Hole 18 – Holly
Published: Last updated:
PAR 4 – 465 YARDS
Lots of length added again. Bunkers are well in play, although it’s 300 yards to reach them. You’ll see some guys play 3-wood off this tee and then a 5 or 6-iron.
Others will cut a driver and leave an 8-iron. Four pins here, front left and right and back left and right. For the front flags, you need to pitch it past the hole where you have 12 yards before you reach the top tier.
The back pins are harder because judging the length of the approach is tricky; short and you roll back, long and you bounce through.
Paul Casey – “The majority of guys can’t reach the bunker on the left-hand side – the ‘Sandy Lyle’ bunker – so the shot to hit is a fade off the tee, knowing you won’t reach sand. This is easier said than done of course. There is a pretty narrow gap through which you have got to hit your driver. If everything goes to plan then you have about 165 yards for the second shot. Depending on the wind you will have anything between a 7i and 9i, for me. If the pin is on the lowest right portion of the green, where you can use the slope behind the flag as a backstop, then it’s a definite birdie chance.”
