Whistling Straits hole by hole guide: hole 1

A guide to hole 1 at Whistling Straits, called Outward Bound.

Whistling Straits Hole 1: Outward Bound / 408 yards / Par 4

With bunkers lining the left side of the fairway, an accurate drive up the right half will leave a short-iron approach to the green. Aiming right off the tee will however bring thick rough into play and also a longer approach shot into the green. A driver may not be required as the dogleg left will mean a well struck drive could run out of fairway.

In the first two rounds of the 2010 PGA Championship, Bubba Watson scored two birdies on the first hole. The American then opened his third round in the worst possible way, bogeying the par 4. However, it was the only shot he dropped on Saturday, making three birdies on his way to a score of -2.

Rory McIlroy bogeyed the first in round one and would later hit two double-bogeys. After making his second double-bogey on hole 15, who could have imagined he would finish just one shot off the pace by Sunday evening? Both Watson and McIlroy's troubles on this whole should serve as a warning.

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Learn how to play bunker shots with this video