HOLE LOT TO THINK ABOUT

WHAT will it take to win this week’s coveted Australian PGA Championship? TOM BOSWELL walked the course with Royal Pines club pro Mark Gibson to look at the five critical holes players must negotiate successfully if they want to lift the Kirkwood Cup on S

HOLE 13, 417M PAR 4

“By statistics this is the toughest hole. The toughness comes out of the tough driving hole where you have got the bunker on the left and the water carry on the right. Once you get past that — and it does take some mental toughness — you have then got a tough shot in to the green which is laying slightly across and is protected by bunkering.”

HOLE 8, 356M PAR 4

“It will be pivotal in the outcome of this tournament. It’s a shortish hole with the green in a position where they can get to it for one, the only problem being the downslope on the left of the green that really brings that water in to play. The smart players will play it down the centre-right and approach the green from that side but they do have to negotiate some bunkers.”

HOLE 16, 173M PAR 3

“This is an exciting hole because it’s 173m and it’s all water to the front edge of the green. The green has a false front which means anything that lands in that front 2m or 3m on the green is a really good chance of running back in to the water. To miss the green at the back makes it really tough and there is quite a few undulations in the green. This will be pivotal in this tournament at some stage.”

HOLE 9, 495M PAR 5

“It is really reachable in two for these guys. Having the water on the left with the tee shot and trying to dodge the bunkers on the right really makes the tee shot quite strategic. If they survive that bit, you can see the bunkers down the fairway close to the green that make it really tough. This green slopes from front to back a little. If they are going in with a long club, a hybrid or 3-iron it’s really hard to get the ball to check up.”

HOLE 18, 430M PAR 4

“Hole 18 plays a role in every tournament because that’s the real pressure of the finish, this hole especially because it’s long. You play in to an elevated green, it’s well bunkered at the fairway and it’s well bunkered at the green. It’s the sort of hole that if you needed a three to win the tournament the pressure will be on, if you need to make a four to win the tournament the pressure is still on.”