2003: Poulter holds on for victory

Celtic Manor will test the stamina, not to mention the shot-making, of the European Tour players to the full this week.

It's longish at 7,355 yards and one of the most undulating on the circuit. If the wind blows up, the pros will feel every inch of that length.

Designer Robert Trent Jones Jr has slotted in some intriguing hole layouts with blind shots aplenty. It's a worthy home for the 2010 Ryder Cup but spectators had better get in training now if they're planning to walk the course on all three days.

Last year, Englishman Ian Poulter won on 18 under par by three clear shots.

EASIEST HOLE:
The par-five, 565-yard fifth reaped more eagles (seven) and birdies (221) than any other in the 2003 Wales Open.

It's downhill and that leaves most with a long-iron second to the green, providing they hit a fairway which is skirted by a lake on the left. It has a couple of fairway bunkers on the right but they shouldn't come into play.

Watch out for a pin position on the left of the green on the final day. Overcooked approaches could roll to a watery end. Last year, it averaged 4.56 strokes a time.

HARDEST HOLE:

The aptly-named Canonica is the European Tour's biggest hitter

The par-four first, at 471 yards, is a baptism of fire for new boys to Celtic Manor. The stroke average was 4.22 last year and there were 118 bogeys there, far more than at any other hole in the event.

It normally plays into the prevailing wind and has a ridge on the right side of the fairway. Clear that, and you get a good sighting of the well-bunkered green, hit short and left and you'll be hitting your second blind on to a putting surface which slopes back towards the fairway.

Not surprisingly, the longer hitters tend to fare best here.

A tough one to call. Ian Poulter will fancy his chances of being in the shake-up again after his success of last year, though his form so far this season has been no better than solid despite a slightly lowered stroke average of 70.6.

Paul Lawrie, who won the event in 2002, has hardly been setting the world alight this year, either. His stats, tee-to-green, are down in each department so far, with his stroke average over a shot worse at 72.3. The field also includes 2001 winner Paul McGinley, Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood, but otherwise is short on star appeal.

For an outside bet, try Emanuele Canonica. The Italian is the longest driver on Tour at an average of just over 318 yards, and eighth in greens in regulation with 76%. If he could only improve an appalling putting record (31.7 putts a round), he could do some real damage.

Information provided by Reuters Stats