The 115thUS Open Championship will be unlike any of the 114 before it. That is because this one takes place at Chambers Bay Golf Course.
Located in the Pacific Northwest, the 7,826 yard course may look more like Scottish links than a US Open course. The 250-acre site was acquired in 1992 and the Robert Trent Jones Jr designed course was then opened in 2007.
Now it 2015, it’s ready to test the best players in the world.
Jones himself described the course as "an authentic links, on steroids". With potentially eight par fours measuring over 495 yards, fescue rough, large undulating greens and firm and fast fairways, Chambers Bay will provide a unique challenge to the 156 players who will tee it up on Thursday.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the key holes and shots to look out for this week.
First and 18th holes
Both the opening and closing holes this week have the ability to be played either as par fours or par fives. The first hole hole can be stretched to a 598-yard par five, or play as 496-yard par four. Similarly, the finishing hole can play either as a 604-yard par five or a 525-yard par four. The United States Golf Association (USGA) has said that when one plays as a par four, the other will be a par five so as to keep the course to a par 70 all week.
Ninth hole
The first and 18th holes are not the only holes on the course that can play two different ways. On paper, the ninth hole plays either 217 or 224 yards, which does not sound like a big difference. In reality, it could make a huge difference. The 224-yard tee places the players about 100 feet above the green facing a picturesque downhill tee shot to a putting surface guarded by bunkers on the right hand side. The 217-yard tee shot positions the players 60 feet below the green with a daunting, semi-blind uphill tee shot.
14th hole
This hole is not named Cape Fear for nothing. At 546 yards this will become the longest par four in US Open history. A dramatic downhill tee shot will need to avoid a giant waste bunker on the left-hand side and a smaller fairway bunker in the middle of the fairway. From there, an approach shot will hope to find a tough green that slopes back to front with a tricky collection area on the right hand side.
16th hole
Whilst Chambers Bay has the ability to play eight par fours over 495 yards, the 16th hole is not one of those. It will play at 423 yards and move from left to right along the railway line. On paper it is a good late birdie chance however the green narrows in the back to an area only nine yards wide which will be hard to get to if you miss the fairway with your tee shot.
These are just a few of the holes that will test the world’s best players this week, but who will it suit?Click hereto see our Fantasy Five To Watch at Chambers Bay.
