please log in to view this image The Ryder Cup gets underway on September 30 as the best golfers from Europe and America prepare to battle it out for one of the game’s most prestigious prizes. Europe are looking for their fourth successive win in the tournament, having held the cup since 2010 when they beat America by just the one point at Celtic Manor Resort. The Europeans followed up this victory two years later at Medinah as they pulled off a stunning final day fight back to lift the cup under the captaincy of José María Olazábal. please log in to view this image Palmer would have appreciated Europe's Ryder Cup rookie count Captain Darren Clarke will be hoping his team can emulate the success of that day as the competition returns to American soil for the first time since the ‘Miracle of Medinah’. Taking place at the Hazeltine Golf Club, this year’s cup will be one of the most fiercely contested tournaments in recent years as Team USA attempts to avenge the indignity of Medinah and re-establish American dominance within the sport. The course itself is welcoming the Ryder Cup for the first time in its history. With not long to go now until one of golf’s biggest competitions gets going, we take a look at the impressive Hazeltine course ahead of Friday’s tee-off: Overview The course, a par 71, is situated in Chaska, Minnesota, and opened in 1962. It was designed by Robert Trent Jones and originally named “The Executive Golf Club”. It was later changed to Hazeltine – in honour of the adjoining Lake Hazeltine. Nine of the holes on the course have water hazards and the last major played at the course was the 2009 PGA Championship. Bring your driver At more than 7,600 yards long, Hazeltine will suit the likes of Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy who have both averaged 300 yards-plus off the tee in 2016. Three par 5s over 600 yards will give the big hitters an advantage. The 16th hole Johnny Miller, a two-time major winner, said that the 16th, the course’s “signature hole”, was “The hardest par four I ever played”. The tee shot must carry 220 yards over Hazeltine Lake while the green itself is a raised peninsula which falls off on all sides. Because of the amendments that have been made to the course’s format, the 16th will serve as the 7th during this year’s Ryder Cup. Europe vs USA The last major tournament held at the Hazeltine, the 2009 PGA Championship, was won by neither an American, nor a European. Eventual victor Y.E Yang was the first and only Asian-born to claim victory in the major championship to date. please log in to view this image Dustin Johnson gets some practice in ahead of Friday's tee-off (Getty) Robert Trent Jones The Hazeltine course architect boasts an impressive CV, having also designed courses at Spyglass Hill and Firestone Country Club, in addition to influencing re-designs at Baltusrol, Congressional and most notably Augusta National. Ryder Cup reshuffle Owing to the nature of the crowds at the Ryder Cup, which sees large numbers following only a few games, the course has been re-rerouted specifically. Starting at the 1st the players will finish the 4th hole before switching to the 14th tee, playing the five-hole stretch including the traditional finishing hole, the 18th. The players then work through holes 10-13 before finishing with holes 5-9. Breaking 80 When Hazeltine hosted the US Open in 1970, nearly half of the field failed to break 80 in the first round. The course received much negative press as a result. After his round on the Friday, Dave Hill said that the only thing Hazeltine was missing was "80 acres of corn and a few cows." The course received much negative press in the wake of the 1970 tournament and a number of changes were subsequently introduced. Tiger Trap Testament to the difficulty of the course is the fact that even the great Tiger Woods could not overcome it. At the 2002 PGA Championship, Tiger Woods lost out to Rich Beem by one stroke, despite hitting “the most flushed golf shot (I) ever hit” (a 3 iron from a fairway bunker on the 18th). Seven years later, Tiger lead throughout in the same competition but failed to capitalise on a three-stroke advantage on the final day as he handed Yang Yong-eun a historic victory. please log in to view this image Yang Yong-eun celebrates his shock victory in 2009 (Getty) Pedigree On hosting the 2016 Ryder Cup, Hazeltine becomes only the second course (following Pinehurst), to have hosted the US Open, PGA Championship, US Women’s Open, US Amateur, and now the Ryder Cup. The last European to win a professional major at the course was England’s Tony Jacklin back in 1970 when he beat Dave Hill by seven strokes to secure victory. Teams United States: Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Jimmy Walker, Brooks Koepka, Brandt Snedeker, Zach Johnson, JB Holmes, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar and Ryan Moore. Europe: Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett, Henrik Stenson, Chris Wood, Sergio Garcia, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Justin Rose, Andy Sullivan, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Thomas Pieters. The Captains please log in to view this image Who are the vice-captains? United States: Jim Furyk, Tom Lehman, Steve Stricker, Tiger Woods and Bubba Watson. Europe: Thomas Bjorn, Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie, Ian Poulter, and Sam Torrance. please log in to view this image Odds USA to lift the trophy: 8/13 USA to win: 8/13 Draw (Europe retains): 12/1 Europe to win: 12/8 Europe to lift the trophy: 13/10 What time does each day begin? Friday’s foursomes begin at 13:35 BST [07:35 MT] and the fourballs begin at 18:30 BST [12:30 MT] Full schedule: Friday and Saturday foursomes: 13:35 13:50 14:05 14:20 Friday and Saturday fourballs: 18:30 18:45 19:00 19:15 Sunday singles: Begins at 19:04 BST until 19:05 BST teeing off at 11 minute intervals. Golf Wags please log in to view this image Rory Mcilroy & Erica Stoll please log in to view this image Jordan Speith & Annie Verret
Nice work, Nines. The American crowd will surely lay it into the Europeans. You can expect them to, if need be, get very nasty. They did it to Monty in 1999, so much so, Monty's dad left the ground. One hopes it's a great tournament, a real nail biter................ and of course, the Europeans win!
Definitely the 'Match of the Day' this weekend. The Yanks are doing everything possible to end their losing run but have they got the bottle? They have a team including 10 previous losers, the psychological advantage is with Europe...
The bookies have it close and I think (hope) that Europe will edge it. A repeat of Medinah awaits. I shall be sat on my arse all weekend watching. Come on Europe!!
This will go down well in the US.... https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/sep/28/darren-clarke-pj-willett-ryder-cup-article-us-fans “need to silence the pudgy, basement-dwelling, irritants, stuffed on cookie dough and pissy beer, pausing between mouthfuls of hot dog so they can scream ‘Baba booey’ until their jelly faces turn red”.
That's exactly what the Americans will thrive on!! He is entitled to his views, but to express them on the eve of the tournament is just pain daft.
He only got the gig because of his tweets about his brother when he won a major and now he does this. what a tool. I dont think we will win this time but i will be praying we do
I wonder will the Brexiters be cheering on Europe? Trump supporters will be out in force again screaming, U....S....A..... Come on Europe!!!
Is it just me but the European side looked like they were attending A Men in Black convention at the opening ceremony...... C'mon Europe........Rose & Stensen 1st up for Europe.....
It will be interesting to see how the "fat, stupid, greedy, classless bastards” in the galleries react to Danny Willett. He's not selected in the morning foursomes, but Clarke has said he will take part in the afternoon four-balls. Might have been a better idea to send him out in the morning before they all get pissed.
This is a great story about an American heckler who won $100 from Justin Rose during the practice round...... http://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/37514437
