PGA TOUR: Toughest Courses in 2008

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Which courses do the PGA TOUR pros find the most difficult to conquer? Here are the toughest courses -- based on stroke average relative to par -- through the 2008 season.

1. The Open Championship: Royal Birkdale
Par/Yardage: 70/7,173
Average Score: 74.869
Average over par: 4.869
2008 Winner: Padraig Harrington
Score: 3 over | Cut: 8 over
Low round of the week: Camilo Villegas, 65 in Round 2
Rank in 2007: N/A
Summary: High winds kept scoring high at Royal Birkdale, where Padraig Harrington fired a remarkable 69 in the final round to win by four. Players were greeted with consistent winds that topped out around 40 mph during the third round.

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2. The PGA Championship: Oakland Hills
Par/Yardage: 70/7,395
Average Score: 74.315
Average over par: 4.315
2008 Winner: Padraig Harrington
Score: 3 under | Cut: 8 over
Low round of the week: Andres Romero, 65 in Round 3
Rank in 2007: N/A
Summary: The popular quote during the week was, "It is playing like a U.S. Open. Actually, it was tougher. Padraig Harrington avoiding finishing over par with a brilliant 66-66 on the weekend for a two-shot victory. The course played considerably easier on the weekend after the weather started cooperating.

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3. The U.S. Open Championship: Torrey Pines South
Par/Yardage: 71/7,643
Average Score: 74.712
Average over par: 3.712
2008 Winner: Tiger Woods
Score: 1 under | Cut: 7 over
Low round of the week: Heath Slocum, 65 in Round 4
Rank in 2007: N/A
Summary: Players raved about the USGA's setup at Torrey Pines, which was hosting the U.S. Open for the first time. Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods each managed to give the U.S. Open its first under-par score since 2004. The tournament was blessed with perfect weather all week, and progressive rough gave players a chance to save par.

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4. Stanford St. Jude Championship: TPC Southwind
Par/Yardage: 70/7,239
Average Score: 72.534
Average over par: 2.534
2008 Winner: Justin Leonard
Score: 4 under | Cut: 5 over
Low round of the week: Gavin Coles, 64 in Round 2, Tim Clark, 64 in Round 3
Rank in 2007: 6th out of 55
Summary: As expected, TPC Southwind was tough as nails for the second consecutive year. No one touched Woody Austin's final-round 62 in 2007, but low scoring was possible despite the tough conditions. Winner Justin Leonard shot 68 or better in three of his four rounds.

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5. the Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley: Muirfield Village G.C.
Par/Yardage: 72/7,366
Average Score: 74.397
Average over par: 2.397
2008 Winner: Kenny Perry
Score: 8 under | Cut: 6 over
Low round of the week: Mathew Goggin, 65 in Round 1
Rank in 2007: 38th out of 55
Summary: Muirfield Village was an excellent tuneup for the U.S. Open. Players battled six-inch rough and lightning-fast greens all week, and winner Kenny Perry blew by the field in the final round with a 69 that gave him a two-shot win. How tough was Muirfield Village? Perry, despite winning the tournament for the third time, made 13 bogeys in four days.

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6. THE PLAYERS Championship: The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass
Par/Yardage: 72/7,215
Average Score: 74.286
Average over par: 2.286
2008 Winner: Sergio Garcia
Score: 5 under | Cut: 4 over
Low round of the week: Garcia, 66 in Round 1
Rank in 2007: 12th out of 55
Summary: High winds and rock-hard conditions made the Stadium Course play its toughest yet. Despite the difficulty of the course, the field was universal in its praise for the fast and firm layout, which featured Bermuda greens that ranked 13 on the Stimpmeter. Only five of the holes played under par. The biggest jump in difficulty came on the 481-yard par-4 14th hole, which played into the wind most of the time. It gave up only 21 birdies all week, compared to 31 on the more-feared 462-yard par-4 18th.

