News
‘The Green Mile’ at Quail Hollow
Since The Wachovia Championship’s inception in 2003, its last three holes have proven to be the most difficult closing stretch on Tour. Now, two weeks after chasing for the Green Jacket, Tour players arrive at Augusta in Charlotte, NC to the challenge ‘The Green Mile’.
No, not the American drama from the 90’s starring Tom Hanks. Rather, The Green Mile refers to three finishing holes at Quail Hollow that have Brandt Snedeker and the rest of the Tour saying, "it’s got to be one of the toughest stretches in golf."
Beginning with the 16th hole , players will have to hit a series of exacting tee shots. At this first of 3 challenging holes, 315 yards off the tee a bunker on the left pinches in, protecting the fairway, creating a strategic angle. While the right part of the fairway slides off to the rough, making it difficult to hold an approach to the narrow green.
The signature hole on the course, 17, is not quite the island green will see next week at Sawgrass. Still, Mickelson points out "17 and 18 are two of the toughest holes you’ll ever see, and to put them back-to-back is very difficult". Since last year, the margin for error on the hole has actually been reduced. By lowering the right side of the green it has "made it a little easier with regards to hitting a shot in there, landing on the green and not going off into the water on the left side." Rory Sabbatini commented. Regardless, a 200-yard tee shot over a water hazard wrapping around an undulating green slanting towards the water will create a difficult challenge even for a pro.
Saving the most difficult for last, the 478 yard, par 4 finish proved as the most difficult hole on the course in 2007; and the fourth most difficult on the PGA Tour. A tight drive will have to navigate the meandering creek on the left and avoid bunkering on the right. Following, an uphill approach to a small green will likewise need to avoid the same creek and a set of bunkers right.
Quail Hollow has been a great addition to the Tour over the past five years. The traditional feel of the course has a strategic simplicity offering risk-reward scenarios on numerous holes. There is potential to capitalize early which is good, since last year The Green Mile offered a meager 13 birdies on Sunday.
Although it will sound like a contradiction, the course played as one of the toughest layouts in 2007 yet at the same time offered the most birdies and eagles of any top 20 course. That is simply the beauty of strategic design. Its about creating a challenge. A course with incredible depth and variety. And Geroge Cobb, landscape architect turned golf course designer, with help from Plamer and Fazio, has done just that.
Through the undeniable temptation to feather shots around the tree lined Quail Hollow’s risk reward layout, this weekend we can be sure that birdies and eagles will be up for grabs in the early going. And come the The Green Mile – they’ll be needed.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Adam V
May 9, 2021 at 5:43 pm
And not to be a stickler but I thought writers had editors to catch typos and errors? The first paragraph states that “tour players arrive at Augusta in Charlotte, NC to the challenge The Green Mile.??? What???? Augusta is in Charlotte?? Since when? And then the last sentence states “ And come the The Green Mile- they’ll be needed…not sure what that means…oh well….
matt
May 3, 2008 at 11:53 pm
great article…the last 3 are a doozy…but just a minor correction, the bunker on 16 is from the right, not the left, and those who go left of it have to cope with being under a huge oak and an awkward angle to a green that is at most 17 yards deep, usually with wind in your face