You can read Liam Williams’ Power Rankings for the Biltmore Championship Asheville at bet365 News.
Course Guide: The Cliffs at Walnut Cove is a new venue on the PGA Tour. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountains, the course is set in western North Carolina at an altitude of 2,200–2,250 feet above sea level. A Jack Nicklaus design, the course opened in April 2005 when Nicklaus himself and Kevin Costner played a ceremonial first round. The BMW Charity Pro-Am (Korn Ferry Tour) began competitive play the following day and was a part (18 holes) of the 2006 and 2007 BMW events.
The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Asheville, North Carolina: Designer: Jack Nicklaus 2005; Course Type: Mid-Score, Short, Altitude; Par: 71; Length: 7,249 yards; Number of Holes with Water In-Play: 5; Fairways: Bentgrass; Rough: Kentucky Bluegrass up to 6″; Greens: Bentgrass with Poa Annua.
Fairway Widths (yards): Below are the fairway widths The Cliffs at Walnut Cove and how they compare to recent courses that we’ve seen on Tour:
- The Cliffs at Walnut Cove: 35-45 yards at 300 yards.
- East Lake: 30-32 yards at 300 yards.
- Bellerive: 27-29 yards at 300 yards.
- TPC Southwind: 25 yards at 300 yards.
- Sedgefield Country Club: 28 yards at 300 yards.
- Detroit Golf Club: 26 yards at 300 yards.
- TPC Twin Cities: 36 yards at 300 yards.
- Corales GC: 75 yards at 300 yards.
- Hurstbourne CC: 25-30 yards at 300 yards
- TPC Deere Run: 36 yards at 300 yards.
- TPC River Highlands: 29 yards at 300 yards.
- Shinnecock Hills: 45 yards at 300 yards.
- TPC Toronto: 35-37 yards at 300 yards.
- Muirfield Village: 24 yards at 300 yards.
- Colonial: 25-30 yards at 300 yards.
- TPC Craig Ranch: 25-28 yards.
- Aronimink: 30 yards.
- Quail Hollow: 28 yards.
- Blue Monster, Doral: 25-40 yards.
- Harbour Town: 22-25 yards.
- Augusta National: Average 50 yards.
- Oaks Course: 25-30 yards.
- Memorial Park: 30–40 yards.
- Copperhead: Average 20 yards.
- TPC Sawgrass: Average 28 yards.
- Bay Hill: Average 30 yards.
- PGA National: Average 28 yards.
- Riviera: Average 27 yards.
- Pebble Beach: Average 30-33 yards. Spyglass Hill: 25-30 yards.
- TPC Scottsdale: Average 38 yards.
- Torrey Pines South: Average 24-27 yards. Torrey Pines North: Average 24-27 yards.
- Pete Dye Stadium: Average 33 yards.
Course Designer Links: For research purposes other Jack Nicklaus PGA Tour designs include:
- Annandale Golf Club – Sanderson Farms Championship through 2013
- Castle Pines Golf Club – BMW Championship 2024
- Glen Abbey – RBC Canadian Open – 2008, 2013, 2015-2018
- Muirfield Village Golf Club – The Memorial Tournament
- Montreux Golf & Country Club – Barracuda Championship through 2019
- Old Greenwood GC – Barracuda Championship 2020-2023
- PGA National – Cognizant Classic
- PGA West – Nicklaus Private – Humana Challenge through 2015
- PGA West – Stadium Course – The American Express
- Sherwood Country Club – Thousand Oaks – World Challenge through 2013 + 2020 ZOZO Championship
- The Concession – WGC Workday Championship 2021
- Valhalla Golf Club – 2014 and 2024 PGA Championship
Course Overview: This course The Cliffs at Walnut Cove could be stretching. Steve Shand is the Golf Course Superintendent at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove and he said in a recent interview “It’s such a beautiful space and an awesome golf course. It’s going to be extremely challenging for the players, the membership is wonderful here, and excited to welcome some of the best players in the world to take a swing at Walnut Cove.” He backed that up by stating that the rough is being grown to be nearly 6 inches tall, which is at least 3.5” taller than usual at the facility for regular golf play.
We can also take stock from the 2005-2007 BMW Charity Pro-Am played here which was part of the Nationwide Tour, now the Korn Ferry Tour. The tournament was played across a 3-course rotation with The Cliffs Valley Course (host), Keowee Vineyards and Walnut Cove. Throughout the 3 years Walnut Cove was widely regarded as the most demanding, indeed it ranked as the toughest course on the whole Nationwide Tour in 2005 and the second toughest in 2007. With no major changes to the course since then and the potential for high rough, this could well be a grind this week, I’d suggest similar to what we have seen at Hurstbourne Country Club for the ISCO Championship.
Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the course is contoured with black walnut trees, native cove hardwoods and oak trees an integral part of the Jack Nicklaus design. As with all Nicklaus designs, fairways are wide with the challenge of the course increasing the closer to the hole you are.
