Charlotte Prowler Magazine: Wells Fargo Championship Special Edition

REPEAT CHAMPION?

by BEN COGGINS

T

he month of May is such a great time in Charlotte. The kickoff to the

month begins on Thursday with the Wells Fargo Championship at the

Quail Hollow Club. $6.5 Million in renovations began after the 2013

Wells Fargo Championship and have the course and greens in the best shape

in recent history. Last year, the greens were the talk of the tournament, and all

18 greens were replaced with MiniVerde Bermuda (a very popular change in

the region for golf courses because of its heat tolerance) and softened some

of the most extreme undulating greens in the process.

PA S T C H A M P I O N S Wells Fargo Championship 2013 Derek Ernst 2012 Rickie Fowler 2011 Lucas Glover

Quail Hollow Championship 2010 Rory McIlroy 2009 Sean O'Hair

Wachovia Championship 2008 Anthony Kim 2007 Tiger Woods 2006 Jim Furyk 2005 Vijay Singh 2004 Joey Sindelar 2003 David Toms

THE GREEN MILE The finishing three holes at Quail Hollow have been among the toughest finishing holes on the PGA Tour since this event began. Many years the 16-17-18 stretch has held the #2 spot, behind Muirfield Village Golf Club (Memorial Tournament) as the toughest on TOUR. Last year, only Merion (US Open) had a tougher finishing three holes. The par-three 17th hole AVERAGED 35 tee shots finding the water in the first ten years of this event, or almost 9 per day.

The finishing par-four 18th hole has only had one champion (Rory McIlroy) make birdie on Sunday in regulation. The ten-year average handicaps for each of the closing holes are 4(16)-2(17)-1(18).

Sixteen has been realigned, with the green pushed 80 yards left and down, bringing water into play on the now 508 yard par-four. The Green Mile Village has been constructed here, providing views of the 14th & 15th fairways, and great viewing of the 16th & 17th hole. This has long been the best spot on the course to see action and look forward to seeing this Village now.

THE PARTICIPANTS The two biggest names in the field this week are Phil Mickelson & Rory McIlroy. Phil has the most (seven) top ten finishes at Quail Hollow. Mickelson’s kryptonite is hole 17. Mickelson has played 17 40 times, has only three birdies, and is 14-over-par on the hole. Phil & Rory will be playing on opposite sides Thursday and Friday, but I am sure tournament officials would have no complaints if they were in position to play together late Saturday & Sunday.

Predicting a winner for this event is extremely difficult. How many people knew who Derek Ernst was before last year at Quail Hollow? The last six champions have been in their 20’s, with the exception of Lucas Glover who was 31 in 2011 when he won. There has never been a repeat winner at Quail Hollow, but could Rickie Fowler or Rory McIlroy (who turns 25 on Sunday) be the first?

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PANTHERS IN THE DRAFT WHILE MANY OF US SAT IDLY BY this offseason and wondered where all of our

NFL NETWORK + ESPN

Thursday, May 8, 8pm Friday, May 9, 6:30pm Saturday, May 10, Noon

Round 1

best receivers were going and who Cam Newton would throw to in 2014, owner Jerry Richardson and GM David Gettleman planned. They planned for a makeor-break run this year. Without Smith, LaFell, Ginn and Hixon at WR, Cam will have McNutt, Pilares, Clemons, King, Webb and Bersin left at wideout. These guys have a combined NFL record of five catches, 83 yards and one touchdown.

But don’t despair—they will get more playtime along with new hires Jason Avant, Jerricho Cotchery (hot, from Steelers) and undoubtedly a few receivers they hope to acquire in the draft. Top of the list for the draft? A left tackle to replace Jordan Gross—with Gettleman stating that protecting Cam is “top priority”. Most recently Gettleman said he would love to acquire a “blue goose”, which translated means a really good player at any position. Hang on, Panther fans!

Round 2

1. Houston Texans 2. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins) 3. Jacksonville Jaguars 4. Cleveland Browns 5. Oakland Raiders 6. Atlanta Falcons 7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8. Minnesota Vikings 9. Buffalo Bills 10. Detroit Lions 11. Tennessee Titans 12. New York Giants 13. St. Louis Rams 14. Chicago Bears 15. Pittsburgh Steelers 16. Dallas Cowboys 17. Baltimore Ravens 18. New York Jets 19. Miami Dolphins 20. Arizona Cardinals 21. Green Bay Packers 22. Philadelphia Eagles 23. Kansas City Chiefs 24. Cincinnati Bengals 25. San Diego Chargers 26. Cleveland Browns (from Indianapolis Colts) 27.

New Orleans Saints

1 (33). Houston Texans 2 (34). Washington Redskins 3 (35). Cleveland Browns 4 (36). Oakland Raiders 5 (37). Atlanta Falcons 6 (38). Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7 (39). Jacksonville Jaguars 8 (40). Minnesota Vikings 9 (41). Buffalo Bills 10 (42). Tennessee Titans 11 (43). New York Giants 12 (44). St. Louis Rams 13 (45). Detroit Lions 14 (46). Pittsburgh Steelers 15 (47). Dallas Cowboys 16 (48). Baltimore Ravens 17 (49). New York Jets 18 (50). Miami Dolphins 19 (51). Chicago Bears 20 (52). Arizona Cardinals 21 (53). Green Bay Packers 22 (54). Philadelphia Eagles 23 (55). Cincinnati Bengals 24 (56). San Francisco 49ers (from KC Chiefs) 25 (57). San Diego Chargers 26 (58). New Orleans Saints 27 (59). Indianapolis Colts

29. New England Patriots 30. San Francisco 49ers 31. Denver Broncos 32. Seattle Seahawks

29 (61). San Francisco 49ers 30 (62). New England Patriots 31 (63). Denver Broncos 32 (64). Seattle Seahawks

28. Carolina Panthers

28 (60). Carolina Panthers

PANTHERS 2014 SCHEDULE

Can the Panthers improve on a 12-4 record from 2013?

PRESEASON Friday, Aug. 8 Sunday, Aug. 17 Friday, Aug. 22 Thursday, Aug. 28

REGULAR SEASON Sunday, Sept. 7 Sunday, Sept. 14 Sunday, Sept. 21 Sunday, Sept. 28 Sunday, Oct. 5 Sunday, Oct. 12 Sunday, Oct. 19 Sunday, Oct. 26 Thursday, Oct. 30 Monday, Nov. 10 Sunday, Nov. 16 Sunday, Nov. 23 Sunday, Nov. 30 Sunday, Dec. 7 Sunday, Dec. 14 Sunday, Dec. 21 Sunday, Dec. 28

Bualo Bills Kansas City Chiefs at N.E. Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers

7:30 p.m. ET 8:00 p.m. ET 7:30 p.m. ET 7:30 p.m. ET

at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Detroit Lions Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals at Green Bay Packers Seattle Seahawks New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles Atlanta Falcons BYE at Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cleveland Browns at Atlanta Falcons

4:25 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 8:30 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 8:25 p.m. ET 8:30 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET

Photos by Steve Lindenman

1:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET

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10

YEAR PICTORIAL

Photography by John Holliday, Steve Lindenman, Scott Williams and Don Kelly

10

YEAR PICTORIAL

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