This copy is for personal, non-commercial use. To order presentation-ready copies for distribution you can: 1) Use the "Reprint" button found on the top and bottom of every article, 2) Visit reprints.theygsgroup.com/dailyherald.asp for samples and additional information or 3) Order a reprint of this article now.
Big hitters might back off on Medinah’s 15th hole
Much of the talk concerning the recent renovation at Medinah centered around the redesigned, now-driveable Par 4 15th hole, which, it was hoped, would lure players into pulling out their drivers and going for it.
Doesn’t sound like that’s going to happen too often, at least in the opinion of Phil Mickelson.
“My take on the 15th hole is that it’s a reachable par 4, but it’s not really drivable,” said Mickelson. “I think most guys are going to lay up. I just think it’s overdone as a hole that would try to entice you to drive it, unlike, say, the 10th at Riviera, which really entices you and gives you options.
“I think that it’s an easy birdie laying up, and as disappointing as the fans are going to be to see that, we have to play what’s there in front of us and try to shoot the lowest score, and the lowest score will be shot by laying up.”
A hybrid player
Rookie Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium may be the new guy on the European team, but the one thing the Ryder Cup rookie is definitely not worried about is fitting in.
“Yeah, there’s different things that make me a bit like a hybrid,” Colsaerts said. “We speak a couple of languages in our country, we’ve got different types of people back home, you know, Flemish side, French-speaking side.
“I’ve traveled the world since I was 15, so I was always, in a way, mixed up with a lot of different nationalities. It’s pretty easy for me to get along with a lot of different personalities, different nationalities, and different senses of humor.”
By the numbers
Some borderline fascinating figures comparing the 2012 Ryder Cup teams:
Ÿ Combined Ryder Cup appearances by all players, including this week: Europe 37, United States 38.
Ÿ Individual major champions on each team: Europe 4, United States 7.
Ÿ Combined major championship victories: Europe 5, United States 23.
Ÿ Total worldwide career wins: Europe 168, United States 234.
Snedeker anxious
Fresh off the biggest two-fer of his life — winning the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup last weekend, Brandt Snedeker is officially the most antsy guy on the Medinah grounds this week.
“I beat some of the best players in the world last weekend,” he said. “I feel like my game is exactly where it needs to be, and Friday morning can’t get here quick enough.
“I feel like I’m wasting time getting ready the rest of the week. I’m ready to go. I’d love to tee it up tomorrow and play 36 a day and let’s go; because I’m playing good and I want to get out there and try to get some points for Captain Love.”
He said it
European veteran Ian Poulter: “We are all good friends, both sides of the pond. But there’s something about Ryder Cup which kind of intrigues me: how you can be great mates with somebody but boy, do you want to kill them in the Ryder Cup. It’s great. I mean, it’s passion like I’ve never seen before. I love it.”
Copyright © 2013 Paddock Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.