'Road Hole' 17th at St. Andrews to be lengthened for 2010 British Open

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (PA) -- The 17th hole at St. Andrews, one of the most famous and treacherous holes in golf, is being made longer for next year's British Open.

Called the 'Road Hole,' but equally well-known for its tiny, cavernous bunker in front of the green and the fact that drives have been known to hit the Old Course Hotel on the inside of the dogleg, has remained the same length for more than 100 years.

But it is going up from 455 yards to 490 yards -- and a new tee is going to be constructed on the practice range across the disused railway line.

"The 17th was played at the same yardage in 1900 as it was in 2005 and this fueled our belief that the formidable challenge of this iconic hole should be returned for the Open Championship," said R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson.

"Over the years we have seen the threat from the road behind the green, and to a lesser extent the Road Bunker, diminished as players have been hitting shorter irons for their approach shots allowing them to avoid these hazards more easily," he explained. "This change will ensure that the hole plays as it was originally intended."

At the recent Dunhill Links Championship, eventual runner-up Rory McIlroy used only a 7-iron for his second shot and birdied the hole.

Even ex-tennis star Tim Henman, who plays off scratch at Sunningdale, made a 3 there with a 6-iron when partnering Colin Montgomerie in the pro-am.

The lengthening of the hole, achieved by moving the tee box back, will place an increased premium on an accurate drive of sufficient length over the railway sheds on the inner, right-hand, side of the dogleg, encouraging players to take driver from the tee. The fairway will be widened slightly on the left side to give the players a bit more room for error.

"Crucially, the difficulty of the second shot will be re-established," the R&A said in a statement, "making it more difficult to hold the approach on the putting surface and increasing the threat posed by both the road behind the green and the Road Bunker."

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