In a new regular feature, each week we’ll be highlighting a 3 hole stretch at each tournament’s host course. These will be the most important holes for the players (and fans) to focus on during the four rounds of tournament play.
The West Course at TPC Kuala Lumpur will play host to the CIMB Classic for the fourth year in a row. And it appears that it has become the event’s permanent home with the recently licensing rights agreement to become first Tournament Players Club (TPC) course in Southeast Asia.
While TPC Kuala Lumpur and Augusta National are world’s apart, literally, and historically, the host course of the CIMB does have its own little version of Amen Corner.
Starting on the Par-3 11th hole through the Par-4 13th, these holes, singularly, were rated as the three most difficult at last year’s CIMB. And when strung together, they become even more imposing.
This stretch will be, by far, the most challenging for the Tour players this weekend.
Hole 11
Par 3, 226 yards
Aesthetically beautiful, strategically demanding. A medium to long iron tee shot is required and best to leave the tee shot, short of the hole location leaving an uphill birdie putt, but be careful of the water.
2016 STATISTICS
Difficulty Rank: #3
Score: 3.081
Eagles: 0%
Birdies: 10%
Pars: 76%
Bogeys: 12%
Double Bogeys+: 2%
Hole 12
Par 4, 497 yards
A great hole. An accurate tee shot is necessary to avoid the fairway bunkers as an approach to the green from these bunkers is extremely difficult and sometimes foolish with the pond and stream protecting the green. A large, receptive, undulating and well protected green awaits the precision approach.
2016 STATISTICS
Difficulty Rank: #1
Score: 4.162
Eagles: 0%
Birdies: 12%
Pars: 63%
Bogeys: 23%
Double Bogeys+: 2%
Hole 13
Par 4, 459 yards
A very difficult hole. Although there are no fairway bunkers, length and accuracy is required with the uphill tee shot. A solid mid iron to long iron will be necessary to reach the elevated undulating green which is protected by three large bunkers. In tournaments, there will be more bogeys than birdies on this hole!
2016 STATISTICS
Difficulty Rank: #2
Score: 4.146
Eagles: 0%
Birdies: 12%
Pars: 64%
Bogeys: 22%
Double Bogeys+: 2%
SOURCES: Photos: TPC Network | Hole Descriptions: PGA Tour Media Guide | Stats: PGATour.com
