Videos: Muirfield's 7th And 8th Holes

Two-time winner at Muirfield Nick Faldo believes a key to success in an Open there is managing its set of difficult par-3s and while the 4th is severe because of the green complex, the slightly uphill 185-yard 7th is sneaky because of its relatively benign green complex. However, the green is exposed to the elements, framed dreadfully by a horribly misplaced course structure that pops up behind the green's all-important horizon line. Using a 3-iron in his prime, Faldo calls the shot a "giant chip shot" because of the vital need to keep the ball out of the wind here.

The seventh is not a particularly interesting bit of design, but because of the wind and uphill angle, a miss-hit can get in a lot of trouble here and spoil a fine start.

Golf Monthly's 7th hole analysis and Strokesaver flyover:

View from the tee and that building which, when completed, no doubt made for an interesting meeting of the Green Committee:

The eighth hole features a lovely setting and some nice ground features, plus a deceptive second shot, but the fairway pinching to 81 yards may discourage a risk taker from using their driver unless the wind is helping out of the left. Last year the rough was worse on this hole than any other, but hopefully the warm weather is thinning it out.

The video:



The fairway view:


The bunker fronting the green that is actually thirty or so yards short of the uneventful putting surface: