"A Place Requiring Strategic Approach" Congressional Blue Course

KPMG Women's Battleground Analysis, Men's Major US Open and PGA Championship Host 'Tough Course', Long Drives and 'Pinpoint Iron Shots' Essential, Glassy Greens Variable

This is the view of the 18th hole at the Congressional Blue Course, the battleground of the third major of the season, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Photo by Congressional official website

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "This is a place that requires a strategic approach."

On the 24th (Korean time), the American Golf Channel analyzed the Blue Course at Congressional Golf Club in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, the battleground for the third major of this season's LPGA Tour, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship (total prize money $9 million), which opened. They said, "This course requires the best iron shots," and "Ko Jin-young (27) has the highest chance of winning." It is a 'tough course' where men's major tournaments such as the US Open and PGA Championship have been held multiple times.

At the US Open, 'Big Easy' Ernie Els (South Africa) won in 1997, and Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) won in 2011. On the PGA Tour's AT&T National, 'Tank' Choi Kyung-ju (52) won in 2007, and 'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods (USA) won in 2009 and 2012. The Congressional Golf Club Blue Course, hosting a women's major for the first time, is a par 72 with a length of 6,894 yards. Without long drives, competing for the championship is impossible.

Five par-5 holes exceed 500 yards. Especially, the 9th hole is a whopping 585 yards. The par-3 2nd hole is also 192 yards, which is a challenging distance for female players. The final 18th hole (par 4), where the fate of the winner is decided, is 437 yards. Even if you drive 260 yards, 177 yards remain. A pond lurks in front of the green, making precise iron shots essential. Of course, long drives alone are not enough. If you stray from the 'ant waist' fairway, there is deep rough that can reach up to your ankles.

Without precision, you must walk a 'thorny path' to the green. Throughout the course, 139 bunkers and 5 large water hazards are positioned as 'traps.' The greens are no less challenging. They are highly undulating and have 'glass plate greens' comparable to Augusta National, where the Masters is held. If you cannot land your tee shot far and accurately on the fairway, maintaining par is difficult, let alone making a birdie. A momentary lapse in concentration can quickly result in a double bogey or worse 'fatal blow.'

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