MEDINAH, Illinois, (Reuters) – The sprawling Medinah Country Club course outside Chicago is set up so benignly that it should be a shot-making delight at this week’s Ryder Cup, with club members even drooling over the chance to play it.
“This course, with no rough and lots of trees cut down, it’s never played easier,” Mike Kabarec, a 19-year member at Medinah, told Reuters on Thursday. “I’m looking forward to playing it.”
First crack goes to 24 of the world’s best players as 12-man teams representing the United States and Europe renew their fierce rivalry in the 39th Ryder Cup starting today.
Looming as a possible pivotal hole in the biennial event if the potentially driveable par-four 15th, which can play anywhere from 280 yards to 391 yards, depending on the tee box.
The hole has been shortened 100 yards since Medinah hosted the 2006 PGA Championship and a pond was placed along the right side of the fairway and green to offer a risk-reward option.