The Ryder Cup is just over a month away now and with excitement building ahead of Bethpage Black, it’s worth noting what Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods both warned about in the past.
The famous course is considered one of the toughest out there and with the added fuel of Ryder Cup competition and over-zealous crowds, we could be in for a treat come September.
With both Team USA and Team Europe yet to finalise their final 12, we face an intriguing few weeks to see just who makes the cut.
Regardless of who gets the nod and who doesn’t, though, there are some tough tests awaiting the players at Bethpage Black.
And going back to comments from 2002 when the US Open was held there, both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson agreed on the toughest hole.
Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesTiger Woods and Phil Mickelson agree on the toughest hole at Bethpage Black
If Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are saying a golf hole is difficult, then you can bet your bottom dollar it’s a problem.
Bethpage Black has more than one troublesome hole but back in 2002, the opinion of Woods and Mickelson was clear.
“I think the most difficult stretch starts at 10, 10 through 13. And I think that 15 is a tough one, too.
So I guess 10 through 15 is really the most difficult stretch. Starting at 10, 12, 13, those three are by far the most difficult three holes that we have. No. 12 is going to be very difficult. It’s difficult just to reach it in two, yet alone think about making birdie. So that drive is going to be critical. Some guys, if the wind gets into your face, might have a tough time carrying that bunker because it’s a very big carry to get to the fairway,” Mickelson said.
“I think that the golf course starts out in a mode where you can make some birdies the first four, five, six holes with a reachable par 5 on No. 4 and short irons into 1 and 2, but it slaps you in the face when you make the return right around 10 and you hit long irons into par 4s that it’s very difficult to make four.”
Adding comments on what it’s like to start out on 10 instead of the opening hole, Mickelson explained further just why it’s so hard.
“Well, it’s very difficult to start on the back side here because you’re starting right with the meat of the golf course. You don’t have an opportunity to get into a rhythm or a flow and feel confident. But, to play the hardest holes early in the morning without the wind hopefully — typically when the wind is down and when the greens are a little bit softer might be advantageous, might make it a little bit easier to salvage par, because I’ll have to hit long irons into the green either way and I might have a better chance to hold the green, get off to a good start of three or four pars. If I can do that, that would be a great start to play the first three in even.
“Par the par 5, No. 13, is one of the more difficult par 5s that we’ll play because it’s very difficult to reach it and you have to hit tee shots in a very tight fairway.
“Normally we look at par 5s as being birdie holes, as great opportunities to score low, but here at the Open and on 13 more specifically, it’s a very difficult hole just to salvage par. You have to hit two great tee shots, a good drive and typically a 2-iron or 3-wood.”
Then, speaking in his own press conference and asked what the toughest hole is, Tiger Woods also turned his attentions to the 10th.
“Well, I think certainly starting off on a 480-yard or 490-yard par 4 beginning on the 10th hole, it’s the first time we’ve ever done that, starting off in the middle of the round. And then go off on a hole that long.
“Then you’ve got to play the next couple of holes, which are not bargains, either. I think that, to me, is a pretty tough stretch, starting out one of the first two days when you are teeing off on 10.”
What happened in the 2002 US Open at Bethpage Black
Unsurprisingly for a US Open, Bethpage Black was playing about as tough as it could be during the 2002 US Open.
In the end, it came down to the two men mentioned here to battle it out for the win. And unsurprisingly, it was Tiger who came out on top.
Woods won the tournament by posting a score of three under par, being the only player in the field to break par on a treacherous week.
Mickelson played well himself and actually carded a final round 70 to eat into Woods’ lead.
However, Bethpage showed its teeth on the final day as Sergio Garcia dropped four shots to scupper his own chances, while a certain Sir Nick Faldo rolled back the clock to finish in T5.
