Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Is Ryder Cup venue hillier than Augusta National? Yes, says U.S. captain Zach Johnson

Written by 
Published in Golf
Tuesday, 04 October 2022 05:48

It’s become a biennial cat-and-mouse game for Ryder Cup captains, to set up courses to maximize the home team’s strength while taking advantage of any of the visiting side’s weaknesses.

The 2018 matches at Le Golf National outside of Paris is the best example of this. The Europeans established narrow fairways and long rough that was groomed back toward each tee at around the 300-yard mark, benefitting the relatively shorter and straighter home team. The plan worked with a seven-point European victory. 

“That's one nice thing about being a home captain, is you do have some control over how the course is set up,” European captain Luke Donald said on Tuesday. “We look at statistics and look for marginal gains. It's no secret that the teams are usually very pretty evenly matched when it comes to long game, short game, putting. There's very minute differences. There's only so much you can do to the golf course, but you try and set it up a little bit.”

Tiger Woods will likely wield great influence on the U.S. team at next year’s Ryder Cup, whether he’s able to travel to Italy or not.

But the unique challenge of Marco Simone, the venue for next year’s matches, may have less to do with the width of fairways and green speeds than it does the course’s topography and the physical toll the matches can take.

U.S. captain Zach Johnson made his first visit to the Rome-area venue this week and called the layout a “high-character golf course” that will test every part of a player’s game, including endurance.

“Somebody told me Marco Simone is hillier than Augusta National. I'm like, OK, right. It is. It is. I think it is, to a T,” Johnson said. “It is going to be a difficult physical test when you play four sessions in two days. You have to take that into account.”

Read 110 times

Soccer

USWNT's Albert apologizes after Rapinoe criticism

USWNT's Albert apologizes after Rapinoe criticism

EmailPrintUnited States women's national team midfielder Korbin Albert apologized on Thursday for pr...

Leicester sack women's boss for breach of conduct

Leicester sack women's boss for breach of conduct

EmailPrintLeicester City manager Willie Kirk has been dismissed from his position after an internal...

Davies' agent blasts Bayern's contract 'ultimatum'

Davies' agent blasts Bayern's contract 'ultimatum'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe agent of Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies has criticised the...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

Basketball

Hornets shut down LaMelo (ankle) for season

Hornets shut down LaMelo (ankle) for season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball will not play again this season...

Lawyer: Ex-G Leaguer won't face death penalty

Lawyer: Ex-G Leaguer won't face death penalty

EmailPrintFormer G League player Chance Comanche, who was charged with the murder of a woman whose b...

Baseball

Heroic debut: Soto's throw saves Yankees in 9th

Heroic debut: Soto's throw saves Yankees in 9th

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsHOUSTON -- That Juan Soto's first signature Yankee moment happened...

Ohtani welcomed, helps Betts, Freeman drive win

Ohtani welcomed, helps Betts, Freeman drive win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani was pleased with the quality of his at...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated