7 shots every player must succeed in order to win at Royal Troon

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This year Royal Troon is playing The Open for the tenth time.

Since 1923 the South Ayrshire classic has seen stars such as Bobby Locke, Arnold Palmer, Tom Weiskopf, Tom Watson and, eight years ago, Henrik Stenson lift the famous Claret Jug.

Troon's Old Course is perhaps less heralded than others on the Open rota, but it's still a stunning structure that never misses a beat in terms of world-class golf links.

The first six holes go in the same direction and, on paper, represent easy holes. But when the wind changes, things can change very quickly.

7-12 is a loop and boasts some of the best holes in the world.

Here it's all about putting together – including the world-famous postage stamp on the 8th – and the final six go straight back to the clubhouse where you can expect more tension on the fairways and more greens.

Afternoon is forecast to be more wet, but the forecast is for brighter skies.

Andy Wright has been a member of Royal Troon since 2015 and is a starting player.

It takes us to the key captures that the Open field will need to get right and where their Key dreams may be shattered or, indeed, where you may not get stuck playing Royal Troon as a novice player.

4th tee shot – par 5, 599 yards

The first three holes can be good birdie opportunities, but this is the first of three par 5s and played as the easiest hole in 2016. They have widened this hole, but you need to find the fairway to have a good chance at it. and making a bird.

The early forecast is for a southwesterly wind to get right in and out of the early holes so you will need to hit driver. There are two large bunkers on the lower left that you hit and another bunker on the right that will work for some short hitters. And on both sides of the fairway are some very difficult ones.

The second shot isn't too punishing with a wide opening and the green is flat, unlike the next par 5 by 6.

6th fairway – par 5, 623 yards

The tee shot is not very demanding, they have added a new bunker in the upper left but there is a decent place to put your ball and the fairway cambers right to left for a good shoot in front.

The second shot is more difficult if you're looking for it – there's a bunker in the upper right, about 40 yards, that will work if you're going to take it and a big hole on the left that's the way to bail. But if you are down there you will face a tricky pitch and you can easily make a bogey.

This includes a narrow entrance to the green and, if you want it, you'll need to take it over the left edge of the right bunker. There is a big mound on the right that has lost the ballpark and the fans won't be able to get there so it will be quite crowded.

Players will be hitting fairways and long irons in the wind, we have good weather coming but the course will still be soft. The way to deal with it is to shoot with high risk but high reward potential.

It's a fairway you almost never worry about so you have no option to follow it, if you hit a good shot you should go for it as the layup will be a 9 iron.

8th tee shot – par 3, 123 yards

The Postage Stamp is talked about forever but it really is a huge pitfall. The tee shot will probably play slightly in and out left which is difficult on this hole as the green slopes back to the front and left to right so the wind pushes it to the right and the deep fairway.

All the bunkers are deep this year and the remaining Coffin bunker is a nightmare and very difficult to get up and down. There's a big downslope so, unless you're very accurate or the greens are soft or you have a really good lie, you're likely going back across the green and into the bunker on the right.

Although you can play towards the flat section ahead but you should avoid this house at all costs. The short bunker is deep but playing up the throat of the green and the short bunker to the left is unplayable. There is also a long sleeping area on the right which is not good but nothing like Coffin or big on the right where it will be played.

The front left part is the safest part to point to, it's a little wider and has a hem area so it gives you a little buffer. Everywhere the slopes will lead to another place. The back pin is a very difficult pin as it really tapers off in the back section to twelve paces. They didn't use that pin in 2016 so it would be nice to see that play out this year.

I've had to hit a 5 iron there before and also hit a lob wedge. I've had a hole-in-one but the winter green is on the left side of the mound. The yardage is quite long and is a fair hole in itself but obviously not a postage stamp.

10th shot – par 4, 450 yards

The start of the back 9 opens with a blind drive over a large mound. The fairway is generous when you get to the top of the hill but it is also a shot that requires a lot of commitment especially if it is windy.

The wind will be straight across, from left to right, and there are lots of dunes, and some treacherous dunes lying down on the right. The green is elevated and has a steep drop to the right so it's important to be in a short club so you can control your ball flight when you get there.

Most of the shots stay good but they gradually pile up and you end up 20 feet below the green.

11th tee shot – par 4, 498 yards

The tee here is set back and, except for the tips, it's an absolute beast of a tee shot. You can only see the trees in front of you playing across the fairway which makes it even more difficult. This means that you are playing the gorse wall to the left, so, if you find it a little hot, your ball will not stop.

Phil Mickelson said that, as a lefty, he felt confident about this point as, if he missed the shot on the left, he would cut it more but it would remain soft. The rough on the right is brutal, like a US Open type rough, but it's also quite long and has a fairway going out of bounds to the right.

In 2016 it was ranked as the toughest hole on the PGA Tour. The second shot is equally tough with a narrow green and a wall just a few steps to the right of the green and, if you miss to the left, you have a small cluster of trees and the ball will land six feet below par. in green. It's one of those great holes where you have to hit two good shots.

15th shot – par 4, 502 yards

They moved the fairway to the left here a few years ago and it used to be a straight par 4 with a fairway up.

There are two bunkers in the upper right that will be played from the back – these are one shot penalties if you get them – and there are two bunkers in the upper left. The damage on both sides is brutal and you can be lucky enough to get a lie to complete it twice.

Troon favors tee fades on several holes – 4, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 13 – where the left-to-right orientation is definitely beneficial. There are many humps and bumps on this fairway which is the longest of all the par 4s.

17th shot – par 3, 242 yards

This is an amazing hole and my personal favorite, especially where it comes around. They added 20 yards to this and, again, it has a small entrance to the green and is slightly elevated.

It is very exposed so you get all the features here and there are two bunkers on either side short of the green. If the pin hangs to the right and you miss it to the right, it's impossible up and down unless you hole a big putt and it's the same to the left.

It's also easy to lower or overbeat your chip. It takes a good shot with the right club and four shots into the center of the green will serve you very well.

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