Your essential guide to the final major of the year, the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
Scene Setter
The 99th PGA Championship tees off at Quail Hollow for the first time in tournament history. The North Carolina track, which opened in 1961, is no stranger to hosting PGA Tour-sanctioned events having staged the Kemper Open from 1969-1979.
An absence of nearly 25 years followed before the tour finally returned to Charlotte in 2003 for the inaugural Wachovia Championship won by David Toms in 2003. Quail Hollow has since become a fixture on the Tour schedule, and has drawn some of the biggest names in the game through the years, with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy among the event’s past winners.
The course underwent a transformation of sorts before the 2016 edition of the Wells Fargo Championship had even concluded. The reason behind the move was to revamp all 18 of Quail’s 18 Bermuda grass putting surfaces, ahead of the PGA Championship the following year.
These were replaced by a type of grass called “Bermuda G-12” which was said to promise greater longevity. With the course closed in order to complete these changes, course designer Tom Fazio also took the opportunity to redesign four of the holes- three on the front nine and one on the back nine. The result is a course that, on paper, should favour the long-hitter, as it now measures 7 600 yards. It remains to be seen whether the course will pose the test which gives major championships their name or if it will play like a regular Tour event, in which case fans could be in for a feast of birdies.
Major Storylines
Spieth seeks career Grand Slam
After winning the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale for his third major title, Jordan Spieth is a PGA Championship victory away from completing the career Grand S,lam. Should he triumph this week, the Texan will become just the second player to win all four major championships by 24 years of age, after Tiger Woods achieved the feat with his 2000 victory at the Open. On average, the five players to complete the Grand Slam, have taken just two starts between capturing the final two legs.
Rory McIlroy to continue Quail Hollow dominance
Quail Hollow has been a happy hunting ground for Rory McIlroy over the years. The Northern Irishman won his first PGA Tour title back in 2010, after recording a sensational 62 en route to a four-stroke victory over Phil Mickelson.
In 2015 McIlroy doubled up at Quail Hollow, romping home by seven shots courtesy of a 21-under total to become the first player to win multiple times at the venue. Mcilroy will also be looking for his first victory since parting ways with longtime caddie JP Fitzgerald, after a nine-year partnership.
In order to do this, McIlroy will need to hole a few more putts than he has done of late . During his T-5 showing at the WGC Bridgestone invitational last week, McIlroy had 17 approach shots inside 120 yards, yet only made two birdies.
Will Fowler get the monkey off his back?
Rickie Fowler has been tipped as a major champion of the future for some time. After a few close calls early on in his career, he finally broke through for his maiden Tour victory at the 2012 edition of the Wells Fargo Championship. Since linking up with swing coach Butch Harmon, the Californian has become known for more than his colourful attire on the course, but as someone who is a force to be reckoned with in any event he plays in. After posting Top 5s in all four majors of 2015, few would argue that Fowler has the game to finally join the Major Champions club.
Players To Watch
Justin Rose
The Englishman showed tremendous early-season form, highlighted by his playoff defeat at The Masters to Sergio Garcia. Though he’s cooled off since then, failing to post a top-50 since Augusta National in large part due to back issues, Quail Hollow may be just the tonic Rose needs, he has recorded finishes of 3rd and 5th on his last two trips to Charlotte.
Rose has also been in the heat of major battle in the past, having won the 2013 US Open at Merion Golf Club. While he is not the longest hitter on Tour, Rose averages 300.3 yards off the tee this season, good for 39th in the Driving Distance category, which will come in handy this week. He will be looking to improve on a career-best PGA Championship finish of T-3, which he recorded in 2012.
Jordan Spieth
Spieth will fancy his chances heading into the week. To this point, the 24-year-old has won three times and had eight top 10s in 18 starts. What is perhaps even more telling, is his approach-shot prowess. Spieth ranks fourth in Greens in Regulation percentage with 70.21%. Spieth has always been renowned as a good iron player. This is evident in his No 1 ranking in approach shots between 150-175 yards, as well as occupying the No 8 spot in the 175-200 yard range. Quail Hollow has often been described as ‘a second shot golf course’ which could play into the world No 2’s hands.
While his ball-striking is solid, it is with the putter that Spieth is most deadly. He ranks 2nd in putts between 20-25′ and third in putts outside 25′. After heavy rain earlier in the week, the green speed will be a touch slower than usual, which may suggest that whoever gets it done on the greens, may lift the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday.
Rory McIlroy
Besides the factors already discussed, McIlroy has the power to tame the lengthy layout. Mcilroy registered an astonishing 52/56 drives that traveled more than 300 yards. If he finds his touch with the putter, gauging the green speeds wel,l he could be a factor come the back nine on Sunday.
Quotes
Adam Scott: “The positive is they haven’t messed the course up by changing it, which sometimes happens.”
Jordan Spieth: “Do I have to be the youngest [to achieve the Grand Slam]? No, I don’t feel that kind of pressure.”
“Would it be really cool? Absolutely.”
Rory McIlroy: “I’m not putting that much pressure on myself. I don’t feel like I need to prove anything to anyone.”
Photo: Golf.com
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