Is the 18th at Oak Hill a great hole now?

[Ran Morrissett]

Does Micheel's dramatic approach to the final green stamp it as a great hole? If so, (though logically I don't know why that would be), isn't this the prime example of the advantage that courses enjoy that host major championships when it comes to how their holes are perceived?

[tonyt]

Good question.

Afterall, when Oak Hill #18 is seen or mentioned, it will often be with the addition of: "site of first time winner Shaun Micheel's shot of the year to within inches".

Kind of a nice way to have your hole introduced, and takes the focus off the architecture of it until you already feel warm and fuzzy inside  

[buffett_guy]

I guess Phil is still the best Micheel without a major?

[Chris Kane]

Could Micheel's shot into 18 be the greatest approach shot into the final green of a major championship?

Ran,
I don't think so, though it wouldn't surprise me if it is viewed that way by the "masses".  Non-GCA issues dominate the common perception about golf courses, and the championships played there are at the top of that list.

[Tom_Doak]

Ran,

It's always been considered an excellent golf hole, and this certainly doesn't hurt.

Short-term, that approach shot will make Oak Hill a higher-ranked course in many people's eyes.  Ten or twenty years from now, though, people will wonder if it's such a great course, how did they wind up with that leaderboard at the end?

In truth, who wins a championship has very very little to do with whether it's a great course or not.

[Darren_Kilfara]

In truth, who wins a championship has very very little to do with whether it's a great course or not.

Thank you, Tom.

A corollary to the above is that a single shot has very very little to do with whether any hole is great or not.

Cheers,
Darren

[Patrick_Mucci]

Ran,

Could you revisit this question in the context of Jerry Pate and the 18th at The Atlanta Athletic Club ?