The Road Hole was the real winner of the British Open on Thursday

The Old Course at St. Andrews is the most famous venue in golf and revered by all the players, not necessarily because it’s the toughest. The course can yield birdies on almost every hole, and we saw that for a stretch Thursday morning when player after player started lighting it up on the front nine.

One of the few holes that does not yield birdies, however, is the Old Course’s signature hole -- the most iconic par-4 in the world. The 17th, known as the Road Hole, is also one of the quirkiest holes in the world. As I noted in my St. Andrews primer, there are many features that make this hole unique. The blind tee shot, the road lining the fairway and the deathly pot bunker that guards the green all make sure the Road Hole will be a nightmare for almost every player this week.

The legendary hole did not disappoint from the very start. In fact, if scoring trends continue, the Road Hole will play as the hardest hole in recorded Open Championship history, and it will likely be the toughest hole players face all year.

Tiger Woods, who was awful in Round 1, made some better swings coming down this closing stretch. As he came to the 17th, Woods opted to hit his tee shot left and had a testy second shot, which he left well short. Given the shape of the green, an up and down was not a forgone conclusion. Thanks to a long putt, Woods escaped with a par.

As conditions became tougher later in the day, the field tried all manner of paths to the green. No one was even attempting to make a birdie (and no one did all day), but rather just avoid the dropped shot.

The steady Adam Scott got out with par despite the fact that the afternoon headwind there started making things silly late in the day.

Phil Mickelson said he hit two 3-woods and still had 60 yards to the hole (one of the 3-woods was a low liner, or cold top depending who you ask). Mickelson made a bogey.

Zach Johnson, who had the round of the afternoon, left the 17th green with a bogey ... which he joked felt like a fine and clean par.

As the week goes on, and conditions get tougher, the Road Hole will continue to be a difference maker. David Lingmerth shot a 69 on Thursday, with an astounding 29-40 front 9-back 9 split. A double bogey at the 17th was a big reason for that unraveling, and we’ll see more rounds and championships come undone at this spot over the next three days. With all these options off the tee, no one really has the advantage and everyone can make a big crooked number.