Hole 17: What players are saying about the new addition to Royal Liverpool

The much talked about 17th hole is garnering plenty of early attention ahead of The 151th Open.

The par thee, named 'Little eye', is a new hole to players competing in this week's Open at Royal Liverpool, replacing the par three 15th that was in play during the last two editions - won by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

Playing 136 yards, Hoylake's newest hole features a significantly raised infinity green that has considerable undulations, is surrounding by bunkers and features big fall off areas.

Precision is key to this hole, and if the wind blows it's likely we'll see a few big numbers.

Multiple and vast waste bunkers lead up towards the green, which also features two penalising bunkers either side. Coupled with the big fall-off areas to the sides and more wasteland at the back, there's little room for errors on this hole without being faced with a difficult up and down. In simple terms, there's no bail out at number 17.

And while making the green is going to be imperative on this hole, on the green undulations are considerable, too.

John Heggarty, Head Pro at Royal Liverpool, said you need to have your A game on this hole.

"The new par-3, it could play anything. I’ve hit a 5-iron on that hole, I've hit a gap wedge on that hole, it could be anything. It's fair to say that you need to hit the green. If you don’t hit a good shot on that hole onto the green, then you are going struggle to make par. (There's the) big deep bunker on the right-hand side, a sneaky little bunker front left, and of course if you land it on the front of the green with any sort of decent strike, the spin that you’re going to create on that ball will probably bring you back down into the waste area, leaving you a 40-yard bunker shot from the wasteland. You need to have your A game on that tee, whether you’re hitting a gap wedge or you’re hitting an 8-iron. We’d love to see it with a little bit of wind, either into or a crosswind, it doesn’t matter. If there’s no wind, and you have a front pin, it will appear to be a very simple shot and it is a very simple shot for these guys. But sometimes simple shots come back and bite you.”

So what do the players making of it?

In a word, difficult, according to Jon Rahm.

"And 17, well, I see what they tried to do," said Rahm.

"The old 15, par-3, was the complete opposite of the hole. You have a short downhill hole most likely downwind with basically all the edges sloping towards the centre of the green. I thought it was a good hole. You could make a birdie, and if you miss the green, a bogey was lurking.

"This time they made a really difficult turtle shell par-3. If you hit a good shot, put it on the green, you have a clear look at birdie. If you miss the green, you have a clear look at bogey. I would say if it is it's fair, because it's unfair to everybody. Like it's golf, and it's life. Simple as that."

"That new 17th is going to be a really interesting 71st hole, not to mention playing it first three rounds as well," added three-time major winner Jordan Spieth.

"It could be carnage, but you can also hit a short iron and make birdie depending on the conditions."

World Number One Scottie Scheffler said that when it comes to playing around Hoylake, his game plan is to avoid bunkers as much as he can. That's something that is not going to be easy at the 17th without a perfect approach, and Scheffler says that's exactly what needs to be done at this hole.

"Yeah, that's another one of those holes -- I was talking to a few of the guys earlier today. There is not really a high-percentage play. You just have to hit a really good shot, and if you don't, I would say missing it left of the green is a little bit better than right.

"That bunker is pretty treacherous on the right. But as far as that hole goes I'm just going to try and hit a really good shot, and that's pretty much all you can do.

"The one thing I've noticed about this golf course is anytime I'm hitting -- anytime my ball is going towards a bunker I'm very nervous. I'm just going to try and avoid the bunkers at all costs."

Meanwhile Matthew Jordan, who has been a member of Royal Liverpool since the age of seven and has the honour of hitting the opening tee shot this week, had a slightly different view. He doesn't feel like it's going to provide as much drama as everyone thinks, unless the wind decides to blow. .

"So my honest opinion, I've tried actually asking quite a few pros to see exactly what they feel, and for me personally the new hole requires the right weather," said Matthew Jordan, who plays his home course this week after earning his way into The Open through Final Qualifying.

"I think if you're having 120 yards with no wind and it's soft, I think it's not going to create the drama that you guys probably want, that members probably want. However, if we get a bit of wind into, I think you will see guys make 2 but they will still miss the green."