While the ninth is one of the most photographed holes in world golf, the eighth has the potential to wreck scorecards
Søren Kjeldsen’s route to victory in the 2015 Irish Open hit a speed bump at the eighth hole when he suffered a double-bogey six in his final round. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty ImagesThe four par 3s at Royal County Down are each entitled to respect, and – especially when the wind blows a hooley – fear! The first of them is arguably the most impressive of all as, following the opening sequence of holes along the coast, the fourth hole faces back to the mountains.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his second shot on the eighth hole on Wednesday during a Pro-Am before the 2024 Irish Open at Royal County Down Golf Club. Photograph: Jan Kruger/Getty ImagesLike pieces of jewellery linked together, the finish to the front nine is one magnificent par 4 after another. If the ninth is one of the most photographed holes in world golf, the preceding hole – the eighth – is one that has the potential to wreck scorecards.
Rory McIlroy waits on the 15th hole during the first round of the Irish Open at at Royal County Down in 2015. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty ImagesThis late hole should come with a health and safety warning, as it has the potential to inflict chaos and carnage. When the Irish Open was here in 2015, the hole – a dog-leg to an upturned saucer of a green – played as the most difficult of all and averaged 4.52, which made it one of the hardest on the DP World Tour that season.
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