The outcome of this week’s CME Group Tour Championship could ultimately be decided on the final three holes of the Tiburon Golf Club’s Gold Course.
Holes 16, 17 and 18 played the toughest at last year’s championship, with the par 3, 16th and par 4, 18th tied for the hardest holes for the week. Successfully navigating this closing stretch will be critical to winning this week’s championship says LPGA Manager of Rules and Competition Pete Lis.
While the 16th hole is a relatively short par 3 at 168 yards for the week, Lis says it’s the undulating greens and greenside bunkers that will make up for the lack of length. Players will get a bit of a reprieve at the next hole, the par 5, 17th is a reachable hole for many in the field and mostly downwind. The final hole is a par 4, with water running along the left side of the hole. Lis says the length of the 18th hole can range anywhere from 395 to 425 yards in length depending on the wind.
“There is a premium on the approach shot, as any hole location in the middle to left hand side of the green brings the lake on the left into play,” Lis told LPGA.com via email.
This year the course will play to 6,540 yards to a par 72. Since last year, around 500 trees have been removed from the course, putting a premium on keeping the ball in the fairway on a course that has no rough.
“They are all very large, but once you miss one you bring into play the native grasses and pine straw,” said Lis. “Also, many bunkers have step sod wall faces, similar to what you would see in Scotland, making them very penalizing particularly for a ball close to the face.”
Lydia Ko defeated Carlota Ciganda and Julieta Granada in a playoff to win last year’s championship. All three were able to make no better than par on the final three holes during the final round.
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