WHILE European golf fans are hoping Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo has picked wisely, the organisers of the 2010 event across the Severn bridge are backing the Americans.
And head groundsman Jim McKenzie believes the changes made by the US side to the Valahalla course to frustrate Faldo’s team could make the difference - as will those he makes in 2010.
The Ryder Cup venue in two years time is the Celtic Manor Resort in the Usk valley, just half an hour’s drive from Bristol, where staff are quietly crossing their fingers for a US victory – to add spice to their event.
And head groundsman Jim McKenzie believes the changes made by the US side to the Valahalla course to frustrate Faldo’s team could make the difference - as will those he makes in 2010.
The Ryder Cup venue in two years time is the Celtic Manor Resort in the Usk valley, just half an hour’s drive from Bristol, where staff are quietly crossing their fingers for a US victory – to add spice to their event.
McKenzie, director of golf courses and estate management for the Resort said: “We’ve won it a few times now and we would hate to see the Americans lose interest. I think it would be good for 2010 if this one was very close but the Americans just nicked it, and they may well do.
“The ommission of Tiger Woods is seen by many as possibly being an advantage to the Americans, and I think it would be good if we had it all to play for with the Americans coming over defending it and us trying to win it back, rather than the Americans coming over to perhaps lose it again.”
McKenzie has been in Newport since 1993 when the Celtic Manor’s owner, Welsh telecommunications entrepreneur Sir Terence Matthews, told him of his Ryder Cup dream.
“To be honest I was very sceptacle,” said McKenzie. “But here we are.”
Newport beat off rival bids from Scotland and the North of England, by proving Wales and the South West would benefit most geographically from hosting the event.
“Taking the Ryder Cup to Scotland would be a little bit like having £50million to invest in the good of English football, you wouldn't give it to Manchester United,” said McKenzie, a Scotsman.
“And if the Ryder Cup had gone to Scotland in 2010 it would have made an already strong golfing nation even stronger. How ironic it is now that we’re going to Valhalla and there’s not a Scotsman in the team for the first time since the 30s.”
McKenzie will liaise with the 2010 captain to mould the “TwentyTen course” at Celtic Manor to the Europeans’ strenghs and the Americans’ weaknesses as has his compatriot Mike Montague in Valhalla.
McKenzie said: “It is one of the advantages in being the home venue. Both the Belfry and the K Club were set up as courses to beat the Americans. And likewise Mike, a close friend from Valhalla, has set up a course to benefit the American "boomers”.
“The Americans also play these very high, soft shots into greens and as a result Valhalla will suit them as there is water in front of greens and strips of rough in front of the greens and bunkers in front of the greens.
“That said guys like Casey and Poulter and some other notables in the team play a lot of their golf in America so they will be semi used to the conditions. Of course Padraig Harrington has won in America so he’s more than capable of playing in these conditions.”
In 2006, at the K club, captain Ian Woosnam had all the grass cut very, very short all round the greens to counter the Americans’ prowess with the flop shot.
“Guys like Phil Mickelson and other notable Americans, they get up and down with the flop shot 9 times out of 10 whereas our guys only do it 7.5/8 times,” said McKenzie.
“Woosnam looked very closely at what the American strengths were and took that option away.” McKenzie is now in Kentucky with the European team, monitoring every American move with a view to getting the course right in Newport. And he is excited by the potential of seeing a local golfer in the 2010 side.
“I think Chris Wood is an exciting prospect,” he said. “Very similar to Justin Rose in the way they’ve broken through. Rose didn't get off to the best of starts (after turning pro) but he’s come back, he’s won events, he’s won the Order of Merit and he’s in the Ryder Cup team. I don't see any reason why guys like Chris Wood can't do the same and wouldn't it be fabulous to have a local guy playing the Ryder Cup.
“It’s tough to think about 2010 at the moment,” he added. “Everybody’s talking about Faldo, everybody’s talking about his picks but when we come back the spotlight will be on the South West, then we’ll get excited.”
“The ommission of Tiger Woods is seen by many as possibly being an advantage to the Americans, and I think it would be good if we had it all to play for with the Americans coming over defending it and us trying to win it back, rather than the Americans coming over to perhaps lose it again.”
McKenzie has been in Newport since 1993 when the Celtic Manor’s owner, Welsh telecommunications entrepreneur Sir Terence Matthews, told him of his Ryder Cup dream.
“To be honest I was very sceptacle,” said McKenzie. “But here we are.”
Newport beat off rival bids from Scotland and the North of England, by proving Wales and the South West would benefit most geographically from hosting the event.
“Taking the Ryder Cup to Scotland would be a little bit like having £50million to invest in the good of English football, you wouldn't give it to Manchester United,” said McKenzie, a Scotsman.
“And if the Ryder Cup had gone to Scotland in 2010 it would have made an already strong golfing nation even stronger. How ironic it is now that we’re going to Valhalla and there’s not a Scotsman in the team for the first time since the 30s.”
McKenzie will liaise with the 2010 captain to mould the “TwentyTen course” at Celtic Manor to the Europeans’ strenghs and the Americans’ weaknesses as has his compatriot Mike Montague in Valhalla.
McKenzie said: “It is one of the advantages in being the home venue. Both the Belfry and the K Club were set up as courses to beat the Americans. And likewise Mike, a close friend from Valhalla, has set up a course to benefit the American "boomers”.
“The Americans also play these very high, soft shots into greens and as a result Valhalla will suit them as there is water in front of greens and strips of rough in front of the greens and bunkers in front of the greens.
“That said guys like Casey and Poulter and some other notables in the team play a lot of their golf in America so they will be semi used to the conditions. Of course Padraig Harrington has won in America so he’s more than capable of playing in these conditions.”
In 2006, at the K club, captain Ian Woosnam had all the grass cut very, very short all round the greens to counter the Americans’ prowess with the flop shot.
“Guys like Phil Mickelson and other notable Americans, they get up and down with the flop shot 9 times out of 10 whereas our guys only do it 7.5/8 times,” said McKenzie.
“Woosnam looked very closely at what the American strengths were and took that option away.” McKenzie is now in Kentucky with the European team, monitoring every American move with a view to getting the course right in Newport. And he is excited by the potential of seeing a local golfer in the 2010 side.
“I think Chris Wood is an exciting prospect,” he said. “Very similar to Justin Rose in the way they’ve broken through. Rose didn't get off to the best of starts (after turning pro) but he’s come back, he’s won events, he’s won the Order of Merit and he’s in the Ryder Cup team. I don't see any reason why guys like Chris Wood can't do the same and wouldn't it be fabulous to have a local guy playing the Ryder Cup.
“It’s tough to think about 2010 at the moment,” he added. “Everybody’s talking about Faldo, everybody’s talking about his picks but when we come back the spotlight will be on the South West, then we’ll get excited.”
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