Europe have seemingly deployed slower greens at the Ryder Cup in Rome in a bid to utilise home advantage and throw the Americans off their game.
With a number of the US team practising at Marco Simone on Monday, ahead of Friday’s opening foursomes session, elements of their set-up confirmed to Mail Sport that the putting surfaces are not as lightning quick as those they are more familiar with Stateside.
It has been a recurring ploy over the history of the Cup, where the home team calls the shots on course configuration.
One prominent member of the US delegation estimated the green speeds here at 10 on the Stimpmeter – a device used to measure the rollout of a putt.
By the time the competitive action begins, it is understood they will at around 11.
Team Europe are hoping to utilise their home advantage at this year’s Ryder Cup by deploying slower greens than what the US Team will be used to in America
The Americans have been practising at the Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome this week, with reports saying that the greens are rolling at 11 on the stimpmeter
For the Masters and US Open the greens normally run at speeds upwards of 13 on the stimpmeter
That will still be on the slower side of what the leading professionals prefer in the biggest tournaments across the Atlantic.
For the Masters, US Open, The Players Championship and US PGA Championship, the green speeds can often roll upwards of 13.
‘It will have been done on purpose and that’s fine,’ said one of the US support staff. ‘It’s part of home advantage.’
Another feature of the 7,300-yard course here in Rome will be the fiendish rough and narrowed fairways, which has been based on the debatable theory that it will favour European accuracy off the tee.
Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald (pictured) will be hoping the course plays to his sides favour this week in Rome
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