PGA TOUR: Toughest Courses in 2008

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Which courses do the PGA TOUR pros find the most difficult to conquer? Here are the toughest courses -- based on stroke average relative to par -- through the 2008 season's first 17 weeks.

1. THE PLAYERS Championship: The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass

Par/Yardage: 72/7,215
Average Score: 74.286
Average over par: 2.286
2008 Winner: Sergio Garcia
Score: 5 under | Cut: 4 over
Low round of the week: Garcia, 66 in Round 1
Rank in 2007: 12th out of 55
Summary: High winds and rock-hard conditions made the Stadium Course play its toughest yet. Despite the difficulty of the course, the field was universal in its praise for the fast and firm layout, which featured bermuda greens that ranked 13 on the Stimpmeter. Only five of the holes played under par. The biggest jump in difficulty came on the 481-yard par-4 14th hole, which played into the wind most of the time. It gave up only 21 birdies all week, compared to 31 on the more-feared 462-yard par-4 18th.

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2. EDS Byron Nelson Championship: TPC Four Seasons Resort

Par/Yardage: 70/7,166
Average Score: 72.028
Average over par: 2.028
2008 Winner: Adam Scott
Score: 7 under | Cut: 3 over
Low round of the week: Frank Lickliter, 65 in Round 2, Sergio Garcia, 65 in Round 3, Richard Johnson, 65 in Round 4
Rank in 2007: N/A
Summary: The EDS Byron Nelson Championship was moved to the gorgeous TPC Four Seasons for 2008, but the birdies didn't make the trip. The field found the revamped course at TPC Four Seasons to be a stern test, just as D.A. Weibring intended. Weather played a role, with temperatures droppingfrom 85 in Round 1 to the low 60s in the final round.

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3. PODS Championship: Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead)

Par/Yardage: 71/7,340
Average Score: 72.970
Average over par: 1.970
2008 Winner: Sean O'Hair
Score: 4 under | Cut: 3 over
Low round of the week: Lee Janzen, 65 in Round 1
Rank in 2007: 15th out of 55
Summary: Innisbrook has always been one of the tougher courses on the PGA TOUR, but swirling winds made it even more difficult in 2008. Despite the brutal conditions, winner Sean O'Hair made just eight bogeys all week.

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4. The Honda Classic: PGA National (Champion Course)

Par/Yardage: 70/7,158
Average Score: 71.825
Average over par: 1.825
2008 Winner: Ernie Els
Score: 6 under | Cut: 4 over
Low round of the week: Luke Donald, 64 in Round 1
Rank in 2007: 8th out of 55
Summary: No surprise here. Jack Nicklaus' design north of Miami isn't known as "The Bear Trap" for its penchant for red numbers. The field made just six eagles, an incredibly low figure for a tournament played on just one course. Ernie Els' final-round 67 was one of the finest of the year on the PGA TOUR.

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5. Buick Invitational: Torrey Pines (South Course)

Par/Yardage: 72/7,569
Average Score: 73.801
Average over par: 1.801
2008 Winner: Tiger Woods
Score: 19 under | Cut: 1 over
Rank in 2007: 14th out of 55
Low round not available for tournaments with multi-course events.
Summary: Unseasonably cold weather in San Diego made the South course play even longer in 2008. The cold weather even made the sister North course more difficult, as that course (see below) gave up its ranking as the easiest course on TOUR.

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6. The Masters: Augusta National G.C.

Par/Yardage: 72/7,445
Average Score: 73.773
Average over par: 1.773
2008 Winner: Trevor Immelman
Score: 8 under | Cut: 3 over
Low round of the week: Steve Flesch, 67 in Round 2
Rank in 2007: 1st out of 55
Summary: Augusta National was blessed with good weather in 2008, which helped keep scores solidly in red numbers. Still, the course retained its bite, as no one was able to shoot lower than 67 for the second consecutive year. High winds in the final round prevented Trevor Immelman from finishing better than 8 under.

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7. AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am: Spyglass Hill G.C.

Par/Yardage: 72/6,953
Average Score: 73.206
Average over par: 1.206
2008 Winner: Steve Lowery
Score: 10 under | Cut: Even
Rank in 2007: 17th out of 55
Low round not available for tournaments with multi-course events.
Summary: Spyglass is still the toughest sub-7,000 yard course on the PGA TOUR. Winner Steve Lowery shot a remarkable one-bogey, four-birdie 69 at Spyglass in the first round that set the tone for his win over Vijay Singh.

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8. Northern Trust Open: Riviera C.C.

Par/Yardage: 71/7,279
Average Score: 72.110
Average over par: 1.110
2008 Winner: Phil Mickelson
Score: 12 under | Cut: 3 over
Low round of the week: Mickelson, 64 in Round 2
Rank in 2007: 21st out of 55
Summary: Riviera played a little tougher than it did in 2007, but winner Phil Mickelson dropped a 64 on the field in the second round that shot him to the win. The field made 13 double-bogeys on the 475-yard 18th, which ranked as the hardest par 4.

