With the 2012 U.S. Open just one week away from starting, there's a lot of focus being put on the challenging golf course where the championship will be played: The Olympic Club Lake Course in San Francisco, but there's one hole that's likely to give up the most birdies and eagles.
This year's championship course is 7,170 yards, which is 373 yards longer than when The Olympic Club hosted the national championship in 1998, and will play at a par 70. Read our analysis of some of the hardest holes here.
However, so far during the 2012 Virtual U.S. Open being played on World Golf Tour, hole 17 at The Olympic Club's has scored the lowest below par on average. For the first-time ever, this 522-yard hole is being played as a par 5 instead of a par 4, but it's still no push-over.
With its short tilted fairway, it's key for players to find the best location right-center of the fairway and then try to reach the green in two shots. But the elevated green has a small landing area and balls can slide off to the right. Hitting the green-side bunker on the left also makes for a challenging bunker shot to get it close but also to keep it on the green without rolling down the hill towards the green-side trees and 18th hole fairway.
Depending on the hole location, we're likely to see some eagles and birdies on the 17th hole at the U.S. Open, but maybe some bogeys as well. Either way, it will be significant in deciding the 2012 U.S. Open champion.
Anyone can play this hole at The Olympic Club now, free online without signup at World Golf Tour.
Stay tuned for weekly updates from WGT, and visit the USGA site for more information about the 2012 U.S. Open Championship.