TomD et al:
I'm not completely sure about it but I believe the firmness of that 10th green was as bad or worse than #7 in the '04 US Open. When Mike Davis got on the radio and transmitted those famous words "I think we have a problem" I am not certain it was the 7th green he was on or talking about.
One problem with #10 green is there is really no way at all of "sneaking up on it" if you get my drift. Whatever shot you hit in there it pretty much has to be flown to the green somehow from somewhere out there on the approach. The oddity is, as Wayne mentioned, it is not a small green and it is not shallow either.
TEPaul,
It was probably only 7 to which Davis was alluding, as I don't think groups had yet gotten to 10. The tenth green played tough as nails Sat. PM as the nor'wester started up, and the approach became downwind. Overall I would say that the approach from the hill or the valley is six of one, half dozen of the other, depending on the lie you have on the fairway - uphill or downhill. It's brutal, for instance, if your ball is still on the downslope of the valley at around 90-100 out. But it's no picnic if you're sidehill or downhill from 180 up top. Pick your poison. We've all been in both positions too many times on 10 fairway !
The risk is in the tee shot choice, IMO, as one has to hit it dead on line to get it on fairway in the valley. There's 20 to 30 yds. of lateral leeway up top. I prefer hitting in from 180, where I can see the whole green. You're correct that the approach has to be carried to the green, except in one small area front left, which area is best place to aim for, IMO as the back left of the green is the only backstop, if one can even call it that.
I don't think 10 green was unfair Sun. in the '04 Open. It's large enough for the pros to hold. It's just harder to do so when it's dead downwind, as it was that day.