The course locally nicknamed “The Nut” is well known due to its challenging mountain terrain, strategic layout, and large, slick green complexes. Elevation changes, undulating greens and penal fairway bunkering put a premium on accurate shot-making over raw distance compared to the other venues.
OWGR of Fall Series 1st Event Winners: 2025: Scheffler 1; 2024: Kizzire 257; 2023: Theegala 37; 2022: Homa 22; 2021: Homa 44; 2020: Cink 319; 2019: Niemann 84.
Datagolf Ranking of Fall Series 1st Event Winners: 2025: Scheffler 1; 2024: Kizzire 286; 2023: Theegala 35; 2022: Homa 16; 2021: Homa 68; 2020: Cink 167; 2019: Niemann 42.
Incoming form of Fall Series 1st Event winners since 2019:
- Scottie Scheffler: 4th Tour/1st BMW/3rd St Jude/1st OC.
- Patton Kizzire: MC Wyndham/MC 3M Open/8th Barracuda/50th ISCO.
- Sahith Theegala: 15th BMW/13th St Jude/MC 3M Open/MC OC.
- Max Homa: 3rd Tour/23rd BMW/42nd St Jude/24th Rocket.
- Max Homa: 63rd BMW/47th Northern Trust/51st WGC St Jude/40th OC.
- Stewart Cink: MC Wyndham/46th 3M/62nd Memorial/17th Workday.
- Joaquin Niemann: 31st BMW/30th Northern Trust/13th Wyndham/1st OC.
Tournament Stats: We’ve published some key player statistics for this week’s event that are well worth a look. Naturally they’ll help to shape a view on players who could go well this week: Current Form | First Round Leader.
My published predictor is available here. Top 10 of my published predictor are: 1) J.T. Poston; 2) Jacob Bridgeman; 3) Nico Echavarria; 4) Davis Thompson; 5) Chris Kirk; 6) Tom Hoge; 7) Nick Taylor; 8) Eric Cole; 9) Beau Hossler; 10) Mackenzie Hughes.
Weather Forecast: The latest weather forecast for Arden, North Carolina, is here. The first point to highlight is that Arden has seen lots of rain in the build-up since the start of June. 355mm (13.67 inches) of rain is considerable, plus there’s the chance of rain on tournament Friday. So I’d expect cut in the fairways and thick rough.
With 27-31 degree Celsius (81-88 Fahrenheit) temperatures throughout the tournament, we’re taking a step down from what we saw in the Playoffs. Wind won’t be a factor this week, so in my mind this will be a mid-score teens test this week, but I’m guessing!
Strokes Gained Rankings: These top 25 in the field rankings are based on an 8-tournament window that stretches back to the 3M Open which includes both PGA Tour and DP World Tour events, where recorded. Player rankings are based on performance relative to the rest of the field:
- Top 25 SG Off The Tee: 1) Tyler Duncan; 2) Nick Hardy; 3) Neal Shipley; 4) Corey Conners; 5) Chandler Blanchet; 6) Keita Nakajima / Matthieu Pavon / Marco Penge; 9) Gordon Sargent; 10) Kris Ventura; 11) Jackson Koivun; 12) Cameron Champ; 13) Ben James; 14) Marty Dou / Billy Horschel / J.T. Poston; 17) Beau Hossler / Hao-tong Li / Kevin Roy; 20) Mac Meissner / Davis Thompson; 22) Pontus Nyholm / Kevin Yu; 24) Nico Echavarria; 25) Jacob Bridgeman / Emiliano Grillo.
- Top 25 SG Approach: 1) Davis Thompson; 2) Chris Kirk; 3) Jackson Koivun; 4) Luke Clanton / J.T. Poston; 6) Zac Blair; 7) Jacob Bridgeman / Will Gordon; 9) Harry Higgs / Michael Kim; 11) Blades Brown / Kevin Roy / Kris Ventura; 14) Kevin Yu; 15) William Mouw / Jeremy Paul; 17) Davis Chatfield / Ben Kohles; 19) Christiaan Bezuidenhout / Billy Horschel / Jackson Suber / Karl Vilips; 23) Emiliano Grillo; 24) Nico Echavarria / Ryo Hisatsune.
- Top 25 SG Around The Green: 1) Andrew Novak; 2) Tony Finau; 3) Chandler Phillips; 4) J.T. Poston; 5) Jacob Bridgeman / Eric Cole / David Skinns; 8) Fabian Gomez; 9) Aaron Wise; 10) Andrew Putnam; 11) Mac Meissner; 12) Adam Hadwin; 13) Jackson Suber / John VanDerLaan; 15) Nico Echavarria; 16) Pierceson Coody / Ryo Hisatsune / Rico Hoey / Kevin Yu; 20) John Parry; 21) Beau Hossler; 22) Jackson Koivun; 23) Davis Chatfield / Vince Whaley; 25) Chad Ramey.
