Paul McGinley’s guide to Whistling Straits

I KEEP hearing talk about how the length of the course will be important but it requires a bit of guile to master it. I had my best finish at a major at Whistling Straits when I finished tied-sixth in the 2004 US PGA, and I’m not a big hitter. The course requires shot-making. Besides, whereas in the past we were a ‘short’ team and the Americans were long, that’s not the case now. You look at the players’ average driving distances and there is little between them. This is a links-style course and the weather will be a huge factor. The course is located right on Lake Michigan, which is huge, and the wind whips off the water. Europe’s players will not mind that. With favourable winds and a bit of rain, better shot-making is required and that would suit the skillset of the Europeans.