A Nice Start To Quail Hollow Week

At most PGA Tour events, Monday is essentially a day off. A few pros have wandered into town and spend an hour or so putting or chipping before heading off to run errands or relax or whatever.

It's different at the Quail Hollow Championship today. There's a sizeable crowd -- big enough to make some tournaments happy if it were Thursday or Friday. A good many of the fans are following the celebrity pro-am pairing that includes Dell and Stephen Curry, police chief Rodney Monroe, NASCAR's Michael Waltrip and pro Steve Lowery.

The Currys, if you didn't know, know their way around a golf course. They're both long off the tee, almost uncommonly long, and they can score. Plus, they've got good jump shots.

Monday is a gentle prelude to what should be an exceptional week at Quail Hollow. The momentum and anticipation will build Tuesday and Wednesday morning, when Tiger Woods tees off, and after lunch when Phil Mickelson and Fred Couples are on the course, should be borderline electric.

With a good weather forecast, a good course in prime condition and an outstanding field, the pieces are in place. Today has been a nice start.