If you’re Justin Thomas right now, you will have firm eyes on winning a third PGA Championship at Quail Hollow and adding yet more silverware to the cabinet.
Thomas’ resurgence in 2025 has been a joy to witness at times. Three runner up spots and a win at the RBC Heritage have propelled him back into people’s thoughts for most big events.
Indeed, with a Ryder Cup coming too, Thomas appears to be a lock to make the final 12 on current form.
Nevertheless, Thomas knows that Quail Hollow – and a wet one at that right now – could cause big challenges for the week.
However, speaking to the press about what he wants when he plays in major championships, Thomas has suggested that a tough challenge is welcome.
Justin Thomas says what he wants to see from Quail Hollow ahead of the PGA Championship
Justin Thomas was one of many players up for media duty on the Tuesday ahead of the action getting underway on Thursday and one of the topics of conversation was around the actual course.
Quail Hollow is liked by some players but not so much by fans, with some suggesting it can be too easy for the best players.
And when asked what he expects from any major golf course, Thomas revealed that it’s all about making sure the winner has well and truly earned it.
“It’s a good question. I don’t think that there is, and I think that’s what’s kind of cool and unique about this event. I think that all the tournaments have an identity, and I think for at least the U.S. Open has seemed to, I shouldn’t say that before Oakmont, has seemed to change a little bit, like don’t-want-anybody-under-par type thing. I think Oakmont will take care of that in itself,” Thomas said.
“I think Kerry Haigh does an unbelievable job of setting up golf courses in the sense that he doesn’t try to do anything more than what he has. He’s going to obviously give us a good test. He understands that we’re going to have years like Bellerive that are very soft, and it’s going to be a birdie fest. Then we’re going to go to places like Bethpage where it’s difficult, or we’re going to go to places like Oak Hill or here.”
“It’s just he’s treating each of them individually, and the goal isn’t to try to set up a golf course to produce something in particular. It’s just, look, I want to set up a fair golf course and test to show who the best golfer is this week. I think it’s something that’s very underrated, but I really do think he does an unbelievable job, and it’s kind of unique and cool that the PGA seems to do that,” he continued.
“People can say what they want about Valhalla – obviously I’m biased being from Louisville – but they’ve produced some pretty d— good championships over the years, and they did the same last year. It’s just all about getting a deserving, fitting winner. I feel like this tournament seems to do that for the most part.”
Why Scottie Scheffler disagrees with Justin Thomas about Quail Hollow
Along with these comments on the golf course set ups for all majors, Thomas also suggested that Quail Hollow is somewhere that doesn’t require too much thought.
“I feel like a place like this, where it doesn’t necessarily require a lot of thought or strategy off the tee, it’s generally pulling out driver and just I need to hit this as far and straight as possible,” Thomas admitted.
However, speaking on the same issue, world number one Scottie Scheffler disagreed with Thomas’s assessment.
“I mean, I think the only shot you can really consider where you don’t have to be super focused on is the drive on 16. The fairway is pretty wide, and the hole is pretty long. You’re really trying to get it down there as far as you can into the fairway,” Scheffler said in his own presser.
“But after that, the approach shot into 16 is really tough. The tee shot on 17 is really tough. Then you’ve got two really challenging shots on 18 with the water on the left side. There’s no real breathers in that stretch of holes and should make for a fun finish.“
With players clearly having different opinions on the course, Quail Hollow could well throw up some big surprises and challenges.
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