3 – a long par 3, especially off the new tee, perhaps requiring a 3 wood if into the wind or a long iron at the very least.  The green has a significant tier running across it and therefore placing the ball on the right level is key. However, anything slightly right of the green will kick down back onto it so the target is a little bigger than it looks.

5 – a strategic hole which requires thought off the tee.  Many players drove the green in 2003, which is possible in the prevailing wind, but some mounding has been incorporated short right of the green recently, which will make the players think twice.  A lay-up off the tee is more likely  for 95% of the field, but it is tricky and if not placed perfectly it could leave a blind shot over sand dunes, a sidehill lie and/or a longish 2nd shot.  The green is a big enough target which slopes right to left, so the player needs to be careful not to miss it right.

7 – a birdie opportunity depending on the wind strength and direction. A new tee has lengthened the hole and into the wind it is a tough tee shot, where it will be difficult to carry the ball over the right hand bunker set into the sandhill. Whilst it is a tight tee shot, it can also be a blind second shot. In decent weather, even if a cross wind, the player can carry the bunker, providing a large target off the tee and it is then a definite birdie opportunity. Therefore much will depend on the weather conditions on the day.  It is a typical Royal St George's green with a fall off on the left hand side, with any shot missing the putting surface running away from the green. The green slopes from right to left so it is important not to miss it on the right.

9 – there will be many birdie and bogies at this hole.  The new tee box has made the hole substantially easier than in 2003, although the shorter rough has also played a part. Now we can hit into the right to left slope off the tee, whereas off the old tee, we hit across the fairway which was nearly impossible to hold. The second shot is the same to a very tricky green with a big slope off the right hand side. The green has collection areas at both the front and left hand side of the green, which will bring about many birdie chances - however, a missed green, especially if in the deep bunkers or down a run-off to the right, will result in a tough up-and-down and many bogies

11 – a difficult long par 3.  It can play up to a 3 wood into the wind, but likely to be a long iron at the very least, even in favourable conditions. The green is right to left sloping, with a tier at the front, so the player needs to be in position and on the right level - the key is not to miss it right. I will certainly be happy to make a par 3 every day.

13 – a tough par 4.  The slight dog leg requires the player to hit across the fairway with well placed bunkers to contend with, threading it between them or laying up short. I will likely lay up but it will leave a long iron (4 or 5 iron) into the green.  Again, like many others it is a tricky green with a ridge running through it from front to back.  A par 4 is a good score.

15 – real tough par 4.  A new tee box has added yardage to an already difficult hole.   Three bunkers eating into the left side of the fairway and two on the right, which will require an automatic splash-out, need to be negotiated.  Then the player is faced with the toughest green on the golf course to hit.  It is relatively small and has a severe slope kicking the ball forward and right.  During the practice days, many players will practise their chipping and putting from right of the green, knowing that 2 or 3 times during the week, they will be down there.

17– a classic links golf hole. If played into the normal prevailing wind it is a drive and a 4 iron. However if played downwind it can be a drive short of the bunker 60 yards short of the green and then a chip and run. It has a very tricky shallow green, with a big slope short of it. Judging the shot and getting the second shot pin high is difficult.

Harrington's Holes

Royal St George's is the most traditional of all The Open Championship links courses, which means you get many good and bad breaks – the player can make bogies with good shots or birdies from bad shots. There are lots of opportunities, so we will see a lot of movement in the leaderboard, with some players attacking and making birdies, whilst those being defensive could make bogies.

Hole by hole

1 – a tough opening hole, but not really the same hole which saw Tiger lose his ball at the 2003 Open Championship, as the rough is not as thick this year. The key on this hole is to hit the fairway, ideally avoiding the hollow in the fairway known as "The Kitchen", which is in play depending on the wind direction and strength - most players will hit a driver but some will go with a 3 wood to ensure hitting the fairway.  There is a slope at the front of the green, just over the greenside bunkers, which means that if you are not coming from the fairway and generating spin it is nearly impossible to hold the green, especially when playing in the prevailing wind.

2 – a possible birdie hole, although the tee shot can be the most difficult part of the hole depending on the wind. The easiest wind is the prevailing wind which is down off the right, allowing a draw around the fairway bunkers. In a left to right or against the wind, it is a very difficult tee shot and some players may lay-up short of the bunkers leaving a longer second shot into the green.  There is a severe slope to the right of the green and therefore you will see a number of pins tucked in on that side. It is a birdie hole if the wind direction allows an aggressive tee shot.

