The USGA has abandoned the long, gnarly, nearly unplayable rough that was its trademark at U.S. Opens staged back in the 60s ad 70s.
Hit your ball in that stuff and you’re probably wedging out.
The European Tour has brought it back for this 42nd playing of the Ryder Cup and the deep stuff at Le Golf National is exactly that — deep, lush, gnarly.
It can take a player out of a hole and leave his partner alone in best-ball. In alternate shot, it’s pure disaster, probably a loss of hole.
Rory McIlroy tangled with it early, on the seventh hole in the morning matches Friday. A wild tee shot by McIlroy is not news but in this instance, he was wild and in the deep stuff and he basically whiffed, even with his clubhead speed.
The rough is there to neutralize the U.S. power off the tee but on many holes at this venue, the drivers stay in the bag, especially in the alternate shot (foursomes) format.
So keep an eye on the stuff.
Could be a hug factor come Sunday.
