PGA Championship 2025: Mastering the 3 Crucial Shots for Victory at Quail Hollow

Since Quail Hollow hosts an annual PGA Tour event, we have a lot of data on what it takes to succeed there. Look at past winners and you’ll notice that great players tend to rise to the top more often than at other courses. That’s because elite players tend to excel in the three areas Quail Hollow rewards the most. With the help of Arccos Pro Insights, here’s why these three stats are key to success at this year’s PGA Championship.

Thanks to the PGA of America Private Quail Hollow Club Charlotte, NC 4.2 14 Panelists

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Few golf course projects had more national attention in recent years than Quail Hollow, mainly because its front nine was redesigned just a year before it hosted the 2017 PGA Championship.

View Course Driving distance

Jared C. Tilton

At over 7,500 yards, Quail Hollow presents an exceptionally challenging layout compared to most courses on the PGA Tour, giving significant advantages to power hitters rather than those with precision play. Missing the fairway incurs relatively low penalties, particularly during majors, allowing long drivers ample opportunities to use their clubs frequently. In past tournaments won by leading contenders at this location, approximately two-thirds of each successful drive can be attributed to sheer length, whereas just one-third stems from accurate shots.

Approaches from 175-225 yards

Keyur Khamar

Over the span of the tournament, participants will face numerous approach shots ranging from 175 to 225 yards. In past editions at Quail Hollow, competitors finishing within the top 10 secured over half of their total strokes gained through these particular approach shots—an exceptionally high percentage. Typically, successful players in this distance bracket possess significant power and launch the ball quite high, giving an edge to those with height on their side when playing at Quail Hollow. Additionally, several holes require long-distance approaches exceeding 250 yards toward the green, particularly because some par 5s stretch out; hence, powerful swings provide yet another benefit for certain golfers.

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Andrew Redington

As players will frequently encounter longer iron clubs when approaching the greens, they are likely to miss more greens compared to usual rounds, emphasizing the importance of their short game skills for achieving good scores. The ability to handle shots from around the greenside bunkers is particularly vital at Quail Hollow due to the abundance and strategic placement of these hazards surrounding the putting surfaces. In fact, statistics show that over half of the time across twelve different holes, a golfer can expect to face a challenge from a greenside bunker during the tournament period—a frequency much higher than what is typically seen on most golf courses. For instance, data indicates that on the very first hole, professionals essentially always confront such a situation within this timeframe.

The players I enjoy watching at Quail Hollow

Michael Reaves

Given their strength in these areas, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau have the skill set to play well at Quail Hollow. Rory has won multiple times at the course, and outside of his length and long-iron play, he has gained nearly a shot per round on the greens in his last three starts at Quail Hollow. Xander, the defending champion, finished second in his last two starts at the course. Bryson’s speed will serve him well if he manages the sidehill lies you can often get. My “sleeper” picks are Gary Woodland and Byeong Hun An ( above ). They are some of the longest players off the tee and have played well there in the past.

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Edoardo Molinari , a former U.S. Amateur champion, European Ryder Cupper and three-time winner on the DP World Tour, is Arccos Golf’s Chief Data Strategist.

FURTHER: Top Golf Courses in North Carolina