Europe captain Luke Donald admits he’ll discover it laborious to present his aspect a big benefit with the way in which he units up this yr’s Ryder Cup course.
As the house skipper, Donald is allowed to dictate how Marco Simone Golf Club will play for this yr’s contest towards the United States as Europe look to bounce again from the document defeat at Whistling Straits in 2021.
The former world primary and a few of his potential workforce members even have the chance to contest this week’s Italian Open on the venue on the outskirts of Rome, with Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre defending the title he gained final yr.
“Since playing it last year, we looked at a few different fairway lines, bringing in a few fairways a little bit tighter,” Donald advised a pre-event press convention.
“The template for European golf is to have a slightly narrower golf course, a little bit more rough, not greens that get too fast because that’s obviously what the US guys are always used to.
“There’s not a whole lot we have changed but we have added a couple of bunkers to create opportunities for better driving. I feel like Europe has good drivers of the golf ball.
“I think it’s a fun golf course in terms of there’s potentially two or three driveable par fours. Statistically, driving is a good part of our games so to have those in there could give us a slight advantage.
“But there’s only so much you can do. The players are very evenly matched when it comes to statistics.
“You’re just trying to find little potential differences that you can capitalise on but the standard of play is very close these days. It’s hard to gain a big advantage.”
MacIntyre defeated US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick in a play-off to win his second DP World Tour title final September, the left-hander making a birdie on the primary additional gap after he and Fitzpatrick had completed tied on 14 beneath par, a shot forward of Victor Perez.
Pre-tournament favorite Rory McIlroy, who was inside a shot of the lead till hitting his tee shot on the sixteenth into the water, completed fourth on 12 beneath.
That was simply the second qualifying occasion for the Ryder Cup and though MacIntyre has since fallen exterior the automated locations, the world quantity 91 is attempting to minimize the potential significance of a profitable title defence.
“I worried about that for the last Ryder Cup, worried about what could be,” he stated. “This year, I’m not worried at all about what could be. What will be will be and I’ll be going out there to play golf because you enjoy it.
“This week is not going to define my season. I get it’s on the golf course where the Ryder Cup is going to be. Course set up is pretty similar to last year. I did it on that golf course.
“But, to be honest, I am not worried just about this week and there is so much golf to be played and it’s not going to define the season, good or bad.
“We’ll just keep marching on and working hard and hopefully we make it there come September.”