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7. EDS Byron Nelson Championship: TPC Four Seasons Resort
Par/Yardage: 70/7,166
Average Score: 72.028
Average over par: 2.028
2008 Winner: Adam Scott
Score: 7 under | Cut: 3 over
Low round of the week: Frank Lickliter, 65 in Round 2, Sergio Garcia, 65 in Round 3, Richard Johnson, 65 in Round 4
Rank in 2007: N/A
Summary: The EDS Byron Nelson Championship was moved to the gorgeous TPC Four Seasons for 2008, but the birdies didn't make the trip. The field found the revamped course at TPC Four Seasons to be a stern test, just as D.A. Weibring intended. Weather played a role, with temperatures dropping from 85 in Round 1 to the low 60s in the final round.

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8. PODS Championship: Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead) Par/Yardage: 71/7,340
Average Score: 72.970
Average over par: 1.970
2008 Winner: Sean O'Hair
Score: 4 under | Cut: 3 over
Low round of the week: Lee Janzen, 65 in Round 1
Rank in 2007: 15th out of 55
Summary: Innisbrook has always been one of the tougher courses on the PGA TOUR, but swirling winds made it even more difficult in 2008. Despite the brutal conditions, winner Sean O'Hair made just eight bogeys all week.

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9. The Honda Classic: PGA National (Champion Course)
Par/Yardage: 70/7,158
Average Score: 71.825
Average over par: 1.825
2008 Winner: Ernie Els
Score: 6 under | Cut: 4 over
Low round of the week: Luke Donald, 64 in Round 1
Rank in 2007: 8th out of 55
Summary: No surprise here. Jack Nicklaus' design north of Miami isn't known as "The Bear Trap" for its penchant for red numbers. The field made just six eagles, an incredibly low figure for a tournament played on just one course. Ernie Els' final-round 67 was one of the finest of the year on the PGA TOUR.

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10. Buick Invitational: Torrey Pines (South Course)
Par/Yardage: 72/7,569
Average Score: 73.801
Average over par: 1.801
2008 Winner: Tiger Woods
Score: 19 under | Cut: 1 over
Rank in 2007: 14th out of 55
Low round not available for tournaments with multi-course events.
Summary: Unseasonably cold weather in San Diego made the South course play even longer in 2008. The cold weather even made the sister North course more difficult, as that course (see below) gave up its ranking as the easiest course on TOUR.

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11. The Masters: Augusta National G.C.
Par/Yardage: 72/7,445
Average Score: 73.773
Average over par: 1.773
2008 Winner: Trevor Immelman
Score: 8 under | Cut: 3 over
Low round of the week: Steve Flesch, 67 in Round 2
Rank in 2007: 1st out of 55
Summary: Augusta National was blessed with good weather in 2008, which helped keep scores solidly in red numbers. Still, the course retained its bite, as no one was able to shoot lower than 67 for the second consecutive year. High winds in the final round prevented Trevor Immelman from finishing better than 8 under.

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12. AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am: Spyglass Hill G.C.
Par/Yardage: 72/6,953
Average Score: 73.206
Average over par: 1.206
2008 Winner: Steve Lowery
Score: 10 under | Cut: Even
Rank in 2007: 17th out of 55
Low round not available for tournaments with multi-course events.
Summary: Spyglass is still the toughest sub-7,000 yard course on the PGA TOUR. Winner Steve Lowery shot a remarkable one-bogey, four-birdie 69 at Spyglass in the first round that set the tone for his win over Vijay Singh.

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13. Northern Trust Open: Riviera C.C.
Par/Yardage: 71/7,279
Average Score: 72.110
Average over par: 1.110
2008 Winner: Phil Mickelson
Score: 12 under | Cut: 3 over
Low round of the week: Mickelson, 64 in Round 2
Rank in 2007: 21st out of 55
Summary: Riviera played a little tougher than it did in 2007, but winner Phil Mickelson dropped a 64 on the field in the second round that shot him to the win. The field made 13 double-bogeys on the 475-yard 18th, which ranked as the hardest par 4.

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14. Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun: El Camaleon
Par/Yardage: 70/6,923
Average Score: 71.00
Average over par: 1.000
2008 Winner: Brian Gay
Score: 16 under | Cut: 4 over
Low round of the week: Roland Thatcher, 61 in Round 3
Rank in 2007: 23rd out of 55
Summary: For the second straight year, a short hitter won in Cancun. Brian Gay, one the best putters on TOUR, won for the first time in his decade on TOUR. Roland Thatcher's 9-under 61 on Saturday still ranks as the lowest round on TOUR in 2008.

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15. THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola: East Lake Golf Club
Par/Yardage: 70/7,304
Average Score: 70.983
Average over par: 0.983
2008 Winner: Camilo Villegas
Score: 7 under | Cut: None
Low round of the week: Anthony Kim, 64 in Round 1
Rank in 2007: 49th out of 55
Summary: East Lake was playing firmer and faster in the 2008 edition of THE TOUR Championship, and scores were sent significantly higher. The tournament in 2007 benefited from rain that fell during the tournament, but high winds and intense sunshine baked the greens at East Lake, making par a good score.

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16. Turning Stone Resort Championship: Atunyote Golf Club
Par/Yardage: 72/7,482
Average Score: 70.968
Average over par: 0.968
2008 Winner: Dustin Johnson
Score: 9 under | Cut: 4 over
Low round of the week: Davis Love III, 66 in Round 3
Rank in 2007: 48th out of 55
Summary: Talk about a turnaround -- the weather had everything to do with the higher scores in Central New York. The field played 72 holes in cool and windy conditions all week in the 2008 edition of this tournament, and scores never drifted downward despite lift, clean and place rules. The weather put an increased emphasis on putting, and winner Dustin Johnson needed only 26 of them in the final round.

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17. Ginn sur Mer Classic: The Conservatory
Par/Yardage: 72/7,663
Average Score: 72.956
Average over par: 0.956
2008 Winner: Ryan Palmer
Score: 7 under | Cut: 2 over
Low round of the week: Michael Letzig and Kent Jones, 65 in Round 3
Rank in 2007: N/A
Summary: The season's penultimate event moved to the mammoth Conservatory Course in Palm Coast for the 2008 season, and the course gave the players one of the toughest tests of the Fall Series. The front side of the course measured nearly 4,000 yards, with both par-3s playing over 200 yards. Three of the course's par-5s played to over 600 yards.

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18. Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard: Bay Hill
Par/Yardage: 70/7,162
Average Score: 70.940
Average over par: 0.940
2008 Winner: Tiger Woods
Score: 10 under | Cut: 2 over
Low round of the week: Sean O'Hair, 63 in Round 3
Rank in 2007: 7th out of 55
Summary: Good weather made this course a little easier than it was in 2007. Tiger Woods won when he birdied the 441-yard 18th to win by a shot over Brad Bryant. The hardest hole was the 460-yard fourth, which gave up just 19 birdies all week. The 18th hole gave up more than twice as many (44).

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19. AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am: Poppy Hills
Par/Yardage: 72/6,942
Average Score: 72.828
Average over par: 0.828
Rank in 2007: 27th out of 55
2008 Winner: Steve Lowery
Score: 10 under | Cut: Even
Summary: Poppy Hills is the rare course that features its easiest hole at the end. The field tore up the short 502-yard 18th, which played as a par 5. The field racked up almost as many birdies (75) as pars (79). You have to survive Poppy Hills early -- the first six holes all played over par.

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20. Wachovia Championship: Quail Hollow Golf Club
Par/Yardage: 72/7,442
Average Score: 72.791
Average over par: 0.791
2008 Winner: Anthony Kim
Score: 16 under | Cut: 1 over
Low round of the week: Stewart Cink and Pat Perez, 65 in Round 3
Rank in 2007: 11th out of 55
Summary: Good weather took a little of the bite out of Quail Hollow, but the course's final three holes is still regarded as one of the TOUR's toughest finishes. The talent of winner Anthony Kim was showcased in the third round when he hit driver, wedge into the 478-yard 18th.

