Quail Hollow Diary: Tornado watch as PGA Championship week has a sodden start

Matt Fitzpatrick of England warms up at the practice range prior to the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 12, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Charlotte is about as far south as North Carolina goes. Whether it’s considered ‘The South’ in the true American sense of deviation can depend who you talk to.

It certainly shares steamy season with the South and although the PGA Championship is nice and early in the calendar these days, Monday was a hot and wet mess at Quail Hollow.

The region was domed in dreary grey skies all day and the heavens opened early and often. So much so that the PGA made the pre-emptive decision to close the course to the public with Monday ticket-holders told they’d be made good on Tuesday and Wednesday when the forecast brightens…somewhat.

That decision to keep punters home proved wise when things went up a notch as Monday progressed. An update from the National Weather Service found its way to the Irish Examiner’s phone upon arrival at Charlotte Airport Monday morning: “The other concern today will be the threat for isolated tornadoes this afternoon during peak instability.” Splendid!

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Lowry's vow of silence unlikely to last long 

In the scatter of showers, Shane Lowry’s Monday morning commute was unlikely to have been a pleasant one. The evening before was painful as the Offaly man saw a golden chance to end his solo tournament drought slip by at the Truist Championship.

When Lowry bogeyed the last an already frustrating Sunday turned torturous and he exited Philadelphia Cricket Club without speaking to the media.

The decision to go silently was noteworthy because last month at Augusta Lowry had argued that pro golfers aren’t given enough room or time to decompress before facing journalists’ questions.

Lowry doesn’t feature on a stacked PGA list for media duties Tuesday but he will surely share his always honest thoughts soon.

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Hughes hopes for the comforts of home 

If Lowry was looking for a kindred spirit to console him upon arrival here he wouldn’t have had to travel too far.

Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes calls North Carolina home, lives within walking distance of the course and is a Quail Hollow member.

On Sunday at the Myrtle Beach Classic Hughes tasted a defeat which was perhaps even more sickening than Lowry’s Truist tryst. Hughes was one clear on the last but found the trees, missed a 10-footer for a clinching par and then saw New Zealand’s Ryan Fox chip in for a brilliant birdie in the play-off.

Perhaps Hughes could share some insider knowledge with Lowry to get both back in the swing of things.

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Schauffele serves up a small-plate masterclass 

The Champions Dinner is no longer the sole domain of the Green Jackets 160 miles south of us in Augusta. The PGA Championship is one of many tournaments to boast its own version and this week it falls upon Xander Schauffele to piece together a menu fit for a Wanamaker winner.

What do we learn from the Californian’s offerings? Well, he’s a big man for small plates.

Schauffele concocted a menu with four ‘appetizers’ and just a single main course option. Clams casino (coated in breadcrumbs and bacon, basically), pickled watermelon and smoked goats cheese highlight the starters before a steak and shrimp main course. If you’re reaching for the antacids already, fear not. Dessert is banana split. Eighteen holes feels about the right number to walk it all off.