Five Key holes at Whistling Straits, where the 97th PGA Championship tees off on Thursday:
– Number 5 –
“Snake” – A 603-yard par-five tabbed by Jordan Spieth as a pivotal hole, but one that he thinks “doesn’t really go” with the rest of the course. Water runs along both left and right of fairway while the landing area leaves players a tough decision on the second shot. Anyone going for the green in two will be challenged by a long carry over water to the shallow green.
– Number 15 –
“Grand Stand” – The 518-yard par-four begins a tough finishing four. It needs power off the tee and an accurate approach over sand dunes to a large, undulating green whose subtle breaks will challenge all players.
– Number 16 –
“Endless Bite” – At 569 yards the par-five will tempt many to hit driver off the tee in a bid to reach the green in two. Bunkers wait for any shot right of the fairway while the left side is a drop toward Lake Michigan. A long approach uphill has a carry over dunes and bunkers to the elevated green.
– Number 17 –
“Pinched Nerve” – An intimidating 223-yard par-three, guarded on the left by a jigsaw puzzle of dunes and bunkers. A hulking dune 40 yards short of the green urges players to the left of the green — a potentially dangerous option with an abrupt drop toward the lake from that side of the playing surface.
– Number 18 –
“Dyeabolical” – The 520-yard par-four nicknamed for course architect Pete Dye is a dogleg left with a long, downhill approach to a clover-leaf shaped green. Seven Mile Creek guards the front of the massive but complicated putting surface, ready to punish ill-judged aggression at a hole certain to play a key role in deciding a champion.
– Agence France-Presse
