Quail Hollow's Green Mile: Toughest finish on TOUR?

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The finishing three holes at Quail Hollow -- collectively known as The Green Mile -- traditionally rank as one of the toughest three-hole finishes on the PGA TOUR. Here's a look at some of the numbers going into this week's Wells Fargo Championship.
MORE QUAIL HOLLOW: Inside the course | 19th hole

16th hole

Par 4, 480 yards

This hole represents the beginning of what has consistently been the toughest final three-hole stretch on TOUR. Avoiding the fairway bunker on the right with the tee shot and setting up a mid-iron to the green is advantageous, since this is the most arduous putting surface on the course. HOW DIFFICULT IS THE 16TH HOLE? • In 2010, it ranked as the 19th most difficult par 4 on TOUR with a stroke average of 4.311. • In 2009, it ranked as the 89th most difficult par 4 on TOUR with a stroke average of 4.210. • In 2008, it ranked as the 67th most difficult par 4 on TOUR with a stroke average of 4.273. • In 2007, it ranked as the 101st most difficult par 4 on TOUR with a stroke average of 4.235. • In 2006, it ranked as the 93rd most difficult par 4 on TOUR with a stroke average of 4.231.

17th hole

Par 3, 217 yards

The green on Quail Hollow's signature hole is nearly an island, forcing a 200-yard carry to clear the water. A fade is also required to settle the ball on a precariously perched, back-to-front and right-to-left sloping green. Enjoy the birdie-or-blunder potential this hole presents, as well as the view of the lake stretched out behind the green. HOW DIFFICULT IS THE 17TH HOLE? • In 2010, it ranked as the 4th most difficult par 3 on TOUR with a stroke average of 3.343. • In 2009, it ranked as the 8th most difficult par 3 on TOUR with a stroke average of 3.285. • In 2008, it ranked as THE most difficult par 3 on TOUR with a stroke average of 3.418. • In 2007, it ranked as the 7th most difficult par 3 on TOUR with a stroke average of 3.368. • In 2006, it ranked as the 13th most difficult par 3 on TOUR with a stroke average of 3.279.

18th hole

Par 4, 478 yards

This is the last of a three-hole stretch dubbed "The Green Mile" and is consistently one of the toughest finishing holes in golf. On the tee shot, players must avoid a bunker on the right, as well as a creek that meanders along the entire left side of the narrow fairway. An uphill second shot must avoid hazards on both sides of the green, which is deep and sloped. If a player must birdie this hole to win the tournament, he will definitely have his hands full. HOW DIFFICULT IS THE 18TH HOLE? • In 2010, it ranked as the 11th most difficult par 4 on TOUR with a stroke average of 4.354. • In 2009, it ranked as the 11th most difficult par 4 on TOUR with a stroke average of 4.374. • In 2008, it ranked as the 24th most difficult par 4 on TOUR with a stroke average of 4.367. • In 2007, it ranked as the 11th most difficult par 4 on TOUR with a stroke average of 4.447. • In 2006, it ranked as the 8th most difficult par 4 on TOUR with a stroke average of 4.449.

Toughest Three-Hole Finishes

Here's how Quail Hollow's closing three holes collectively have ranked in degree of difficulty among the closing holes on the PGA TOUR in recent years. Year Quail Hollow's rank Aggregate Relative to Par Most difficult 3-hole finish 2010 1st 1.009 over par   2009 1st 0.87 over par   2008 2nd 1.06 over par Oakland Hills (PGA Championship) ... 1.40 2007 2nd 1.05 over par Carnoustie (British Open) ... 1.09 2006 2nd 0.96 over par Winged Foot (U.S. Open ) ... 1.11 2005 1st 1.13 over par   2004 2nd 0.83 over par East Lake (TOUR Championship)... 0.91 2003 3rd 1.07 over par Royal St. George (British Open) ... 1.13

Mark Wilson on the Green Mile

University of North Carolina graduate Mark Wilson, who currently ranks No. 3 in FedExCup points after winning twice earlier this year, provided his thoughts this week about Quail Hollow's finishing holes: ON THE 16TH: "16 is kind of just straightforward but it's a hard fairway to hit. There's some bushes kind of on the left and there's that bunker on the right, and it just kind of sets up weird. And then even if you do hit a good drive, you've got along iron into the green. It's just an awkward angle to it, and ... if the pin is on the left and you kind of bail a little to the right, you can easily hit it over the green. There's just a lot going on." ON THE 17TH: "I'm always relieved and excited when I see the tee is up. They do it a couple times every year; maybe for two rounds, you see there's that tee box down there where it ends up being maybe a 6 iron for me versus the other tee is usually a 3 or 4 iron. When I peer over from the 16th green and see that tee up, I'm excited, because that green, you see where the pin is, but with the way it goes away from you the second half of the green, it's just really hard to get the ball close." ON THE 18TH: "18 is just a fun tee shot right there in front of you. You see the water, it's elevated, and then if you bail out in the right bunker, in the trees, it's going to be hard to make a par, but it gives you an opportunity to try to recover from over there. I've been there before and I've tried to recover, and it leads to double or triple bogey. So it's just a fun finishing hole. Making pars around those holes the whole week, you're definitely picking up strokes on the field."