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21. AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am: Pebble Beach Golf Links
Par/Yardage: 72/6,816
Average Score: 72.563
Average over par: 0.563
Rank in 2007: 10th out of 55
2008 Winner: Steve Lowery
Score: 10 under | Cut: Even
Summary: A beautiful day in Round 4 made Pebble Beach play tough but fair in 2008. As usual, the back nine played slightly tougher. Winner Steve Lowery birdied the 17th to help force a playoff with Vijay Singh, which Lowery won with a birdie on the first playoff hole.

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22. World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational: Firestone South
Par/Yardage: 70/7,400
Average Score: 70.550
Average over par: 0.550
Rank in 2007: 4th out of 55
2008 Winner: Vijay Singh
Score: 10 under | Cut: None
Low round of the week: Lee Westwood, 65 in Round 2
Summary: The rough was not as deep as it was in 2007, helping Firestone lose some of its bite for the 2008 version of the final World Golf Championship of the year. The course was also made easier by rain during the week of the tournament, and the wind was never much of a factor. Still, the course retained teeth -- the low round of the week was a modest 5 under.

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23. Verizon Heritage: Harbour Town Golf Links
Par/Yardage: 71/6,973
Average Score: 71.435
Average over par: 0.435
Rank in 2007: 19th out of 55
2008 Winner: Boo Weekley
Score: 15 under | Cut: 1 over
Low round of the week: Stephen Ames and Boo Weekley, 64 in Round 2
Summary: Good weather took some of the bite out of Harbour Town in 2008 -- the tournament was played in extremely high winds in the final round in 2007. None of the holes beat up the field too badly; the toughest hole was the par-3 14th, which still gave up 37 birdies.

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24. The Barclays: Ridgewood Country Club
Par/Yardage: 71/7,319
Average Score: 71.406
Average over par: 0.406
Rank in 2007: N/A
2008 Winner: Vijay Singh
Score: 8 under | Cut: 1 over
Low round of the week: Hunter Mahan, 62 in Round 1
Summary: The players loved the PGA TOUR's new stop at Ridgewood, which featured a classic design with thick rough and tree-lined fairways. The course was in top condition for the tournament, and the week started with a bang when Hunter Mahan set the course record. The course dried up as the week went on and the winds started howling, leading to much higher scores on the weekend.

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25. Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial: Colonial C.C.
Par/Yardage: 70/7,054
Average Score: 70.328
Average over par: 0.328
2008 Winner: Phil Mickelson
Score: 14 under | Cut: 2 over
Low round of the week: Johnson Wagner, 63 in Round 1
Rank in 2007: 41st out of 55
Summary: Colonial played almost a full stroke tougher than it did in 2007. The course played dry all week with hot, humid conditions. Still, the course yielded some low scores, with Johnson Wagner racking up nine birdies in the first round. On a course that measures just over 7,000 yards, the 472-yard fifth is an anomaly. Not surprisingly, it played as the toughest hole on the course -- the field averaged 4.248 strokes on the hole.

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26. Legends Reno-Tahoe Open: Montreux Golf and C.C.
Par/Yardage: 72/7,472
Average Score: 72.290
Average over par: 0.290
2008 Winner: Parker McLachlin
Score: 18 under | Cut: Even
Low round of the week: McLachlin, 62 in Round 2
Rank in 2007: 20th out of 55
Summary: The long course at Montreux played more difficult than it did in 2007. The course had two of its easier holes on the home stretch, closing with a par-5 and a medium par-4. McLachlin played superbly all week, but strangely, he didn't make a birdie on Sunday until the 72nd hole.

