Course Confidential | Southern Hills Country Club Hole-by-Hole

Major championship golf returns to Southern Hills Country Club for the first time since 2007. The last time this Tulsa track hosted the world's best, Tiger Woods bested the field by two shots. The Big Cat is back in search of another Wanamaker (it would be his 5th). Much has changed since then, including the course itself – which recently underwent a renovation to restore the challenge of the original layout.

With four past champions among the Team TaylorMade ranks (Collin Morikawa, Martin Kaymer, Rory McIlroy and Woods), the players are ramping up for a championship test. Before the competition begins Thursday, let's get to know the course a little better.

Chhim, a talented player in his own right who nearly qualified to compete in this week's field, will walk us through each hole and assess the strategy needed to succeed at Southern Hills.

You start out at the highest point on the property with a view of the Tulsa skyline. Off the tee, you want to keep it as close to the fairway bunkers down the left as possible. As I mentioned, that's the theme of the course now – you have to take on the penalty areas if you want the best angle on the approach. Because it plays downhill, a good drive will leave most players with a wedge or short iron in their hands. The green slopes heavily from right to left while simultaneously sliding from back to front. Even with a wedge, it's difficult to hit it close. It seems tame, but it's far from an easy opener.

This ranks near the top of the most demanding tee shots at Southern Hills. From the tips, you're looking at 268 to cover the two bunkers with a winding creek that moseys down the left side. The fairway slopes left and is closely mown, so any shots turning right-to-left will need to get lucky to avoid the water. A lone tree on the left side is the perfect start line for a fading tee shot, but it can be an obstacle for any ball that settles left. The hole typically plays into the prevailing south wind, so it's common for second shots to come in from 175-200 yards out. If players are forced to hit a draw around the tree, they'll come into a green that slopes from back to front and leeks to the left – making it tougher to hold the putting surface.

This dogleg left requires a demanding tee shot, especially with it being stretched to 472 yards for championship play. The prevailing right-to-left wind should help players achieve the desired shot shape. Finding the fairway is just the start of the fun. Highlighted by one of the trickiest green complexes on the property, the third hole is all about the second shot. It's a multi-tiered green that can create some demanding pin locations. While the recent renovation made the greens larger in size, it effectively made them smaller by creating exacting pin locations. There are certain areas of the greens, this one included, that unabashedly help the ball roll off the green and into collection areas. Be precise on the approach.

There's no letting up in major championship golf, but the 4th hole is your first chance to breathe after a tough starting stretch. Aim your tee shot down the left-hand side (the flagpole in the distance is the perfect starting line) and let It rip. If you lose it too far right, a meandering creek is ready to capture your ball. Depending on rainfall, you might get lucky and find that the creek bed is dry, and you can play out of the penalty area.

The green is relatively small and slopes back to front. It's never a good feeling when you think you've hit a good approach shot and the caddie hands a wedge. That's a definite possibility on the 4th, as the slope of the green funnels back-spinning shots into the awaiting greenside bunkers. Control the spin on your approach, and birdies are a real possibility.

The first and only par 5 on the front nine plays a beastly 656 yards. This isn't a guaranteed birdie like many of the par 5s on Tour. I wouldn't be surprised if the scoring average on the week was well north of 4.50.

Players will be required to hit each shot the correct yardage with the proper ball flight and be able to accurately hit their spots. Big hitters can take on the bunker off the tee, which requires a 320-yard carry. Even then, they will likely be left with a second shot of 300-plus yards. Most players will elect to lay back short of the two fairway bunkers and play a wedge into another green complex that slopes back to front.

Players who go for it in two will have to contend with a creek down the right side and deep bunker complexes surrounding the green.

From the first par 5, we venture to the first par 3. The tee box has been slightly modified and angles more to the right, so the line of approach will be more receptive to long iron shots. It's marked at 214 for the week, but they can stretch this hole to 220+ yards. The tee shot plays downstream with the prevailing southerly wind. The green backs up against 61st Street and is relatively flat, meaning players will need a high trajectory and a well-judged club choice to get it close to the flag.

The 7th hole represents one of the most extensive renovation changes. The green was moved back and to the right to bring the danger of the creek into play on the approach shot. To start, it features one of the only blond tee shots on property. Players can take on the large crest in the fairway to seek a shorter shot into the green, but they'll need to keep it left. Anything that leaks right is in threat of a big bounce and bounding into the water. Cautious players will lay back short of the crest and have a long iron approach. However, playing safe off the tee brings in risk on the approach – there's always the threat of a 3 or 4 iron bouncing through the green and collecting in the dry creek bed.

There's a theme to the front nine par 3s. They're long. This 250-yard straight-away monster plays into the prevailing wind (which means tournament organizers might move the tee box up if things get too gusty). A spine in the middle of the green creates very distinct pin locations. There's even space to put a flag directly on top of the spine for extra excitement. If you told a player they'd make par on this hole all four days, they'd take that deal immediately.

We come back uphill towards the clubhouse as we prepare to make the turn. This dogleg right requires an aggressive tee shot that takes on the two fairway bunkers down the right side for the best approach. It's about 298 yards to carry that last trap. If you take the aggressive line off the tee and find one of those fairway bunkers, it's a problem. That brings bogey into play.

