Just come back from the event a little while ago,from what was a great day in the sun watching the pros at work on what is to be the Ryder cup venue.So heres a little insight in what the course was like.
The course it self is all open,bunkers are strategicly placed guarding fairways and greens as you would expect,rough isnt severe from what I could see,water is in play on some holes too,greens are fast and sloppy and require lots of spin for the balls to hold or else the ball will just keep running with players possibly losing the chance to make birdie (pins today were tight) wasnt expecting that on the first days play.Wind will always be a factor on this course as it has no guards against this.I could go on forever but thats the basic view.
For we the reachable 15th par 4 dog leg will provide some fun and games for thoose choosing to gamble and go for the green off the tee cutting across and over the trees and on too a blind green (I was by the green so not sure what they can see from the tee box)
Of the players,Monty was out early,but looked how he usually looks pretty lanquid and miserable,so quiclkly swerved him,although he finished -1,so stayed around the 18th and 17th watching the players there,I was awaiting the arrival of Luke Donald just before 1pm too follow him round,but he disappointed one birdie,loads of miss putts and hes irons just werent hitting there intended targets,he didnt look like a player who had just won the previous week,and was competing with monty in the misery stakes challenge,so clearly all was not well.
Conditions today were good for scoring no head or cross winds,winds were only gentle,with Chris Woods (leader) eqaulling the course record 65.
As a spectator,the course it self is set quite high in places,and when walking from hole to hole,spectators are walking up and down holes which are banked.
Great day,loved every minute
ps. I could have beaten the longest post ever,as I could just keep writing forever,so its the very light version
The Celtic Manor Experience
04-06-2010, 00:19
