Muirfield Hole 08
Published: Last updated:
Par 4, 445 yards
As with many dog-leg holes, the key to playing it successfully lies with the tee shot. The carry over the plethora of bunkers which protect the corner is 289 yards, so many players will choose to play safely into the fairway with a 3-wood or even a long iron and accept a longer approach.
The hole has evolved significantly down the years as a reaction to the routes taken by Walter Hagen (buckthorns planted down the right) and Gary Player (the practice ground became out of bounds).
It continued its development in preparation for the 2013 Open. A new bunker has been added on the right side of the green to punish the weak fade. Missing here in the past resulted in a relatively simple chip off flat ground.
Hawtree has added his trademark troughs and furrows on the front left to tighten up the approach slightly while a sand pit awaits back left for those who tug their approach long.
