A new challenge presents itself to players this week at the Porsche European Open as one of the hardest par fours on the DP World Tour has been lengthened and transformed into a new par five.
The formidable Porsche Nord Course at Green Eagles Golf Courses is widely regarded as one of the toughest examinations on the DP World Tour, typically exemplified by its uniquely challenge closing stretch (par five, par five, par three, par five) and two long par fours on the front-nine: the 475 yard sixth, and the 488 yard fourth.
Last year the fourth hole was not only the most difficult on the course, but ranked third in the hardest holes on the DP World Tour in 2022, playing an average of 0.53 strokes over par. Of the top ten and ties on the leaderboard at the end of the event, nobody managed to play the fourth under par.
In fact, tournament winner Kalle Samooja played the hole in one over par, missing the fairway once across the four days as he made a bogey in the first round.
This year, the hole has had a rethink to present an entirely new challenge: a 532 yard par five.
So why the change?
Quite simply, the hole aligns much more closely with how designer Michael Blesch intended it to be played.
The original design of the hole is a par five, risk and reward hole, featuring a compact, par-five green design with water behind the green and to the right.
The green has always been small because it was intended to receive high-flighted wedge shots and shorter clubs as they are easier to stop on the green, rather than the lower trajectory of long irons which regularly are unable to hold it.
For the past five years it has been too short for the professionals to play as a par five, but with the additional 44 yards of distance, it has now been changed back to its original routing.
As a par five, those wedge and shorter club shots have been brought back into play while also providing a risk and reward temptation for those who might opt to go for it in two.
And it’s a change that has been well received by the professionals who have been playing at this venue – dubbed the ‘Green Monster’ - for the last five years.
“I think it’s a lot better as a par five,” said Andy Sullivan, who revealed that it has changed how he mentally approaches the hole.
“It just makes it different. I played it for the first time as a par five and it makes you ask how did we ever play it as a par four. The green just suits more of a wedge shot in or chipping around it to be honest with you. Going in with a five iron or six iron last year into that back right portion, you were happy to make four. To make it as a par five this year but 50 yards back, I’d dare to say you’ll see more fours than you did last year. It’s strange how it mentally can change the hole itself.”
“I think it’s a good change,” agreed Antoine Rozner.
“It was a very difficult par four, almost too hard in the past because it’s such a tiny green for a long distance so I think to have it further back off the tee and have it as a par five should be pretty interesting. It’s going to be a really risk and reward hole.”
“The way that we played it before, the green was too small for the length of the hole unless you were a very long hitter and got it on the perfect line, and everybody seemed to hit it up on the left side of the green and chip it on,” added Søren Kjeldsen.
“I think maybe adding a little bit of length then it’s sort of tempting, but you’ve got to be in the perfect spot.”
The change turns the course into a par 73, but despite the added length to the fourth, the course is playing 18 yards shorter at 7,457 compared to the 7,475 yards it played in 2022.
Those yards come from moving one tee box forward on both the par five 15th (551 yards from 594 yards), and the iconic par three 17th (151 from 170 yards).
On the 15th, still using the third tee from the back, the hole is now reachable for most. The water is still in play on the right of the fairway, but the large landing zone would leave approximately 222 yards to the green.
On the 17th, it allows for more accessible pins with shorter clubs.
While in theory those changes may provide more opportunity, the closing four holes will still be expected to provide plenty of tournament-worthy drama. After all, last year’s champion Samooja – who was one of just 15 players under par for the week - birdied three of his final four holes to post an eight-under par 64 and win by two strokes.
And of course, there will be no shortage of drama at the unchanged par four sixth, which last year was the fourth hardest hole on the DP World Tour. At 475 yards, it played half a stroke over par across the week in 2022, with just 25 birdies over four days by the field - only the par-three 13th saw fewer.
