Hole 17, known as the “Little Eye”, will strike fear into players at this week's Open. basis,” said Matt Physpatrick’s caddy Billy Foster this week, calling the reworked 17th hole at Hoylake a “monster.” “It's almost impossible for them.”
As a 20-handicapper, I was more excited than afraid to play the Little Eye, a 136-yard pair on the 3rd course that infuriates the golf establishment and could easily determine the winner of this week's Open. championship. With a green tee where it used to be, and a green tee stretching out towards the Dee Estuary and the picturesque Wales Hills, R&A has created a hole worthy of golf's most beautiful par-threes.
Little Eye – Royal Liverpool's New 17th Hole
Endless green, open ground up front, deep sand traps on either side and a fiendish 15-foot dune drop in the back make it essential to not only hit the surface, but stay there, with run-up areas ready to drag the ball into danger.
Invited to Wirral Links for an R&A press day back in April, I had the opportunity to play Hoylake for the first time and, as my handicap suggested, after 16 holes of cutting thick rough links and three-putting wavy greens, I was teeing the 17th underdog. honor in my group, I was contemplating hitting a full wedge or a soft iron. In the end, I chose a wedge, knowing that a fully confident hit would improve my chances, instead of trying to be nice with a higher iron.
As the wind picked up, I swung hard and fast and the ball popped out and went downwind before crashing down – the ball hit the pins, leaving me and my teammates in shock.
Approaching the raised green, my ball veered about 15 feet off the hole after making contact with the flagstick, and I found I had a chance for a birdie on the hole that would strike fear into Rory McIlroy & Co. this week.
Yes, I didn’t have a hole in the championship jerseys or in the viewing cauldron created by The Open (a horseshoe stand around the tee and another to the right of the green), but it gave me the little boost I needed to believe that by the end of the summer I could be an 18 handicap handicapper. So while sentiment is welcome, Billy, you can remain empathetic. After all, it's possible.
Little Eye is Royal Liverpool's new 17th hole.
If an inexperienced golfer like me can achieve parity, then the best players in the world are more than capable of developing enough speed and height to stay on the green and get away unscathed for four rounds.
Golf is about challenges, there are actually 18 of them, and professionals and caddies should enjoy the challenge that Little Eye has and not complain. TPC Sawgrass has its own Island Green and St Andrews has its famous Road Hole and both are considered the best 17 holes in golf due to the fact that they can ruin the score.
Little Eye is similar in this respect as it balances beauty with horror and in my experience it can and will reward good shots but shows no mercy to its willful would-be victims.
< p> We live in an era when fans and broadcasters demand more. entertainment and, unfortunately, for the players, which may mean that some of them will be left with an egg in their face. They are being paid millions to pass these ordeals, and this year's winner will receive £2.3 million. Golf has to come to terms with the fact that the penultimate holes, which are the procession to glory, are over.
Oh, what about my fate on the 17th? I missed the birdie strike and left a green feeling like I did something I shouldn't have done with the value on the score card.
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