Written by By Brett Josef Grubisic, CNN
If you’re planning to watch Tiger Woods tee off at the Memorial in Dublin, Ohio, this weekend, make sure to swing by PNC Golf Club for Sunday’s final round.
The exclusive course is about 10 minutes’ drive from Woods’ Jupiter Island, Florida home.
One thing you’ll notice right away about the course — one it’s perfectly described by its PNC Members in its members website: “Momentum is the reason most golfers win majors. These guys are searching for it like lost souls.”
But it’s going to take more than momentum to win this week. The Memorial takes place on a tree-lined par-71 layout that’s among the toughest of the season.
As you’d expect at this tournament, everything on the course is immaculate, from the water views to the green locations.
From the practice range, it’s easy to spot where Woods will play his best shots and where he will hit his worst.
The practice tee is just 10 yards from the hole at the par-5 No. 3, for example.
Also worth a look are the practice areas at Nos. 1 and 9 — the 9th in particular, is huge and heavily protected by trees. It’s typically played into the wind, and even a short drive on a positive-dry wind is subject to severe gusts.
A ball struck short of the green can rarely be retrieved.
The 15th hole is the tournament’s longest: 2,150 yards from the tee.
“This hole really shows where Tiger’s strength is,” PNC member Adam Itter said. “It’s a really long par-5, with hard pin positions at every hole, and some really difficult ridge areas on several holes.”
That back nine at PNC golf course in Dublin, Ohio, features tough holes at both the 1st and 3rd. Credit: www.phyfun.com
What about The Masters?
At the UK Open in 2010, Woods finished ninth after only parring eight of his 14 holes in the final round. “I was leaving a lot of putts short,” he said. “I was just fighting myself all day.”
The distance he’ll have to cover at The Memorial could provide inspiration for that practice session. But it’s not the only challenge. Itter said that most clubs demand top-caliber preparation before playing a tournament.
It’s certainly a long way from his two wins at the British Open at Hoylake in 2006 and 2005.