Hole eight

Published:

PAR 4, 416 YARDS

The 8th is the last of Royal Lytham’s railway holes, and while it is not long by today’s standards, at 416 yards, players are presented with a testing approach shot up to a highly-elevated green. This is one of Lytham’s classic holes, emphasising how the course does not need to be long to challenge the world’s best.

The 8th is distinct thanks to a row of three dark, deep and forbidding fairway bunkers that perforate the end of the fairway, before the rise to the green; they will pose a real problem to players who miss the fairway. The trap left of the green is one of the deepest on the course.

LAWRIE: It’s a very elevated tee shot and I remember taking a 3-iron off the tee last time and leaving a 6 or 7-iron in. The tee is very close to the out of bounds so you’re playing a little more away from the OB than on the 2nd and 3rd. Playing to an elevated green will be diffi cult if it’s windy; you want to try and keep the fl ight down but if you come in too low it’ll go through the green. Choosing the right club and trajectory for the approach could be tricky, but this is a realistic birdie chance.

DONALD: I do hit the ball now in a way that is more suited to parkland American courses with the tucked pins and the ball coming down softly. I’m getting more and more comfortable with that kind of golf. However, my swing has started to produce a much more solid ball fl ight, which is really important in the wind. Hopefully that will help me, too, on windy links courses where The Open is staged.

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