The 2018 Ryder Cup Course Is Showing A Bias You Won't Believe (At Least If You're Of A Certain Vintage)

If you're of a certain vintage, you'll remember it wasn't long ago U.S. Ryder Cup captains wanted narrower fairways and thick rough to reward their more accurate-driving group while penalizing the swashbuckling Euros. 

Those who recall that line of course setup-thinking will get a nice chuckle reading Alistair Tait's look at what the Europeans have previewed at Le Golf National last week in advance of this fall's Ryder Cup. 

“The old theory is tight and scruffy,” said Graeme McDowell, one of Bjorn’s five vice captains and a two-time French Open winner. “I paced off the width of the seventh fairway at 270 yards off the tee, and it was only 18 yards wide.

“They (the U.S.) set their courses up wide with semi-rough and middle-of-the-green pins for a birdie fest. We always like to set it up a little tighter and a little tougher and maybe not having the greens quite as fast. Does it (Le Golf National) favor our guys more than theirs? We think it does.”