Ryder Cup captain Woosnam ‘Tiger-proofs’ K Club course
Particular emphasis is being placed on nullifying the advantage held by the bigger American hitters like the world number one and US Masters champion Phil Mickelson.
The Welshman has already made a number of trips to the Kildare venue where, as part of his overall course strategy for the September event, alterations have been made to a number of bunkers and trees.
"Say I'm driving down a fairway and I'm a 270-hitter," explained Smyth. "You have a bunker (on the left) and a lake (on the right) so I have to find a line (between them).
"But if you're a 300-hitter and the lake stops all of a sudden at 280 and the bunker at 285, you've got this huge area (beyond it) to hit at and it's a much easier course for you.
"The strategy is to have the bunker at the same distance that they're going to land and have the same degree of difficulty as regards hitting fairways. Now it's a fair course.
"You don't like doing it. You don't want to penalise them, but you don't want to let them off the hook either. In a sense, what you are doing is Tiger-proofing the course and that is being done all over the world."
Augusta National was the latest venue to try and outfox the game's ever-bigger hitters by stretching the course. Another 155 yards was added making it, at 7,445 yards, the second longest in major history.
Mickelson's response to that was to pack two drivers in his bag for the BellSouth Classic two weekends ago one to draw the ball right, the other to draw it left.
Leaving his sand wedge in the locker, he went on to win the tournament by 13 strokes on 28-under par.
He finished top of the driving charts at Augusta last weekend by using the same tactic and, although the K Club is only 108 yards shorter than Augusta, Mickelson doesn't envisage using that strategy regularly.
As to whether a similar approach would work in Ireland for a matchplay competition, Smyth adopts a similar 'horses for courses' philosophy.
"You would have to analyse the golf course and everyone has got a different game," said Smyth who was yesterday launching a new Waterford Crystal 2006 Ryder Cup commemorative collection. "They will see it slightly different. In years gone, when guys played parkland courses, they would have a five-wood in their bag.
"Then they would get to a links and drop the five-wood out and put a driving iron in. Guys do that all the time. In the older days people used two wedges, now they have three because the grass is thick around the greens. Now they've got the 60 degree for getting it up and down quick. Years ago you didn't need that."
Mickelson's win in Georgia has extended to 26 the number of majors played without a European winner, a drought stretching back to 1999 when Paul Lawrie won the British Open at Carnoustie.
Jose Maria Olzabal was the only European to finish inside the top ten, but Europe have won the last two Ryder Cups despite individual struggles at the big four tournaments. "They didn't win but Olazabal played well, Jimenez played well, the two Irish guys were in contention," said Smyth. "They fell off a little, but they were up there matching them shot for shot. Our young players are coming through probably as good as theirs.
"A guy like Henrik Stenson has emerged. He's been a strong player for years, but he's really emerged in the last two years. Luke Donald is getting stronger all the time. Paul Casey and David Howell who were on the team the last time are players that are getting better all the time."
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
