Nick Dougherty’s complete guide to Royal Birkdale

1st
Hole

Par:
4

Yards: 448

2008 Average: 4.515

It’s all about the tee shot. I suspect a lot of the guys will go for a driving
iron and play for position because it’s a ‘must find’ fairway. There’s an
opportunity for a big number if you leak it right because there’s lots of
trouble down there. It’s not for nothing that it has been the second hardest
hole on the course in each of the last two Opens played there.