Tournament: PGA Championship – Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina
Hole: 14th – Par 4, 344 Yards
Architect(s): George Cobb – 1961
Tom Fazio (redesign) – 1996, 2003, and 2016

Architectural Summary:

The par 4 14th hole at Quail Hollow will offer competitors a multitude of options as they look to navigate the abundance of hazards and hilly terrain. From the tee of the slight dogleg left, strategy and wind direction will dictate whether competitors opt to try and drive the green or lay up with anything from a long iron to 3 wood. When attempting to go for the green from the tee, competitors must execute an accurate and lengthy drive as missing to the left or right of the narrow green will result in trouble. Any balls pulled left can easily find the 15-acre lake framing the entire left side of the hole, but anything missing right will leave a very difficult and scary chip shot over the greenside bunker, typically from a downhill lie with the lake looming just beyond the green. The front left portion of the green is also protected by a deep bunker which will collect stray drives falling short. Players shorter off the tee, or simply opting for a more conservative strategy, will look to lay up between the left fairway bunker located at 220 yards and the first right fairway bunker at 270 yards. When laying up, competitors will tend to favor the left side of the fairway for the best angle into the green. Distance control will be critical for approach shots as the green is 50 yards long, yet only 16 yards wide. A small ridge bisects the green which will further emphasize reaching the correct quadrant on the green. The most difficult hole location will be back left as competitors will be most exposed to the lake flanking the left side of the green.

Statistical Analysis:

When Quail Hollow Club last hosted the Wells Fargo Invitational in 2016, the 14th hole played to a scoring average of 4.00 (2 Eagles, 100 Birdies, 269 Pars, 58 Bogeys, 24 Doubles, and 3 “Others”).

Fun Facts:

• Quail Hollow has been the site of a number of notable player’s first career win including Rory McIlroy (2010) and Rickie Fowler (2012).
• The course record (61) at Quail Hollow is held by Rory McIlroy from his 2015 victory. During the same tournament, McIlroy set the tournament record with a score of 267.
• The PGA Championship is visiting the Carolinas for the second time in six years. The 2012 championship was held at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course where Rory McIlroy won by 8 strokes. Kiawah’s Ocean Course will also host the 2021 PGA Championship.