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9. Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun: El Camaleon

Par/Yardage: 70/6,923
Average Score: 71.00
Average over par: 1.000
2008 Winner: Brian Gay
Score: 16 under | Cut: 4 over
Low round of the week: Roland Thatcher, 61 in Round 3
Rank in 2007: 23rd out of 55
Summary: For the second straight year, a short hitter won in Cancun. Brian Gay, one the best putters on TOUR, won for the first time in his decade on TOUR. Roland Thatcher's 9-under 61 on Saturday still ranks as the lowest round on TOUR in 2008.

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10. Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard: Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Par/Yardage: 70/7,162
Average Score: 70.940
Average over par: 0.940
2008 Winner: Tiger Woods
Score: 10 under | Cut: 2 over
Low round of the week: Sean O'Hair, 63 in Round 3
Rank in 2007: 7th out of 55
Summary: Good weather made this course a little easier than it was in 2007. Tiger Woods won when he birdied the 441-yard 18th to win by a shot over Brad Bryant. The hardest hole was the 460-yard fourth, which gave up just 19 birdies all week. The 18th hole gave up more than twice as many (44).

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11. AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am: Poppy Hills

Par/Yardage: 72/6,942
Average Score: 72.828
Average over par: 0.828
Rank in 2007: 27th out of 55
2008 Winner: Steve Lowery
Score: 10 under | Cut: Even
Summary: Poppy Hills is the rare course that features its easiest hole at the end. The field tore up the short 502-yard 18th, which played as a par 5. The field racked up almost as many birdies (75) as pars (79). You have to survive Poppy Hills early -- the first six holes all played over par.

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12. Wachovia Championship: Quail Hollow Golf Club

Par/Yardage: 72/7,442
Average Score: 72.791
Average over par: 0.791
2008 Winner: Anthony Kim
Score: 16 under | Cut: 1 over
Low round of the week: Stewart Cink and Pat Perez, 65 in Round 3
Rank in 2007: 11th out of 55
Summary: Good weather took a little of the bite out of Quail Hollow, but the course's final three holes is still regarded as one of the TOUR's toughest finishes. The talent of winner Anthony Kim was showcased in the third round when he hit driver, wedge into the 478-yard 18th.

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13. AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am: Pebble Beach Golf Links

Par/Yardage: 72/6,816
Average Score: 72.563
Average over par: 0.563
Rank in 2007: 10th out of 55
2008 Winner: Steve Lowery
Score: 10 under | Cut: Even
Summary: A beautiful day in Round 4 made Pebble Beach play tough but fair in 2008. As usual, the back nine played slightly tougher. Winner Steve Lowery birdied the 17th to help force a playoff with Vijay Singh, which Lowery won with a birdie on the first playoff hole.

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14. Verizon Heritage: Harbour Town Golf Links

Par/Yardage: 71/6,973
Average Score: 71.435
Average over par: 0.435
Rank in 2007: 19th out of 55
2008 Winner: Boo Weekley
Score: 15 under | Cut: 1 over
Low round of the week: Stephen Ames and Boo Weekley, 64 in Round 2
Summary: Good weather took some of the bite out of Harbour Town in 2008 -- the tournament was played in extremely high winds in the final round in 2007. None of the holes beat up the field too badly; the toughest hole was the par-3 14th, which still gave up 37 birdies.

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15. Sony Open in Hawaii: Waialae C.C.

Par/Yardage: 70/7,044
Average Score: 70.123
Average over par: 0.123
Rank in 2007: 24th out of 55
2008 Winner: K.J. Choi
Score: 14 under | Cut: Even
Low round of the week: Tim Wilkinson, 62 in Round 3
Summary: The first full-field event of 2008 was about as tough as it was in 2007, when it was ranked in the middle of the hardest courses on TOUR. Short-hitting Tim Wilkinson, a rookie, torched Waialae for a 62 on Saturday.

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16: Shell Houston Open: Redstone G.C. (Tournament Course)

Par/Yardage: 72/7,457
Average Score: 72.068
Average over par: 0.068
Rank in 2007: 29th out of 55
2008 Winner: Johnson Wagner
Score: 16 under | Cut: Even
Low round of the week: Adam Scott and Johnson Wagner, 63 in Round 1
Summary: As usual, the mile-long par-4 18th at Redstone -- it stretches nearly 500 yards -- was the toughest hole on the course. Winner Johnson Wagner survived a fairway bunker on the 72nd hole to score his first PGA TOUR win.

