The 136-Yard Hole That Will Drive Golfers Mad at the British Open
Reigning British Open champion Cameron Smith stepped onto the tee box of Royal Liverpool’s 17th hole during a practice round, and what he saw resembled an infinity pool. The view heading out toward the water, beyond the green, was gorgeous. The prospect of hitting a golf ball toward it was a nightmare.
The elevated green on the par-3 aligns with the horizon line, making the hole as scenic as it is bedeviling. To Smith, the putting surface that was barely over 100 yards away felt much farther with a 40-mile-per-hour wind blowing in his face. And with such little room for error, Smith concluded that it’s all but certain to inject drama into the finish of this year’s Open Championship.
“It was not a tee shot that you want to have," Smith said. The Open is back at Royal Liverpool Golf Club for the 13th time, but keen observers will notice a key difference at this year’s edition. It’s a hole called “Little Eye" that embodies the unique test that this major offers.
Contemporary course redesigns usually add yardage to handle the power of modern golfers. This hole got shorter—and more British. The reimagined 17th, named for an island in the estuary visible once players arrive on the green, may not be the most difficult hole at this tournament.
But it could be the most volatile, subject to the whims of the English summer winds, and Martin Ebert plans to park himself in the grandstand on Thursday to see it in action. “I’ll have to go early," Ebert says. “Someone could make a two, someone could make a five." Ebert is even more interested than the casual golf fan in this 136-yard gem.
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