Giant course might favour the big hitters

Posted on 05/08/08. Source: Fairway to Green Magazine (By David Connor)

As anyone who has Google-d Valhalla expecting to read up on the challenge awaiting our Ryder Cup warriors will know, the name of the course where they will do battle next month hails firmly from Norse mythology.

The term Valhalla means "Hall of the Slain" and is the home for those warriors slain gloriously in battle. What remains to be seen is which of our brave warriors' bodies will litter the course once the war is over and a truce is called for another two years.

And with a likely Scandinavian trio in the European ranks of Robert Karlsson, Soren Hansen and Henrik Stenson one would hope the Norse Gods would be smiling on the visitors to Kentucky.

The battleground itself would appear to be set up perfectly for the long hitters - at 7,496 yards it is the longest course in Ryder Cup history - and at first glance you would suspect this would instantly favour the Americans, particularly if they have Bubba Watson and JB Holmes among their ranks.

But then that would be to dismiss the power off the tee of our own Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood - both of whom possess the subtlety and finesse to match their long game.

In 2000, the last time a major event was held at Valhalla in the form of the US PGA Championship, it was one Tiger Woods who triumphed in a play off against fellow American Bob May.

As we all know, Woods will be conspicuous by his absence but there are plenty of others who will be representing the US and Europe who will have gained valuable experience of the course eight years ago.

Europe's top performer that time out was Thomas Bjorn, in third place - but a wildcard pick for him is out of the question given his current form. Jose Maria Olazabal was a shot further back and his experience of winning on the other side of the Atlantic will be vital in his role as Nick Faldo's vice-captain.

Darren Clarke secured a top-10 finish but again he will require a captain's pick if he is to return to Valhalla. Westwood secured a Top-20 finish in 2000 and will have a pivotal role to play alongside Garcia - who also featured eight years ago - especially if experienced campaigners Clarke, Colin Montgomerie and Paul McGinley all miss out.

For the US, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Davis Love and Kenny Perry are among those who performed well at Valhalla in 2000 and are possibilities for Paul Azinger's team.

If you are one for omens, then Azinger beat Faldo by seven strokes in that year's tournament.

But, before we read too much into both team's previous form at Valhalla, it is worth pointing out the course has been considerably lengthened and remodelled since then.

Opened in 1986, the Jack Nicklausdesigned course was a mere 7167 yards until the Golden Bear returned in 2006 to begin the redevelopment in preparation for this year's event.

That work saw the course extended by more than 300 yards as well as new bunkers added to the first, second, fifth, 12th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes, and reconstruction of the sixth, eighth, 11th and 16th greens.

A brand new course it certainly isn't, but the changes will be enough to keep the players on their toes as they try to handle the enormous pressure on their shoulders.

The US team will doubtless be buoyed by a home support eager for a first win since 1999.

One hopes the scenes won't be similar to that time out at Brookline but such is the American fans' desperation for victory that it can't be ruled out.

Wise and calm heads could therefore be the order of the day for the European teams but with so many rookies likely to be filling Faldo's 10 automatic places they could be overawed by the occasion - particularly in the singles matches.

Clever use of pairings will be the key for Faldo and it is possible we will see another all-Irish duo, which has proved so successful for previous captains, of Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell.

Elsewhere Faldo may opt to split up Spaniards Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez to utilise their experience with some of the least experienced players while Westwood is also likely to take a rookie under his wing.

Karlsson's form on both sides of the pond will make him a popular partner while Justin Rose is the one rookie that Faldo may have no qualms about throwing into the deep end - and the likes of (still to qualify) Martin Kaymer has also shown he can handle pressure in tough situations.

There's no doubt this is the most intriguing battle for some years and the history books show that Europe has never won the Ryder Cup four times in a row.

In English, Valhalla translates as a heavenlike destiny - perhaps it is time for someone in the European team to make their own destiny.