Jordan Spieth reportedly struggled to come to terms at Le Golf National just outside Paris. Getty Images
Jordan Spieth reportedly struggled to come to terms at Le Golf National just outside Paris. Getty Images
Jordan Spieth reportedly struggled to come to terms at Le Golf National just outside Paris. Getty Images
Jordan Spieth reportedly struggled to come to terms at Le Golf National just outside Paris. Getty Images

Ryder Cup: Dustin Johnson and fellow Team USA members to find French course challenging


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Big-hitting American stars may have to adjust their games when they defend the Ryder Cup against Europe in September on a tight, punishing course at Le Golf National just outside Paris.

All 12 Europeans are certain to be familiar with the quirks of the French set-up designed to favour strategic play, while American long hitters such as world No 1 Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson and even possibly Tiger Woods will have to put away their drivers on the majority of holes.

The Americans regained the Ryder Cup two years ago at a Hazeltine track with forgiving fairways and slick greens, but will find a totally different proposition awaiting them in France as they look to win the trophy on European soil for the first time in 25 years.

Course director Paul Armitage, watching the Americans at the Albatros course during a Ryder Cup practice session in mid-July, said the Europeans will have a head start at the September 28-30 contest.

"The Europeans know the course better. It's a real advantage," Armitage said.

He said that even three-time major champion Jordan Spieth was finding out the hard way and had hit two iron shots into the water in succession.

"There is only one way to play some holes and if you don't know that, or don't do that, holes like the famous [par-three] 16th will eat you," he added.

US Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk brought five US team hopefuls including two-time US Masters winner Watson and Spieth over to France for a weekend ahead of the British Open.

Only two other Americans, Phil Mickelson and world No 3 Justin Thomas, have already played the course this season.

Furyk said they will share their knowledge with other potential team members who cannot make the trip before the Ryder Cup.

The message from Furyk will be to keep the driver in the bag, shoot for accuracy rather than distance, and prepare for a showdown on the greens of the par-71, 7,331-yard championship course.

"It's a placement golf course. They are not going to hit a lot of drivers, they're going to hit a lot of three woods, and lot of irons off the tee. It's a second-shot golf course," Furyk, 48, said.

"You have to be very precise off the tee. Hit the ball accurately, maybe not that far but accurate."

Armitage said if you gamble, you can win but you have to play with "brains rather than brawn".

"Americans love the driver, they love to hit 250-300 metres off the tee. You can't do that here. You can't attack this course. I think what bothers them is that you have to use strategy rather than muscle."

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Bubba Watson agreed that the course was a second-shot layout but insisted that better knowledge will not win the trophy for Europe. Reuters
Bubba Watson agreed that the course was a second-shot layout but insisted that better knowledge will not win the trophy for Europe. Reuters

'Second-shot course'

Watson agreed that the course was a second-shot layout but insisted that better knowledge will not win the trophy for Europe.

"It's not really about knowing the course more, it's about hitting shots," he said. "We are all going to have to make 10-footers, we are all going to have to hit good iron shots, hit good tee shots, fight the nerves off."

Spieth described it as a "pick your shot, pick it apart" course "with a lot of people playing from the same spot".

"So it will be kind of wedges, short iron control, then a putting contest - which will be very exciting."

The last four holes are the toughest with the 16th an exciting par-3 with water down the right-hand side, while the treacherous 18th is surrounded by an amphitheatre that can hold 50,000 spectators.

"There's a lot that can happen on 15, 16, 17, 18," Furyk said.

"It's an amazing amphitheatre. I am trying to grasp how many fans will be wrapped in this one area. It will probably be the biggest stage we have ever had in any golf tournament just in those four holes."

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The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

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The biog

Name: Sari Al Zubaidi

Occupation: co-founder of Cafe di Rosati

Age: 42

Marital status: single

Favourite drink: drip coffee V60

Favourite destination: Bali, Indonesia 

Favourite book: 100 Years of Solitude 

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Innotech Profile

Date started: 2013

Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari

Based: Muscat, Oman

Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies

Size: 15 full-time employees

Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing 

Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now. 

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)