Toughest Approach Shot

To the third (par 4, 428 yards) green

Fear factor: Following your first encounter with the Church Pews, you must land your uphill approach within a 10-foot circle around the hole just to keep it on the green. A steep fall-off in front and another in back, bunkers short right and a green that tilts left to right all spell trouble.

How the pros should play it: "You'll see some birdies here, but the third is not one of those holes that you can attack, especially when the hole is up front, which is [as small as] the hood of a car. You don't want to be short, but weighing on your mind is going too long, where you have one of those near-impossible downhill putts."
— Larry Nelson, 1983 U.S. Open winner at Oakmont

Average Joe: "I pinched a nifty wedge from 90 yards (my third shot), but it landed just beyond the 10-foot zone and trundled into a shaved-down hollow. My first chip wound up back at my feet, paving the way for a second consecutive triple bogey."

Credit: L.C. Lambrecht; AP (Nelson)