1. I heard on the radio that, until yesterday, the Americans had NEVER played on the 2010 Course at Celtic Manor. Colin Montgomery has had the fairways cut narrower to reduce the advantage of the big hitting Americans, and help the more accurate Europeans, and he has chosen the positions of the holes on all the greens to favour the playing styles of his team.
Is this all true?
If so, we are going to stuff the Yanks, aren't we? I need to get down to the bookies - via the cashpoint - and make some money !!!
2. If a golfing player is still on the fairway, can he choose whether to have the flag in or out of the hole? Or does the flag have to stay in the hole until the player is on the green?
3. Okay, now ... if one player asks for the flag to be taken out of the hole, does it stay out? Or does it get put back in for the other player?
I'm just thinking ... the Europeans know the course, and know where the holes are positioned. Could they stand on the tee, and say ... I'd like the flag out, please? Because then, the Americans would have to guess where the hole was !
JJ
The home captains usually have the course prepared to suit their players but they cannot dictate where the holes are located on the greens.
The player's caddies walk the course once the position of the holes is finalised and will tell their players the exact yardages, & pin positions.
A player could opt to have the pin removed if it is his shot ( if he is 'away'). It would not be on any advantage and could even be a disadvantage as the pin can stop the ball going off the green.
I leave for the golf on Thursday and have laid a bet on a 15 - 13 win by the Europeans.
1) colin montgomery has been very fair about the course condition even though he has the power to change it dramatically to suit his team, the americans did this at valhalla in 2008, then captain paul azinger cut trees and made fairways wider to suit his big innacurate hitters
2) yes he can have it attended, removed, or left alone.
the only time the flag MUST be removed is when its on the green.
3) it gets put back in
they all play practice games so they all know where the flag is, also every day the position of the flag is moved so a new strategy has to be employed
I disagree slightly with dr b. The player can leave the pin in the hole when on the green - it is their choice. Most would have it attended by the caddie to avoid a penalty for hitting the pin.
they have some strong players, ones to watch for are dustin johnson, matt kuchar, jim furyk and zach johnson
woods is a renowned bad ryder cup player and mickelson is struggling for form, but who knows, woods has a new coach who is helping him to improve his game, bubba watson is a big big hitter but struggles a bit with accuracy, he was in contention to win a major a few months back but lost out to martin kaymer