Back to the Hollow: GGG’s History and Outlook at Quail Hollow for the 2025 PGA Championship

 The PGA Championship returns to Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, and for Golf’s Greatest Gamble (GGG) members, this venue brings back a trove of memories, heartbreaks, and triumphs. Let’s revisit the most recent GGG volumes at Quail Hollow, relive the drama, and look ahead to what’s shaping up to be one of the most intriguing majors of the season.

Rewind: GGG Volume 4 (May 4–7, 2023) – The Schauffele Show

In GGG Vol. 4, Xander Schauffele nearly stole the show with a blistering 64 in Round 3, finishing solo second at 15-under 269 and cashing $2.18M for his selector. That finish was huge in the late-season GGG race, earning 15 critical SUP points and vaulting him into contention.

Max Homa and Sungjae Im each posted a T8, solid 9-under weeks, but left the feeling they had more to give. Meanwhile, Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler rounded out a crowded T14 at 8-under, decent showings but not week-winners.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing: Viktor Hovland imploded with a Sunday 77 after entering the day in contention. Jordan Spieth missed the cut with a dismal 77 in Round 2—costly for those who burned him that week.

Rewind: GGG Volume 5 (May 9–12, 2024) – Rory Reclaims the Hollow

Fast forward one year to GGG Vol. 5, and Rory McIlroy turned in a vintage performance: 67-68-67-65 for 17-under 267 and a wire-to-wire win. His $3.6M haul was the largest GGG single-pick payout at Quail Hollow. A bold selector move that paid in spades.

Again, Xander Schauffele came knocking, finishing solo second at 12-under. That’s back-to-back runner-up finishes for Xander at this track—could he finally get it done at this year’s major?

Elsewhere, Jason Day quietly grabbed a T4 with 6-under, rebounding after a missed cut the previous year. Meanwhile, Max Homa and Viktor Hovland regressed, and Sahith Theegala posted the worst GGG score of the week with a Saturday 82.

Quail Hollow: What Makes It Majestic

With its tree-lined fairways, dramatic closing stretch, and demanding greens, Quail Hollow is built for major drama. The Green Mile (holes 16–18) will again play a defining role—there’s no faking your way to the Wanamaker Trophy here.

It’s also a course that favors ball-strikers with patience and power—traits shared by many of the top contenders in the GGG arsenal.

2025 PGA Championship: Storylines to Watch

Xander’s Third Time the Charm?

He’s finished 2nd in both GGG tournaments at Quail Hollow. If GGG history is any indicator, Xander’s due. But is he peaking at the right time? A high-risk, high-reward pick.

Rory Returns

Rory loves this place—he’s a past PGA Champ and owns multiple wins at Quail Hollow. But is it too obvious a pick for a major? Those holding Rory might be saving him for the FedExCup run, but he could be worth the burn here.

JT’s Bounce Back

Justin Thomas is a former PGA Champ and has played Quail Hollow well in spurts. He’s a dark horse for those looking for a sleeper play with major pedigree.

The GGG Value Menu

Watch out for past underperformers with upside: Cameron Young, Collin Morikawa, and Sungjae Im all have the tools to contend here. And with many GGG players already burned earlier in the season, these might be sneaky one-and-done selections.

Wild Cards

Keep an eye on Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala—erratic, yes, but capable of low rounds. Quail Hollow rewards streaky brilliance… and punishes inconsistency.

Predictions

  • Winner Pick: Rory McIlroy – Too much course history to ignore.

  • Top GGG Pick (Non-Rory): Max Homa – Steady track record and likely to be overlooked.

  • GGG Trap Pick: Viktor Hovland – Quail Hollow has brought out his worst on Sundays.

As the GGG faithful gear up for major glory, all eyes are on Charlotte. The picks will be bold, the leaderboard volatile, and by Sunday evening, a new GGG legend might be crowned at the Hollow.

Stay sharp. Stay strategic. And remember—it’s not just a major, it’s Golf’s Greatest Gamble.

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