- Top 25 SG Tee to Green: 1) Davis Thompson; 2) Jackson Koivun; 3) Marco Penge; 4) Kris Ventura; 5) J.T. Poston / Kevin Yu; 7) Chris Kirk; 8) Jacob Bridgeman; 9) Kevin Roy; 10) Chandler Phillips; 11) Ben Kohles; 12) Tyler Duncan; 13) Corey Conners / Nico Echavarria / Mac Meissner; 16) Luke Clanton / Emiliano Grillo; 18) Doug Ghim; 19) John Parry; 20) Rasmus Hojgaard / Keita Nakajima / Jackson Suber; 23) Billy Horschel / Beau Hossler; 25) Rico Hoey / Aaron Wise.
- Top 25 SG Putting: 1) Ryan Brehm; 2) Jacob Bridgeman; 3) Troy Merritt; 4) Hayden Springer; 5) Camilo Villegas; 6) Michael Kim / Denny McCarthy; 8) Max Greyserman / Rasmus Hojgaard / Taylor Moore; 11) Ben James; 12) Mackenzie Hughes; 13) Christiaan Bezuidenhout; 14) Eric Cole; 15) David Lipsky; 16) Nick Taylor; 17) Ben Kohles; 18) Zach Bauchou; 19) Nico Echavarria / Kevin Yu; 21) Zac Blair / Austin Eckroat; 23) Ricky Castillo / Kevin Roy; 25) Stephan Jaeger.
- Top 25 SG Total: 1) Davis Thompson; 2) Jacob Bridgeman / Kevin Yu; 4) Kevin Roy; 5) Ben Kohles / Jackson Koivun; 7) Rasmus Hojgaard; 8) Marco Penge; 9) Michael Kim; 10) Christiaan Bezuidenhout / Billy Horschel / Chris Kirk; 13) Corey Conners / Emiliano Grillo; 15) Doug Ghim / Keita Nakajima; 17) Kris Ventura; 18) Ben James; 19) Beau Hossler; 20) Eric Cole / Nico Echavarria / Mackenzie Hughes; 23) Zac Blair / Chandler Phillips; 25) Ricky Castillo / J.T. Poston.
For the record, here’s the breakdown of pure Poa Annua and Bentgrass/Poa Annua mix PGA Tour victors in the field since 2008:
- 4 – Max Homa, Collin Morikawa.
- 2 – Cameron Davis, Nick Taylor.
- 1 – Jacob Bridgeman, Cameron Champ, Nick Dunlap, Tony Finau, Emiliano Grillo, Tom Hoge, Billy Horschel, Patton Kizzire, Luke List, Matthieu Pavon, Andrew Putnam, Erik van Rooyen.
It’s a step into the unknown this week with the Biltmore Championship Asheville. This will be mountain golf at altitude on a short course, which features fairly generous fairway landing areas. Thick rough if you stray off the fairways won’t help scoring, nor will 4 of the 5 par-3s measuring 199 yards or longer.
Spreading things slightly broader and taking the first tournament after the Tour Championship into account across the last 16 seasons – naturally this includes the ‘Fall Series’ from 2010 through to 2013 – 12 of those 16 tournaments have been won by players ranked in the top 90 in the Official Golf World Rankings. Bae (2014), Tway (2018), Cink (2020) and Kizzire (2024) won with OWGR ranks of 195, 138, 319 and 257 respectively.
- Bill Haas – 2010 Viking Classic – OWGR 89 – 22/1
- Kevin Na – 2011 Shriners Open – OWGR 76 – 60/1
- Ryan Moore – 2012 Shriners Open – OWGR 44 – 14/1
- Jimmy Walker – 2013 Frys.com Open – OWGR 66 – 30/1
- Sang-moon Bae – 2014 Frys.com Open – OWGR 195 – 150/1
- Emiliano Grillo – 2015 Frys.com Open – OWGR 72 – 50/1
- Brendan Steele – 2016 Safeway Open – OWGR 88 – 50/1
- Brendan Steele – 2017 Safeway Open – OWGR 59 – 33/1
- Kevin Tway – 2018 Safeway Open – OWGR 138 – 66/1
- Joaquin Niemann 2019 Greenbrier – OWGR 84 – 28/1
- Stewart Cink 2020 Safeway Open – OWGR 319 – 200/1
- Max Homa – 2021 Fortinet Championship – OWGR 44 – 60/1
- Max Homa – 2022 Fortinet Championship – OWGR 22 – 16/1
- Sahith Theegala – 2023 Fortinet Championship – OWGR 37 – 22/1
- Patton Kizzire – 2024 Fortinet Championship – OWGR 257 – 250/1
- Scottie Scheffler – 2025 Fortinet Championship – OWGR 1 – 9/4F
