Royal Liverpool Golf Club is hosting the Open Championship for the third time this century and 13th time overall. It has made some meaningful changes to the course for this year's tournament.
What was the 16th hole is now the 15th hole, and what was the 17th hole is now the 16th. Brand new to the course is the 17th hole, a 136-yard par-3 that is already known for its breathtaking view and deep bunkers.
Before players reach the 17th, the 15th hole represents one of the toughest challenges on the course. In fact, prior to this year no one in Open Championship history had taken on a hole quite as long.
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Here's what you need to know about Royal Liverpool's record-setting 15th hole and why it has been lengthened.
How long is Hole 15 at Royal Liverpool?
Royal Liverpool's 15th hole is 620 yards long, making it the longest hole in Open Championship history.
Like many holes, scoring at the 15th is very much dependent on wind direction. It is expected to be an extremely challenging hole if players are teeing off into the wind, but it could be a great birdie opportunity if the wind is at the players' backs.
Players teeing off first have to avoid a set of bunkers to the right, and then they need to avoid bunkers that sit to the left of the green.
Despite being the longest hole the Open Championship has seen, there's a chance players could use it to move up the leaderboard if the conditions are just right.
Why is Hole 15 at Royal Liverpool so long?
Royal Liverpool head golf pro John Heggarty says (according to the Open Championship website) the lengthening of the hole is a "great addition," because "it brings the bunkers into play that the pros bombed it over in 2014," the last time Royal Liverpool hosted The Open. Heggarty notes that two bunkers were added to the hole to make it "much more of a real par 5."
With the renovations, Royal Liverpool now has a famous final four holes. Between two par-5 that each span more than 600 yards and the brand-new 17th hole, the closing stretch is designed to make the finish more thrilling than ever.
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This year's 15th hole was the 577-yard 16th hole in 2014. Rory McIlroy eagled the hole on the final day, which helped propel him to the win. Based on Heggarty's comments, it sounds as though the course has been constructed to make that scenario much less likely this time around.
Before this year, Royal Troon Golf Club — which will host the 2024 Open Championship — claimed its 601-yard sixth hole was the longest in the event's history. Royal Liverpool now has two holes longer than 601 yards, as the 18th hole is a 609-yard par-5.
