Quail Hollow - major pointer

By Matt Cooper Last updated: 27th April 2010

Matt Cooper investigates the trend of top Quail Hollow performers going on to excel in the major championships.

Want to know who will be worth keeping in mind for the majors in the next few years? Keep your eyes peeled this week because in the seven years that the PGA Tour has been visiting Quail Hollow GC the leaderboard has thrown out big clues about future winners of golf's big four championships.

One obvious reason why that is the case is that the field has got better with every passing year. The players recognise that the promoters put on a quality event that prides itself on "good old Southern hospitality" and they enjoy the experience of being a spoilt guest.

But the date is good for the players (it bridges the gap perfectly between Augusta and Sawgrass), the high-grade field means a big number of world ranking points are up for grabs but the clinching factor is the course.

It is an old-fashioned, tree-lined George Cobb design that the players routinely praise for being either "set up like a major" or "worthy of holding a major".

Last year's winner Sean O'Hair was in no doubt that his victory meant much: "I won on a quality golf course against a quality field."

The man who finished second to O'Hair in 2009 didn't know then that he was less than two months from the biggest week of his golfing career.

Lucas Glover had played well at Quail Hollow before (in 2006 when he finished fourth) and his putting has always been good there (he even topped the stats in 2009).

Given that he was largely ignored as a major contender prior to his win in the 2009 US Open, it makes you wonder if there is something in the Quail Hollow connection.

So what of other players who did well at the venue? Well, it makes for interesting reading: