PGATOUR.COM - CA Championship has two of TOUR's toughest holes

DORAL, FL -- Of the 990 golf holes played in official PGA TOUR competition this year, two of the toughest for the world's best players holes were at Doral Golf Resort & Spa, site of the World Golf Championships-CA Championship. The par-4, 18th ranked as the hardest hole on TOUR, playing at 4.625 during the 2007 event, and the par-4, 3rd ranked as the third most difficult with a 4.567 scoring average.

TOUGHEST HOLES

The daunting 18th hole at the Doral's Blue Monster led the list of most difficult holes on TOUR.

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Doral Golf Resort & Spa is one of only two courses that hosted non-major championship to make the top 10 (No. 6 at Spyglass Hill Golf Club ranked fifth), and only Oakmont Country Club, site of the U.S. Open Championship, had more holes in the top 10 than Doral (with four).

"I believe it speaks volumes about the quality of Doral's Blue Monster course to be associated with some of the most legendary courses in golf, including Oakmont, Pebble Beach, Augusta National and Carnoustie, courses that have hosted major championships and provide the most challenging tests in golf," said CA Championship Executive Director Eddie Carbone. "The 18th hole here at Doral proved to be the most stringent test on the TOUR, reaffirming its place in golf history."

Tiger Woods won the 2007 CA Championship in March, the first time Doral Golf Resort & Spa hosted the tournament, which had previously been played at five different courses around the world. But the Blue Monster has tested TOUR players for many years, serving as host of a TOUR event since 1962.

As a World Golf Championships site, however, the Blue Monster gnashed its teeth even more. Last year, when Doral hosted the Ford Championship, No. 18 played at 4.388 and was ranked the 17th-hardest hole on TOUR. No. 3 was ranked the 253rd hardest in 2006, compared to its fourth-place rank this season.

No. 18 at Doral Golf Resort & Spa
Rank in 2007: 1
Par 4, 476 yards
Average score: 4.625
Average score over par: 0.625
Rank in 2006/Average score: 17/4.388

No. 3 at Doral Golf Resort and Spa
Rank in 2007: 4
Par 4, 438 yards
Average score: 4.567
Average score over par: 0.567
Rank in 2006/Average score: 253/4.143

Top 20 toughest holes on the PGA TOUR in 2007

Rank	Hole
1.	Doral Golf Resort & Spa, No. 18, par 4, 4.625 scoring average, CA Championship
2.	Carnoustie Golf Club, No. 18, par 4, 4.611 scoring average, British Open Championship
3.	Oakmont Country Club, No. 18, par 4, 4.602, U.S. Open Championship
4.	Doral Golf Resort & Spa, No. 3, par 4, 4.567, CA Championship
5.	Spyglass Hill Golf Club, No. 6, par 4, 4.531, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
6.	Oakmont Country Club, No. 10, par 4, 4.529, U.S. Open Championship
7.	Oakmont Country Club, No. 1, par 4, 4.515, U.S. Open Championship
8.	Augusta National Golf Club, No. 11, 4.510, Masters Tournament
9.	Oakmont Country Club, No. 9, par 4, 4.494, U.S. Open Championship
10.	Augusta National Golf Club, No. 1, par 4, 4.474, Masters Tournament
11.	Oakmont Country Club, No. 8, par 3, 3.455, U.S. Open Championship
12.	Quail Hollow Country Club, No. 18, par 4, 4.447, Wachovia Championship
12.	Firestone Country Club (South Course), No. 9, par 4, 4.447, Bridgestone Invitational
14.	Pebble Beach Golf Links, No. 9, par 4, 4.439, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
15.	Firestone Country Club (South Course), No. 4, par 4, 4.432, Bridgestone Invitational
16.	Oakmont Country Club, No. 7, par 4, 4.430, U.S. Open Championship
17.	Southern Hills, No. 18, par 4, 4.429, PGA Championship
18.	Augusta National Golf Club, No. 18, par 4, 4.423, Masters Tournament
19.	Augusta National Golf Club, No. 4, par 3, 3.417, Masters Tournament
20.	Oakmont Country Club, No. 12, par 5, 5.412, U.S. Open Championship