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Bethpage - A look at five key holes at Bethpage Black, the 7 459-yard par-70 course where the 101st PGA Championship begins on Thursday.
First 430-yard par-4
The opening tee shot comes with a warning sign noting Bethpage Black is "an extremely difficult course" and only recommended for "highly skilled golfers" but that won't stop the field of 156. An elevated tee finds a fairway that bends sharply to the right with a cluster of trees denying any shortcut ideas. Hitting left is ideal because a huge bunker guards the right side of one of the course's smallest greens, which slopes sharply and tends to send errant approaches rolling off.
Tenth 502-yard par-4
In 2002, some players complained they couldn't hit the ball hard enough to reach the fairway, aiming for the native brush-flanked cart path. Tall fescue and bunkers await errant tee shots to the left. Sprawling sands await to the right as well. An elevated green is front guarded by bunkers.
Twelfth 515-yard par-4
Toughest tee shot on the course forces a drive over cross bunkers or a longer shot right, where more sand or long grass lurks. A large green is flanked by bunkers and features plenty of undulations so finding the correct level is a challenge as well.
Fifteenth 484-yard par-4
Long par-4 hole bends left, the last 180 yards uphill to an elevated green fronted by deep bunkers. Miss the fairway and it's difficult to hold the green, which is among the most difficult at Bethpage - 50 feet above the fairway with two tiers sloping back left to front right.
Seventeenth 207-yard par-3
Slightly elevated green is 43 yards wide and split by a spine through the middle. A deep bunker guards the front of the green with others around the putting surface looming for wayward shots.
