Course: Quail Hollow Club, one of the most beautiful courses in the Carolinas. 7,400 yards that can play as easy or as difficult as the club would like. The "Green Mile", which is the final three holes on the course, is one of the hardest closing stretches on tour.
Strength Of Field: B. The highest ranked player in the field is Phil Mickelson at 9th, but a lot of the players in the field this week are in the teens, and are names that you would like to watch in the weekend - Phil, Rory, Rose, Zach. This is usually the best field between the Masters and the Players, and it remains the case this year, as well.
Other Tidbits: Four players, who are teeing it up this week, have never missed a start at Quail Hollow - Stuart Appleby, Rory Sabbatini, Charles Howell III, and JJ Henry...Last year, Derek Ernst shocked the world by beating a high quality field for his first victory. Unfortunately, it was not a jumping point for Ernst, who has struggled since...Of the previous six winners, four of them have been under the age of 24...Quail Hollow was the site of Rory McIlroy's first PGA victory in 2010...Quail Hollow will host its first major championship in 2017, when it hosts the PGA Championship.
Fantasy Four:
1) Phil Mickelson - Came one shot short of a playoff last year after blowing a lead on the 72nd hole. Has not played well this season, but Quail Hollow can provide a boost for the season. Has rested since his missed cut at the Masters.
2) Jimmy Walker - Has also rested since his T8 at the Masters. While he has cooled off since his torrid start, it's not like Walker's game has complete collapsed - in fact, Walker hasn't missed a cut since his victory at Pebble Beach. Has the kind of game to compete at Sawgrass and could use Quail Hollow as a warm-up.
3) Y.E. Yang - Sleeper Pick. Taking a huge flier on this one, but I get the feeling he'll play well after watching his countryman Seung-Yul Noh pick up his first victory last week. Yang's exemption for winning the 2009 PGA Championship runs out this season, so he needs some strong finishes in order to retain his card. Has made 10 of 15 cuts this season.
4) Jim Furyk - Worst finish in the last four starts has been T20. Has finished in the Top 10 4 times at Quail Hollow. Hasn't missed a cut this season, and has three top 10's. Shockingly hasn't won since his triumph at the 2010 Tour Championship.
Last Weeks Team:
Rickie Fowler - MC
Justin Rose - T8
Stuart Appleby - T17
J.B. Holmes - T11
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