Complete Guide on Famous fives

One of the features of the course is the par 5s. There are four and as a set are difficult. They are all long - precise striking is essential to keep the ball in play and make par. From the back tees the shortest is the 486m (531 yd) 7th. Even with the distance the pros hit the ball, two big shots are needed to get home in 2. And you must be brave if you are to go for it in 2 as the green is surrounded by six bunkers.

There are four excellent par 3s that test your ability to play the full range of shots. The short 6th of 150m (164yd) is a medium iron, but the 207m (226yd) 15th can be as much as a driver when the wind is against.

Whether the holes are short or long, they all have one thing in common: none is a giveaway. Where most courses have some holes that are definite birdie chances, Valderrama hasn't one.

When the first Volvo Masters was played in 1988, even the pros found birdies hard to come by. Of the 80 starters only two - the winner Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros - were under par for the 72 holes.

On the eve of the tournament, Trent Jones said to the players, 'Gentlemen, take your best shots with you.' And with mean pin placements and clutching grass to contend with, they needed to.