The Ryder Cup returns to New York for the first time in over 30 years, as Bethpage Black hosts the legendary tournament.
The course is well-renowned as one of the most difficult venues in golf. It will present a fitting challenge for 24 of the best players in the world looking to bring the Ryder Cup home for their country, or their continent.
Bethpage Black first hosted a major tournament in 2002, the U.S. Open, which was won by Tiger Woods. Another player teeing off in that tournament was 1993 PGA Championship winner Paul Azinger, who is not a fan of the venue as a Ryder Cup course.
Paul Azinger says the PGA of America made a mistake in choosing Bethpage Black
It’s a difficult venue, but one that is well fitted to a number of players at the Ryder Cup. Bethpage Black suits Bryson DeChambeau, for example, since his hard-hitting style can bring greens into play, even on par fours.
But Bethpage isn’t a regular PGA Tour stop, and is only in the rotation for majors and playoff events roughly every three to seven years. It was a mistake, therefore, to announce the course as a Ryder Cup venue back in 2013, according to Azinger.
He said on Straight Facts Homie!, “One of the biggest mistakes that the PGA of America always seems to make is going to courses that we’re not familiar with.
“This golf course, I couldn’t stand it. I played my practice rounds, and I did my two rounds. I think I was 18 over there in the U.S. Open.
“The media loved it because it was a public course. ‘What are you going to do if they play the U.S. Open here every five years?’ I said, ‘I’ll take every fifth year off.’
“I really don’t like Bethpage Black. There are a lot of awkward angles, downhill tee shots to fairways that angle away, and uphill tee shots where you can’t see the landing area. It’s just hard, and you cannot fluke your way around there.”
The USA need a fast start at the Ryder Cup to build confidence for the event, so being at an unfamiliar course levels any advantage they may have otherwise had. Especially since Europe played a practice round at Bethpage two weeks prior to the tournament.
Cameron Young’s Bethpage Black experience could be crucial
While most players won’t be completely familiar with Bethpage Black, it’s the place that Team USA’s Cameron Young calls home. The New York native tied the course record with a 64 back in 2017, and described the venue as “one of my favourites on the whole planet” afterwards.
That was a key reason Keegan Bradley chose Young to be on his team. He’s been in good form of late, winning his first PGA Tour event this season, but form doesn’t correlate to Ryder Cup success. Experience does correlate, however.
Particularly around Bethpage, course knowledge is key. There’s a host of blind tee shots, and players need to know exactly where to position their balls on the fairway. Young has that knowledge, and he can pass that on to his team.
Europe have somewhat closed that advantage with their practice rounds. But it’s impossible for two weeks of learning to catch up with the years of experience that Young has. He could prove to be the pivotal piece for Team USA.