Open Golf 09: Where danger lurks on the links

Turnberry's 18th hole - scene of so much drama in the past

    TURNBERRY is certain to produce the toughest examination of any course on the major rota this week - not only in the condition of the course, which I understand is running firm and fast but with the fickle weather conditions.

Links courses can change enormously depending in the days leading up to the event and during the four rounds. I have played in two Opens and they could not have been more different.

At Carnoustie in 1999 the rough was unplayable, but the greens were receptive enough that if you managed to avoid slashing away shots in the deep stuff, pars could be made and even the occasional birdie.

David Drysdale identifies the key holes

The west coast of Scotland is rarely short of those sprinklers in the sky and this year the combination of wind, rain and sun appears to have worked perfectly to produce a course that is firm, as a links should be, but just soft enough that great ball striking and spin control will enable players to get rewarded for their good shots.

With 22 new bunkers in play, most of them playing a part in making the driving areas more dangerous, the scene is set for a dramatic week.

I spoke to my old pal, the Scotsman David Drysdale, this week a short time after he had completed his second practice round and his first comment was ominous:

"The rough is thick and there are a lot of places out there that you do not want to visit!"

So what, I asked, are the key holes?

"I'd say No.3,14,16,17 and 18. The third hole is over 480 yards and was into the wind today. I needed a good drive and 3-iron to get there. The 14th was into the wind coming slightly from the right and was driver and 4-iron for me.

Turnberry's 16th hole surrounded by a deep burn

"This year," David told me "it has been extended by 50 yards [with a tee at an angle to the fairway] and I was going in there with a 6-iron to a green that was designed to be hit with a wedge!"

In 1994 Nick Price turned the Open on its head when he holed a monster putt for eagle on the par-5 17th and as Jesper Parnevik stumbled at the last, snatched the Claret Jug from the unfortunate Swede.

Said David: "The 17th is a birdie opportunity but needs two good shots to reach and is well bunkered with thick rough on both sides."

So what of the closing hole at Turnberry's Ailsa course where Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson finally completed their 1977 'Duel in the Sun'?

Turnberry's 17th hole - a tough par-5

"The final hole is a bear, now," said David. "Thewre are deep bunkers at the corner of the dog leg left with out of bounds now protecting the short cut to the left of them. Only a perfect drive will leave in the region of 180 yards to the centre of the green. And that means that four will be a good score there!"

So it all could again go down to the wire and pars on the closing holes good enough to make a difference. Accuracy off the tee, and patience will be critical this week.

Fairways will need to be hit consistently to stay in contention. Some players may even decide to use an iron off some tees to take the new fairway traps out of play but that will mean approaches with medium and long irons making it very difficult to attack the flags.

Taking on the bunkers with driver will allow players to be more aggressive with their second shots but every time you hit a ball into a bunker off the tee, it will mean pitching out and will likely cost a shot each time.

Players have some tough decisions to make and with the wind direction likely to be changing, those decisions will also have to be re-considered on a daily basis.

It looks like another Open thriller.

*Andy Raitt is a former European Tour player who is currently top of the PGA Southern Region order of merit.