Bethpage Black is set to be one of the most challenging Ryder Cup venues when Europe face off against the USA next September.
Bethpage is known as one of the toughest tests of golf in the United States; the warning sign before the first tee sends a clear message to all amateur players.
During traditional tournament settings and previous majors held at Bethpage, thick rough and quick greens have greeted the world’s best players, resulting in high scores. Tiger Woods won the 2002 US Open at three under, and Lucas Glover sealed his only major win at four under in 2009.
If the PGA of America wishes, they could turn par into a very good score. However, Rory McIlroy believes the setup will favour the USA’s bomb and gouge players.
Rory McIlroy predicts what will happen with Bethpage Black
Speaking ahead of this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic, McIlroy claimed the USA will likely trim back the rough in order to offer more margin for error off the tee for the longer hitters.
The likes of Bryson DeChambeau will be able to launch 350-yard drives in the knowledge that a good lie likely awaits.
“I would imagine it would be similar to the two parkland setups that we’ve seen – that I’ve seen before when we played an away Ryder Cup. So Medinah in 2012 and Hazeltine in 2016 where they will cut the rough down, it seems. You know, their players are arguably a little longer than us. So they are going to try to take advantage of that length,” McIlroy explained.
“And then, looking at the stats, a lot of these things, the reason we set the course up and run the way we did is because we knew they were slightly better wedge players than us. So we made some of those par 4s that you would hit wedges into drivable, so we made them go for it. That’s the great thing about the Ryder Cup. You can do that when you have that home-course advantage.
“They are going to set it up to their strengths, and it’s up to us to try to beat them at what they are strong at, alongside dealing with the crowd and dealing with all of that that’s going to bring its own pressure. It’s going to be an incredibly difficult task. I think, from here, for the rest of my career, one of my career goals going forward is to try to win another away Ryder Cup. I’ve experienced it once, and it was absolutely amazing.”
Luke Donald has already noticed something about Bethpage
McIlroy’s prediction about Bethpage Black could already be playing out after Luke Donald’s recent scouting trip to the Long Island venue.
Donald revealed that some fairways have already been widened with the USA’s big-hitting stars in mind. “There are a few holes where they have widened some of them already, and usually they will cut the rough down. It’s still a big-ish golf course off the back tees,” said the European Ryder Cup captain.
“They can move some up if they want. But it’s never going to be an easy golf course.”
Rory McIlroy can benefit from Bethpage’s setup
If there’s one European player who can benefit from Bethpage Black’s setup, it’s McIlroy. Arguably the biggest hitter in the professional game, the Northern Irishman could have plenty of approach shots with a short iron in hand.
McIlroy was part of Europe’s last win on American soil in 2012 and has a career Ryder Cup record of 16 wins, 13 losses and four halved matches.
If Europe want to cause an upset in New York, the 35-year-old performing at his very best is non-negotiable.
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