When Martin Ebert blew up the old 15th hole of Royal Liverpool’s championship layout, he did so with the intention of creating a new par-3 penultimate hole that despite its shortness would challenge the best players in the world.
Regardless of one’s opinion on altering one of the oldest seaside courses in England – and one rich in championship history – Ebert has succeeded so far.
Lucas Herbert stepped on No. 17, nicknamed “Little Eye” and playing just 126 yards for Thursday’s opening round of The Open, tied for the early lead at 3 under. Two holes earlier, he’d made eagle on the 602-yard 15th hole. Nearly five Little Eyes could fit in one 15th hole at Hoylake, yet after Herbert tugged his tee shot, the wee hole gave him more than he could handle.
“Felt like there was about 5,000 professional golfers sitting around us in the stands watching it,” Herbert said afterward. “But it’s just not easy.”
Lucas Herbert entered the short par-3 17th tied for The Open lead. He left with a triple bogey.pic.twitter.com/32g3yRaoVo
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) July 20, 2023
After a chip that ran through the green and into a greenside pot bunker, Herbert, from a tricky lie in the very back of the bunker and with one foot still on turf, couldn’t get his third shot onto the green, catching the runoff and having his ball roll right back into the sand.
“I felt like if I had have hit it just a fraction harder I could have been back in the bunker on the other side,” Herbert said. “It was just a really tough shot.”
His next shot reached the green, though came to rest 18 feet past. Two putts from there, and Herbert walked off with a triple bogey.
The Aussie would drop back to even par, which is where he’d finish, posting an opening 71.
“Obviously would have loved to change 17, but I felt like I maybe hit a poor chip shot and that’s about it. I didn’t do a lot wrong other than that,” Herbert said. “Seventeen is going to play tough all day. It’s pretty hard to feel the wind in there and the tee box. It’s very enclosed and you don’t get a lot of exposure to it.
“Guys are going to get that wrong all day. I don’t think I’ll be the only one to run up a big number.”