Bay Hill. But he's still having a very good season, though the MC at the Masters didn't look great. He was 13th at THE PLAYERS, then added top-25s at the past two signature events at very different courses in Harbour Town and Doral. He's not the longest hitter off the tee, so he'll have to be especially sharp from the fairway on in. Most of the time this season, he has been.

Josh Carpenter, Sports Business Journal - Harris English +125

Form hasn't been over-the-top good in 2026, but he's coming off a top 5 at the RBC Heritage and finished second at Quail Hollow in last year's PGA Championship. A strong showing in 2023 in Charlotte as well with a T3.

Thomas Leary, Bookies - Kurt Kitayama +120

Two-time tour winner is coming off consecutive top 10s at RBC Heritage and the Cadillac. T2 at the Genesis earlier this year.

Jared Kimble, Bookies - Harris English +125

Six straight cuts made at Quail Hollow with a 3rd-place finish in the Truist and a runner-up at last year's PGA Championship here — the 5th-lowest scoring average in the field across 16 rounds. Plus money on that kind of course consistency is a gift.

David Rumsey, FOS - Maverick McNealy +116

This pick is really just a gut feeling, as the recent data from May wouldn’t suggest he’s primed for anything special this week. But with no cut and the motivation to get in form ahead of next week’s PGA Championship, something’s telling me McNealy is going to round into some decent form this week. I always like the plus money here, too.

Bill Speros, Bookies - Matt McCarty +180

McCarty missed the cut here during last year’s PGA Championship. He fell off the PGA Tour radar before the Masters. Since then, he notched a T24 at Augusta, a T12 at the RBC Heritage and a top-10 run last week at Doral. All signs here see a good price on trendy pick.

First Round Leader Picks

Len Hochberg, RotoWire - Xander Schauffele +1900

If there's one player who's kind of been forgotten this season, it's Schauffele. He's playing very well, Of course, not as well as the Big Four. But he was T12 last week and has had top-10s at THE PLAYERS and Masters. Schauffele was runner-up twice at Quail Hollow in 2023 and '24, caught behind Rory McIlroy and Wyndham Clark, both of whom simply went off.

Josh Carpenter, Sports Business Journal - Rory McIlroy +1400

Need I say anything more? Four wins here and coming in rested following his Masters win. Has the course record at Quail Hollow (61 in 2015), which broke his prior course record of 62.

Thomas Leary, Bookies - Rickie Fowler +3800

Fowler, a previous winner at Quail Hollow, is third on Tour in round 1 scoring average this season. Coming into Charlotte off a T9 at Cadillac and T8 at RBC Heritage.

Jared Kimble, Bookies - Si Woo Kim +3100

He ranks 3rd in SG:Approach on tour and 1st in proximity from 175-200 yards — the exact range Quail Hollow's long par 4s demand on approach after approach. Coming off back-to-back top-5 finishes in signature events with a top-10 at last year's PGA Championship here. At +3100 the hottest iron player on tour at a course he's proven he can score on is strong Thursday value.

David Rumsey, FOS - Matt Fitzpatrick +2600

Everyone expects Fitz to be near the top of the leaderboard at any tournament he tees it up in for the foreseeable future, so why not go ahead and grab the early lead in Charlotte Thursday? Nobody at Quail will be hotter coming into this week. Fitzpatrick has had several opening rounds in the 60s in Charlotte, too.

Bill Speros, Bookies - Jordan Spieth +3300

Jordan Spieth opened with a 65 last week at Doral following a 69 in Round 1 at the RBC Heritage. Spieth flat-lined here last year on the back nine in the first round of the PGA Championship, but wasn’t 100% physically. He’s poised for a strong start this week.

1

7 Players redeemed today!

$1,500 Paid Back in Bonus Bets If You Don't Win + $50 in BetMGM Rewards Points
Bonus Code: BOOKIESBRP1500

Bonus Code

BOOKIESBRP1500

Visit Site

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR), Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See http://BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable and Expire in 7 Days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

Quail Hollow Longshot Picks

Len Hochberg, RotoWire - Jacob Bridgeman +7000

One of the darlings of the early part of the season, Bridgeman has fallen off in recent weeks. Maybe it's because he's getting a bit tired in the grind of a long season, maybe it's simple regression. Because in his first eight starts, which included a win at Riviera, he had eight top-25s. In his past three? None. Now his price has dropped back, and he's still leading the Tour in putting, so we're back on the bandwagon this week.

Josh Carpenter, Sports Business Journal - Michael Kim +18500

Kim has been on a run of good form over the past month with three Top 25s in his last four starts, including T2 at Valero. Don't forget Quail Hollow has produced a handful of long-shot winners over the years, including Wyndham Clark, James Hahn and Derek Ernst, to name a few.

Thomas Leary, Bookies - Jhonattan Vegas +39000

There's an outright number you don't see every day. People are already forgetting last year's PGA Championship at Quail was nearly the Jhonny Vegas major. Not great form coming in but top 20s at Bay Hill and the Houston Open.

Jared Kimble, Bookies - Jacob Bridgeman +7000

He's #1 in SG:Putting and #2 in SG:Total on the entire PGA Tour in 2026 — the kind of across-the-board elite form that wins at demanding venues like Quail Hollow. He won the Genesis earlier this year and his South Carolina roots mean he's grown up on Bermuda greens in the exact hot, humid conditions Charlotte delivers in May. At +7000 in a no-cut event, the hottest overall player on tour by the numbers is a legitimate contender at longshot price.

David Rumsey, FOS - Jacob Bridgeman +7000

The up-and-comer has cooled off since his win at Riviera in February, but still has plenty of game to make some noise this week. I like his chances for an upset, especially if the favorites get a little distracted looking ahead to the PGA.

Bill Speros, Bookies - Daniel Berger +10000

Daniel Berger carded a pair of -6 finishes in the past two weeks – at Doral and the RBC Heritage. He finished T11 at the Truist last year (in Philly). He closed with a 68 during the PGA Championship here last year, finishing T33 at even par.

Recent Truist Championship History

Who's Who In Bookies Golf Roundtable

Len Hochberg has covered golf for RotoWire since 2013. A veteran sports journalist, he was an editor and reporter at The Washington Post for nine years. Len is a three-time winner of the FSWA DFS Writer of the Year Award (2020, '22 and '23) and a five-time nominee (2019-23). He is also a writer and editor for MLB Advanced Media.

Josh Carpenter covers golf and sports media for Sports Business Journal, having been with the publication since 2012. Away from the office, Josh loves playing golf and spending time with his wife Amy and son, Walt. He is an avid supporter of the Carolina Hurricanes and Tennessee Volunteers.

Thomas Leary is a senior editor with Gambling.com Group who works across a variety of the company's portfolios, including Bookies.com. Previously, Thomas spent over six years at Sports Business Journal where he helped launch the digital newsletter division. He is a Charlotte, NC native and long-suffering Hornets fan.

Jared Kimble is a media manager with Gambling.com Group who oversees the group's North American digital PR efforts. Jared previously worked for the Orlando Magic. A Pennsylvania native, he is an Elon University graduate and currently resides in Charlotte, NC.

David Rumsey is a reporter at Front Office Sports, focusing on golf, college football, and the NFL. He has a B.A. in Communication Studies from Southern Adventist University in Chattanooga, Tenn. David is based in Charleston, S.C.

Bill Speros is an award-winning journalist and editor whose career includes stops at USA Today Sports Network / Golfweek, Cox Media, ESPN, Orlando Sentinel and Denver Post.

Comments

Sign In | Sign Up

Post

View more