Copperhead tops the list of toughest courses

The toughest course so far on the PGA Tour is not Augusta National or Pebble Beach or Torrey Pines.

Good guesses, but wrong guesses. The hardest golf course that’s been played this year in relation to par is the Innisbrook Resort-Copperhead for the PODS Championship, according to statistics kept by the PGA Tour.

Copperhead played to an average score of 72.97, or 1.97 shots more than its par of 71. Sean O’Hair won with a four-under total.

The second-toughest course so far this year is also sort of a surprise. The Honda Classic’s PGA National Champion Course played to an average of 71.82, with a par of 70. Ernie Els won it at six-under.

It’s interesting to note that three of the top 10 toughest courses that have been played so far on the PGA Tour are from the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

And, for the record, the Masters ended 2007 as the toughest of the 55 courses played on the PGA Tour.

The rest of the top 10 to date in 2008:

3: Torrey Pines South, Buick Invitational; average score 73.80, par 72; won by Tiger Woods at 19 under.

4. Augusta National Golf Club, Masters; average score 73.77, par 72; won by Trevor Immelman at eight under.

5. Spyglass Hill, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am; average score 73.20, par 72; won by Steve Lowery at 10 under.

6. Riviera Country Club, Northern Trust Open; average score 72.11, par 71; won by Phil Mickelson at 12 under.

7. El Camaleon, Mayakoba Golf Classic; average score 71, par 70; won by Brian Gay at 16 under.

8. Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Arnold Palmer Invitational; average score 70.94, par 70; won by Woods at 10 under.

9. Poppy Hills, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am; average score 72.828, par 72; Lowery.

10. Pebble Beach Golf Links, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am; average score 72.56, par 72; Lowery.

thomas.bonk@latimes.com