? COURSE: Quail Hollow Club, 7,442 yards, par 72. Designed
by George Cobb, the course opened in 1962 and quickly established itself
as a worthy host of big events. Quail Hollow was the original site of
the Kemper Open (1969-79), later hosting the World Seniors Invitational
(1980-89) before Tom Fazio was brought in to redo greens and add
yardage. The PGA TOUR returned in 2003, and Quail Hollow will join the
list of major championship venues in 2017 when it hosts the PGA
Championship. The final three-hole stretch, known as the "Green Mile,"
is considered one of the toughest finishes on the PGA TOUR.
? FIELD WATCH: Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson, No. 9 in
the world rankings, and 2010 winner Rory McIlroy join defending champ
Derek Ernst in a roster that features 10 of the rankings' top 30. The
lineup also includes reigning U.S. Open champion Justin Rose and
predecessor Webb Simpson, a Quail Hollow resident. … Four other entrants
keep a home in Charlotte ? Brendon de Jonge, Robert Karlsson, Martin
Laird and Johnson Wagner. … … World Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els returns
to Quail Hollow for the first time since 2007. Two visits have yet to
yield a top-30 finish. … The field list shows a foursome of "Thirds" ?
Davis Love III, Charles Howell III, Billy Hurley III and sponsor
exemption Harold Varner III.
? 72-HOLE RECORD: 272, Anthony Kim (2008).
? 18-HOLE RECORD: 62, Rory McIlroy (4th round, 2010).
? LAST YEAR: Ernst stunningly outpaced a stellar field
for his first PGA TOUR victory, forcing a playoff with a kick-in birdie
to end regulation and beating England's David Lynn with another birdie
on the first extra hole. Phil Mickelson held a one-shot lead with three
holes to play in cold, rainy conditions, but bogeyed Nos. 16 and 17 to
fall off the pace. Ernst finished a closing 2-under 70 by striping a
6-iron to 4 feet for birdie on No. 18, then ousted Lynn when he drained a
15-footer on the second trip through. Before his arrival in Charlotte,
Ernst had missed six of eight cuts in 2013 and his highest finish was
47th.
? STORYLINES: Mickelson makes his first start since
missing the Masters cut, his first early exit from Augusta National
since 1997. Though winless at Quail Hollow, Lefty has seven top-10
finishes in 10 previous visits, including runner-up to McIlroy in 2010. …
Ernst joins six other past champs with a chance to become the first
multiple winner in the event's 11-year history. McIlroy came closest,
falling in a three-man playoff to Fowler two years after his 2010
victory. … Simpson, whose home stands about a mile from the Quail Hollow
clubhouse, tries again for a home-turf victory. He held the 54-hole
lead two years ago fading to a Sunday 73 left him one shot out of the
playoff.
? SHORT CHIPS: Four of Quail Hollow's past six winners
accomplished the feat under age 24. McIlroy (2010) was 20 when he
notched his first PGA TOUR win, Anthony Kim (2008) and Ernst won at age
22 and Rickie Fowler (2012) was 23. … None of the past four defending
champions have been around on Sunday a year later. Fowler was a Saturday
MDF victim last year; the previous three missed the regular cut. …
Barring a late WD, four players will keep their streak of not missing a
start at Quail Hollow ? Stuart Appleby, J.J. Henry, Howell and Rory
Sabbatini.
Last Week's Winner NoleMoreTears Congrats!
Updated Standings
1. dfs - 5537
2. Bill - 5082
3. Ocala - 4340
4. NMT - 4310
5. Sea - 4147
6. Bobcat - 4074
7. 2952 - 4001
8. Lizard - 3115
9. NiA - 3078
10. Ed - 3025
11. 67810 - 2892
12. DL - 2881
13. g2f - 2092
14. pdubb - 1352
Good Luck!
This post was edited on 5/4 9:20 PM by DFSNOLE
Field
