In Steven King’s novel “The Green Mile,” the nickname for E Block at Cold Mountain Penitentiary is named for the lime-green linoleum of the floor, replacing the traditional common phrase for death row, which is known as “The Last Mile.”
At Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, the emerald stretch starting at the 16th tee and ending at the 18th green has adopted the Green Mile name from the 1999 prison movie. It doesn’t compare to the electric chair but this sequence of water-laden holes has become the most brutal closing stretch on the PGA Tour. It’s where this week’s Truist Championship, a signature event with a 72-man field and a purse of $20 million, likely will be won or lost.
Jon Rahm reacts after a missed putt on the 17th green during the third round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club.
Let’s go inside the ShotLink data numbers and investigate 10 facts that reflect what makes this three-hole beast of the 529-yard par-4 16th, 224-yard par-3 17th and 494-yard par-4 18th, where good rounds go to die.
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+0.90
The final three holes “Green Mile” at Quail Hollow Club have been the toughest three finishing holes on Tour since 2003 with an average of +0.90 over par. Last season, the final three holes played even harder, with an average of +1.13.
1,888
Since 2003, that’s how many balls have been hit in the water on this three-hole stretch. A total of 1,002 of them alone have come at the 18th hole.
17
Brian Harman, who is in the field this week, and Phil Mickelson lead with a combined 17 career water balls at the Green Mile. Vijay Singh is one back. Zach Johnson and D.A. Points rinsed 14.
50.85 percent
The Green Mile accounts for 23.78 percent of all bogeys, 39.35 percent of all doubles, and 50.85 percent of all triples or worse at Quail Hollow Club.
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3 percent
Since 2003, 833 different players have at least one competitive round on Quail Hollow during the Truist Championship and 2017 and 2025 PGA Championships. Only 25 of those 833 are at par or better for their careers on these three holes (3 percent of all players).
62 over par
2005 Truist Championship winner Vijay Singh has played the Green Mile at a combined 62-over par in his 50 rounds at Quail Hollow Club.
The few, the proud, the bogey-free
Since 2003, 29 players have managed to play holes 16-18 bogey-free in the same week. The last to do so? K.H. Lee and Harris English in 2023.
47
Lucas Glover, who is in the field this week, has made 47 bogeys or worse on the Green Mile, the most bogeys or worse of any player since 2003.
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20
That’s how many birdies Rory McIlroy has made on the Green Mile, the most of any player, since 2010, and five more than his nearest competitor.
80 foot-bomb
Eight putts have been made of more than 70 feet on the Green Mile in the ShotLink Era. The longest putt made is 79 feet, 9 inches by McIlroy on the 17th hole during the third round in 2016.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Inside the numbers at Quail Hollow: Green Mile is golf toughest stretch
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