Quail Hollow’s final three holes, famously known as the “Green Mile,” are shaping up to be a decisive factor in this year’s PGA Championship. Comparable in drama to Augusta National’s Amen Corner, these closing holes have proven to be a punishing gauntlet for even the world’s top golfers.
Stretching nearly 1,250 yards, the Green Mile begins with a formidable 529-yard par-4 16th, followed by a 223-yard par-3 17th, and ends with a 494-yard par-4 18th. Each hole features significant water hazards and demands near-flawless execution under pressure.
Bryson DeChambeau, who was on a strong run at 8-under par, saw his round unravel after back-to-back birdies. He bogeyed the 16th and double-bogeyed the 17th, blaming a shift in wind conditions for the stumble. Despite a solid 2-under 69 on Saturday, frustration was evident. “That’s why golf is the worst four-letter word in the world,” he said.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who holds a three-shot lead heading into the final round, acknowledged the difficulty of the Green Mile. “There’s no real breathers in that stretch of holes,” he said, noting the challenges posed by water hazards and narrow landing areas.
The treacherous nature of the Green Mile was on full display during Thursday’s opening round. Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and defending champion Xander Schauffele all double-bogeyed the 16th amid difficult, rain-affected conditions. Even McIlroy, a four-time winner at Quail Hollow, had to scramble to avoid missing the cut after back-to-back bogeys on 17 and 18 on Friday.
Former PGA champion Justin Thomas, who won the last major held at Quail Hollow in 2017, couldn’t survive the final stretch either, missing the cut after bogeys on two of the last three holes.
Still, the Green Mile isn’t without its moments of fortune. Jhonattan Vegas benefitted from a lucky bounce on the 17th when his errant drive struck a rake near a bunker and bounced onto the green, leading to a par save. “Sometimes you hit a rake that goes on the green,” he said, shrugging it off as part of the game.
First-time PGA Championship participant Ryan Gerard shared a humorous memory from college. In preparation for the NCAA nationals in 2018, his coach had his team play the 18th hole repeatedly until all six players made par simultaneously. “We were out there for quite a while,” Gerard recalled. “I hope that carries forward into this week.”
As the championship heads into its final round, all eyes will be on how the leaders handle Quail Hollow’s unforgiving finishing stretch. The Green Mile is poised to once again play a pivotal role in determining who will hoist the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday evening.
