Thursday, July 8th, 2010 
Laura
US Open champion criticises St Andrews changes
Graeme McDowell believes lengthening the Road Hole will kill Open drama
Recently-crowned US Open champion Graeme McDowell believes the changes to St Andrews' world-famous 17th hole could reduce the drama of the 150th anniversary Open Championship.
The Northern Irishman, who triumphed at Pebble Beach last month, says the changes to the iconic Road Hole will force players to take it on with caution after the tee was moved back some 30 yards.
"I don't think it's bad," said McDowell, the first European winner of the US Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970, "Was it necessary? Don't know.
"I'm going to play it conservatively. It's a TV sport, it's all about people enjoying the game and seeing some drama, but I'm going to lay up."
Now a 495-yard par-4, the R&A insist the tee has not changed the line of the shot, just the distance from which the shot is played in keeping with recent advances in equipment technology.
However, McDowell, nicknamed GMac, believes the hole could see some terrible scores should the wind get up at St Andrews.
"It's going to be absolute carnage," added McDowell, who will play in his seventh Open Championship from July 15-18.
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Murrayshall Golf Club
The worst kept secret in golf is finally out. Tiger Woods will play in this year’s Ryder Cup, captain Corey Pavin having elected to give the embattled 14-time major winner one of his four wild cards.
No great surprise there. As poor a season as he has had by his own high standards, compared to the rest of the guys ... 