The green has two very pronounced levels, and if the flag is up top, you can easily spin back down or even off the green. Spin control on the approach shot will be paramount. Many of the bunkers around the green shouldn't come into play, and we shouldn't see too many players in them over the week. But if we do, get ready for a wild ride.

If you ever make it to Southern Hills, grab a Frozen Club Special at the turn. It's a summertime favorite that will get your swing right headed to the back nine. What's in it? A little bit of tequila, some rum, lime juice and I'm pretty sure more tequila.

Players will skip the Frozen Club Special this week, but the 10th will be a popular spot for fans to enjoy some libations. It shares a tee box with the first hole this week, creating the ideal viewing space for spectators to take in a lot of golf. The renovation brings the creek that bisects the fairway back into play. It's a carry of 295 yards, which will cause some players to lay back while others will bomb it over with no problem. The entire hole slopes right to left, which is to the player's advantage because that side gives you the best angle to attack the green. Don't get too aggressive; there's another narrow creek lurking too far left.

No. 11 is a stern mid-range par 3. It sports the smallest green on property, and it's surrounded by four bunkers patiently awaiting any off-target shots. It's difficult to judge the wind because it sits down in a bowl, so players will have to pay attention to the direction of the wind on Nos. 9 and 10 to properly judge. This hole seems benign, but accuracy is a premium, and if you take your foot off the gas it can bite you.

This hole has been called "One of America's greatest par 4s" by the likes of Hogan and Palmer. The slight dogleg left requires a precision drive to fully utilize the sloping terrain. On their second shot, players will face a mid-to-short iron (maybe even a wedge for the ultra-alpha bombers) into a banked green that's protected by four bunkers and a creek in the front. Putts from the left side of the green or above the hole will be extremely fast.

At 632 yards, the course's second and final par 5 is nearly as long as the first. A reasonably straightforward tee shot requires that you favor the right side to avoid being blocked out by trees on the left. A big drive will allow players to go for this green in two, but not without risk. In most cases, it will require a carry of 280-285+ yards – which sounds otherworldly but can be done in a field of this caliber. The green raised is surrounded by bunkering and protected by two ponds in the front. Players electing to layup should target their preferred distance from 60-120 yards. From there, it's a green light into one of the more subdued greens on the course, as it's relatively flat.

This par 3 is sneaky long. The prevailing wind swoops right-to-left, and there are conveniently placed white stakes to the left. Like the prior 11th, it can be challenging for players to feel the wind on the tee box. So, they'll have to take note of the breeze on previous holes.

There's a small ridge in the front that will propel shots to the back of the green. It's well bunkered, and up-and-downs are no gimme because of the slope of the green. A par here will be well earned.

This is one of the most demanding tee shots on the back nine. It's very narrow, so many players will elect to grab a fairway wood even though you must carry the left-hand bunker (290+ yards) for the best chance to attack. Even then, the landing area is extremely undulated and wants to push everything to the right. You'll be hard-pressed to find a flat on the approach shot. There's some heavy risk-reward on this one. Take on the bunker, find the fairway, and you'll create a look at birdie. Miss in the bunker or deep Bermuda rough? Bogey could await, especially with a heavily-sloped green known to inspire three putts.

This plays as a par 5 for our members but will be a strong par 4 this week for the world's best. The prevailing wind is down and off the left, so distance won't be an issue. The back bunkers are a popular miss on the long-iron approach, as the firm and flat green can catapult golf balls through it. This green complex is as straightforward as they come at Southern Hills and given a good look, players will be able to make putts.

This is one of my favorite holes on property. A short, risk-reward par 4 that gives you a few options off the tee. There are two shelves in the fairway: 1) Down to the right and closer to the creek that may give a shorter approach shot. 2) An upper shelve to the left that offers a flatter lie. I opt for No. 2 generally to avoid the penalty area.

The PGA is no stranger to driveable par 4s. Who can forget Collin Morikawa's final-round heroics on the 16th hole at Harding Park? If the tournament host moves the tees up and for added weekend drama, this would be the hole to do it on.

The elevated, two-level green can lend itself to some mean pin placements.

The 18th hole is one of the most challenging tests of golf on the property. If you're coming down the stretch and have to make par to win the championship, you've got your work cut out for you. Players need an accurate tee shot to position themselves on a plateau to the left side of the fairway. The renovation accentuated a spine in the middle of the fairway, and if you catch the wrong side of the ridge your ball can bound into the creek.

Once safely in the fairway, you face a 200-yard shot up the hill to an elevated green complex that slopes severely from the back to the front. Birdies will be few, pars will be celebrated, and bogeys won't be bad. It's a phenomenal closing hole.

ABOUT CAMERON CHHIM

Cameron Chhim is the PGA Assistant Professional at Southern Hills Country Club and a TaylorMade Crusader. After graduating from Mississippi State in 2020, Chhim began at Southern Hills as an intern. Impressed with his maturity and skills as a player, long-time Southern Hills Director of Golf Cary Cozby took to mentoring Chhim. Earlier this year, Chhim competed in the PGA Professional National Championship and narrowly missed qualifying for this major championship at his home course.