Erin Hills - Hole by Hole Guide

1st, 560 yards, par 5:

A relatively easy opening hole, although the shortest route to the green requires a drive close to the wetlands to the left of the fairway. The small green slopes from front to back

2nd, 338 yards, par 4:

The shortest par four could be driveable in favourable conditions, but the green is the smallest on the course and slopes from front to back. Large mounds on either side of the fairway block the view of the landing area

3rd, 508 yards, par 4:

The longest par four on the front nine, made more difficult by being played into the prevailing wind. Bunkers on either side protect a fairway which slopes from right to left, while the two-tiered green demands an accurate second shot

4th, 439 yards, par 4:

Elevated tee, with a premium placed on avoiding the fairway bunkers in order to set up a second shot which will need to be well judged to find the shallow green

5th, 505 yards, par 4:

Only three yards shorter than the third, but plays downwind and features a generous green with a backstop on the left that can be used to feed a shot towards the flag

6th, 208 yards, par 3:

The longest par three on the course also has the longest green (48 yards), which slopes from front to back, but a false front will funnel anything short away from the green

7th, 607 yards, par 5:

Fourteen bunkers mean accuracy is as important as length on this par five, with several just short of the putting surface making for a difficult approach to a green divided by a prominent ridge

8th, 492 yards, par 4:

The most demanding tee shot on the course is played partially blind to a fairway which slopes from left to right while it doglegs from right to left. Three deep bunkers will collect any uphill approach coming up short of the green, which has a backstop on the left-hand side

9th, 135 yards, par 3:

The shortest hole on the course features a drop of around 25 feet from tee to green, but the putting surface is exposed to the wind and is protected by seven deep bunkers. Not as easy as the yardage suggests

A difficult drive is played to a heavily contoured fairway which includes a downslope on the right. The shallowest green on the course is bisected by a ridge

11th, 460 yards, par 4:

A blind tee shot is made even harder by a fairway which slopes from left to right. Two deep bunkers guard the front of the green, although they are further away from the putting surface than it looks

12th, 464 yards, par 4:

Only the crest of the hill can be seen from the tee, with a narrow landing area between two mounds. Just one bunker protects the right-hand side of the green, but the tall fescue grass is closer to the crowned putting surface than on most other holes.

13th, 193 yards, par 3:

Anything left of the green will feed into a large bunker and anything right will run away down the slope and leave a difficult uphill pitch. Club selection will be vital as the green is 40 yards long.

14th, 594 yards, par 5:

Longer hitters may be able to reach the green in two, although the green has a false front and severe drop-off to the right, which leads towards a small stream

15th, 357 yards, par 4:

An elevated green provides the challenge on this short par four, with any mishit approach to the two-tier putting surface likely to be gathered by one of the deep bunkers

16th, 183 yards, par 3:

Another elevated green and a long and narrow one as well, which is guarded by deep bunkers on either side. The two-tiered putting surface also slopes from back to front

17th, 509 yards, par 4:

The only hole on the course without a bunker, but an undulating fairway can result in some uneven lies for approach shots and a large mound on the left obscures the view of the green

18th, 637 yards, par 5:

A three-shot hole even for Dustin Johnson, with 25 bunkers – including one in the middle of the fairway around 120 yards from the green – adding to the difficulty. A birdie to win in the final round will be a real challenge