MEET THE PLAYERS, COURSE

International team: Byeong Hun An, Abraham Ancer, Adam Hadwin, Sungjae Im, Marc Leishman, Haotong Li, Hideki Matsuyama, Joaquin Niemann, Louis Oosthuizen, C.T. Pan, Adam Scott, Cameron Smith.

U.S. team: Patrick Cantlay, Bryson DeChambeau, Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Patrick Reed, Xander Schauffele, Webb Simpson, Justin Thomas, Gary Woodland, Tiger Woods.

Royal Melbourne: Here’s why it’s great for match play

Golfweek’s Jay Blasi interviewed Michael Clayton, who is an Australian golf course designer, former player and caddie, about his impressions of Royal Melbourne. The course for the 2019 Presidents Cup is an amalgamation (12 holes from the West Course and six from the East).

Blasi: What makes a good matchplay hole or course from the perspective of a top player?

Clayton: The key to match play is to pressure your opponent into thinking you are not going to make a mistake. The best courses – and Royal Melbourne is undoubtedly one – demand clear thinking and it’s not obvious where you should play.

Blasi: What makes Royal Melbourne a great match-play course?

Clayton: Despite the width of the fairway, the greens make it so hard to get close to the hole, especially when it’s windy, and it usually is. Unlike courses with softer greens, you must land the ball in one place to have it finish in another, and the shot has to be hit on the right trajectory, with the right shape and spin and land in the perfect spot. Otherwise it’s going to finish far from the hole.

Blasi: Are there a few holes at Royal Melbourne that you think will be great match-play holes? Why?

Clayton: 10 West, which will be 6 on the Presidents Cup Course, is the great short (285 yards) par 4 up and around the hill. It’s drivable but only into the wind. Downwind it’s almost impossible to keep the ball on the green and long is no good. It’s either a safe long iron to the right and a pitch or a driver or 3-wood straight at the green.