Graeme McDowell reveals U.S. dissatisfaction with past European Ryder Cup venues.
It should not come as a surprise but Graeme McDowell had revealed the disquiet among a number of leading American players at the inferior quality of European golf courses in recent years to have hosted the Ryder Cup.
The announcement on Tuesday the Le National course in France will host the 2018 Ryder Cup has been overwhelmingly praised and will ensure the biannual event gets back to a ‘trusted’ golf course for a first occasion in Europe for 27-years.
Since the wonderful Walton Heath hosted the 1981 Ryder Cup, the tournament has shifted between the Belfry, Valderrama, the K. Club and Celtic Manor.
Gleneagles will host the 2014 Ryder Cup but then there’s many players including Ireland’s Darren Clarke who have long lambasted the Scottish course that plays host annually to the Johnnie Walker Championship.
Of course, there’s been allegations all five courses ‘bought’ the rights to host the Ryder Cup.
Look back at the history of the Ryder Cup prior to the Belfry hosting the 1985 Ryder Cup and you have golfing gems such as Southport and Ainsdale (1933 & 1937), Ganton (1949), Wentworth (1953), Royal Lytham and St. Annes (1961 & 1977), Royal Birkdale (1965 & 1969) and Muirfield (1973) having hosted the event.
Thankfully with the anouncement the Le National course will play host to the 2018 Ryder Cup, McDowell believes the decision should finally appease those across ‘The Pond’.
“I am not going to mention any names but a couple of well known American players have said to me that they are disappointed at the state of the golf courses Europe hosting the Ryder Cup,” said McDowell.
“They’ve been saying the poor state of the golf courses just detracts from the golf tournament.
“When we play the Ryder Cup in the Sates they are played on great golf courses and courses that have staged Major Championships and the like.
“But taking nothing away from Wales because it was a fantastic Ryder Cup, and I loved every second of it, but the amount of money Terry Matthews had to spend on the venue.
“Surely, there is enough quality golf courses that the European Tour can be better represented with quality tracks.
“That’s why Paris National is going to be a fantastic venue and I’m thrilled the Ryder Cup is going to a quality venue.
“France is very deserving of the Ryder Cup as they’ve been a great sponsor hosting the French Open on such a fantastic venue for many, many years now.
“I know I’ll be 40 in 2018 but I would dearly love to be travelling to Paris and playing on that Ryder Cup.”
McDowell was speaking ahead of the Euro 3.4m Volvo World Match-Play Championship at the Finca Cortesin.
The current World No. 6 ranged McDowell is among six of the world’s top-10 looking to drive off with the Euro 800,000 first prize cheque.
