PHILIP REIDon Hazeltine, hole by hole
1st 490 yards, par 4
An extra 25 yards has been added with a new tee box but most players will still take fairway wood off the tee to a downhill fairway with bunkers on both sides. The small green has a number of tiers and is guarded by three bunkers.
2nd 431 yards, par 4
A dogleg left, this hole will tempt the bigger hitters to clear the fairway bunker – at 290 yards – to set up a shorter approach to a green that has a couple of deep bunkers on the left.
3rd 633 yards, par 5
No chance for anyone to reach the green in two, players will look for accuracy – avoiding the fairway bunkers left and the rough right – rather than length off the tee. The green is large and offers a variety of difficult pin positions.
4th 210 yards, par 3
The main difficulty on this hole is found when the player reaches the green. This two-level green – surrounded by bunkers – is difficult to hold if the flag is in the back portion and has plenty of undulations.
5th 448 yards, par 4
Most players will opt to use fairway wood off the tee, to lay up short of the fairway bunkers positioned on the corner of the dogleg. Any long hitters tempted to carry the traps will need a carry of over 300 yards, but must avoid the heavy rough to the left of the fairway.
6th 405 yards, par 4
A rescue club is likely to be club of choice for most of players off the tee, setting up an approach to a green guarded front and left by a pond and by a bunker to the right. Expect to see a couple of tight pin placements to bring the water into play.
7th 572 yards, par 5
A real risk and reward hole, most players – if they get the drive away – will be tempted to go for the green in two. The green, protected by a pond, can be hard to hold with a long iron.
8th 176 yards, par 3
Bunkers left, water right . . . . this hole plays tougher than its yardage would indicate. In the 2002 USPGA, it had an average of 3.62. The most difficult pin placement when the hole is cut in the narrow front portion of the green.
9th 432 yards, par 4
This fairway has been narrowed, adding to the difficulty off the tee. The approach shot is played uphill to a green that is protected by a large bunker.
OUT: 3,797 yards, par 36
10th 452 yards, par 4
Players will hit fairway wood or driver to the corner of the dogleg, before facing a downhill approach shot to a green that sits by the shore of the lake where back hole positions are particularly difficult to attack. A ridge separates the green, making it imperative to find the right level.
11th 606 yards, par 5
Despite its length, this hole could be on in two for the really long – and straight – hitter off the tee. A new bunker has been added 30 yards short of the green to make those laying up think twice about their second shots. There is a bail-out area to the left for those trying to reach in two.
12th 518 yards, par 4
Likely to play as one of the toughest holes on the course – with a new tee box adding 40 yards to make it the longest par four in the history of the USPGA – with the approach played uphill to a green that has subtle breaks.
13th 248 yards, par 3
The hardest of the “short holes”, the tee shot is hit to a green that is protected by bunkers front and right. There is a pond to the left of the green and any pushed shots will find further trouble, with trees to the right.
14th 352 yards, par 4
After the challenge of the previous two holes, some respite. Billy Casper called this hole one of the great short par fours in golf, and the likelihood is that the tee will be moved forward on Saturday or Sunday to encourage players to go for the green.
15th 642 yards, par 5
This is a definite three-shot hole to the green. With the distinction of being the longest par five in the US PGA history, the bunkers are now in play off the tee and the fairway slopes to the heavy rough on the right.
16th 402 yards, par 4
The tee-shot is all-important, with a carry of 220 yards over water required to find the green. A lake runs down the right, a creek down the left and any pin places to the right of the green will again bring the water into play.
17th 182 Yards Par 3
The challenge has been eased by the removal of some over-hanging trees by the green. Nevertheless, it is a difficult green to find with a number of shelves on the right and back of the green likely to lead to a number of three-putts.
18th 475 Yards Par 4
A new tee and the addition of a fairway bunker down the right will place greater emphasis on the tee-shot, with players hitting an uphill, left-to-right drive. The approach shot is played to a green with three distinct tiers.
IN: 3,77 yards Par 36
TOTAL: 7,674 yards Par 72