4 –  a testing long par 4 that used to be played as a par 5.  The key to the hole is to get the tee shot in position to allow the approach shot to be played off the fairway into one of the toughest greens on the golf course. It is a generous tee shot over a huge bunker with plenty of room in the landing area. However the second shot provides the difficulty, given the severe slope which takes up the first third of the green, making staying on the green without  going over the back extremely challenging.

6 – a great par 3 and one with a natural amphitheatre.  It has a long green set at an angle to the tee, with three distinct levels.  When the pin is at the front, the ball needs to be pitched short left of the bunker and in fact, playing short of the green is also a good play. When the pin is back right, I would generally play for the middle of the green and take my chances.  It is normally played into the prevailing wind to a tricky green and if in the wrong position, it is easy to three putt.



8 – this can play as a short par-4 when downwind, but the two bunkers on the right hand side attract golf balls, requiring a chip out.  Any lay up off the tee can leave a longish second shot into the green especially when into the prevailing wind, so a choice needs to be made to be cautious off the tee or more aggressive to get it down past the bunkers. The second shot is straight forward, although you may not be able to fully see the green. There is plenty of room short of the green, so if playing to a front pin you may need to bounce the ball in short and run it in.

10 – a treacherous hole. It is an awkward tee shot, as the player is hitting across the fairway, therefore, many will hit a three wood off the tee. However, the most difficult part of the hole is the uphill second shot to a very exposed green, so how the shots are played in will depend on the strength and direction of the wind. The green gets narrower as the pin moves further back and there are significant run offs from the elevated green, together with deep bunkers on both sides.  The key is not to be long and go over the green, so when the pin is in a back position many will play to the middle of the green.

12 – short par 4 dogleg right.  It is a very awkward tee shot – with two bunkers on the corner of the dog leg, hitting the fairway is difficult as the player tries to cut the dog leg whilst keeping it close to the bunkers. However, it is essential to hit the fairway in order to get control on the approach shot into the green, as there will be less control if coming out of the rough. Whilst there are a group of bunkers just short of the green and a run off to the left, it is a great birdie chance if you hit the fairway, as it leaves a wedge or less into the green, but it certainly has its difficulties.



14 – this is the pivotal hole on the course.  This hole provides one of the main birdie opportunities on the back nine. When downwind it is a three wood off the tee to land short of the "Suez Canal" stream across the fairway, leaving a long iron to the green.  When into the prevailing wind, a driver off the tee would leave a long second shot into the green. The difficulty is provided by the Out of Bounds (OOB) all the way down the right side, which is in play on the tee shot and for anyone going for the green in two, as the OOB is very close to the green.  The green itself is very undulating with a general slope from left to right, so an approach from the left side is tougher to keep on the green. Keeping up the right side of the hole is brave and the successful will earn their reward.  For many players it will be played as a three shot hole but any lay-up second shot has to contend with two bunkers seventy yards short of the green. For those going for it in two, whilst it may reap rewards there will be stress involved.



16 – the scene of drama in 2003, given Thomas Bjorn's problems.  It is not a long par 3 and players will go for pins when on the left hand side, but when the pin is tight right, whilst it does provide a birdie opportunity, the bunkers provide a difficult up and down and the possibility of leaving the ball in there. If chasing the leader, the player can go at it and make a birdie.  It is a dangerous hole that demands respect for anyone protecting a lead.

18 – This hole is all about controlling the tee shot.  Whilst the fairway on the right hand side has been widened it is a difficult shot from there as would be coming across the green, which itself slopes right to left. Many players will want to hit down the left hand side but there a couple of new bunkers, maybe forcing the player to hit a 3 wood. Additionally, a driver may run into two cross bunkers.  There is a significant slope on the left hand side of the green called "Duncan's Hollow", so the effective size of the green is very small and hard to hit, leaving many players trying to get down in two with an awkward chip up the slope. Into the normal prevailing wind it can leave a long iron thus increasing the difficulty factor. However, downwind the player could be hitting a 9 iron into the green and therefore can make birdie. In summary it is a birdie or bogey hole.