The holes that will decide the 2021 Open Championship

This summer’s Open Championship will be contested at the Royal St George’s Golf Club, which is situated right by the Kent village of Sandwich. The course is renowned for being a particularly tough links course, as Greg Norman is the only player to have truly mastered its wild fairways and undulating greens.

Here we take a look at the holes on the course where this year’s Open Championship could be won and lost.

Royal St George’s – Every successful putt will be cherished on this challenging course with a fearsome reputation for inflicting over-par rounds on top players

Hole 1

It makes sense to start with the very first hole that players will be faced with as they go about trying to upset The Open odds. This is a long par 4, which once famously bamboozled Tiger Woods to the point that he carded a round-ruining 7 to leave online odds makers and top golf tipsters scratching their heads.

If there are any nerves out on the opening tee, then this is just the hole to punish them, with the treacherous fairway nicknamed The Kitchen known for making a mess of the best placed accumulator bets and throwing the top players right off their game.

Hole 4

Another long par 4, this hole is known for having a towering bunker called the Himalaya, which players are asked to clear with their drive. The danger does not end there, with over-hit approaches likely to scoot off the back of green and out of bounds.

Hole 7

Whereas most of the holes on this list are mentioned due to how tough they are, hole 7 offers some respite to players who have been savaged by the opening six holes. A par 5 that many top players will be targeting as an eagle opportunity, expect big moves to be made on the 7th.

Players will be hoping that the weather holds up for the duration of the tournament

Hole 8

Not willing to give players an easy ride for long, Royal St George’s next hole is rated as the most difficult. Absolute accuracy and ball control are key to success on the 8th, which is yet another testing par 4 that leaves no room for error.

Hole 18

Running the 8th close as the most difficult hole on the course is the 18th, where even the most convincing of leads can be squandered. Two mischievously placed bunkers are known for gobbling up tee shots and Duncan’s Hollow, a steep swale is also known for leading balls astray. This hole makes for some serious final round drama.