Arccos Insider Look at The Open's New Par 3 Little Eye
Take it in. Imagine stepping through the gates and the vast open grounds unfold before you, caressed by the gentle morning breeze that stirs into a swirling dance. The nearby coast lends a touch of brilliance, casting a subtle glistening effect on the fairways and greens. Spectators wander about, seeking their perfect vantage point and deciding which players to follow. It's as if you've been transported back to the historic year of 1930 when Bobby Jones claimed the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool. The Open is steeped in tradition and history, and with Royal Liverpool hosting its 14th Championship, we can expect those age-old customs to unravel once again.
This year will be a little different than when Rory McIlroy won in 2014. Royal Liverpool has unveiled a brand-new challenge: #17, the par 3, known as Little Eye. This enchanting hole derives its name from one of the islands that’s visible from the newly constructed elevated green that’s nestled among the surrounding sand dunes. The picturesque new hole is more than just a pretty site though, with severe run-offs on the sides, mixed with unprecedented winds, Little Eye might call for quite the challenge for the pros this week. To remember how brutal the wind can get, let’s rewind back to Cole Hammer’s windy wedge shot at Royal Liverpool for the 2019 Walker Cup - check it out here.
Sitting at 140 yards long, the par 3 could play anything from 100 to 200 yards because of the wind, potentially even more or less.
In order to give you a closer experience of what the new par 3 might be like and how the “average Joe” might play “Little Eye”, we dove into the Arccos data, which has collected over one trillion data points and over 740 million shots so far.
Here is the average 10 handicap’s dispersion from 140 yards laid over the new par 3. Share it with a friend that would probably leave it on the tee box or soar one into the sand dunes. Staying short can be key on this hole.
What club would you hit on the 140-yard par 3? Check out the club make-up percentages of the average 10 handicap.
Though, with gusting winds around you, you might not be hitting that trusty 8-iron. With Arccos’ simulated distances, you can capture an idea of what you might need to hit in 30mph winds coming at you from the northwest… might even need to take out the big dog for this one.
Curious about how close you and others might hit it to the middle of the green on #17? Thankfully the greens are fairly large at Royal Liverpool. Take a look at the average proximity from 140 yards for different handicaps, hopefully, you can stick it on the green and land yourself a par!
Alright! #17 is great and all but, want to see how you'd play on the rest of the course? Give Arccos' Preview Caddie feature a try! It gives you a personalized, hole-by-hole breakdown of Royal Liverpool, analyzing your on-course data to suggest the best club selections and strategies based on your game. Get a better understanding of your game and amp up your strategies with Arccos.
