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Last Updated: Thursday, 9 October, 2003, 15:17 GMT 16:17 UK
Bjorn's hole-by-hole guide
A guide to the West Course at Wentworth

By Thomas Bjorn

Thomas Bjorn
The West Course has 18 very good holes - some tricky short holes and some tough long ones

Denmark's Ryder Cup star Thomas Bjorn will be one of three Europeans playing in this year's HSBC World Match Play Championship at Wentworth.

Here he talks of the challenges of the famous West Course.

"Every hole at Wentworth can catch you out - you can make a big number on any hole. This doesn't matter so much in matchplay so we can play the course more aggressively during the World Match Play than during the PGA Championship," said Bjorn.

"It is nice to play matchplay because we don't get the opportunity that often.

"As it's playing your opponent as opposed to the course, you do become much more aggressive, which is great for the Wentworth galleries."


The West Course, Wentworth - 7,047 yards, par 73

1st - 473 yards, par 4

A view back down the first at Wentworth
Players aim left down the first at Wentworth

One of the toughest opening holes in golf.

Most hit a three wood off the tee to the left side of the fairway where you get a flatter lie.

Mid to long iron in to the elevated green but often, the second shot is played a bit uphill so it is very easy to come up short of the green.


2nd - 154 yards, par 3
A great, tricky little short hole requiring an eight or nine iron. A difficult green to hit, so you want to make sure you get enough distance on your tee shot.

About 100 yards out, the hole opens up from the right and the wind has a big impact on the golf ball. A tricky pin position at the back of the green on the right but distance control is very important.


3rd - 447 yards, par 4
The toughest hole on the course. Most professionals today can carry the right hand bunker off the tee so you will see them hit a driver and try and find the right hand side of the fairway beyond the bunker.

The third at Wentworth
The third - distance is key on the second shot

Then it's mid to long iron into a severe sloping green with three tiers. The pin position will normally be on the back of the green.

You try and make sure you're short of the flag with your second shot so you're left with a putt up the green - over the green it gets very tricky.


4th - 497 yards, par 5
A short par five. Most players will hit three wood off the tee to be left with a mid to long iron to the green, which slopes severely from right to left.

Players either try and chase the second shot in from the right, or with a mid-iron try and fly the ball to the hole.
An easy par five but important to hit the fairway - in the rough and on a downslope it's difficult to get the ball all the way to the green.


5th - 191 yards, par 3
One of the best par threes in golf. There is a severe slope on the back right hand corner of the green and you want to make sure that you leave yourself an uphill putt - you can get some very fast downhill putts here.
It's a mid iron from the tee - between four and six.


6th - 354 yards, par 4
The first of three shortish par fours. Most players will hit a three, four or five iron off the tee leaving them an eight or nine iron into the tiny green.

Important to stay out of the bunkers, so it's an iron off the tee.


7th - 396 yards, par 4
A three wood or two iron off the tee so you land short of the ditch at the bottom of a big slope.

The seventh at Wentworth
The seventh - a tough uphill approach

It's one of the toughest second shots in the world - severely uphill to a tiny plateau on the back of this two tier green.

Distance control is very important. A very difficult second shot even though it's only an eight or nine iron.


8th - 400 yards, par 4
A short par four - two iron off the tee and nine iron in to the green. A straightforward hole - try and aim your second shot down the right because it slopes right to left.


9th - 452 yards, par 4
A long par four. The tee shot here is key - you want to be down the left of this fairway or you will run off.

The green sits below you - the flag is almost hidden - but it's a straightforward hole. The difficulty is the length - it's a long par four.





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