Ryder Cup: Key holes at Marco Simone that may decide the winner

For the primary time in historical past, the Ryder Cup pays a go to to Rome, Italy, the place Marco Simone Golf Membership awaits among the greatest gamers on the planet.

American gamers would not have a lot expertise with this picturesque format, however many on Group Europe do.

Marco Simone has hosted the DP World Tour’s DS Vehicles Italian Open for the previous three years.

In 2021, Nicholai Højgaard, who will make his Ryder Cup debut this week, gained the Italian Open by a stroke over Tommy Fleetwood and Adrian Meronk. Højgaard’s victory two years in the past was his first DP World Tour victory.

Then, final yr, Robert MacIntyre defeated Matthew Fitzpatrick in a playoff, which marked the second occasion wherein the Scotsman triumphed on the DP World Tour.

And most just lately, Meronk, who was missed for this yr’s Ryder Cup, gained the Italian Open in early Could.

The European crew is aware of this course nicely, however it’s undoubtedly international territory for Group USA and its followers.

Alas, allow us to take a look at 4 important holes on the again 9 at Marco Simone, the place matches shall be determined:

Gap 13 – Par 3, 150 Yards

Photograph by Stuart Franklin/Getty Photographs

When standing on the tee at this little par-3, you’re instantly reminded of being within the seven hills of Rome.

It’s maybe essentially the most picturesque gap on the course.

The Italian countryside extends so far as the attention can see, however don’t let the sweetness take away from the truth that this is without doubt one of the hardest greens on the course.

A big knoll runs by the center of this inexperienced, so gamers should hit their tee pictures on the correct tier. In the event that they miss, a three-putt lurks across the nook.

Contemplating match play at all times comes all the way down to placing, this placing floor will undoubtedly have an effect all through the Ryder Cup.

Gap 14 – Par 4, 509 Yards

Photograph by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Photographs

Maybe essentially the most difficult tee shot on the course, gamers should hit a right-to-left tee ball to seek out the green on this dogleg left par-4.

Two devilish fairway bunkers will swallow any tee shot that misses left, whereas gnarly tough awaits these tee balls that miss proper.

The touchdown space is kind of slim.

If gamers don’t discover the green on the 14th, they are going to have little to no likelihood of discovering the placing floor, which is considerably elevated and incorporates a false entrance.

One bunker lurks to the precise of the inexperienced, whereas one other lies quick and left.

The entice on the left ought to not often come into play, however the deep bunker on the precise will see some motion.

This may increasingly show to be essentially the most tough gap on the course.

Gap 16 – Par 4, 303 Yards

Photograph by Stuart Franklin/Getty Photographs

A real risk-reward gap.

Each participant within the Ryder Cup has the size to achieve this inexperienced off the tee, however the query is, will they accomplish that?

If somebody finds themselves down in a match, maybe they pull out the large stick and attempt to stick it on the inexperienced to spark some magic. Or in fourballs, perhaps one participant provides the inexperienced a go whereas the opposite lays as much as the generously extensive fairway in entrance of the pond.

The bunker in the course of the green stands out like a sore thumb, so gamers should keep away from it ought to they select to put up.

However laying up might have a worth. The golf green slopes downward in the direction of the tributary that runs 50 yards in need of the inexperienced, which means gamers might face a downhill lie for his or her second shot. These are at all times tough to regulate from quick vary, contemplating the decrease trajectory a downhill shot forces.

On the flip aspect, if a participant decides to provide the inexperienced a go, they have to match their tee pictures between two bunkers and keep away from the water that extends up the precise aspect of the inexperienced.

Gap 17 – Par 3, 206 Yards

Photograph by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Photographs

The penultimate gap at Marco Simone is a beautiful, uphill par-3 that may take a look at the world’s greatest gamers.

The tributary that bisects the sixteenth fairway runs down the left aspect of the seventeenth. Any shot pulled or something that caroms off the sidehill to the left of the inexperienced is prone to discovering the water.

However the precise aspect of the inexperienced has quite a few undulations, so accuracy will show pivotal. The inexperienced is somewhat lengthy, so don’t be stunned to see gamers hit varied golf equipment from the tee.

This tough par-3 will doubtless determine quite a few matches this week.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. Be sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough too.