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17. Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular: Trump International

Par/Yardage: 72/7,569
Average Score: 71.998
Average under par: 0.002
Rank in 2007: N/A (new event)
2008 Winner: Greg Kraft
Score: 14 under | Cut: Even
Low round of the week: Bo Van Pelt, 64 in Round 1
Summary: Trump International made its debut as one of the longest courses on the 2008 PGA TOUR. Despite its length, short-hitting Greg Kraft scored his first official TOUR win. The course, even at nearly 7,600 yards, put more emphasis on iron play than sheer driving distance, as noted plinkers Jerry Kelly and Tim Wilkinson also scored top-10s.

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18. Zurich Classic of New Orleans: TPC Louisiana

Par/Yardage: 72/7,341
Average Score: 71.996
Average under par: 0.004
Rank in 2007: 30th out of 55
2008 Winner: Andres Romero
Score: 13 under | Cut: Even
Low round of the week: Romero, 65 in Round 3
Summary: The TPC Louisiana isn't a brutal test, but no one managed to hang a 64 onto Pete Dye's layout. Its 18th hole, measuring nearly 600 yards, is one of the hardest par 5s on the PGA TOUR. Players made a double-bogey or worse a whopping 20 times.

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19. Buick Invitational: Torrey Pines (North Course)

Par/Yardage: 72/6,824
Average Score: 71.542
Average under par: 0.458
Rank in 2007: 55th out of 55
2008 Winner: Tiger Woods
Score: 19 under | Cut: 1 over
Summary: Cool weather and high winds turned Torrey North into a tough test in 2008. The extremely short course held its own with the unpredictable weather, as the field scored three shots higher on average than it did in 2007.

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20. FBR Open: TPC Scottsdale

Par/Yardage: 71/7,216
Average Score: 70.306
Average under par: 0.694
Rank in 2007: 46th out of 55
2008 Winner: J.B. Holmes
Score: 14 under | Cut: 2 under
Low round of the week: Mark Calcavecchia, 64 in Round 3, Jonathan Byrd, Briny Baird and Doug LaBelle II, 64 in Round 2
Summary: The Phoenix area had cold weather early in the week at the FBR Open, but it didn't bother the field much. The field played both nines under par for the week. Three of the four par 5s gave up more than 10 eagles each.

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21. World Golf Championships-CA Championship: Doral Golf Resort

Average Score: 71.308
Average under par: 0.962
Rank in 2007: 16th out of 55
2008 Winner: Geoff Ogilvy
Score: 17 under | Cut: None
Low round of the week: Vijay Singh, 63 in Round 2
Summary: Calm weather made Doral play easier in 2008. The 467-yard 18th hole, which ranked as the hardest hole on the PGA TOUR in 2007, lost some of its bite. The hole played to a 4.297 average, well below its 4.625 average in 2007.

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22. Bob Hope Chrysler Classic: Silver Rock

Par/Yardage: 72/7,403
Average Score: 70.539
Average under par: 1.461
Rank in 2007: N/A
2008 Winner: D.J. Trahan
Score: 26 under | Cut: 7 under
Summary: Silver Rock is unique in that the 17th and 18th holes offer vastly different scoring opportunities. The par-3 17th, measuring 207 yards, was the toughest hole on the course, and the 544-yard 18th was one of the easiest.

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23. Bob Hope Chrysler Classic: The Classic Club

Par/Yardage: 72/7,305
Average Score: 70.379
Average under par: 1.621
Rank in 2007: 32nd out of 55
2008 Winner: D.J. Trahan
Score: 26 under | Cut: 7 under
Summary: Even though its just one of four courses played at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, the course still gave up 22 eagles. Almost half of those (10) came at the 568-yard par-5 sixth hole.

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24. Mercedes-Benz Championship: Plantation Course at Kapalua

Par/Yardage: 73/7,411
Average Score: 70.935
Average under par: 2.065
Rank in 2007: 34th out of 55
Winner: Daniel Chopra
Score: 18 under | Cut: None
Low round of the week: Steve Stricker, 64 in Round 4
Summary: Daniel Chopra won in a playoff over Steve Stricker, giving Chopra the unique distinction of scoring his first PGA TOUR wins on a courses with a par of 73. Good weather helped keep scoring low in the debut event of the 2008 PGA TOUR.

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25. Bob Hope Chrysler Classic: La Quinta C.C.

Par/Yardage: 72/7,060
Average Score: 69.891
Average under par: 2.109
Rank in 2007: 37th out of 55
Winner: D.J. Trahan
Score: 26 under | Cut: 7 under
Summary: Par didn't have much of a chance in 2008. The short course at La Quinta was repeatedly torched by the field, which racked up 574 birdies against 260 bogeys. Ten of the 18 holes played under par.

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26. Bob Hope Chrysler Classic: PGA West (Palmer Course)

Par/Yardage: 72/6,930
Average Score: 69.504
Average under par: 2.496
Rank in 2007: 50th out of 55
Winner: D.J. Trahan
Score: 26 under | Cut: 7 under
Summary: PGA West again is one of the easiest tracks on the PGA TOUR. Any score in the 70s is considered a bad day. Only five of its holes managed to play over par.