Chances will fade on the 'Green Mile'

CHARLOTTE, NC—For all that happens in the Quail Hollow Championship this week, the tournament will likely be won or lost on the closing three-hole stretch that has ranked among the most difficult finishing stretches on the PGA Tour the past six years.

The 16th, 17th and 18th holes—nicknamed the Green Mile—have largely defined who has won and who hasn't in the tournament's colorful history.

"You have to suck it up and hit five or six great shots coming down the stretch there," said Trevor Immelman, who lost a sudden-death playoff to Jim Furyk in 2006 after three-putting the 18th hole in regulation.

The nickname comes from a movie adapted from a Stephen King book referring to the final walk a prisoner makes before his execution.

From a golf perspective, there are few finishes as demanding and unforgiving as the last three holes at Quail Hollow.

How difficult is the Green Mile?

In the tournament's six-year history, only three players—Justin Rose (2003), Troy Matteson (2003) and Ernie Els (2007)—have played the stretch bogey-free for all four rounds. More than 400 players couldn't go bogey-free.

In 2005, the Green Mile was the toughest finishing stretch on the PGA Tour, playing to an average of 1.13 strokes over par.

Each of the past three years it has ranked second in difficulty—behind U.S. Open host Winged Foot in 2006; British Open site Carnoustie in 2007; and PGA site Oakland Hills in 2008.

If a player is going to shoot a good score, he needs to have made most of his birdies before he reaches the 16th tee.

"I don't find myself trying to get (a low score) before I get there, but I'm certainly trying to hang on to whatever I've got for the last three holes," three-time major champion Padraig Harrington said.

It is up to Steve Rintoul, a PGA Tour rules official, to determine how the closing holes will play each day.

Rintoul, a former tour player, is in charge of the course set-up and will pay special attention to Nos.16, 17 and 18, knowing the challenges they present in benign conditions. Throw in the possibility of some wind, a dose of adrenalin and a shot of nerves and it's a fine line getting it just right.

"Come the weekend, especially Sunday, I think you're going to see more ebb and flow in the scoring and more chances for volatility in the standings down the stretch," Rintoul said.

The three holes are:

No.16, a 480-yard par-4 that plays slightly downhill on the second shot to a shallow, rolling putting surface.

No.17, a 217-yard par-3 with water guarding the front and left side of a green that is difficult to hold long shots because it slopes gently away from the tee.

No.18, a 478-yard par-4 that demands a precise downhill tee shot to a fairway guarded on the left by a creek, which also protects the left side of the putting surface.

"The three holes are about precision iron shots," Rintoul said.

The finish has produced some enduring images.

There was Sergio Garcia trying unsuccessfully to wish his tee shot onto dry land at the 17th hole in 2005 when he lost a six-stroke lead in the final round.

Retief Goosen, playing in the final group, made a nine on the 18th hole.

Phil Mickelson played the 17th hole 7 over par in 2005.

With so much potential for peril over the closing holes, the trick is to set them up so that they challenge the players, but don't embarrass them.

This week, Rintoul expects to use some flexibility on both the 16th and 17th holes, moving tee markers forward on both holes on some tournament days.

At the 16th, Rintoul said the focus is on matching the tee position with where the hole is cut on the green.

If the hole is cut in the back left portion of the green, an easier location, the tees are generally near the back of the two-tiered tee because there's more room for longer shots going into the green.

The 17th gets the most attention because it's generally a middle to long iron shot into a green that doesn't hold shots well. Players have often complained about the difficulty of the shot and suggested the hole to be played from the member tees on the left side of the 16th green, about 50 yards away from the tournament tees.

That's not going to happen this year but what will happen is players will likely play from shorter tees twice during the tournament to encourage more aggressive play.

Though the 17th green is 38-yards deep, the first third isn't used for hole locations because it's too difficult to stop shots that must carry water and a bunker in that area.

Most of the hole locations are in the middle third of the green with the two most difficult being one tucked close to the water on the left side and another tucked near the right side.

The dramatic 18th hole doesn't vary much. The tee box is relatively small and the prevailing wind tends to push shots from left to right.

"The players' number one goal there is getting the ball in the fairway," Rintoul said.

A good tee shot allows them to be aggressive going into the moderately contoured green. Traditionally on Sunday, the hole is cut on the front left portion of the green, a difficult two-putt for players who go past the hole on their approach shots.

"I'm all for having a very testing last hole just to make sure the guy who wins the tournament, if he has to make a par there at the last, that he's truly tested," Harrington said. "Anybody that makes four at the last to win here certainly deserves to win the tournament."

Ron Green Jr., The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Provider:
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services / McClatchy-Tribune Business News / Charlotte Observer, The (NC)