Southern Hills: Hole-by-hole guide

1 454 Yards Par 4: Straight away, course management comes into play. The first tee is elevated and players' will be hitting anything from a three-iron to driver - depending on the wind - from a height to a downhill fairway that curves gently to the left. Avoiding the deep bunkers right is imperative, and finding the fairway (particularly the left-hand side) is a real advantage for an approach to a green that slopes from front to back.

2 467 Yards Par 4: Probably the most demanding tee-shot. A creek runs across the fairway 235 yards from the tee with two cross-bunkers behind the water. With trees to the right and the creek on the left, it's vital to find the fairway which slopes from left to right. The approach is to a well-bunkered flat green.

3 408 Yards Par 4: Again, the onus is on a good drive. This hole dog-legs sharply to the left and, so, the tee-shot should really find the right side of the fairway: any pulled drives could find the creek or trees on the left-hand side at the corner of the dogleg. The two-tiered green undulates severely and is well bunkered.

4 368 Yards Par 4: One of the most straightforward holes. Players will probably opt to use a long-iron or three-wood off the tee with a short-iron approach to a well-bunkered green. It's imperative to keep the ball below the hole.

5 642 Yards Par 5: The longest hole in US Open history thanks to a new tee-box which has been built 35 yards back from the original championship tee. The fairway bunkers, right and left, come into play and will put the onus on players to opt for accuracy rather than length. It will be a three-shot hole for most players. Still, Tiger Woods hit a six-iron second shot in practice the other day.

6 175 Yards Par 3: The first short hole on the course shouldn't be underestimated. It plays downhill to a shallow, well-bunkered green and a creek runs along the left side of the green with the added threat of out-of-bounds lurking at the back of the flat green. With the flags expected to be tucked away on either side of the green, players will be forced to hit high tee-shots for a soft landing.

7 382 Yards Par 4: Another hole that, although relatively short, places a strong premium on the tee-shot. Most players will use a long-iron off the tee, but the narrow tree-lined fairway is awkward in that it slopes to the right as it turns left with any loose shots guaranteed to run into the rough. Any player who finds the fairway, though, should leave himself with a short-iron approach to a green guarded by bunkers.

8 225 Yards Par 3: A really tough hole - playing some 15 yards longer because of a new tee-box and uphill to an undulating green protected left and right by bunkers - there is real importance on the tee-shot. Most will be hitting long-irons but, depending on the wind, some may even need a wood. Par will be a very acceptable score.

9 374 Yards Par 4: This dog-leg right plays longer than its yardage indicates. It is an uphill hole into the prevailing wind while a fairway bunker is placed on the right. The tee shot must carry almost 250 yards to clear the bunker and find the narrow tree-lined fairway. The second shot plays uphill to one of the most severe greens on the course.

10 374 Yards Par 4: Club selection off the tee is crucial here. Anyone attempting to cut the corner with a driver off this hole which dog-legs sharply right could end up in trouble. And those who stray to the left of a fairway that slopes from right to left could end up in the rough. Those who do find the fairway will be faced with an approach to a two-tiered green where it is important to stay below the hole. The green is set in an area where the wind can swirl.

11 165 Yards Par 3: Yet again, swirling winds are a factor here. The tee-shot is played downhill to a green that is the smallest on the course. It slopes from back to front. Those players who go too long off the tee will have their short games tested by a specially created chipping area.

12 456 Yards Par 4: Ben Hogan once described this hole as the best par four in championship golf and a new tee box - which adds 15 yards to the hole - serves to make the challenge even tougher. The fairway bunker on the left is now very much in play and the extra length makes it more challenging to hit the long draw to catch the fairway's downward slope. The green is relatively flat but guarded by bunkers to the left and a creek to the right.

13 534 Yards Par 5: This is a genuine risk-and-reward hole for players who hit a good enough tee-shot to be able to make the green in two. A right-to-left tee-shot allows the chance to reach the green with a second shot that more than likely will be uphill to a hidden flagstick. Those who come up short could find one of the two ponds fronting the green while those who miss right, left or long will likely find sand. Those who do make the green in two, however, will have a genuine eagle opportunity.

14 215 Yards Par 3: A downhill hole with out-of-bounds left (a factor with the prevailing wind), most players will nevertheless be playing mid-iron shots to a green that has numerous subtle hollows. It also has six bunkers guarding it for added protection, so it is a hole that is deceptively difficult.

15 412 Yards Par 4: Another deceptive hole, the onus is very much on the player to find the correct part of the fairway to set up his approach shot. The fairway bends left around a bunker but the club selection off the tee will probably depend on the pin placement as the severely sloping green has difficult contours.

16 491 Yards Par 4: Another history-breaker, this is the longest par four in US Open history and players must carry 275 yards downhill to avoid a fairway bunker on the left to find a shelf in the fairway that provides the best angle and lie for the downhill approach shot to the green. Miss the shelf, and players will be left with awkward stances for their second shots. The green is flat and small and is guarded by four bunkers.

17 365 Yards Par 4: This hole may play some 126 yards shorter than the 16th, but it is a great test. The tee-shot is played into the prevailing wind to a tight fairway lined by trees to the left and a creek to the right. Most players will opt for a long-iron off the tee because it is vital to find the fairway if a player wants to hit and hold the small, shallow green.

18 466 Yards Par 4: This is a hole that has been designed for drama. "If you're coming down to the final hole with a one-stroke lead, you're going to have to earn your victory," remarked the USGA's Tom Meeks. Those players who manage to find the safer left side of the fairway will face an uphill approach shot of between 170 to 200 yards to the largest but most severely sloping green on the course. Officials have agreed not to cut the greens any further . . . but it is a hole that will cause more heartbreak than joy!