BMW Championship: Four holes to observe at Olympia Fields’ North Course

Twenty years in the past, Jim Furyk claimed his solely main championship victory by successful the U.S. Open on the North Course at Olympia Fields.

Only 4 gamers completed below par that week, because the USGA pressured Olympia Fields to elongate its North Course previous to the 2003 U.S. Open.

Those modifications have paid dividends for the Chicago-area membership, because the USGA returned to the North Course for the 2015 U.S. Amateur, gained by Bryson DeChambeau.

Since then, the PGA Tour picked Olympia Fields to host the 2020 BMW Championship, the penultimate occasion within the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

That week, Jon Rahm defeated Dustin Johnson in an exhilarating playoff, as each gamers completed at 4-under for the championship. Similar to the 2003 U.S. Open, solely 5 gamers completed below par throughout the 2020 version of the BMW.

Now the highest 50 gamers within the FedEx Cup standings will tee it up at Olympia Fields, hoping to safe a spot in subsequent week’s Tour Championship.

The North Course is a difficult, main championship-caliber structure that can absolutely check the world’s greatest gamers.

So let’s have a look at 4 crucial holes that can assist resolve the 2023 BMW Championship:

Hole 1 – Par 5, 626 Yards

Olympia Fields Country Club

Nicknamed ‘Railroad,’ the Chicago Commuter Rail runs parallel to the opening gap on the North Course.

The first is among the simpler holes on the course, because the prevailing southerly wind is most frequently on the gamers’ backs. Most of the sphere ought to be capable of get house in two pictures, though the moist circumstances this week could forestall many from doing so.

Three bunkers guard the touchdown space, with one sitting left of the golf green and the 2 others sitting to the appropriate. Anyone that finds the sand off the tee will probably be pressured to put up.

From there, gamers may have a straight view into the inexperienced, which is guarded by two entrance bunkers.

Like most greens at Olympia Fields, the placing floor on the first slopes from again to entrance, so protecting the ball under the opening is crucial.

Considering the issue of this course, gamers will look to start their rounds with a birdie, or else they’ll lose a shot, or extra, to the remainder of the sphere.

Hole 8 – Par 3, 251 Yards

Olympia Fields Country Club

An absolute behemoth of a par-3, the eighth gap at Olympia Fields not solely measures over 250 yards, but additionally performs uphill. It usually performs into the wind too.

Four bunkers defend the entrance aspect of this placing floor, catching something that comes up brief or any shot caught up within the wind.

A shortly-mown space behind the inexperienced will acquire any shot that goes lengthy. Any participant that misses there may have a troublesome time getting up and down, due to the inexperienced’s many undulations.

A par is a terrific rating right here. Anybody that makes 4 threes this week will probably be greater than glad.

Hole 15 – Par 5, 606 Yards

Olympia Fields Country Club

The second of two par-5s, the fifteenth gap performs rather more troublesome than the primary. Players will discover that the fifteenth doesn’t yield many birdies, in contrast to most par-5s on the PGA Tour.

This gap is a pointy dogleg proper, with timber and woods working down the appropriate aspect.

The fairway additionally slopes in that path, making it troublesome to search out.

If gamers need to attempt to get house in two, they must put their tee pictures on the left aspect of the golf green. Should they miss too far proper, timber will impede their pictures.

Of course, Tiger Woods hit it proper of this fairway on the 2003 U.S. Open. He ended up pulling off one of many most ridiculous pictures of his profession as he sliced a three-wood across the nook and onto the inexperienced.

Nevertheless, if gamers miss too far left, two bunkers 300 yards from the tee will catch any pulled tee shot. If anybody finds these, a lay-up will observe.

If gamers resolve to put up—a lot of the discipline will doubtless achieve this—they have to keep away from the bunker on the appropriate that sits 120 yards wanting the inexperienced.

The placing floor is properly guarded, with three bunkers sitting to the appropriate of the inexperienced. Should the pin be on the appropriate aspect, these sand traps are absolute no-go’s. Another bunker sits brief and left of the inexperienced.

Like most others at Olympia Fields, the inexperienced slopes from again to entrance.

The fifteenth gap at Olympia Fields is among the greatest par-5s within the nation, and it’ll function maybe probably the most crucial gap down the stretch on Sunday. Players could make a birdie, however a bogey could possibly be made simply as simply.

Hole 18 – Par 4, 510 Yards

Olympia Fields Country Club

Unsurprisingly, the North Course at Olympia Fields has a terrific closing gap. It is lengthy and difficult, and anybody that makes par right here will stroll away glad.

A draw is required off the tee on this dogleg left par-4. Like the fifteenth, being on the left aspect of the golf green is the favored place, because it fully takes the pond brief and proper of this inexperienced out of play.

Should gamers miss proper, they could discover the bunker on the nook of the golf green. Moreover, the massive pond comes into the sightline of these enjoying from the appropriate aspect, which by no means fails to intimidate.

Four bunkers guard this inexperienced that slopes severely from again to entrance. Two bunkers on the left and the entrance proper bunker will snatch any mishit that comes up brief. The fourth bunker sits to the appropriate of the inexperienced and have to be averted in any respect prices.

The inexperienced additionally has an enormous ridge stemming off that proper bunker. Should the pin be on that proper aspect, be careful for loads of missed putts, as that ridge will idiot many gamers.

Players should be under the opening right here, or else a three-putt is completely in play.

Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR through Getty Images

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. You can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. Be positive to take a look at @_PlayingThrough too.