The Arden course remains one of the most formidable tracks on the European Tour circuit.
While there are several holes upon which the pros will expect to pick up shots there are a handful which are treacherous card destroyers. Here five of the leading contenders for this year's title talk you around the course:
Lee Westwood
Hole 1: A gentle opening hole, the tee shot does have its trouble with bunkers right and water left but with a three-wood off the tee it should be no problem. A mid-iron into this undulating green should set up an opening birdie chance.
Hole 2: With the wind in the right direction this green is nearly in range for the long hitters but the majority of the week I?ll hit a three-wood off the tee leaving a short pitch to a shallow green. I am expecting to pick up a couple of shots here over the week.
Hole 3: The first chance to get the driver out and with a generous fairway I?ll be attacking this par five. After a good drive an extremely well hit three-wood is needed to reach the green. If however you miss the fairway a pond on the left and bunker down the right make for a tough lay-up.
Hole 4: A beautiful looking hole with a large old tree guarding this right to left dogleg. With bunkers through the end of the fairway means distance control rather than brute strength are required off the tee. Once the fairway is found you?re left with a tricky pitch to a green that is guarded by water on the front left corner.
Hole 5: This is the first of the par threes and a tough one at that. You not only have to find this green with a long iron but find the right part as the undulations make a two-putt from long distance difficult.
Hole 6: One of the most demanding holes on the golf course and without doubt the toughest tee shot. Usually into the wind and with out of bounds left and bunkers right it?s definitely a time to stand up and be counted. When you find the fairway a straight long iron is required to this long narrow green. I will be happy with four pars on this brutal par four.
Hole 7: A let up after the previous two holes this par five should surrender a few eagles. A straight forward tee shot leaves a mid- to long-iron into a green protected by two front bunkers. I want to pick up a few shots here this week.
Ian Poulter
Hole 8: The second of the par three is probably the easiest. Almost totally over water from tee to green this hole is still a decent birdie chance. The fact that the lake stops ten yards short of the green and ten yards left should take it out of play. A green that slopes from back to front means ideally you want to leave your shot short of the hole.
Hole 9: The front nine ends with this mean par four. The tee shot looks much worse than it is, the trees on the right making the hole visually narrower than it really is but an off line tee shot will be severely punished. A second shot uphill to a narrow green that slopes from back to front means there is no let up on this hole. Even the way I like to attack a course I?ll take four pars here.
Hole 10: This hole sets up beautifully for a soft fade from the tee and then a mid iron up to this raised green will hopefully create a good birdie chance. There is a ditch 60 yards short of the green that adds to the effect of the hole but only comes into play if you miss this fairway right.
Paul McGinley
Hole 11: The narrowest fairway on the course, you must take on the left hand fairway bunker with a driver. Now left with something like an eight-iron in to a green that sits at an angle from front left to back right then slopes from back left to front right leaving a make-able putt is tough.
Hole 12: This par five is a real risk and reward hole. After a straight forward tee shot you?re left with the decision whether to go for the green with a three-wood or long iron. Sounds simple but with water at the front the right decision is vital. The green has a huge tier running through the middle which makes even a short pitch demanding.
Hole 13: This dead straight long par four has no fairway bunkers making the shape of the tee shot hard to visualise. When I find the fairway, a four- or five-iron will be needed into another green that sits from front left to back right. The bunker on the front right of this green will be well used in the tournament.
Hole 14: The third hole in a row without fairway bunkers but I see a slight draw from the tee leaving a mid-iron into this large green. Unless this hole plays into the wind it will yield a fair few birdies.
Darren Clarke
Hole 15: This is the best looking par three on the course. The tee sits above an L-shaped green which slopes quite severely from back right to front left. Playing around a six iron leaving the ball in the right place on the green is the key to this hole.
Hole 16: Setting up very similar to the fourth with a large tree on the corner of the left to right dogleg. You can cut the corner of the dogleg but if you get too greedy getting out of the rough over the water on to the green is very risky. The front left pin is by far the most dangerous because the green slopes towards the water. Spin control with a short iron is paramount and there will be a few who get it wrong.
Hole 17: The last par five requires a long drawn tee shot, perfect for me. Now left with a long iron into this green that slopes very harshly from back left to front right towards the water that guards the front right of this green. The last day front right pin is a real heart stopper.
Hole 18: One of the only courses on tour that finishes with a par three and what a par three this is. At over 200 yards it can play up to a two iron. A good shot here on Sunday with a bit of luck will not only win me the tournament but also a beautiful new Jaguar.
