It’s 114 yards on the card. But a wedge in the hand gives no cause for relaxation.
The best female players in the world will tackle the famed Postage Stamp for the first time this week at the AIG Women’s British Open.
The small but mighty par-3 eighth hole should provide plenty of drama at the year’s first major. It certainly does at the men’s British Open, which is precisely why it’s so important that the women’s tour makes its debut at Royal Troon this week. Courses – and golf holes – known the world over help attract new viewers to the LPGA, not to mention the added respect.
After this week, Postage Stamp lore will include a few new tales – of heroes and heartbreak – on the women’s side. It’s a hole that requires an exacting tee shot to a deliciously narrow landing area. Get too aggressive or offline and risk the wrath of five bunkers, including the aptly named Coffin Bunker on the left. Perhaps there should be a sign at the tee: Approach with caution.
After two days of practice at Troon, here’s what several of the game’s brightest stars had to say about this tiny hole with teeth.
Laura Davies
“With much care. Wedge, middle of the green all four days hopefully. There’s no point in doing anything else because wherever the pin is, it’s not along putt. Just don’t be short, don’t go long, don’t be left and definitely don’t be right.”
Hannah Green
“From the forecast, I think it’s actually going to be downwind so at least we’ll have a wedge in. But I think making sure if it is a back pin, not really being aggressive even though you do have a short iron in. Hopefully it’s not too windy but yeah, just making sure I stay patient and if I do miss it, I miss it in the right area because there are a lot of tricky places to be on that hole. Today I hit it to maybe 10 feet. I hit it close, but I know the wind is going to be a lot stronger than what it was today. If I hit four shots on the green I’m going to be stoked.”
Charley Hull
“Yeah, it’s only like a wedge, so it’s a good birdie hole, I think. Depends on the wind direction, but I’ve only played it once. But there’s a lot more tricky holes out there, but it’s a cool little hole.”
Danielle Kang
“You just can’t miss the green. I looked down on the right side, the left, and it’s a small – it’s a small green and beautiful hole, and it’s short. The yardage is very short, but can’t underestimate that wedge shot and you can’t. … I feel like you can’t get too greedy and you just have to hit the green.”
Hinako Shibuno
“So I practiced the bunker on the right yesterday. It’s a short hole but it looks so much narrow than I had seen on TV, and I think that it’s going to be difficult.”
Georgia Hall
“Just go for middle of the green, that’s whether the pin is left or right front or back because you don’t want to miss the green in any spot. And it’s so short, it actually makes it a lot harder because you’re going in with a more lofted club. If it’s windy and the higher you hit it, the more the wind will affect it. So ideally just hit a little half-shot in there middle of the green and two-putt and get out with your par.”
Greetings from the Royal Troon and the postage stamp! @AIGWomensOpen pic.twitter.com/OI6GQVsC9G
— Morgan Pressel (@mpressel) August 17, 2020
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