BMW Championship: Four holes to watch at Olympia Fields’ North Course

Twenty years in the past, Jim Furyk claimed his solely main championship victory by profitable the U.S. Open on the North Course at Olympia Fields.

Solely 4 gamers completed beneath par that week, because the USGA compelled Olympia Fields to elongate its North Course previous to the 2003 U.S. Open.

These adjustments have paid dividends for the Chicago-area membership, because the USGA returned to the North Course for the 2015 U.S. Newbie, gained by Bryson DeChambeau.

Since then, the PGA Tour picked Olympia Fields to host the 2020 BMW Championship, the penultimate occasion within the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

That week, Jon Rahm defeated Dustin Johnson in an exciting playoff, as each gamers completed at 4-under for the championship. Much like the 2003 U.S. Open, solely 5 gamers completed beneath par through the 2020 version of the BMW.

Now the highest 50 gamers within the FedEx Cup standings will tee it up at Olympia Fields, hoping to safe a spot in subsequent week’s Tour Championship.

The North Course is a difficult, main championship-caliber format that may certainly check the world’s finest gamers.

So let’s take a look at 4 essential holes that may assist determine the 2023 BMW Championship:

Gap 1 – Par 5, 626 Yards

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Nicknamed ‘Railroad,’ the Chicago Commuter Rail runs parallel to the opening gap on the North Course.

The primary is without doubt one of the simpler holes on the course, because the prevailing southerly wind is most frequently on the gamers’ backs. Many of the area ought to have the ability to get house in two photographs, though the moist situations this week could stop many from doing so.

Three bunkers guard the touchdown space, with one sitting left of the golf green and the 2 others sitting to the proper. Anybody that finds the sand off the tee will probably be compelled to put up.

From there, gamers may have a straight view into the inexperienced, which is guarded by two entrance bunkers.

Like most greens at Olympia Fields, the placing floor on the first slopes from again to entrance, so retaining the ball under the opening is crucial.

Contemplating the issue of this course, gamers will look to start their rounds with a birdie, or else they are going to lose a shot, or extra, to the remainder of the sphere.

Gap 8 – Par 3, 251 Yards

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An absolute behemoth of a par-3, the eighth gap at Olympia Fields not solely measures over 250 yards, but additionally performs uphill. It sometimes performs into the wind too.

4 bunkers shield the entrance facet of this placing floor, catching something that comes up quick or any shot caught up within the wind.

A shortly-mown space behind the inexperienced will accumulate any shot that goes lengthy. Any participant that misses there may have a tricky time getting up and down, because of the inexperienced’s many undulations.

A par is a terrific rating right here. Anyone that makes 4 threes this week will probably be greater than glad.

Gap 15 – Par 5, 606 Yards

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The second of two par-5s, the fifteenth gap performs way more troublesome than the primary. Gamers will discover that the fifteenth doesn’t yield many birdies, in contrast to most par-5s on the PGA Tour.

This gap is a pointy dogleg proper, with bushes and woods operating down the proper facet.

The golf green additionally slopes in that course, making it troublesome to search out.

If gamers wish to try to get house in two, they need to put their tee photographs on the left facet of the golf green. Ought to they miss too far proper, bushes will impede their photographs.

In fact, Tiger Woods hit it proper of this fairway on the 2003 U.S. Open. He ended up pulling off some of the ridiculous photographs of his profession as he sliced a three-wood across the nook and onto the inexperienced.

However, if gamers miss too far left, two bunkers 300 yards from the tee will catch any pulled tee shot. If anybody finds these, a lay-up will comply with.

If gamers determine to put up—a lot of the area will probably achieve this—they need to keep away from the bunker on the proper that sits 120 yards in need of the inexperienced.

The placing floor is nicely guarded, with three bunkers sitting to the proper of the inexperienced. Ought to the pin be on the proper facet, these sand traps are absolute no-go’s. One other bunker sits quick and left of the inexperienced.

Like most others at Olympia Fields, the inexperienced slopes from again to entrance.

The fifteenth gap at Olympia Fields is without doubt one of the finest par-5s within the nation, and it’ll function maybe essentially the most essential gap down the stretch on Sunday. Gamers could make a birdie, however a bogey could possibly be made simply as simply.

Gap 18 – Par 4, 510 Yards

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Unsurprisingly, the North Course at Olympia Fields has a terrific closing gap. It’s lengthy and difficult, and anybody that makes par right here will stroll away glad.

A draw is required off the tee on this dogleg left par-4. Just like the fifteenth, being on the left facet of the golf green is the favored place, because it utterly takes the pond quick and proper of this inexperienced out of play.

Ought to gamers miss proper, they could discover the bunker on the nook of the golf green. Furthermore, the massive pond comes into the sightline of these taking part in from the proper facet, which by no means fails to intimidate.

4 bunkers guard this inexperienced that slopes severely from again to entrance. Two bunkers on the left and the entrance proper bunker will snatch any mishit that comes up quick. The fourth bunker sits to the proper of the inexperienced and should be prevented in any respect prices.

The inexperienced additionally has a large ridge stemming off that proper bunker. Ought to the pin be on that proper facet, be careful for loads of missed putts, as that ridge will idiot many gamers.

Gamers should be under the opening right here, or else a three-putt is completely in play.

Photograph by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR through Getty Pictures

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. You’ll want to try @_PlayingThrough too.