Home-field advantage always matters in sports, but in golf during the Ryder Cup it can be decisive: the host course has the ability to influence the conditions and the pace of play to support their team.
The American team had long not won outside the United States – since 1993 they had not suffered defeats abroad, while Europeans had not celebrated on foreign soil since Medinah’s victory in 2012. For Europe, every away trip is a chance to use local courses as a weapon when playing on foreign turf.
At Bethpage Black this week, players will walk near the first tee of the course with a warning: “Extremely difficult course, recommended only for highly skilled players.” Europeans believe that the sign may be configured to make the game harder for the Americans.
We analyze data and how our players perform at peak form, and adjust the courses accordingly.
– Keegan Bradley
Historically, the host of the course has not hesitated to take advantage of the course’s advantages. In 1957, Dai Rees ordered the fairways and greens to stop being watered, to make them firmer and faster – and that allowed the British to secure a victory that the Americans did not expect.
“Europe has long exploited the course advantage over us; if a noticeable advantage arises, I will try to use it”
– Paul Azinger
In 2016 at Hazeltine, American captain Davis Love III aimed to avoid “hidden tricks” and made the courses more accessible to a larger number of players – hoping that the energy of the home crowd would propel the team. Some view such manipulation as controversial: Justin Rose from Europe noted that the easy pin placements in 2016 made the tournament resemble a pro-am.
“Today it’s too easy to place pins – it seems the competition is losing its seriousness”
– Justin Rose
Despite the controversy, many hope Bethpage Black will remain a true test for world-class stars. As Luke Donald, who has played here since his youth, noted: “I’ve played this course 50 to 100 times; it’s probably the best condition I’ve seen here.”
“I’ve played this course 50 to 100 times; it’s probably the best condition I’ve seen here.”
– Luke Donald
Despite the controversy, many hope that the captains’ tactical approach and the proper setup of the course will make the Ryder Cup battle a true spectacle. Viewers and participants expect that discipline, character, and the ability to adapt to the conditions of the courses will be the key to victory on golf’s premier trophy.