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27. AT&T National: Congressional Country Club
Par/Yardage: 70/7,255
Average Score: 70.255
Average over par: 0.255
2008 Winner: Anthony Kim
Score: 12 under | Cut: 3 over
Low round of the week: Tom Pernice Jr., 63 in Round 2, Peter Lonard, 63 in Round 4
Rank in 2007: 9th out of 55
Summary: Congressional wasn't nearly as difficult as it was in 2007. The course was made easier by calm winds and flawless conditioning. Winner Anthony Kim broke 70 in all four rounds with a score that was three strokes under K.J. Choi's 271 in the 2007 inaugural.

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28. Sony Open in Hawaii: Waialae C.C.
Par/Yardage: 70/7,044
Average Score: 70.123
Average over par: 0.123
Rank in 2007: 24th out of 55
2008 Winner: K.J. Choi
Score: 14 under | Cut: Even
Low round of the week: Tim Wilkinson, 62 in Round 3
Summary: The first full-field event of 2008 was about as tough as it was in 2007, when it was ranked in the middle of the hardest courses on TOUR. Short-hitting Tim Wilkinson, a rookie, torched Waialae for a 62 on Saturday.

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29. AT&T Classic: TPC Sugarloaf
Par/Yardage: 72/7,311
Average Score: 72.119
Average over par: 0.119
2008 Winner: Ryuji Imada
Score: 15 under | Cut: Even
Low round of the week: Omar Uresti, 65 in Round 3
Rank in 2007: 28th out of 55
Summary: Predictable weather made TPC Sugarloaf play similar to what it did in 2007. As usual, the downhill 544-yard par-5 18th made for drama in all four days. The field racked up 12 eagles on the hole despite difficult hole locations. The course features the 248-yard par-3 eighth, which is annually ranked among the toughest par-3s on TOUR. It gave up only 26 birdies all week.

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30: Shell Houston Open: Redstone G.C. (Tournament Course)
Par/Yardage: 72/7,457
Average Score: 72.068
Average over par: 0.068
Rank in 2007: 29th out of 55
2008 Winner: Johnson Wagner
Score: 16 under | Cut: Even
Low round of the week: Adam Scott and Johnson Wagner, 63 in Round 1
Summary: As usual, the mile-long par-4 18th at Redstone -- it stretches nearly 500 yards -- was the toughest hole on the course. Winner Johnson Wagner survived a fairway bunker on the 72nd hole to score his first PGA TOUR win.

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31. Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular: Trump International
Par/Yardage: 72/7,569
Average Score: 71.998
Average under par: 0.002
Rank in 2007: N/A (new event)
2008 Winner: Greg Kraft
Score: 14 under | Cut: Even
Low round of the week: Bo Van Pelt, 64 in Round 1
Summary: Trump International made its debut as one of the longest courses on the 2008 PGA TOUR. Despite its length, short-hitting Greg Kraft scored his first official TOUR win. The course, even at nearly 7,600 yards, put more emphasis on iron play than sheer driving distance, as noted plinkers Jerry Kelly and Tim Wilkinson also scored top-10s.

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32. Zurich Classic of New Orleans: TPC Louisiana
Par/Yardage: 72/7,341
Average Score: 71.996
Average under par: 0.004
Rank in 2007: 30th out of 55
2008 Winner: Andres Romero
Score: 13 under | Cut: Even
Low round of the week: Romero, 65 in Round 3
Summary: The TPC Louisiana isn't a brutal test, but no one managed to hang a 64 onto Pete Dye's layout. Its 18th hole, measuring nearly 600 yards, is one of the hardest par 5s on the PGA TOUR. Players made a double-bogey or worse a whopping 20 times.

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33. RBC Canadian Open: Glen Abbey G.C.
Par/Yardage: 71/7,222
Average Score: 70.830
Average under par: 0.170
Rank in 2007: 35th out of 55
2008 Winner: Chez Reavie
Score: 17 under | Cut: 1 under
Low round of the week: Scott McCarron, 63 in Round 3
Summary: The course was hit by a ton of rain early in the week, and the TOUR used lift, clean and place for all four rounds. Winner Chez Reavie won by consistently nailing all the fairways, allowing him to take advantage of the conditions. Reavie had a solid 70 in the final round, when winds picked up.

