Golf Digest Middle East

471 yards / par 4 4.51 average in 2018 french open

MOST DIFFICULT

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▶ I’m betting everyone in France is hoping a lot of matches make it to the 18th. It’s a par 5 converted to a par 4, playing about 10 yards downhill. It’s an uncomforta­ble tee shot, but you have to put the ball in the fairway. There’s water all the way down the left, and there are bunkers on the right. You’d love to split those. I think guys standing on that tee are going to be as nervous as they’ve ever been in their entire careers. The key will be picking your spot/ line and committing to it. Then hitting the ball to that spot without worrying about the periphery. That’s all there is to it. [ Laughs.]

If you do get your ball in the fairway, you’re left with a relatively large target. But the green is well-guarded and looks a lot smaller than it is. There’s not a lot of room for a miss. But, as I said, it’s a large green. So an aggressive swing and the smart shot will never be punished. That combinatio­n will win some matches. I can’t imagine that par will ever be a bad score on this hole. But you never know. There’s a lot going on, for sure.

I’ve heard some say that the rough on this hole should not be too thick or deep, to encourage guys who have missed the fairway to still go for the green. But I can’t imagine they’ll set the course up as difficult as it was for the French Open, then cut away all the rough for the Ryder Cup.

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