Why is the par-5 18th hole at Valhalla nicknamed Photo Finish? All you need to know

The par-5 18th hole at Valhalla Golf Club is nicknamed 'Photo Finish' due to its challenging and visually stunning layout. The 18th hole at the Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky, can make or break a golfer's round.

The Valhalla Golf Club is hosting the PGA Championship for the fourth time this year. The second round concluded at the ongoing 106th edition of the tournament on Friday, May 17.

The 18th hole arcs to the right featuring a sizeable "lion mouth" bunker to the left of the fairway. It also has a scenic water feature on the right. The majority of players reach the green in two strokes but their challenge is to surpass a large bunker in front and a smaller pot bunker on the left side.

The green on the hole is vast, measuring 6,534 square feet and shaped like a horseshoe. It is divided into three distinct putting zones i.e., left, centre, and right, so golfers need to do little more than just reach the green which is surrounded by hills.

Further, the 18th hole has seen plenty of photo finishes. Two of three PGA Championships held at Valhalla Golf Club in 1996, 2000 and 2014 were decided in the playoffs. The remaining one was won by one shot.

This year, the par-5 18th measures 570 yards, an increase of 28 yards. Therefore, players will need to land their drives in the fairway to attempt a two-shot finish.

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Photo finishes at the 18th hole at Valhalla Golf Club

Mark Brooks won the 1996 PGA Championship on the par-5 18th. Brooks won the Major over Kenny Perry, who bogeyed on his last hole. Brooks then made a birdie by a 4-foot putt to force the tournament into a playoff. In the playoff, Brooks again made a birdie on the first extra hole to clinch the Wanamaker trophy.

In 2000, Tiger Woods won over Bob May in the playoffs again. Woods made a 7-foot birdie on the last hole at Valhalla Golf Club to force the tournament into a playoff. He clinched victory in a three-hole playoff with May.

In the last PGA Championship in 2014, Rory McIlroy won the tournament on the 18th hole in the dark by rushing up into the group playing ahead of him. He won by one stroke over Phil Mickelson.

The margin of victory has been particularly low at the Valhalla Golf Club. The following is the list of PGA events held at the course and the margin:

1996 PGA Championship:

• Winner: Mark Brooks (United States)
• Margin: Playoff
• Winning Score: 277 (-11)

2000 PGA Championship:

• Winner: Tiger Woods (United States)
• Margin: Playoff
• Winning Score: 270 (-18)

2004 Senior PGA Championship:

• Winner: Hale Irwin (United States)
• Margin: 1 stroke
• Winning Score: 276 (-8)

2011 Senior PGA Championship:

• Winner: Tom Watson (United States)
• Margin: Playoff
• Winning Score: 278 (-10)

2014 PGA Championship:

• Winner: Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)
• Margin: 1 stroke
• Winning Score: 268 (-16)