The 152nd Open: Why the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon tests the best like no other

By Mathieu Wood

While Royal Troon may boast the longest hole in the history of the Open Championship this week, the hole that continues to drive the most discussion remains its shortest.

Not only is the par-three eighth – measuring 123 yards – the shortest at the Ayrshire venue in the west of Scotland, but it is also the shortest of any venue on the Open rota.

But it certainly doesn't sit in the shadows of the 623-yard par five sixth in terms of prominence. Despite its meagre length the challenge of the par-three eighth Postage Stamp is immense.

Protected by five bunkers, including one to the left edge of a long but narrow green called ‘The Coffin’, the hole is among a select-few with a renowned reputation worldwide.

With a tiny margin for error, precision is paramount. Add in the potential for the wind to play havoc and you have the recipe for a hole that could prove decisive in the direction of who will lift the Claret Jug on Sunday.

While The 152nd Open marks the tenth time Royal Troon has hosted the championship after an eight-year break, for many in the field this week is the first occasion they are playing the course competitively.

The consensus among the majority of the field on the challenge the hole poses is favourable.

Speaking after playing a practice round on Tuesday, this year's US PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele was effusive in his praise.

"It's refreshing," the American said

"It's really hard. Most of the (par three) holes we play are 255 yards. It's kind of cool to have a hole that's super scary that is that short, and I think it's going to provide a lot of entertainment if that wind picks up off the left.

"Trying to win a major championship, and you have a little hole like that that can mess your entire week up. It's more fun than playing a 250-yard hole with no wind, but it's probably harder."

Tiger Woods, who made his Open Championship debut at Royal Troon in 1997, summed up the test of the short eighth in succinct but a telling manner.

"Green good, miss green bad," he told reporters. "It doesn't get any more simple than that. You don't need a 240-yard par three for it to be hard."

The 15-time Major champion knows better than most the dangers the hole can cause. In 1997, he made a triple-bogey six in the final round when he hit it into the back right bunker, took two get out and three-putted.

More generally, the consensus among the field is that the eighth features on the side of the course that could yield the best scoring.

Just don’t try telling the World Number One Scottie Scheffler that will be reflected in the scoring at the conclusion of the week.

You don't need a 240-yard par three for it to be hard

Like Schauffele, his Ryder Cup teammate played at last year’s U.S. Open when there was a 290-yard par three. Two-time Masters champion Scheffler made plainly clear which type of challenge he prefers.

“I get frustrated sometimes when the solution to distance is just making holes further and further, and then it only just encourages guys to try to hit the ball further and further and not worry as much about controlling your ball.

“No. 8 is a good little way to almost step back in time and control your ball a bit more. You don't have to make a par-3 230 yards to make it a great hole. It can be 120 yards. I think holes like 12 at Augusta and 17 at Sawgrass, the best par-3s in the world are short par-3s.

"They're not overly long par threes. It leaves a lot of opportunity for you to hit a shot. If I don't hit the green on No. 8, it's mostly likely going to be a bogey unless you're in the front of the green. If you miss it in the left bunker, you're going to be glad to be making a bogey because it's probably going to plug, and you'll be hitting up-and-down for your bogey. I think great little, short holes like that are fun.

"I think it's an underrated skill for guys nowadays to be able to control your ball, and I think it's something we need to encourage in our game, not just building golf courses longer and longer.”

In summary, praise is not in short supply for the Postage Stamp, which rightly holds his place among the most famed holes in Open history.