St Andrews’ Road Hole Lengthened
St Andrews’ famous Road Hole has increased in length for the 150th anniversary of the Open Championship in 2010.
A new tee has stretched the 17th hole by 40 yards, five more than announced last year to 495, to prevent shorter irons being used to avoid hazards.
The change is the only major alteration from five years ago, when St Andrew’s last staged the Championship and Tiger Woods won his second Open title. The course now measures 7,305 yards compared to 7,279 in 2005.
The decision to alter the length of the Road Hole for the first time in more than 100 years was taken in conjunction with golf’s ruling body, the R&A.
The R&A says the change will place ‘an increased premium’ on an accurate drive of sufficient length over the sheds, encouraging players to take a driver from the tee.
R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said: ‘The 17th was played at the same yardage in 1900 as it was in 2005 and this fuelled our belief that the formidable challenge of this iconic hole should be returned for The Open Championship.
‘Over the years, we have seen the threat from the road behind the green, and to a lesser extent the Road Bunker, diminished as players have been hitting shorter irons for their approach shots, allowing them to avoid these hazards more easily. This change will ensure that the hole plays as it was originally intended.’
Five new tees had been introduced for the 2005 Open at St Andrews, lengthening the course by 164 yards.
