480 yards / par 4 4.17 average in 2018 french open

SIXTH-MOST DIFFICULT

▶ This hole makes me chuckle: 15, 16 and 18 with all the obvious risk/reward aspects in play and all the water, then we have this brute of a hole. It doesn’t have a bunker. It doesn’t have water. It’s close to 500 yards, uphill, and just a really good hole. It bends a little right to left off the tee, and the green accepts good, well-struck shots. It’s not deep—only 26 yards—but it’s wide. Over 25 yards wide.

Amid all this placement play and water, it’s the exact opposite, but it’s one of my favourite holes on the course. It’s proof that you don’t have to have a lot of hazards in play to make a great hole. Just a great change of pace.

Depending on wind and setup, this hole will favour the longer hitter. Henrik and Dustin and Rory are going to be hitting middle irons in there. No one on the American side is going to be as short as me, but I’m going in there with at least a long iron in my hands.

There’s a bit of a backstop at the rear of the green, so there’s some help for those going in with longer clubs. You can get in some trouble short and left, though. That front-left pin is close to a pretty deep depression, so making 4 from over there will be difficult. Having said that, the green is not as busy as some of the others out there. Certainly not as busy as 15 or 16. It matches the shot you’re asked to hit. It’s the perfect green for the type of hole it is.