Quinn Riley has no time to be awestruck at Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow

Quinn Riley says he feels right at home at the Quail Hollow Club, until …

“I’ll be walking around and bump into somebody, and then I think, ‘Hey, I’ve seen you on TV,’” Riley said.

This week, Riley will be one of those golfers you see on TV.

A 23-year-old who grew up on Raleigh-area courses and played college golf at Duke, Riley is in the field for the $20 million Wells Fargo Championship, which begins Thursday.

It will be the third time Riley has played in a PGA Tour event.

He and Marcus Byrd, both members of the APGA Tour, a developmental tour for Black and other minority golfers, received sponsor exemptions to play in Charlotte this week.

Riley said he’s excited about the chance to compete in one of the PGA Tour’s elite events.

But he won’t be awestruck this week at Quail Hollow.

“At the end of the day, the other guys are regular people,” he said of other pros in the 156-player field. “And that’s how they’ve treated me.”

Riley won’t be competing Wednesday in the tournament’s pro-am event, which is open only to regulars on the PGA Tour. But he said he’ll be ready for the opening round Thursday.

“I’ve never played here before,” Riley said of Quail Hollow. “And it’s definitely challenging.”

He spent much of the day Tuesday in a practice round, playing with PGA Tour veteran Rory Sabbatini. Nobody was keeping score, but Riley was in position to birdie several holes.

“I really don’t think I’m that far away,” he said of being ready to step up to the big tour.

Minnesota born, Raleigh raised

His love of golf was fostered on Raleigh-area golf courses.

Quinn is the oldest of two sons of Denise and Ewan Riley. He was born in Minnesota, but the family moved to Raleigh soon after.

“I grew up in Raleigh,” he said. “Wildwood Green (Golf Club) was my course. I had a great time.”

He helped lead Ravenscroft School of Raleigh to the 2017 private school state championship, then played four years at Duke.

Riley said he’s aware of the role he can play in the growth of golf among young black athletes.

“I remember watching Tiger (Woods) when I was young,” he said. “I think everyone models themselves after Tiger — being efficient, not expending too much energy.”

‘Trying to make the game look different’

He joined the APGA Tour and was its top-ranked player in the 2021-22 season. Riley was granted exemptions two PGA Tour events last year — the John Deere Open and the Shriners Children’s Open. He also played last year in his hometown, competing in the Rex Hospital Open, a stop on the Korn Ferry Tour, which is essentially the Triple-A of the PGA.

He said that while the APGA Tour has given young minority golfers a chance to improve their skills in a competitive setting, “There’s still work to be done.”

“I’m trying to make the game look different,” he said. “I know a lot of little kids who are looking up to me.”

Riley said the mental part of the game plays a big role in success.

“I see that struggle among some players on the APGA Tour,” he said. “Sometimes they beat themselves up over how they play.”

He said he tries to keep an even keel.

Competing this week at Quail Hollow is great, Riley said, but the eventual goal is to play on the PGA Tour regularly.

“I’m not that far away,” he said. “I’ve learned from playing the APGA Tour that there are a few things I need to work on. But I can get there.”

Riley said he has seen some of the players he faced in college begin to make their mark in professional golf.

“Some of the guys who graduated in my class are playing regularly on the Korn Ferry Tour,” he said. “I hope that I can play well here this week and help move my career along.”

This story was originally published May 3, 2023 at 7:00 AM.