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You are in: Special Events: 2001: USPGA |
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Friday, 10 August, 2001, 11:32 GMT 12:32 UK
A guide to the Highlands Course
The Highlands Course at AAC is a real test of accuracy
BBC Sport Online's Paul Fletcher brings you a hole-by-hole guide to the Highlands Course at the Atlanta Athletic Club, which plays host to this year's USPGA Championship.
The course requires great accuracy and is extremely severe on wayward tee shots. The last two holes in particular are extremely tricky and nervous finishers could find their victory hopes in tatters.
Hole 1 - Par 4 - 430 yards
A bunker on the right, 260 yards from the tee, and a line of trees to the left demand an accurate drive. A long iron may be the best option, leaving a medium-to-short iron as the second shot to a large green. The key here is to land short of the pin, as the green slopes upwards from the front.
Hole 2 - Par 4 - 471 yards
A long, heavily protected, par four that is another real test of accuracy. Bunkers line the right of the fairway and trees border the left, so a straight drive off the tee is essential. The green is heavily protected by bunkers and requires an accurate, and probably lengthy, iron shot.
Hole 3 - Par 4 - 469 yards
Another difficult par four, with no mercy for players who find the right side of the fairway and encounter the steep slope. The difficulty is increased by a deceptive prevailing wind and the large green is difficult to read.
Hole 4 - Par 3 - 204 yards
The first par three on the course and another test of accuracy and club selection. A large lake to the front and left of the green allows little room for error, while tee shots driven too far to the right will face bunker trouble.
Hole 5 - Par 5 - 541 yards
A green that is reachable in two shots makes this a real birdie opportunity. Bunkers line the right of the fairway, but a tee shot to the left opens up the partially obscured green. However, the green is tight and is also surrounded by bunkers.
Hole 6 - Par 4 - 425 yards
A narrow fairway has trees lining the left and bunkers up the right, making a straight drive essential. A bunker 270 yards from the tee must be avoided, and there is more sand either side of the green. However, an accurate drive down the fairway should lead to a birdie chance.
Hole 7 - Par 3 - 183 yards
The green is extremely narrow and unforgiving, with several difficult pin positions and an ominous bunker protecting the front. However, an accurate tee shot should result in another birdie opportunity.
Hole 8 - Par 4 - 463 yards
Players can either try to carry the water 250 yards from the tee to get the best position on the fairway, or choose to lay-up short for a long-iron second shot.
A right-to-left drive is the best option to avoid the bunkers which line the right of the fairway, 260 yards from the tee. The left side of the green is protected by bunkers and water. The ideal shot to the green lands short of the pin to leave an uphill putt.
Hole 9 - Par 4 - 416 yards
Another birdie chance, provided the tee shot avoids the bunkers either side of the fairway. The green is large but surrounded by bunkers and is reachable with a medium-to-short iron. Hole 10 - Par 4 - 439 yards
A dog-leg right with bunkers lining the left-hand side of the fairway at 260 yards. Stay right and an approach to the green opens up. The best option is a medium-iron second to the green, avoiding the bunker to the left.
Hole 11 - Par 4 - 454 yards
A tricky dog-leg left, requiring two well-positioned shots to create a birdie chance. The best option is to lay-up left-of-centre on the fairway, but avoiding the bunkers 280 yards from the tee, further out to the left. The green is guarded by water to the right and sand to the left, but a straight iron shot could pay dividends. Hole 12 - Par 5 - 547 yards
Reachable in two shots with a long drive from an elevated tee. A pond protects the front of the green and reduces the options after a poor tee shot.
Hole 13 - Par 4 - 364 yards
A short hole but plenty to consider. A tight fairway and a well-protected, undulating green both demand accuracy. The key to the hole is not hitting past the pin, which leaves a difficult downhill putt.
Hole 14 - Par 4 - 422 yards
An unforgiving, elevated green makes a solid approach shot essential. A long-iron from the tee, leaving a short-iron shot to the green, is the best approach.
Hole 15 - Par 3 - 277 yards Absolutely no room for error from the tee, with anything hit right certain to find water. The safest bet is to aim left and leave a long putt for birdie.
Hole 16 - Par 4 - 441 yards
A deceptively long hole means most players will need a long second shot. The best option is to aim left from the tee to avoid the bunkers and try to find the front of the green, avoiding the steep back-to-front slope.
Hole 17 - Par 3 - 207 yards The most aesthetically pleasing hole on the course, but one that is fraught with danger. Too short and water is inevitable, too long and deep rough beckons. The tournament could be won and lost at this hole.
Hole 18 - Par 4 - 490 yards
An extremely long and demanding dog-leg left. Too far left from the tee and water beckons, too far to the right and laying-up may be the only option. Another hole that could easily decide the fate of the championship.
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