Hole No. 1 at Olympic, which played as a par 5 in every previous U.S. Open held here, is a 520-yard par 4 that begins a six-hole stretch that might be the most difficult start in major-championship history. The tee shot requires a left-to-right ball flight, and there is ample room on the downhill approach shot to bounce the ball onto the green. However, because the area around the green is closely mown, any shot that misses either long or to the right of the green will run away quickly. Thick brush guards the left of the green and must be avoided.