''I think when you make a par-4 go-able, it should be for the whole field"

Jeff Shain looks at the emergence of Doral's 16th as a driveable par-4 and gets this sneak preview for weekend play:

From the middle of the teeing ground, it's about 300 yards to the front of the putting surface. From a front marker, the middle of the green could be as close as 280 yards. That is where Tony Wallin expects to set his lure Saturday. From the front tee box, just about everyone will have the range.

''I think when you make a par-4 go-able, it should be for the whole field,'' said Wallin, the PGA Tour official in charge of this week's back-nine setup. "I'm going to make it as tempting as possible. I usually have a fairly easy hole location as well -- let's see some eagles. If they go for it and pull the shot off, reward them.''
Some, meanwhile, won't need a front tee to give it a try. In the past five Doral stops, there has been only one round in which no one attempted to drive the green.

''If you can reach it, you will go for it,'' Vijay Singh said.

Last year brought 53 attempts. None stayed on the putting surface.

''More often I'd drive it in the bunker around the green,'' Harrington said, "which I'm very happy with.''

A few images I took in Fall 2007 of the 16th:

Doral's 16: tee view (click to enlarge)Second shot view (click to enlarge)Rear view of #16 (click to enlarge)