In its former incarnation this hole was regarded as an easy hole to make a four. The fairway bunkers were out of range from the tee – presumably they were second shot bunkers in the days of wooden shafts – and the only complication was a green with a massive false front that made judgement – and shots from short of the green – especially difficult.
The tee has gone back adding almost 30 meters to the par five and the green is a deal more complicated with a number of different levels and it turns away into the right corner which favours a long high fade – or a Nick O’Hern, Richard Green draw – with the second shot.
Down the wind most will be hoping for birdies but if the wind is behind here the run to the clubhouse is especially difficult – as Robert Allenby and Brett Ogle proved in the 1994 Open when they stumbled home from here like very nervous schoolboys.