2000 Open Championship - 2nd Toughest Hole

[Mike Hendren]

No surprise that Road was the toughest hole at the 2000 Open Championship, averaging 4.71.  What is surprising is the second toughest during that championship.  Take a guess before cheating.

In my opinion, part of the best four-holes stretch of golf I've ever had the privilege to play.

Mike

[mike_beene]

13?11 has to be up there but seems to obvious.With a right to left wind 13 could bring some big numbers left of the green.

[James Bennett]

Using the Sherlock Holmes method

'part of the best 4 holes stretch that I've had the privilege to play'.

That implies #11, #12 and #14  so #13 must be included. I don't think the 4 hole stretch is #14 thru #17.

Couldn't be #12 or #14, otherwise why would they be building new tees on these holes.

As Mike Beene has taken #13, I nominate #11.  At a stroke average of 3.4 (an absolute guess).

[peter_p]

I'll pair up with Bill. Recollection is my amazement they couldn't get it close at #12, usually on the wrong level.

[Brad Klein]

How's this for design balance. Outside of 17 (hard) and 5 (easy), there's strong compression of how hard/easy most of the holes are:

The Old Course, St. Andrews
                          2005      2000            2000
hole   par   yardage   avg. score   rank                  
  1     4      376        4.00           9
  2     4      453        4.09         6
  3     4      397        3.88        15
  4     4      480        4.10         5
  5     5      568        4.58        18
  6     4      412        3.93        12
  7     4      390        3.90        13
  8     3      175        3.04         8
  9     4      352        3.88        16
       36    3,603       35.40
10     4      380        3.85        17
11     3      174        3.07         7
12     4      348        3.89        14
13     4      465        4.21         2
14     5      618        4.97        10
15     4      456        4.20         3
16     4      423        4.17         4  
17     4      455        4.71         1
18     4      357        3.94        11
       36    3,676       36.99    
       72    7,279       72.39

[mike_beene]

Am I the only one who doesn't care for 12.The greensite is superb,but the blind bunkers which must be for the reverse course don't work.I think they effectively take to much fairway.The tee shot there is the only shot I really don't like on the course.Wonder how many people have acidently walked in them?