Tournament of Champions: Why Kapalua’s 18th Is Among Best Holes of PGA Tour

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: January 6, 2013

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After a week of fun in the sun, celebrating New Year’s in the Aloha State and competing in a 30-man, no-cut, $5.7 million tournament for four days, why wouldn’t the week in paradise end with one of the most exciting, and yes, one of the best holes on the PGA Tour.

The 18th hole at the Plantation Course at Kapalua will not ever make its way onto a list of classic finishing holes, but there’s plenty of thrills and spills to be had on this 663-yard, par five.

Imagine standing on the top of a mountain, looking down a ski slope to a fairway that appears to be a mile wide. Well off in the distance, you can almost make out the shape of a green that’s only reachable with a pair of really good shots.

It’s not a classic finishing hole in the mold of the18th at the Stadium Course at the TPC at Sawgrass or the 18th at Augusta National or Pebble Beach. More than any of those holes, the 18th at Kapalua depends a lot on weather and conditions to make it difficult.

With winds that are normally helpful, the guy with the big stick in his hand has the ability to hammer away and get the ball well down toward the bottom of the hill. How far down the hill? Well, here’s a stat for you: Since 2003, this hole has produced 92 tee shots of 400 yards or more.

You won’t find many of the great finishing holes on which conditions allow players to create that kind of distance. But that’s what makes it a perfect fit here. The tournament is a celebration of the return of golf, a kickoff to the new season, in a place where fun times are had, sometimes even beyond the realm of belief.



Enter Bubba Watson.

In 2010, his first appearance in the event, Watson launched a drive of 350 yards down the hill in the first round.

He did so even though the winds were down during the first two days that year. Watson followed that up pulling driver again, and facing ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Golf

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