Tricky 10th hole divides opinion

Risk and reward is part and parcel of the modern par-five, but when it comes to the redesigned 10th at Fota Island, the jury is out on the changes made for this year’s Irish Open.

Extended to 530 yards, with the tee moved to the left, the right-handers are forced to hit a 30-yard cut of they are to avoid the left rough and find a downhill fairway that curves back to the left for what was hoped would be a tempting approach to a raised green protected on three sides by water.

The hole produced a raft of birdies — 41 — but there were no eagle threes and only one double bogey as players felt forced to play it as a three-shot hole.