HOYLAKE, England — It’s merely one of 18 holes.

But it very well may determine the winner — or loser — of the 151st British Open this week at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

And if it does prove to be a decider of the outcome, let’s all hope it rewards the winner for making a great score on it and doesn’t identify the loser for making a mess of it.

No major championship — or any tournament for that matter — should be known for having a train wreck determining the outcome.

As you fix your eyes and ears to the television to watch and listen to the Open this week, you’re likely going to hear about the penultimate hole at Hoylake, the 136-yard, par-3 17th.

It’s new, which is news at a British Open, where nothing is usually new — not on the ancient and historic golf courses on which the oldest major championship is played.

The hole has replaced the par-3 15th hole from the 2014 Open at Hoylake, and it plays out toward the Irish Sea and Wales. It features a smaller, raised green that’s surrounded by bunkers, some as deep as 12 feet below the hole, and treacherous fall-off areas.

It plays in the opposite direction as it did in 2014 and it’s 25 yards shorter than the previous hole, because it’ll likely play into the wind. The concept is an island-green look, but there’s no water. Just deep, diabolical bunkers on the front, right and left with a “turtleback’’ crowned green designed to punish shots that aren’t placed in the perfect spots.

A miss short funnels balls into a front-left pot bunker, and a miss green-high left runs into a bunker on that side. But the most extreme slope is on the right, leading to a steep bunker with a high face. There’s a natural sandy area behind the green which drops off about 15 feet, leaving players with unpredictable lies.

Other than those issues, there’s not a lot of trouble.

No. 17 is nicknamed “Little Eye’’ on the scorecard and it’s guaranteed to punch a lot of players in the eye this week.

In the days leading up to the Open, players have mostly been diplomatic in their assessment of the new 17, though there have been some interesting comments from players who sounded as if they view “Little Eye’’ as an eyesore.

“I would say it’s fair, because it’s unfair to everybody,’’ Jon Rahm said. “Like it’s golf, and it’s life. Simple as that. We all have to play the same holes. If you hit a good shot, you’ll definitely most likely have a birdie chance. If not, you’ll deal with it. I get you’re going for that on a championship Sunday. You have a one-shot lead, that hole can be pivotal.’’

Rahm was one of the more diplomatic players.

Check out this exchange with the 2022 U.S. Open winner, England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick.

Question: “Have you played the new 17th hole?

Fitzpatrick: “I have.’’

Question: “Your thoughts?’’

Fitzpatrick: “Interesting.’’

Question: “Anything else?’’

Fitzpatrick: “I’ll leave it at that.’’

Fitzpatrick’s caddie, Billy Foster, held nothing back in a recent interview with “Golf Monthly,’’ absolutely blasting the hole.

“There was nothing wrong with the little par-3 they had before and they’ve created a monstrosity in my opinion,’’ Foster said. “The green is very small. If you land it a foot short it rolls back into a coffin that’s underground, so deep. This is challenging the best golfers in the world that will be making sixes, sevens and eights. God help the 15 or 20 handicapper that plays it on a weekly basis because it’s near enough impossible for them.

“I just hope someone doesn’t have a three-shot lead playing that hole and make a nine, because it could happen. Unfortunately, I think this Open Championship could be remembered for a calamity that happened.’’

Brooks Koepka called 17 “an interesting hole,’’ comparing it to the 12th at Augusta, the 17th at TPC Sawgrass and the “Postage Stamp’’ at Troon.

“I like it,’’ Koepka said. “I’m a big believer in the short par-3s — make it difficult, exactly like that. I think all the best par-3s in the world that have ever been designed are 165 yards or shorter.’’

Cam Smith, the defending Open champion, used another word for “Little Eye.’’

“Drama … yeah, that’s probably the right word, drama,’’ Smith said. “There’s not much room for error up there, and I think it’ll be a really exciting finish to an Open Championship for sure. I think it’s a great hole.’’

Martin Slumbers, the CEO of the R&A, which governs the British Open, said he believes the new 17th “fits well’’ with the course.

“Whether it’s a great hole or a really great hole,’’ Slumbers said, “I’ll wait until Monday morning.’’

It’ll be a hole that intimidates the world’s best players this week, but one that makes for perfect spectator viewing — whether you’re sitting in the grandstand at the green or on your couch at home in front of the TV.

Enjoy.