The Masters just finished the major season in golf and upcoming PGA Championship was announced and will be played by professionals in Quail Hollow Club where it last played in 2017, which is harvesting one of the most challenging courses in the United States.
With its smooth greens, punishing rough and notorious finishing holes often referred to as the green mile; the North Carolina based course will not hesitate in doling out tough challenges, including the first lace out of the tee all the way to putting out on the 18 th green.
Yet, what holes are going to cause the most trouble at Quail Hollow, and will likely shift the PGA odds during the weekend? Continue reading to learn.
16th hole + Par 529 yards
Last year it was stretched by 20 yards to 529 yards at the beginning of the perilous Green Mile, an already long par-4, to accommodate the US PGA.
On the scorecard its eye-boggling yardage may not seem promising but it shortens out due to the hole being downhill.
Nevertheless, that is not meant to be any easier. As a matter of fact, it was always one of the most difficult par-4s in the PGA tour before the extension (4.27 scoring average in 2023).
The extra distance implies that the large fairway bunker can no longer be carried by the big hitters on the tour and get an edge over the rest of the competition.
The approach shot is also intimidating into the green with water on the right and another bunker on the right which implies that the approach shots have to be accurate.
The 17 th hole is a Par 3 223 yards.
The par-3, 17 th hole is also a treacherous hole so it may turn out to be a score card killer among the pros as well as another signature hole in Quail Hallow.
Their tee shot has to be over water and the whole left hand side of the putting surface has also water.
The right approach requires a pitch shot and lands off the green that scrolls towards the water as a result of dance floor undulations.
Miss on the green does not mean safety either since anything beyond the fee center of putting surface can roll off the back.
18 hole – Par 4, 494 yard
The last hole has a testing 494 yards and is among the most testing par-4holes in golf leave alone at Quail Hollow.
Coming off the tee there is hardly any margin of error because a creek on the left goes to the hole whereas on the right side there is a strategic bunker on the landing.
Once more a well played tee shot does not always guarantee you have beaten the hole. The direction of the approach is a very slight uphill with the two bunkers to the protection of the green and the water hazard jutting on the opposite side.
The true-flown false-front can be described that any shots which are hit just a bit short of the centre of the green will shoot off the putting surface.
In PGA tour circuit, the Green Mile has built a dreadful track record. But the professionals should not be unfamiliar with its demands with the annual Wells fargo championship being hosted in Quail Hollow in which McIlroy has won 4 times last May.
The person who will end up having an upper hand as far as his/her previous experience on the course is concerned during the tournament will end up winning the coveted Wanamaker Trophy.