Monday At The 107th PGA
Quail Hollow takes on an inch of rain and will play long this week. But the rough is manageable and the greens are still (somehow) firm.
The forecasters were not wrong.
At least the 107th PGA Championship at Quail Hollow looks warm and free of severe weather from Thursday to Sunday. Unfortunately for those who like their golf on the firm, speedy side, and free of mud, Monday was not helpful.
The PGA of America shrewdly told ticketholders to stay home before steady rain Monday morning gave way to a mid-afternoon deluge. The wet stuff turned an already soggy fairways unmowable for a couple of days.
As The Quad hit the printing press and with occasional squalls still rolling through, Quail Hollow received at least 1.15” of rain today. The course has taken on 3.9” over the last nine days after a dry start to spring. You’ve heard this one before at a major: the downpours put a massive damper on things given how pristine GCSAA superintendent Keith Woods and team have the course for this year’s second major.
Players still turned up to get some work in. Many of the LIV-associated golfers hit balls and attempted to play a few holes. Among those spotted were Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka (who dared to play a few holes between storms).
A few initial golf course observations:
Rough will not be as difficult as some might like. With the summer season nearing and very little rain (until today), the Quail Hollow agronomic team has done an incredible job keeping the rye overseed healthy. The 2.75” height and lack of thick-bladed density will make it a mixed bag of lies—even in areas outside the ropes not trimmed for a while. There will be some flyer lies, some balls advanced to a green without control, and an occasional wedge out. But those will be rare and more likely due to tree trouble. Sorry, injury-think rough lovers.
Here’s a video look at the 18th hole analysing some of the toughest rough:
The greens retained some firmness. The Tif Eagle Bermudagrass surfaces drain very well and while holding shots today. Even after 1.15” they had a nice feel underfoot suggesting they can defend the course as long as there aren’t too many more downpours. I saw a nice first bounce on some shots Monday in spite of the deluge.
Here’s a video look at the 16th green and the nice “thud/thump” sound even after Monday’s incredible amount of rain. (And note that I did not invoke the SubAir claim because it looks to this amatuer like leaf density, subsurface drainage and good practices had the greens ready to handle today’s rain):