The eight-time Open Championship venue that Rory McIlroy says has the ‘toughest’ three-hole stretch in all of golf

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The Open Championship can often be the most volatile major championship when it comes to scoring.

Padraig Harrington clinched victory with a score of three over in 2008 at Royal Birkdale, whilst Cameron Smith’s 21-under win at St Andrews in 2022 was the other end of the spectrum.

Even the 2024 Open at Royal Troon provided up-and-down scoring throughout the four days. Brutal weather punished the field over the weekend before Xander Schauffele sealed his second major triumph.

Any Open Championship venue, on its day, can prove a stern test for the world’s best players. However, there’s one famous Scottish course that has consistently proven to be a stern test.

What Rory McIlroy has said about Carnoustie

Carnoustie last hosted the Open Championship in 2018, and it’s a course that has seen its reputation grow over the years.

During the 1999 Open, Tiger Woods claimed Carnoustie was unfair and one of the most challenging golfing tests he’d ever faced.

Paul Lawrie won the Claret Jug 26 years ago after finishing six over for the tournament. Woods ended the week in T7 on ten over.

Before the 2018 event, Rory McIlroy also discussed Carnoustie’s difficulty, and the Northern Irishman claimed that the three finishing holes were among the most brutal three-hole stretches in all of golf.

“The bunkering is probably some of the most well-bunkered golf courses in the world in terms of making you think and giving you options off the tees. It was my first Open in ’07,” McIlroy said.

“It’s definitely one of the toughest. Everyone thinks back to Carnoustie and that championship in ’99 when the rough was so long and the scoring high. The conditions didn’t help either. It all depends around here because if you start missing it off-line and the rough it thick, it can become very penal. 16, 17 and 18 are three of the toughest holes in golf for sure. If you can play the last four holes in level par, you are always very happy.”

• READ MORE: Why Phil Mickelson was told not to attend the champions dinner at the Open by the R&A last time it was held at St Andrews

Most famous three-hole stretches in golf

16, 17 and 18 at Carnoustie is widely regarded as one of the toughest stretches in all of golf.

There are, however, some other infamous three-hole stretches which are still used on the PGA Tour.

PGA National’s ‘Bear Trap’ running through holes 15-17, is known for being one of the most challenging stretches on the PGA Tour. Innisbrook’s ‘Snake Pit’ is another finishing stretch in Florida, which is infamous on golf’s traditional circuit.

The ‘Green Mile’ at Quail Hollow is made up of 16, 17 and 18. The three finishing holes total 1,175 yards combined. Golf fans will get to see the ‘Green Mile’ in action when the PGA Championship returns to Charlotte in May.

Of course, Augusta National must also be mentioned. Holes 10, 11 and 12 provide arguably the most brutal start to back nine in all of golf.