The World's best – the Road Hole

There are few holes in golf that are more famous than the 17^th hole on the Old Course at St Andrews, a hole which is sure to play a big part in plenty of players winning or losing the 2010 Open Championship.

Although it was not the longest par four in the world, at 455 yards, the Road Hole has just about everything that a world-class test requires, from a blind tee-shot where you could just about whack a ball into a hotel bedroom, to a green that is desperately difficult to hit even from the middle of the fairway.

But the real problem with the Road Hole is a deep bunker placed strategically in front of the green, and usually twice during each tournament, right in front of where the hole is cut – and that includes the all-important final round where those of you who Bet on Golf Open Championship will be watching with baited breath.

The most famous incident came back in 1978 when Tommy Nakajima was challenging for a Japanese major championship win until his third round visit to the Road Hole ended with him taking four shots to get out of the bunker that he had inexplicably putted into.

In 1990’s playoff Costantino Rocca took three to get out of the steeply-faced trap and handed the title to John Daly and back in 2000, David Duval’s challenge to catch Tiger Woods was dashed when he took four to extricate himself from the bunker.

The thing with all these great holes is offering the professionals four pars – when it comes to the Road Hole, the majority of them would snap your hand off since most of the birdies come either from chip-ins or lengthy putts.

However, for 2010, there is added danger, with the Royal & Ancient defying those determined to stick with tradition at the Old Course by adding 35 yards to the hole, sending the tee back to 490 yards.

The reaction came after the Dunhill Links of last season, when the professionals were finding it much easier to get closer to the green, and even scratch amateur Tim Henman made a birdie with an approach that only required a six-iron.

Those looking at Golf Odds will consider that technological advances have made distance off the tee easier to attain, even for the slightly shorter hitters, and it will be interesting to see if the hole, getting close to the lower limit for being called a par-five, plays as tough as it has in the past.