Alex Narey: Rough Justice

Golf Monthly Assistant Editor reports on the 39th Ryder Cup from Medinah Country Club

It was never going to be a surprise. Davis Love had hinted all along that Medinah's first and only cut of rough would be trimmed down. He wants attacking golf and he'll get it. The only problem is it will be that way for both sides.

Love has acquitted himself with charm and style in the weeks leading up to this Ryder Cup. He picked well with his wild cards, picked players who were coming into form and who have carried that form on. Dustin Johnson has played all his golf towards the back end of the season while Brandt Snedeker served his captain the ultimate line in payback with victory in the Tour Championship.

He has also given his players breathing space; he is not stepping on toes, but rather feeding off their experience. He knows he is in no position to tell Tiger Woods how to prepare for this week, and he knows he cannot help Zach Johnson with his putting. So he chooses only to recommend that his players do everything they need to be ready for Friday morning.

The backing of his rookies is also admirable. Sending three of them out in Friday's foursomes would be quipped at in traditional quarters, but Love was quick to reject this when facing the media post opening ceremony: "They are not rookies. They are only rookies here. Brandt Snedeker is no rookie."

Cajoling egos has been a staple theme in Love's captaincy. He has wrapped a protective arm around his players enough to make them feel worthy of representing their country. This is important. Just because they are millionaires, it does not mean they aren't fragile.

This cajoling of egos comes in many forms; whether it's telling his players they are the best at what they do, or hinting that, by and large, they are longer off the tee than their European counterparts - alas the rough at Medinah being non-existent.

But it is with this last thought that Love may have created an unwanted hurdle. These players have built their games on hitting greens, games that have been bred on the PGA Tour. They are target golfers. Yes they have imagination; yes they can produce magical shots; yes they can play away from their comfort zone. But greens and fairways are the currencies they deal in and they are masters at doing this week in, week out.

Taking away the rough is a cry for Love's bombers to open their shoulders. But now they have to prove they can go out and make the scores; there is no room or time to consolidate. It has to be all-out attack. But when someone attacks, there is always a counter-attack.

Rough or no rough, Europe will be relishing the task ahead.

Alex Narey
Content Editor

Alex began his journalism career in regional newspapers in 2001 and moved to the Press Association four years later. He spent three years working at Dennis Publishing before first joining Golf Monthly, where he was on the staff from 2008 to 2015 as the brand's managing editor, overseeing the day-to-day running of our award-winning magazine while also contributing across various digital platforms. A specialist in news and feature content, he has interviewed many of the world's top golfers and returns to Golf Monthly after a three-year stint working on the Daily Telegraph's sports desk. His current role is diverse as he undertakes a number of duties, from managing creative solutions campaigns in both digital and print to writing long-form features for the magazine. Alex has enjoyed a life-long passion for golf and currently plays to a handicap of 13 at Tylney Park Golf Club in Hampshire.