The Open returns to Royal Portrush next week, six years on from the last time the major was held at the iconic golf club.
The Dunluce Links Course is going to prove to be a tough test for the world’s best as they compete in the season’s final major.
McIlroy will hope not to relive his disastrous first hole in 2019Getty Images - GettyA par-71, the course spans a total of 7,344 yards and includes some iconic holes, including the aptly-named ‘Calamity Corner’.
The first will bring back bad memories for Rory McIlroy though, after he scored a quadruple-bogey eight in a nightmare start in 2019.
He hit his tee shot out of bounds, smashed a spectator’s phone and took a penalty drop leading to his woeful score, and that is sure to be in his mind this time around.
Ahead of The 153rd Open, here’s a hole-by-hole guide to Royal Portrush, starting where McIlroy’s disaster occurred…
1st, 420 yards, Par 4
A lot of players will opt against a driver on the opening hole that has out-of-bounds sections either side of the fairway.
Instead, after a layup to the fairway, a difficult uphill approach to the green, which has a false front and a deep bunker to its left, will follow.
2nd, 575 yards, Par 5
This was the second-easiest hole at The 148th Open in 2019, with players aiming to reach the green in two.
There are multiple bunkers along the fairway, but avoid them, and finding the heavily contoured green should be comfortable.
3rd, 176 yards, Par 3
Hitting the green from your tee shot is the key for this Par 3, with a number of steep slopes around it making this tough if you miss it.
Most players will aim for the centre of the green to avoid any difficulties, no matter where the pin is placed.
The fourth was lengthened six years agotheopen.com4th, 502 yards, Par 4
The fourth hole, which is named after 1947’s Champion Golfer Fred Daly, has been lengthened since the last Open in 2019.
An out-of-bounds section on the right of the fairway and bunkers on the left make a good tee shot crucial, before a very tough approach to the green, which is surrounded by sand hills, follows.
5th, 372 yards, Par 4
A short par four, this hole will be enjoyable for the longer hitters in the field, with it seeing four eagles and 111 birdies six years ago.
However, there is an out-of-bounds section right behind the green, opening up a chance for a real variety of scoring.
6th, 193 yards, Par 3
The opening shot on the sixth is taken from a clifftop tee overlooking the beach, as players aim to reach the green.
A false front means any short efforts will roll off the putting surface.
Players will have a great view of the course from the sixth teetheopen.com7th, 607 yards, Par 5
This hole played as the toughest of the long holes in 2019 and players’ tee shots will need to avoid a huge bunker to the right of the fairway.
The fairway then narrows further up towards the green and hitting the thick rough either side will make approach shots difficult.
8th, 434 yards, Par 4
‘Dunluce’ was created for the last Open at Portrush and missing left will send players’ shots down into a steep drop.
A decision of either laying short of the fairway bunkers or driving to cut the dog-leg will have to be made off the tee.
9th, 432 yards, Par 4
The ninth also bends to the left, with bunkers on the right side of the fairway and thick rough on the other.
Players will likely use woods or irons off the tee to avoid the rough, before run-offs on the green make approaches tough.
Plenty of Portrush’s holes are flanked by thick roughtheopen.com10th, 450 yards, Par 4
The back nine begins with a dog-leg from left to right, with steep sandhills and mounds ruling out any corner cutting.
Players are likely to aim to the left of the fairway and set up an easier approach to the green that includes plenty of undulations.
11th, 475 yards, Par 4
This was the toughest hole on the course back in 2019, with more than four times as many bogeys or worse than birdies.
Sand hills and rough are on either side of the fairway from the tee shot, but players could avoid this with a longer drive, with a false front on the green punishing approach shots.
12th, 532 yards, Par 5
In a complete change, players then move onto the easiest hole at Portrush, with birdies expected at The Open.
The 12th is long and straight, and if players can avoid the right-side bunkers, scores should be improved.
The 12th at Portrush is very straight and longtheopen.com13th, 199 yards, Par 3
Next up is a hole that was an ace six years ago, with players teeing off downhill towards the green.
There are bunkers surrounding the green, so wayward efforts will be punished, with the wind potentially making an impact.
14th, 466 yards, Par 4
This is another tough hole at Portrush, with bunkers providing some threat on either side of the fairway off the tee.
The green falls away to the left, front and back, while a deep bunker is on the left too, making approach shots crucial.
15th, 429 yards, Par 4
Accuracy is key on the 15th, with a difficult approach shot following an uphill effort from the tee onto the fairway.
There are slopes on the front and right of the small green and bunkers on the left.
The 16th is aptly named Calamity Cornertheopen.com16th, 236 yards, Par 3
Welcome to Calamity Corner – Portrush’s signature hole and one of the toughest players will encounter, living up to its name.
Players hit their tee shot over a deep chasm and may miss the green left while trying to avoid the 40-50ft drop on the right.
17th, 409 yards, Par 4
Players will not be able to see the green from the tee on the 17th, with aggressive driver approaches risky, making iron use likely.
Some could reach the green with some help from the downhill slope on the fairway, but deep bunkers flank the putting surface.
18th, 474 yards, Par 4
The last hole at Portrush boasts a menacing thick rough and bunkers to the right of the tee, punishing errors from players.
For the approach, a deep bunker and tall mounds wrap around the green, with a steep drop-off on the left making things difficult.
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