Four key holes at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, host of the British Open from July 17-20:-
1st (Royal), 458 yards, par four: A testing hole to start the round and one on which most competitors will be happy to secure a par. The tee shot has to be threaded between bunkers and the approach hit to a heavily contoured green which is 40 yards long and protected by a group of new bunkers. The hole is named after the Royal Hotel which housed Royal Liverpool's first clubhouse back in 1869.
2006: Rank 7 (1 is most difficult, 18 is easiest)
6th (New), 201 yards, par three: The first of what is a stunning set of short holes at Hoylake. It requires an accurate tee shot to a long and narrow green which slopes from back to front and is guarded by bunkers on both sides. The deep bunkers to the left of the green must be avoided at all costs when the hole is cut on that side.
2006: Rank 6
12th (Dee), 447 yards, par four: The hardest hole on the course in 2006 produced 138 bogeys and 15 double bogeys. The bunkers on the corner of the dog-leg are likely to see a lot of traffic, leaving a difficult approach to the raised green which slopes markedly from back to front.
2006: Rank 1
18th (Dun), 551 yards, par five: The closing hole at Hoylake could produce a decisive swing in the outcome, with out-of-bounds all the way down the right-hand side of the sharp dog-leg. Bailing out to the left will leave a much longer approach to a green protected by five bunkers, while a new swale at the back left of the green has been created. The 'horseshoe' of stands around the green should create a superb atmosphere.
2006: Rank 15
Source: AFP
