The Ryder Cup: Valderrama - Seve's Augusta
Valderrama is one of the plushest courses to host a Ryder Cup event. The big story about the course will be the
attention that is drawn to the 17th hole. The par-5 17th is perfect for the end of a match-play round.
It allows for players to reach the green in two shots, but there is plenty of trouble that will make it
risky to do so. This is a great place for someone to come from behind to square up the match. Any match that
is still alive at the 17th will be great entertainment.
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| There is an interesting story behind the design of 17, as well. Seve Ballesteros, this year's European Ryder captain, redesigned Valderrama in 1993. Seve made the 17th hole his homage to Augusta National. Seve took his favorite elements from Augusta, where he has twice won the Masters Tournament, and combined them into one of the most interesting stretch holes in golf. It will certainly be the most talked about hole in golf over the next few weeks. |
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Playing the Seventeenth: The tee shot needs to land short of 290 yards, so as not to find the rough that goes
all the way across the fairway. On the other hand, the advantage goes to the player who is longest off the box, because
they will get to watch their opponents second shot before they decide what to do.
If the second shot is in a level spot among the moguls, and there is not too much wind in their face, then a 3- or 4-iron should be able to make it to the green. There is little room for error though, as anything short will roll back into the water, and anything long will find the bunkers in the back. Any approach that ends up long of the green will leave players a shot that will test their nerves, especially if the pin is in the front. The chip back to the green will be downhill, with nothing on the opposite side of the green to stop the ball from rolling into the drink. |
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Homage to Augusta: Seve, two-time Master's champion, put elements of four holes
into his redesign of 17:
B) The bridge here is copied after Hogan's Bridge over Rae's Creek at the 12th. C) The pond and the sharply pitched front edge of the green are modeled after 15. Any short approach will end up in the lake, exactly like the 15th, where a few green jackets have been lost. D) The shape of the green and the bunkers in the rear mimic the layout of 13. |
(This week's Shockwave file is larger than usual, but it is exceptional.) |
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Note: if you do not see a moving play diagram... |
