No. 18 boasts unique history and Kodak moments

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Condon/PGA TOUR

The 18th hole at Bay Hill was the site of Tiger Woods' dramatic finish in 2008.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Who can forget that dramatic celebration?

You know, the one when Tiger Woods whipped off his hat after he made that winner of a 24-foot birdie putt at Bay Hill's 18th hole a year ago Sunday. Caddy Steve Williams quickly retrieved the cap and handed it back to its owner, who was momentarily dazed.

"I didn't know I went that crazy," admitted Woods, who defends his Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard title this week. "But evidently I did."

Woods' celebration aside, the 18th hole at Bay Hill is memorable in and of itself. That's why the panel of judges chose this 441-yard par 4 that features a kidney-shaped green guarded by rocks and water as one of the 30 holes in the Kodak Challenge.

At stake is a $1 million prize. A player must play at least 18 of the 30 holes to be eligible. His lowest score at each one will be recorded and the player with the lowest cumulative 18-hole total at the end of the season becomes the Kodak Challenge's instant millionaire.

There is currently a four-way tie at 5 under at the top of the Kodak Challenge leaderboard involving Kevin Sutherland, J.B. Holmes, D.J. Trahan and Chris DiMarco. The first three have played six holes while DiMarco is 5 under through five.

The 18th hole at Bay Hill should present quite a challenge this week if past years are any indication. Not only do players have to flirt with the water when the pin is placed on the right but there are bunkers to the left of the green.

In 2009, the 18th hole only yielded 44 birdies. There were 50 bogeys and 19 double bogeys as well as 253 pars.

"It's a good hard hole," said Brett Quigley, who comes to Bay Hill on the heels of two straight runner-up finishes. "You have to hit a good drive and a good second shot. I love it. It's good. It's fair; it's just tough."

Woods' putt last year -- which gave him a one-stroke victory over Bart Bryant -- is just one example of the dramatic finishes at the 18th hole.

In 1990, Robert Gamez trailed Greg Norman and Larry Mize by a stroke when he came to the testy finishing hole. He hit a 7-iron from 176 yards out that hit 4 feet right of the pin and then bounced in for an eagle.

Norman, who was playing two groups behind Gamez, parred his last two holes and finished third. Mize, who was paired with Gamez, bogeyed the hole and went on to finish third.

Fans attending the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week will have the opportunity to make their own memories at the 18th hole, too.

Cameras will not be allowed on the course Thursday-Sunday but fans can have their picture taken in front of a green screen of the 18th at the Kodak Fan Photo Zone. Then they'll have an instant keepsake thanks to Kodak's digital technology.

The backdrop image was taken by former LPGA player and photographer, Joann Dost.