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PGA Championship 2015: Whistling Straits course guide

Whistling Straights: Venue for the 2015 PGA Championship
Image: Whistling Straits: Venue for the 2015 PGA Championship

As the PGA Championship returns to Whistling Straits, here's a hole-by-hole guide on how to tackle the Straits Course.

Hole 1, Outward Bound, 408 yards, Par 4:

Bunkers and dunes to the left and thick rough on the right must be avoided from the tee. The two-tier green is protected by deep traps left and long.

Hole 2, Cross Country, 593 yards, Par 5:

A tee shot down the left side of the fairway avoids trouble but leaves a blind second. A pot bunker lurks just short of a narrow green, with a steep run-off area to the right.

Hole 3, O'Man, 181 yards, Par 3:

Lake Michigan, deep bunkers and sand dunes guard the left of a huge undulating green, which will provide a vast array of pin placements throughout the week.

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A view from behind the green at the 3rd hole
Image: A view from behind the green at the 3rd hole

Hole 4, Glory, 493 yards, Par 4:

The fairway slopes left towards bunkers, dunes and the lake, while a tough mid-iron approach to an elevated, well-guarded green is fraught with danger.

Hole 5, Snake, 598 yards, Par 5:

A three-shot hole for most of the field, with water both sides of the narrow fairway. The shallow green is guarded by water short and left. Very little margin for error here.

Hole 6, Gremlin's Ear, 355 yards, Par 4:

A short, dogleg right where it is tempting to try and drive the small undulating green, which is protected at the front by a treacherous, deep pot bunker.

Hole 7, Shipwreck, 221 yards, Par 3:

Lake Michigan on the right, while the long, angled green is protected on all sides by deep bunkers. Club selection and assured putting is critical here.

Plenty will find trouble at the seventh
Image: Plenty will find trouble at the seventh

Hole 8, On the Rocks, 507 yards, Par 4:

A blind tee shot with trouble to the right. Intimidating approach to a long green, with a steep run-off towards the lake on the right.

Hole 9, Down and Dirty, 449 yards, Par 4:

The fairway slopes to the right, where the approach will be hampered by a large tree 100 yards out. Seven Mile Creek and several traps guard the two-tier green.

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Colin Montgomerie and Rich Beem play a round at Whistling Straits - and bring a camera for the journey!

Hole 10, Voyageur, 361 yards, Par 4:

A deep bunker 240 yards from the tee must be avoided, while the innocuous-looking green has many subtle breaks that are tough to pick out.

Hole 11, Sand Box, 618 yards, Par 5:

Sand dunes, bunkers and drop-off to the right while lay-ups must avoid a deep trap 100 yards short of a small green, with trouble short and long.

Hole 12, Pop Up, 143 yards, Par 3:

The 12th provides one of the most difficult challenges on the course
Image: The 12th provides one of the most difficult challenges on the course

Downhill to a large, undulating green, with deep bunkers long and a 40-foot drop-off to the right towards Lake Michigan.

Hole 13, Cliff Hanger, 404 yards, Par 4:

Sand dunes and rough to the right, while the short, downhill second is visually intimidating. Anything right will be lost in the steep bluffs overhanging the great lake.

Hole 14, Widow's Watch, 373 yards, Par 4:

Thick rough to the right and a blind approach from the left to another heavily-guarded green with big trouble left and long.

Hole 15, Grand Strand, 518 yards, Par 4:

Power and accuracy needed off the tee, with deep sand dunes to the right. The long approach must clear more dunes to find a huge, trecherous green.

Hole 16, Endless Bite, 569 yards, Par 5:

Reachable in two after a tough tee shot, but the approach is uphill over sand dunes to an elevated green with water long.

Hole 17, Pinched Nerve, 223 yards, Par 3:

The Pinched Nerve provides a challenging par-3 late on in the round
Image: The Pinched Nerve provides a challenging par-3 late on in the round

Dunes and traps 20 feet below the green on the left and a drop-off towards Lake Michigan. Bunkers and a steep hill guard to the right of this stunning hole.

Hole 18, Dyeabolical, 500 yards, Par 4:

A 300-yard carry to clear dunes on the left, while Seven Mile Creek guards the front of the green at this cracking finale to Pete Dye's creation.

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