A hole-by-hole look at the front nine of the 111th U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club: [find the back nine here]
Hole No. 1
402 yards, par 4
Flattest and second-shortest par 4 at Congressional. Many players will be able to fly the bunkers on either side of fairway.
Hole No. 2
233 yards, par 3
Longest par 3 at Congressional. In 1997 U.S. Open, Ben Crenshaw hit driver here in all four rounds.
Hole No. 3
466 yards, par 4
One of four par 4s with a downhill tee shot followed by an uphill approach to a green that’s difficult to see.
Hole No. 4
470 yards, par 4
This used to be a blind tee shot over a fairway mound before Rees Jones dug it out, revealing the landing area.
Hole No. 5
413 yards, par 4
Birdie hole. Played to a 3.94 stroke average in 2009 AT&T National. Most players won’t hit driver here.
Hole No. 6
555 yards, par 5
Played as a long par 4 in 1997 but now becomes a gambling par 5. Temptation will be greater when pin is on left (back) side.
Hole No. 7
173 yards, par 3
Terraces and deep bunkers protect the course’s shortest hole. Jack Nicklaus aced it in the final round of 1995 Senior Open.
Hole No. 8
354 yards, par 4
Shortest par 4 can be reached with a mammoth drive. Easiest par 4 during the 2009 AT&T National (3.8 stroke average).
Hole No. 9
636 yards, par 5
“Even the Bubba Watsons the [Alvaro] Quiroses, I doubt they’re going to get there in two,” said Mike Davis (USGA) of the lengthened hole.
Graphics by Leon Saffelle and Lauren Bellamy
