Southern Hills has staged six Majors and now it becomes the first course to host four US PGA Championships.

Harry Bolt was the first Major winner at the venue in 1958. He was born in Oklahoma and coped best with the soaring temperatures. He also did what you have to do at Southern Hills and that is to drive the ball supremely, missing just 13 of 72 greens in regulation - though he still posted a three-over aggregate.

"Its not extremely long at 7,131 yards, and a par 70, but if you're not in the fairway you're going to have a pretty difficult time getting round this golf course. It is tree lined with a lot of dog-legs and you've got to be in the fairways to hit the greens," explained championship director Ryan Jordan.

Southern Hills head professional Dave Bryan also warned that the opening three holes could catch most of the field out and added that the front nine should be the more difficult of the two sides.

"It will play longer than the 2001 US Open and number two, three and eight have been lengthened. The front side will be very hard and the first three will be as difficult a start as any the players encounter anywhere. Your best chance of scoring are holes 4-13, there is a good chance that you will have to make up ground after dropping shots on the first three or you will have to build your score before the last five which will also be very tricky. The second is the hardest hole on the course, closely followed by the last."

All but two of the 12 par fours and both par fives move either left or right and Southern Hills' former winners are more strikers than bombers: Dave Stockton, Ray Floyd and Nick Price have captured the PGA while Bolt, Hubert Green and most recently, in 2001, Retief Goosen have landed the US Open.

Over three million dollars has been spent on the course since then. 21 million has also gone into upgrading the clubhouse and all the greens and 86 bunkers have been rebuilt. Finally, 82 acres of fairway has been re-sodded.

The key holes

Southern Hills head pro Dave Bryan, who has been with the Tulsa club for 19 years gives us the lowdown on the play-off holes.

13th - 537 yards, par 5

This hole is a real risk and reward par-five. There is an opportunity for most of the field to reach in two but at the same time it's a tough hole to get the tee ball into play. The second shot is protected by two ponds and there's also a large tree on the left so it is a tough approach unless you have the ball in the correct position off the tee.

It will be a good chance if there's a play-off to make an eagle. You will certainly want to make a birdie or you will feel that you have lost ground.

17th - 358 yards, par 4

A great short four at just over 350 yards. A very tight hole with a creek on the right side and the ground all slopes towards the water. Very much a position hole unless someone wants to attack it and get down there close but there is no real advantage in that and it generally plays into what breeze there is. It has a shallow, well-bunkered green and you do not want to be long here with your short-iron approach. Par is still a good score despite it being the shortest four on the course.

18th - 465 yards, par 4

A very difficult par four to finish. A big dog-leg right which plays slightly downhill but is into the wind off the tee.

The second is uphill towards the clubhouse and into the wind and plays very long to a green that is very tricky. None of the six previous Major winners - three Opens and three PGAs - we have had here have parred the 72nd hole, all have made bogey.

They generally had a cushion but Retief didn't and three-putted from 10 feet. Unbelievable. A great finish whether as the 72nd hole or as the conclusion to the play-off.

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National Club Golfer / Eurosport