The PGA Championship returns to Valhalla for the fourth time next week as excitement builds ahead of the second major championship of 2024.
Scottie Scheffler is the resounding favourite to seal his third major title should he make the trip to Louisville. Doubt has emerged over the 27-year-old’s participation as he still awaits the birth of his first child.
Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm are also among those tipped to enjoy success in Kentucky.
Valhalla has typically favoured the bigger hitters, with the course coming in at nearly 7500 yards. Those who can keep it long and straight will have an advantage; easier said than done.
Here The Golfing Gazette has taken a look at the five toughest holes at the 2008 Ryder Cup venue.
5. Hole 2 – Par 4, 500 yards
According to Valhalla’s actual scorecard, the par-four 2nd is the fifth hardest hole on the course.
Nicknamed the ‘winning colors’, the 500-yard beast doglegs slightly to the left, players will have to find a small sliver of the fairway that is just 22 yards wide.
4. Hole 16 – Par 4, 508 yards
The 16th is a heavily tree-lined mammoth par-four that dog-legs slightly to the right.
Any tee shot to the right will leave players with an impeded view into the green.
Over the years, the 16th has proven one of the more challenging holes due to the smart placement of two bunkers and a drop-off to the chipping area on the right of the green.
3. Hole 5, Par 4 – 463 yards
The third hardest hole at Valhalla is the par-four fifth. Nicknamed ‘The Sun Shines Bright’.
Three bunkers sit just to the left of where players will look to land their tee shots, and when utilised, the back right hole location tees up arguably the most challenging hole location on the course.
2. Hole 12, Par 4 – 494 yards
Another lengthy par 4 early on the back nine presents players with the second most difficult hole of the course.
The fairway runs out at 310 yards, meaning the longer hits must consider clubbing down, leaving a longer shot into the green.
Furthermore, one of the most challenging bunkers on the course lurks just to the right of the putting surface.
1. Hole 6, Par 4 – 495 yards
Nicknamed the ‘Long Shot’ purely because that’s an accurate description of a player’s chances of making par.
Traditionally known as one of Valhalla’s most difficult holes, an accurate drive is required before a lengthy second shot into the green.
The fairway ends at 300 yards, meaning the average PGA Tour pro will have to club down, leaving over 200 yards into the green.
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