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34. Buick Invitational: Torrey Pines (North Course)
Par/Yardage: 72/6,824
Average Score: 71.542
Average under par: 0.458
Rank in 2007: 55th out of 55
2008 Winner: Tiger Woods
Score: 19 under | Cut: 1 over
Summary: Cool weather and high winds turned Torrey North into a tough test in 2008. The extremely short course held its own with the unpredictable weather, as the field scored three shots higher on average than it did in 2007.

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35. BMW Championship: Bellerive C.C.
Par/Yardage: 70/7,324
Average Score: 69.370
Average under par: 0.630
Rank in 2007: N/A
2008 Winner: Camilo Villegas
Score: 15 under | Cut: None
Low round of the week: Jim Furyk, 62 in Round 2
Summary: Bellerive made its debut for the BMW Championship, and the classic course gave up a lot of birdies despite its length. A heavy rain fell immediately before the tournament, and players fired irons at the large greens with abandon. A handful of players managed to break par in every round, and winner Camilo Villegas racked up 22 birdies for the week.

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36. FBR Open: TPC Scottsdale
Par/Yardage: 71/7,216
Average Score: 70.306
Average under par: 0.694
Rank in 2007: 46th out of 55
2008 Winner: J.B. Holmes
Score: 14 under | Cut: 2 under
Low round of the week: Mark Calcavecchia, 64 in Round 3, Jonathan Byrd, Briny Baird and Doug LaBelle II, 64 in Round 2
Summary: The Phoenix area had cold weather early in the week at the FBR Open, but it didn't bother the field much. The field played both nines under par for the week. Three of the four par 5s gave up more than 10 eagles each.

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37. Texas Valero Open: La Cantera Golf Club
Par/Yardage: 70/6,881
Average Score: 69.189
Average under par: 0.811
Rank in 2007: 39th out of 55
2008 Winner: Zach Johnson
Score: 19 under | Cut: 1 under
Low round of the week: Steve Elkington and Charlie Wi, 61 in Round 4
Summary: As usual, scoring was low on the hilly, short course outside San Antonio. A trio of players threatened to shoot 59 on the layout, and Zach Johnson shot 62-64 on the weekend to win by two. The toughest hole of the week was the 186-yard 17th, which featured a heavily-guarded green. Johnson played the hole one-under for the week.

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38. Travelers Championship: TPC River Highlands
Par/Yardage: 70/6,837
Average Score: 69.117
Average under par: 0.883
Rank in 2007: 45th out of 55
2008 Winner: Stewart Cink
Score: 18 under | Cut: 3 under
Low round of the week: Kevin Streelman, Chad Campbell, D.J. Trahan, 62 in Round 3
Summary: TPC River Highlands played about as easy as it did in 2007. The field blistered the short par-70 course on Saturday, with most of the field breaking par. The final day was a little tougher when the winds picked up, but winner Stewart Cink still managed a 14-par, four-birdie day to seal the win.

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39. John Deere Classic: TPC Deere Run
Par/Yardage: 71/7,268
Average Score: 70.069
Average under par: 0.931
Rank in 2007: 42nd out of 55
2008 Winner: Kenny Perry
Score: 16 under | Cut: 3 under
Low round of the week: Jay Williamson, 62 in Round 3
Summary: TPC Deere Run maintained its status as one of the easier tracks on the TOUR. The tournament is usually blessed with good weather, and its greens made for predictable putting surfaces. The winds stiffened on the final day; it was the only day winner Kenny Perry didn't break 70.

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40. World Golf Championships-CA Championship: Doral Golf ResortPar/Yardage: 72/7,266
Average Score: 71.308
Average under par: 0.962
Rank in 2007: 16th out of 55
2008 Winner: Geoff Ogilvy
Score: 17 under | Cut: None
Low round of the week: Vijay Singh, 63 in Round 2
Summary: Calm weather made Doral play easier in 2008. The 467-yard 18th hole, which ranked as the hardest hole on the PGA TOUR in 2007, lost some of its bite. The hole played to a 4.297 average, well below its 4.625 average in 2007.

