The return of Rory McIlroy will garnish all the pre-tournament headlines at the Wells Fargo this week.
He decided at the last minute not to fulfil his commitment at Hilton Head in the week after the Masters and that will hit him hard in the pocket.
To be honest, he has always taken a similar break post-Augusta and most of these superstars like to stick to a schedule that works for them.
Tiger Woods famously played a schedule that you could almost guess at the start of every season. The fact that Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler are not playing this week will take some of the air out of the argument and Rory will be the leading attraction instead.
Rory is a fan favourite at Quail Hollow with three previous wins and this is where he laid his PGA Tour career marker way back in 2010.
Nobody will ever match the dominance that Tiger did at certain venues but Rory does love this place. He is the standout favourite as his Masters form can be seen as a blip when it comes to regular tournaments.
The conversation will change when the next major comes around in a few weeks but the best preparation is winning this week. Doing so will also get him back up the FedEx rankings as Rahm and Scheffler are stealing a march on him.
The increased purse with a victory with both absent creates an opportunity.
We will know more about Rory this week as he is always honest with his opinions but I don’t read too much into what happened at Augusta.
It is hard to win on four given weeks of the year, but they are the four weeks when he wants to win the most so he does have to find a solution.
It should be a relief that the grand slam talk can take a back burner for 11 months - time to get on with his season and enjoy the year that is remaining as I think it will be a very memorable year.
The cool thing is that he is chasing the top two guys performance-wise and that is great medicine for a top player. It should spur him in practice and results will then follow.
Putting his form right is the aim for Shane Lowry
Shane Lowry will be keen to get his season kick started this week. Shane has yet to produce his best golf and he is at the wrong end of the Fed Ex rankings.
The season finale in August in Atlanta is still within his grasp. He needs to go on a heater and find that wonderful consistency that he has had the last couple of seasons.
I’m not sure what the exact reason for his play is because stats at times can be misleading. The very obvious stat is that he is struggling on the greens.
His driving and approach to the greens is similar to the last few seasons. Sometimes when the obvious element is glaring you need to do something about it - maybe something simple even, like a different putter. It can do wonders to feel.
Shane putted cross handed when he won the Open and that looks more comfortable to me. If he also changed putter style it would help too.
There is no point doing the same things and expecting different results. It might ignite his year, whether through change or better fortune. He won’t compete at the business end of tournaments where he wants to be unless he starts to putt better.
The fact that he has had a nice break and a fantastic run of tournaments for the next few months is exciting and hopefully he is full of anticipation for the weeks and months ahead. A solid top 10 this week can kick start his month.
I hope Ital get better for Irish duo in the coming weeks
The DP World Tour returns to European soil and will be welcomed by many back to more familiar surroundings.
Bob MacIntyre will defend this week in Italy, the Italian Open acting as the precursor to the 44th Ryder Cup at Marco Simone. But it really is a poor field that is void of its European superstars.
That is where we are and only a handful of tournaments will be able to boast that they have all the stars ‘at home’ to showcase the Tour.
It does mean that others can step up, take the bull by its horns and create some history. You can be the guy that used this tournament to get you on the team or you will be the guy sitting on the couch watching a Ryder Cup at the venue where you last won.
Either scenario is good, really, but life is about dreams too and realizing them.
Many players this week will feel relief at being back on European soil - probably none more so than John Murphy. He has had a very fast start to his pro career.
It is only three years ago that he turned pro and he has managed to get himself on Tour, which many guys will never even achieve in their careers.
This season has been difficult to date, and he has not made the weekend in nine starts. I bumped into him before Christmas and he informed me that last year he played 36 weeks, that’s a crazy output where you go through so much.
It also included a trip to qualifying school which is the ultimate grind.
I feel he started his season running on empty and it has reflected in his performance, but it is important for him to understand that his performances are not a reflection of what he is capable of.
I am hoping a recharge and getting back to that European vibe will see a change in his fortunes in the next few weeks. The same is true for Gary Hurley, who must deal with two missed cuts in Asia and with acclimatising to Italy and trying to be fresh, excited and ready to go, come tomorrow.
A week can change a career in golf. Both are extremely talented players, but a rookie season is tough. The learning curve is steep, and you are playing against seasoned pros in their environment - they are comfortable there and you are not.
It is survival of the best and nothing is handed to you, one must earn it. The sense of accomplishment is huge when you do, but getting your card and keeping it are two totally different achievements.
I wish them well as they find their lanes. That’s the biggest step up.
Betting slip
ITALIAN OPEN
Nicolai Hojjgaard 16/1 Needs a standout week to impress Luke Donald.
Guido Migliozzi 33/1 I feel his home week will inspire him.
Eddie Pepperell 100/1 His '15 minutes on Tour' debate might stand to him this week.
WELLS FARGO
Rory McIlroy 17/2 Loves this place and is a three-time winner here
Sahith Theegala 40/1 Surely that maiden win is close to fruition.
Cameron Champ 150/1 Every chance he will continue last week's good form
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