Golf Business Utilizes Amateur Data to Predict Difficult Holes for Upcoming Ryder Cup Week
The 2025 Ryder Cup, scheduled at Bethpage Black Golf Course in Long Island, New York, commences on September 26. This highly anticipated event will see Team Europe face off against Team USA, with Shot Scope, a prominent golf industry company, releasing a report detailing the challenges awaiting amateur players.
The par-3 3rd hole, ordinarily a manageable 146 yards for amateurs, will pose a significant test for the pros. With the tee box shifted back 90 yards, the hole plays 232 yards, making it one of the longest par-3s in the tournament. The green, known for its lack of forgiveness, increases the pressure on the pros to execute precise shots.
The par-4 5th hole presents another challenge, particularly for amateurs. A faded tee shot is favored, but the further right the ball travels, the longer the carry. Missing the fairway on the right almost guarantees a bogey, and missing left makes a shot into the green nearly impossible, resulting in an average score 1.6 strokes over par.
The par-5 7th hole will be played as a par 4 during the Ryder Cup, and missing the fairway makes it nearly impossible to go for the green in two. Even if a player avoids the sand on the right, being too far right leaves no direct line to the green. The par-5 7th hole sees the most significant fluctuation in scoring based on tee shot results, making it a crucial hole in the match.
The back nine of Bethpage Black plays 0.7 strokes harder for amateurs, with amateurs typically hitting one fewer fairway and two fewer greens. This requires more scrambling and adds to the pressure on the amateurs as they navigate the undulating greens, bunkers flanking the green, and front-to-back slopes on the 11th hole, which is the hardest to get up and down on when missing the green.
Shot Scope data indicates that Team USA, led by Scottie Scheffler who is dominating the USA team, is favored for the Ryder Cup 2025. The European team and players also tested their form, but Scottie Scheffler appears as a key favorite. Shot Scope analyzed data from 7,000 randomly selected golfers and simulated a match between Team Europe and Team USA amateurs, with Team Europe emerging victorious 6.5-to-5.5.
In conclusion, the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black Golf Course promises to be an exciting event, with challenging holes and intense competition between Team Europe and Team USA. Amateur players will need to bring their best game to navigate the course and compete against the pros.