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41. Frys.com Open: Grayhawk G.C.
Par/Yardage: 70/7,125
Average Score: 68.959
Average under par: 1.041
Rank in 2007: 22nd out of 55
2008 Winner: Cameron Beckman
Score: 18 under | Cut: 1 under
Low round of the week: Kevin Stadler, 61 in Round 2
Summary: Perfect weather helped make Grayhawk play easier than it did in 2007. Still, the course retained bite, especially at the 515-yard closing par-4, which was the second-hardest hole. The hardest hole was the 211-yard 16th, which gave up an astounding 16 double bogeys and two triple bogeys.

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42. The Deutsche Bank Championship: TPC Boston
Par/Yardage: 71/72,07
Average Score: 69.869
Average under par: 1.131
Rank in 2007: 36th out of 55
2008 Winner: Vijay Singh
Score: 22 under | Cut: 3 under
Low round of the week: Tim Clark, 62 in Round 2
Summary: TPC Boston played about the same as it did in 2007. The wide-opened fairways lead to low scores, but the short hitters have a field day, too. Tim Clark bogeyed the final two holes to shoot 62 in the second round. Vijay Singh's final-round 63 -- shot in the most difficult conditions of the day -- is arguably the best round on the PGA TOUR in 2008.

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43. U.S. Bank Championship: Brown Deer Park
Par/Yardage: 70/6,759
Average Score: 68.794
Average under par: 1.206
Rank in 2007: 26th out of 55
2008 Winner: Richard S. Johnson
Score: 16 under | Cut: 2 under
Low round of the week: Gavin Coles, 62 in Round 2
Summary: Brown Deer Park was in great shape in 2008, and its short length makes it one of the easier courses on TOUR. Still, the course has some difficult holes, especially on the front nine, and virtually none of the players are able to get through 18 holes without a bogey.

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44. Wyndham Championship: Sedgefield C.C.
Par/Yardage: 70/7,168
Average Score: 68.753
Average under par: 1.257
Rank in 2007: N/A
2008 Winner: Carl Pettersson
Score: 21 under | Cut: 3 under
Low round of the week: Pettersson, 61 in Round 2
Summary: The Wyndham Championship came to the Donald Ross-designed Sedgefield C.C. in 2008, and players made birdies in bunches. With a little bit of luck, Carl Pettersson could have shot 58 or 59 in Round 2, and a large chunk of the field broke 70 in all four rounds. The scores were helped a bit by perfect weather.

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45. Viking Classic: Annandale Golf and Country Club
Par/Yardage: 72/7,199
Average Score: 70.735
Average under par: 1.265
Rank in 2007: 31st out of 55
2008 Winner: Will MacKenzie
Score: 19 under | Cut: 2 under
Low round of the week: MacKenzie and Kevin Na, 64 in Round 2
Summary: The short course at Annandale played easier than it did in 2007. The field torched the course's four par-5s, with 17 of the 25 eagles coming at the 522-yard fifth. Winner Will MacKenzie birdied the 532-yard 18th three times on Sunday -- once in regulation and twice in the sudden-death playoff.

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46. Buick Open: Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club
Par/Yardage: 72/7,172
Average Score: 70.605
Average under par: 1.395
Rank in 2007: 45th out of 55
2008 Winner: Kenny Perry
Score: 19 under | Cut: 3 under
Low round of the week: Matt Jones, 62 in Round 2
Summary: How easy was Warwick Hills in the 2008 edition of the Buick Open? For starters, all four of the top finishers each broke 70 in all four rounds. The tournament was blessed with good weather all week, although higher winds in the final round helped keep the winning score under 20 under. The course still retained some bite -- Woody Austin bogeyed the final two holes to finish one shot out of a playoff.

