Monster is now much bigger beast

Aug 3 2008 By Euan Mclean

THE South Course at Oakland Hills was named The Monster by legend Ben Hogan after he tamed it to win the 1951 US Open.

Now the stars heading to Detroit this week will find an even more terrifying challenge. An extra 400 yards and dangerous bunkers have been added to one of the toughest tests in America.

The new 7395-yard par-70 layout has been branded "a beast" by US Open runner-up RoccoMediate who added: "It's one of the hardest courses of all time."

The signature hole is the stunning 16th, a testing 406-yard par four that dog-legs right with the green guarded by an intimidating pond. Injured Tiger Woods' absence denies the world No.1 the chance to equal the record number of US PGA wins.

Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus both have five while Woods is on four, including the joint lowest ever score - 18 under at Medinah in 2006. The oldest US PGA champ is American Julius Boros who was 48 when he pipped Arnold Palmer and Bob Charles by a shot in 1968.

The youngest is Gene Sarazen, the 1922 matchplay winner at age 20.