“I feel every hole is hard on this field; it doesn’t really give you much of a break,” as World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler put it. And he would know—Scheffler showed exactly what it takes to win at Muirfield Village with a gutsy performance last year. Posting a score of 8-under-par 280, he stayed cool under pressure to navigate one of the toughest tracks on the PGA Tour, edging out Collin Morikawa by a single stroke. Well, the PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament is back at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, where immaculate fairways, roller-coaster greens, and a meandering creek snaking around the holes will set the stage for an exciting $20 million tournament. Designed by Jack Nicklaus in 1974, this masterpiece of a golf course leaves no room to catch your breath and is a true test of skill for golfers at all levels.

So, which holes are the most likely to trip up the best in the game? Here is the rundown on the five most punishing holes in “The House That Jack Built.”

1. Hole 16, Par 3, 201 Yards

Consistently ranked the most difficult, the 16th demands a precise carry over a water hazard to a narrow, contoured green flanked by bunkers, with the rolling landscape making things more difficult. Any deviation here, and your scorecard’s going to take a serious hit. Pro golfer Jon Rahm suggests focusing on pin placement and selecting the appropriate club for the shot—sound advice for a hole where par feels like a win.

2. Hole 18, Par 4, 484 Yards

Next up is the finishing hole, which features a tight fairway with glistening water hazards on the left side. The green is well-protected by multiple white sand bunkers, making the approach extremely challenging. Jack Nicklaus describes it best: “It’s a great finishing hole; it’s always been a stronghold. It’s got a great amphitheater. It’s got a great green. You got lots of multiple pin placements on that that really work out quite well. It really requires being able to cut the ball into the fairway or play into a conservative shot a little bit further back and play a longer shot into the green.”

Scottie Scheffler echoes the sentiment, saying, “You have to hit the fairway. If you don’t hit the fairway, you’re going to be in trouble. If you do hit the fairway, then you’re trying to hit a shot of that green, which is also very difficult, and it’s a hole where you can make a birdie to win. Or you can just as easily make a bogey to lose.”

3. Hole 11, Par 5, 567 Yards

Third on the list is Hole 11, with its iconic fairway that snakes through the rough on both sides, making a long, accurate tee shot an absolute must to dodge bunkers and towering trees. A meandering creek shadows the left edge before crossing to the right less than 200 yards from the green, then doubles back in front of the putting surface to throw one last wrench in your golfing strategy. While the downhill tee shot to a wide fairway seems tempting, the challenge gets tougher as you reach the small, elevated green that demands a precision stroke.

4. Hole 3, Par 4, 401 Yards

Next on our list is Hole 3, which is shorter in length but tough in execution. This hole calls for a laser-focused tee shot. The narrow fairway and elevated green with bunkers around it don’t give you much margin for error. If you miss the fairway, you’ll be scrambling to make par early in the round.

5. Hole 2, Par 4, 455 Yards

Finally, we have Hole 2, which played as the second-toughest hole at the 2024 Memorial. The creek is the real star here, running along the right side and finishing in a pond near the green. There are also fairway bunkers on the left side and tall, earthy trees that can block your drive. Pars are hard-earned on this hole, so playing smart is key—aim for the center of the green and trust a solid two-putt to get the job done.

With its Augusta-like turf, this course has gotten better with time, thanks largely to the relentless design tweaks by Nicklaus himself. Sure, Muirfield Village is a visual stunner of a golf course and a brutal test of skill, where the best names in golf will be pushed to their limits.