Welcome to the 2017 PGA Championship, golf fans. For the first time since Congressional hosted the U.S. Open in 2011, we'll see a major tournament hosted at a regular tour stop.
Quail Hollow was shut down and touched up by Tom Fazio following the 2016 Well Fargo Championship. For the PGA Championship, the course will stretch to 7,100 yards. Par 71, with several holes reworked and lengthened and the greens regrassed.
Quail Hollow is a classic Carolina-style course, showcasing the expected tight, tree-lined fairways typical in the region. The Green Mile, the closing three-hole stretch, is testy to say the least and could decide the tournament Sunday. Fairways are among the toughest to hit on tour, and all but the very longest players will play more than half of their approaches from over 175 yards out.
The course is generally in the top third for difficulty on the PGA Tour (ninth in 2016). And while the doctoring and added length should make it play tougher, plenty of rain ahead of the competition could make the course gettable for longer hitters and precise approach players.
Gamers would be wise to look at strokes gained: off the tee and approach play (particularly from 175-plus yards), in addition to the usual strokes gained suspects this week.
Creme de la Creme
Rickie Fowler: $10,700
With his course history, Rory McIlroy will be so ridiculously owned that you have to fade him in GPP (unless you're 90 percent sure he's going to win). Save yourself $1,100 and drop down to Rickie Fowler. A top-10 finisher in four of his last five starts, Fowler also tied for fourth at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow last year. Excellent statistically, Fowler is second in total strokes gained this season.
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