Course view: 111th U.S. Open at Congressaional, back nine

A hole-by-hole look at the back nine of the 111th U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club:

[find the front nine here]


Hole No. 10

218 yards, par 3

Half the field will have to deal with this frightening tee shot to open the tournament — a long iron or hybrid is needed to carry over water.

Hole No. 11

494 yards, par 4

On this converted par 5, fairway has been shifted right, tempting players to cut it close to get a flatter lie and better angle to green.

Hole No. 12

471 yards, par 4

Measures 56 yards longer than in 1997 Open. Tougher when pin is on the right side of the green, which slopes left.

Hole No. 13

193 yards, par 3

Players will hit mid-irons to this uphill, non-threatening hole. Second largest green on the course (trailing No. 6).

Hole No. 14

467 yards, par 4

First of two straight similar holes — elevated tee to a downhill fairway, then an uphill approach, with only flagstick visible.

Hole No. 15

490 yards, par 4

Fifty-one yards have been added since the 1997 Open. Ken Venturi bogeyed this hole three times on way to 1964 Open title.

Hole No. 16

579 yards, par 5

Hole will be set up short enough to allow players to reach green in two, but greenside slopes are now shaved and penal.

Hole No. 17

437 yards, par 4

Difficulty lies in the severely sloped and smallest green at Congressional. Most players won’t hit driver off tee.

Hole No. 18

523 yards, par 4

Longest par 4 finishing hole in majors history has a peninsula green. “You have to find the fairway,” Ernie Els said.

Graphics by Leon Saffelle and Lauren Bellamy

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