Golf Insider dubs new tee on 9 at Quail Hollow ‘absolutely brutal’ ahead of PGA Championship

The 2025 PGA Championship will occur from May 12 to 18 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. The major returns to Quail Hollow for the first time since 2017, when Justin Thomas claimed his first major title. Last year, the event was held at the Valhalla Golf Course.

Ahead of this year’s tournament, Golf Insider Dan Rapaport pointed out a crucial change at the course. Posting on X, he wrote:

"New tee on 9 is absolutely brutal, just nothing about this hole that’s a par 4 outside of a major championship. But then again par is a social construct. Low score wins!!"

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The ninth hole at Quail Hollow now measures 505 yards, making it the longest par 4 on the course. It requires a right-to-left tee shot, with a large bunker protecting the right side of the fairway and tall pine trees along the left.

The approach is played into a green protected by bunkers on both sides and sloped from back to front, making putting difficult.

Other notable holes include:

Hole 1: A long par 4 that drops 35 feet from tee to green. Several bunkers guard the right side of the fairway.
Hole 8: A short par 4 with the smallest green on the course. Big hitters might go for it off the tee, but bunkers and a tricky green demand precision.
Hole 16: A downhill par 3 with a 50-foot drop to a large peninsula green. Water surrounds the left and back edges.
Hole 18: A tough finishing hole with a creek running down the left side and uneven terrain from tee to green.