Royal Birkdale Golf Club Hole By Hole Guide: Hole 18

A guide to the final hole at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England ahead of the 146th Open Championship

Royal Birkdale Golf Club Hole By Hole Guide: Hole 18

Hole 18 - Par 4 - 473 yards

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The 146th Open Championship takes place at Royal Birkdale this month, here is a guide to the eighteenth hole.

Related: Royal Birkdale Golf Club Course Review

Some courses feature simple closing holes to ease competitors home after a tough battle on the links. Not at Royal Birkdale.

The par-4 18th is one of the hardest holes on the course, playing 473 yards from the back tees with a testing drive.

There are three bunkers in play off the tee, one at 278 yards, one left at 306 yards and one further down at 349 yards.

If you manage to miss these and find the fairway, a par is on the cards. However, don't go right as out of bounds will be waiting.

The green, directly in front of the beautiful Art Deco Birkdale clubhouse, is a tough one too.

Two bunkers short and left are waiting as is a bunker to the right.

With thousands packed into the grandstands down 18, precision is required under the most intense pressure.

The 18th truly is a fantastic Open Championship closing hole.