The Royal Birkdale has undergone many changes. 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed feared one of those could bring about some upsets at this week's Open Championship.

The new par-3 15th has replaced the 2017 Open’s 14th hole. The LIV man believed that the transformed hole would have to be played with utmost precision.

"It was 240-something into the wind. I think it was 210 front. Is it fair?" Reed said while talking to The Mirror. "I hit a 2-iron to 10 feet. To be honest with you, that hole, even though it's long, is going to play easier into the wind. Even though you're going to hit 2-iron or 3-iron, you're hitting a long club, the ball is going to slow down because it's into the wind."

The length of the hole, 241 yards from the back tee, is not the entire problem. It features a slender target with trouble on both sides of the green.

The rough and dried-out grass on the right and pot bunkers on the left of the green make it the most difficult hole on the course.

The new 15th has already drawn comparisons with some of The Open's most feared par-3s, where one poor swing can quickly turn a contender into an also-ran.

Unlike a straightforward long par-3, the challenge at Royal Birkdale's new 15th lies in judging the wind.

Into the breeze, players can swing more aggressively knowing the ball will stop faster, but with a helping wind, even a well-struck shot risks bounding into the rough or pot bunkers surrounding the green.

Navigating the wind properly will be the key.

"It's going to be one of those holes that they're going to have to be very smart, not just on pin position, but also on where they put the tee box, depending on wind direction,” said Reed, as reported by The Mirror.

The 15th is going to be the talking point of the tournament.

The previous Open winner at Royal Birkdale, Jordan Spieth, also believed that things could get messy at the 15th.

Jordan Spieth comments on the 15th hole

2017 Open winner Jordan Spieth hit one of his best shots at the par-3 14th, which has now been removed. He considered the replacement, the 15th, a “funky” hole.

"We played the up tee [on Monday], and it was 201, but it's in your face, and you're hitting 220-yard 4-irons. You still have to hit a nice shot, but if you do, you get rewarded. It's a really cool designed hole, but it needs to be played at the right yardage. Otherwise, it can get pretty funky,” said Spieth, as reported by The Mirror.

Last time around, Spieth had hit a birdie and an eagle at the 14th and 15th holes on Sunday. Despite losing them this time, the 32-year-old showcased his appreciation for the transformed layout.

Only time will tell how the 15th hole turns out for the players. As for Spieth, he’ll be looking to end his winless streak of over 4 years at Royal Birkdale.

What are your thoughts on the new 15th hole? Share them in the comments.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Kalp Thaker