- Team Europe used slower greens this week during the Ryder Cup in Rome
- The greens are slower than what Zach Johnson’s team is used to in the United States
- The greens will be significantly slower than those at the Masters and US Open
Europe has apparently deployed slower greens at the Ryder Cup in Rome in an attempt to capitalize on home advantage and take the Americans off their game.
As several members of the US team practiced at Marco Simone on Monday ahead of the opening session of the foursomes on Friday, elements of their setup confirmed to Mail Sport that the putting surfaces are not as lightning fast as those they are more familiar with Stateside.
It has been a recurring trick in Cup history, with the home team in charge of the course configuration.
A 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 starts, it’s believed it will happen around 11am.
Team Europe hopes to capitalize on their home advantage at this year’s Ryder Cup by using slower greens than the American team will be used to in America
The Americans have been practicing at Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome this week, and reports say the greens are rolling at 11 on the stimpmeter
For the Masters and US Open, the greens normally run at speeds greater than 13 on the stimp meter
That will still be on the slower side of what the leading professionals prefer in the biggest tournaments on the other side of the Atlantic.
For the Masters, US Open, The Players Championship and US PGA Championship, green speeds can often go up to 13.
“It must have been done on purpose and that’s fine,” said one of the American support staffers. “It’s part of home field advantage.”
Another feature of the 7,300-yard course here in Rome is its devilishly rough and narrow fairways, which are based on the debatable theory that this will promote European accuracy off the tee.
Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald (pictured) hopes the course will play in his team’s favor this week in Rome