18th hole offers perfect finish for matchplay

LE GOLF NATIONAL was built almost 30 years ago with a Ryder Cup in mind. It’s a natural stadium course, and spectators are going to love it.

I don’t think the National will play dramatically long and there are a lot of holes like the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 9th and 12th where no one will be using a driver.

It’s going to suit players like Frankie Molinari and Webb Simpson, players who can keep the ball straight and are good putters. It’s a course where the more you play it, the better your chances of doing well, so that’s going to suit the Europeans, who have grown up playing it at the French Open every year.

The key holes? Everyone will focus on the loop from the 15th to the 18th, and understandably so given the amount of trouble you can get into with all the water hazards.

But I think the four previous holes will prove pivotal in a lot of matches. The 11th is a lovely par three, the 12th a demanding par four; the 13th is a par four which will be driveable if they bring the tee forward for any series of matches, while the 14th is a par five where the green is tucked away but within reach in two shots. A sequence of holes, therefore, where anything could happen.

The jewel, j however, is the 18th, one of the great finishing holes anywhere. Let’s hope there are plenty of matches that go that far. The No 1 thing you must do is find the fairway, but that is easier said than done with bunkers down the right and water down the left.

If the flag is on the right side of the green, you are going to see players risk everything with a driver, because they will want a short iron for their approach.

A flag on the left or at the back, and we’ll see some birdies to win matches.

In short, the perfect matchplay hole when everything is on the line.

It is going to be fantastic!