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47. Bob Hope Chrysler Classic: Silver Rock
Par/Yardage: 72/7,403
Average Score: 70.539
Average under par: 1.461
Rank in 2007: N/A
2008 Winner: D.J. Trahan
Score: 26 under | Cut: 7 under
Summary: Silver Rock is unique in that the 17th and 18th holes offer vastly different scoring opportunities. The par-3 17th, measuring 207 yards, was the toughest hole on the course, and the 544-yard 18th was one of the easiest.

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48. Bob Hope Chrysler Classic: The Classic Club
Par/Yardage: 72/7,305
Average Score: 70.379
Average under par: 1.621
Rank in 2007: 32nd out of 55
2008 Winner: D.J. Trahan
Score: 26 under | Cut: 7 under
Summary: Even though its just one of four courses played at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, the course still gave up 22 eagles. Almost half of those (10) came at the 568-yard par-5 sixth hole.

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49. Children's Miracle Network Classic: Magnolia Golf Club
Par/Yardage: 72/7,516
Average Score: 70.378
Average under par: 1.622
Rank in 2007: 40th out of 55
2008 Winner: Davis Love
Score: 25 under | Cut: 5 under
Summary: Davis Love nearly became the first player in over 30 years to win a tournament without a single bogey. Love played the final three rounds without a bogey, and his up-and-down to win from the bunker on the 72nd hole was one of the best shots of the year.

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50. Mercedes-Benz Championship: Plantation Course at Kapalua
Par/Yardage: 73/7,411
Average Score: 70.935
Average under par: 2.065
Rank in 2007: 34th out of 55
Winner: Daniel Chopra
Score: 18 under | Cut: None
Low round of the week: Steve Stricker, 64 in Round 4
Summary: Daniel Chopra won in a playoff over Steve Stricker, giving Chopra the unique distinction of scoring his first two PGA TOUR wins on a courses with a par of 73. Good weather helped keep scoring low in the debut event of the 2008 PGA TOUR.

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51. Bob Hope Chrysler Classic: La Quinta C.C.
Par/Yardage: 72/7,060
Average Score: 69.891
Average under par: 2.109
Rank in 2007: 37th out of 55
Winner: D.J. Trahan
Score: 26 under | Cut: 7 under
Summary: Par didn't have much of a chance in 2008. The short course at La Quinta was repeatedly torched by the field, which racked up 574 birdies against 260 bogeys. Ten of the 18 holes played under par.

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52. Bob Hope Chrysler Classic: PGA West (Palmer Course)Par/Yardage: 72/6,930
Average Score: 69.504
Average under par: 2.496
Rank in 2007: 50th out of 55
Winner: D.J. Trahan
Score: 26 under | Cut: 7 under
Summary: PGA West again is one of the easiest tracks on the PGA TOUR. Any score in the 70s is considered a bad day. Only five of its holes managed to play over par.

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53. Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open: TPC Summerlin
Par/Yardage: 72/7,243
Average Score: 69.070
Average under par: 2.930
Rank in 2007: 44th out of 55
Winner: Marc Turnesa
Score: 25 under | Cut: 6 under
Low round of the week: Zach Johnson and Turnesa, 62 in Round 1
Summary: Calm, sunny conditions helped the field annihilate the course at TPC Summerlin, and the course played two strokes easier than it did when George McNeill won in 2007. Ironically, despite the easiness of the course, the par-4 18th was a brutal finishing hole with a lot of money on the line. It gave up 22 double bogeys -- more than any other hole on the course.

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54. Children's Miracle Network Classic: Palm Golf Club
Par/Yardage: 72/7,010
Average Score: 68.930
Average under par: 3.070
Rank in 2007: 54th out of 55
2008 Winner: Davis Love
Score: 25 under | Cut: 5 under
Summary: The Palm Course was the only course of the 2008 season to average under 69 shots a round. The course is one of the shortest 72-par tracks on the PGA TOUR, and and warm, sunny conditions helped it play even easier than it did in 2007.