One bunker is named after a coffin because that’s where bullets go to die. One hole is named ‘Postage Stamp’ because the green is so small. And it’s been the most dangerous in over a decade.
These are just some Trials The trials and tribulations golfers face at the 152nd Open Championships But Royal Troon this year.
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Players like Rory McIlroy, world number one Scottie Scheffler and legend Tiger Woods will play in Ayrshire coast next Bidding to become the next winner of the Claret Jug will take place next month.
Brian Harman USA Royal Challengers Bangalore are the defending champions after claiming victory over liverpool Last year.
The list could include 2024 PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele, US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and another Liv. Golf star Tyrrell Hatton, who finished tied for fifth the last time the Open was held at this venue.
And what about Scottish golf star Robert MacIntyre, who became emotional after his first PGA Tour win? win And emerging Ryder Cup hero Ludvig Aberg, who has risen to fourth in the world in his first season on Tour?
Iona Stephens is no stranger to golf fans, thank you Work As a presenter Sky game.
He was given the honour of playing part of the course with Royal Troon head professional Kieron Stevenson, who showed him the five toughest holes on the course in an episode of his YouTube channel. On the Road with Iona,
And, the longest hole on the Open rota isn’t even one of them!
This year the 623-yard, par 5 sixth hole at Royal Troon, called Turnberry, will officially be the longest in the Open History,
But it’s the shortest hole on the course — and any Open — that’s more dangerous.
But first, Stephen – himself an aspiring golf professional – tackled the seventh hole, Tel-el-Kebir, a 403-yard par 4.
“It’s very difficult,” Stevenson said of the challenge. Driving You can see the postage stamps in the background which gives you a little hint of what is to come.
“You get six bunkers to avoid off the tee, it’s a very intimidating tee shot.
“The bunks are so serious that avoiding them at all costs is the key to staying off this tee, and that’s a must.” Holiday A reasonably short second shot.
“You’re always in line with the wind’s direction on this hole, so be careful how far you hit your shots.”
Stephen played his tee shot with his driver straight down the middle of the fairway and then left a full shot with his 8-iron from 148 yards.
Stevenson’s drive went slightly astray and landed in the rough, which he says was the most punishing event at Royal Troon in the past 12 years, as there were warm but wet winds. Spring. He expects many pros to simply hit the ball out to the side, depending on their position.
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Stephen committed the biggest sin on the approach shot – hitting his ball into one of the deep greenside bunkers.
Luckily she managed to get out of the sand and reach Royal Troon’s most famous spot, the Postage Stamp.
It’s officially the shortest hole in the Open rota, at 123 yards.
But because of variable pin positions, it could be as short as 99 yards on any one of the four days.
The lack of length makes the hole difficult to play, as players must deal with elevation changes and strong winds from the high tee, as well as control their spin to the point where their ball doesn’t roll off the green.
On this point, Stephen said: “Managing your spin out to 99, 100 yards is no big deal, because these guys practice that number for days, but when you add a little bit of wind and the pressure of this amphitheater, a little bit of elevation change, it becomes a tough shot.”
He added, “We have seen several rounds of attempts or broken on these little holes.
“We don’t know, Mom Nature It will storm the week of the Open, but I’m hoping and praying it brings strong winds, because it’s so much fun to watch the best players in the world make double bogey from 99 yards.
“I’m sorry I said that out loud!”
Stevenson said: “If you hit a ball down the middle of the green you’re never going to get much farther than that, 15 feet maximum.
“Missed the green? You’re struggling to make par.”
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Unfortunately, the broadcaster did just that and fell into one of the five sand traps built around the location.
The worst of these is called the coffin.
“Of all the places, I definitely went to the coffin,” she joked.
It would be rude to come to Royal Troon and not visit the coffin.”
Upon finding his ball in the coffin, Stephen said of the terrifying prospect before him: “This is all not just fantasy, this is a cruel, cruel bunker.
“That’s the width of it. It’s very narrow.
“At this point your heart starts beating faster because everybody is looking at you.
“Once you get down into the bunker the atmosphere changes, you feel very alone in the coffin.”
Once again her short game skills saved her and she rose about four feet.
Next up on their five-hole challenge was the 11th, called the Railway.
It is of course named after the railway tracks that run alongside it, the same rail line that will take fans to Troon during the championship.
It’s a beast of a par 4 at 498 yards and features It is a blind tee shot, and has a narrow fairway surrounded by gorse bushes, and is often played into the prevailing wind.
“It’s one of the toughest holes in championship golf,” Stephen said.
“That would require all the porridge.”
Stevenson described the feeling of playing The Railway with a good score as “life-saving”.
In fact, the championship tee box at the 11th was so dangerous that the pair began hitting shots from the members’ teeing ground located 100 yards away.
Green has a false front which Stephen gets fouled on, but she recovers to cross.
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There are also a few trees bordering the green, ready to punish any errant shots from the left.
The 17th hole, named Rabbit, is another par-3 just like the postage stamp, but that’s the only similarity between the two.
The Rabbit is over 100 yards long at 242 yards, and usually plays into the prevailing wind or sees it coming from the player’s left.
Stephen said: “This hole is called Rabbit but it isn’t particularly cute or attractive, that’s because the putting surface is fast and elusive.”
More bunkers and deep rough surround the green, and once again, Stephen’s tee ball lands in the sand.
This time when she entered the “huge” bunker, she was faced with a steep slope that was even higher, about seven or eight feet.
Miraculously he stopped the shot at parity distance, but he cleared the hole with his putt, while pro Stevenson hit a bump and run from the rough and also missed his long par putt.
Stephen said: “It’s a battle at the end of your round. energy The water in the tank will be empty and then you will have to face this monster of par 3.
“You’re going to work really hard to get yourself under par, and you want that putt to fall more than anything.”
He then arrived at the 18th and final hole, Craigend, another long par 4 at 458 yards.
“It’s so funny. So close, yet so far. On Sunday, it’s all going to come down to this.”
“The Claret Jug may look glittering from a distance, but you’ve got to play a lot of golf before you get there.”
A total of nine bunkers sit ready to trap any off-line shot, which will force many players to play it safe and hit irons or, depending on the wind, fairway woods or hybrids.
Read more at The Scottish Sun
At the 2016 Open at Royal Troon, champion Henrik Stenson hit a 3-wood shot off the tee onto the hole — and the ball fell just short of a bunker.
After a tee shot from the fairway, club pro Stevenson miraculously holed out for eagle – a first for him on the 18th – while Stephens made par after a close approach shot.
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