The Claw

Water is very much in play with this unique fairway shaped like a claw. Teams will need to strategize on their tee shots, with three options on the table. The first requires a lay up to the fat of the fairway before it splits into the claw.

The second option is to take on the top part of the claw with a bold tee shot over the central bunker into a broader landing zone. And the third option is to thread the needle on the bottom of the claw, but teams will be flirting with water on both sides of the fairway into an extremely narrow landing area. This option requires serious precision but those that pull it off will be rewarded with the best angle and shortest approach to the green set on the far side of the lake.

Hole Strategy

Hole Designer: Nicklaus Design

Nicklaus Design senior design associate Chad Goetz talks us through his design process on The Claw and shares how the teams may approach it:

Chad says: "This is a par 4 that doglegs to the right and it's conceptually set in South Florida, in the dunes near the ocean.

"The hole has three options off the tee. Players will need to decide how agressive they want to be. They can play short of the pond that separates the fairways and the bunkers and face a very long shot into the green.

"They can be very agressive and play onto the narrow fairway and over the bunkers, which would require a carry of over 300 yards. We've rotated the GreenZone in such a way that they would have a very short in and no forced carry to reach the green.

"Players can also play a medium-risky shot out to the left, carrying the left fairway bunker, which is about 285 to carry into a wider fairway. They get a little bit closer to the green, but they'll face a more difficult angle as we've rotated the GreenZone where they'll have to play over the front bunker and into the green."