Even when Quail Hollow played as a par 72, its scoring average landed +0.953 strokes to par, second-highest among all non-majors in 2016. It ranked inside the top 10-toughest in both fairways hit (51.01 percent) and greens in regulation (57.95 percent), while standing stingiest against all approaches, yielded a season-high average of 43 feet, nine inches, in proximity to the hole.
Five of the par 4s exceed 480 yards, including the endpoints of The Green Mile otherwise known as holes 16, 17 and 18. They averaged +2.936 strokes to par as a group over four rounds last year. At +0.481, the 18th was the hardest finishing hole of any course in both 2014 and 2016. It was the fifth-hardest par 4 on TOUR in both seasons.
There is a mountain of success for those who can move it at Quail Hollow, so distance off the tee is meaningful as long as there is control and course management clutching the reins. （中略）Precision on approach and putting will also matter, as they always do in this most equitable of championships.
Inclement weather is almost certain to impact the tournament. A reasonable threat for rain and possible storms exists throughout. Generally warm and humid conditions will blanket the course with little relief from light winds.
Just landed in Charlotte. Is it too late to move the PGA to May?
How tough are the greens at Quail Hollow? Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth combined to make 0 putts longer than 6 feet today.
With a two-putt on 7, Hideki moves to solo second.
Is Hideki out of the woods yet?