Whistling Straits is supposedly modelled on a rugged Irish links, but it possesses ultra-manicured, lush fairways that wouldn’t be out of place at Augusta.
With soft greens, drenched by almost an inch of rain last Friday and Monday, it’s the perfect course set-up for the newly patched-up Rory McIlroy.
“It seems like this course should set up well for me" - Rory McIlroy
His recovery in just five-and-a-half weeks from a ruptured ligament in his ankle has been the story of the preview days here.
McIlroy is happy with the conditions and said: “I’ve done well in soft courses before. It gives me a big advantage being able to hit it long through the air, to be able to reach the par fives.
“It seems like this course should set up well for me. I played well in 2010, finished one shot out of the play-off and again I don’t see any reason why I can’t go and get myself into contention and hopefully go one better this year.”
While a win for Rory this week would complete a good season in which he’s won three other titles, a victory for his nearest rival Jordan Spieth would probably take him to world number one, along with claiming a piece of history in the modern era of golf.
Spieth would stand alongside Tiger Woods and Ben Hogan as three-time major winners in a calendar year.
The American youngster was foiled in his attempt to win the Open in St Andrews last month as he finished one shot shy of the play-off and it’s an experience that still rankles.
“My frustration was only that we were tied with two holes to go with one of them being a birdie hole and we didn’t close it out,” he said.
“I certainly have a chip on my shoulder from that major that I’m wanting to remove, so this week I’m hoping to get into that position again and see if I can improve on it.”
It’s far from a two-man show and there are strong cases to be made for in-form players like Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson, whose length off the tee gives them a serious advantage here.
Then there’s the almost tragic figure in golf terms of Dustin Johnson. His talent for the game is matched only by his propensity for failure on the big stage, not least here at Whistling Straits five years ago.
There also has to be a case for the world number 19 Shane Lowry.
The newly-minted Bridgestone Invitational winner from last Sunday brings the form of his life here to a course that really appears to set up well for the 28-year-old Offaly man.
Give it up to some resilient kids trying to get autographs, and Jordan recognizing it. pic.twitter.com/39AvDwwa3J
— Doug Ferguson (@dougferguson405) August 12, 2015
Irish Tee Times
1820 Darren Clarke
1840 Shane Lowry
1900 Graeme McDowell
1920 Rory McIlroy
1930 Padraig Harrington
