| British Open Hole-By-Hole |
|---|
|
A hole-by-hole look at the Old Course at St. Andrews, site of the 129th British Open:
|
| Hole |
Yardage |
Par |
Description |
| No. 1 |
376 |
4 |
Depending on the wind, Tiger Woods says he has played it with a 2-iron and a 60-degree wedge, or driver and a 4-iron. Tee shot should be left of center. Green set a few paces behind Swilken Burn. |
| No. 2 |
413 |
4 |
Straightforward hole, with no hidden pot bunkers. Drive should be between Cheape's bunker and the edge of the rough on the right, which has thick gorse. Depending on the pin place, steep undulations on the green could make for an awkward shot. |
| No. 3 |
397 |
4 |
Good birdie opportunity in favorable conditions. Drive should be right of center to avoid Cartgate Bunker, which protects left side of the green. A small, subtle ridge in front of the green and produce dramatic kicks. |
| No. 4 |
464 |
4 |
Because the tee box has been pushed back some 25 yards, bunkers down the right side come into play on the longest hole on the outward nine. The green is guarded by a large, grassy mound. |
| No. 5 |
568 |
5 |
Drive should be left of center to avoid bunkers to the right. Layup should be placed between two spectacle bunkers guarding the approach to the green. Can be reached in two depending on the wind. The green, shared with the inward 13th, is nearly 100 yards. |
| No. 6 |
412 |
4 |
Drive should be left of center, over the direction post. A ridge and a dip make the approach shot deceptive. Short iron into a green that is relatively flat. |
| No. 7 |
388 |
4 |
The only true dogleg on the course. Drive is down the middle to the side of a large hummock. The green is guarded by Shell bunker and slopes from left to right, with plenty of depth. |
| No. 8 |
175 |
3 |
The only par 3 on the outward nine, with the skyline of the town and its prominent towers and steeples in the backdrop. Plenty of green, but club selection is important. |
| No. 9 |
352 |
4 |
Tiger Woods and other big hitters can drive this green, blowing it over the bunkers right of center. The green is relatively flat, with no trouble in front of it. |
| No. 10 |
379 |
4 |
Another hole that big hitters can reach with their drives, depending on the wind. Tighter landing area with rough left and a bunker right of center on the fairway, and green slopes much more than the ninth. |
| No. 11 |
174 |
3 |
The last par 3, which could require long iron if wind kicks up. Green is guarded by large bunkers so severe that Bobby Jones tore up his card after three stabs in one of them. Green slopes severely to the front. |
| No. 12 |
314 |
4 |
This green was first reached off the tee by Craig Wood in the 1933 Open, and later by Sam Snead in 1946. Hidden bunker and flag position dictate line of the drive. A steep slope protects the flag, and the green is narrow and hard to hold. |
| No. 13 |
430 |
4 |
Drive can be on either side of a line of Coffin bunkers. Could require a long iron, which must carry the whole way, to the left of the pin position. |
| No. 14 |
581 |
5 |
Doubtful this can be reached in two. Out of bounds to the right and a group of bunkers called "The Beardies" to the left. Except for a very long drive, the second shot should be played onto the adjacent fifth fairway to avoid Hell bunker. Approach to a plateau green is difficult to hold because of the slope. |
| No. 15 |
456 |
4 |
Drive should be aimed at the church steeple between two hillocks. Open second shot to a sloping green, but should be a high ball to avoid humps and bumps in front of the green. |
| No. 16 |
424 |
4 |
Out of bounds on the right, and Principal's Nose bunkers in the middle of the fairway. Drive should be left of the three bunkers to set up an open shot to the green. |
| No. 17 |
455 |
4 |
The Road Hole is one of the most famous in golf, and one of the hardest. Drive should be aimed at the "o" in "Course" on the "Old Course Hotel" sign, over the edge of the out-of-bounds wall to a narrow fairway. Approach should be to the right half of the green to avoid the Road Hole bunker. Anything long will result in a shot from the road. |
| No. 18 |
357 |
4 |
Closing hole can be reached from the tee. Drive is straight on the Royal & Ancient clock. Approach shot must be long enough to carry a swale known as the "Valley of Sin." |
| |
