A Look Ahead To The 2018 Ryder Cup Course

Le Golf National in Paris is set to play host to the Ryder Cup next year for the very first time in its history, and the USA will be looking to retain the title they won in 2016 following a 17-11 victory at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

Here is a look at what we can expect to find at the course and a preview of who could be teeing off for both teams.

Le Golf National
The course opened in 1990 and just a year later it was used to host the Open de France, which is the oldest national open in continental Europe. The tournament attracts all the leading players on the European Tour, while some of the stars of the PGA Tour have made the trip across to France for this competition in the past. In 2017, Tommy Fleetwood came out on top ahead of Peter Uihlein.

80,000 spectators can fit into the course each day of the 2018 Ryder Cup; therefore, there should be a great atmosphere around the 18 holes. The crowd will largely be European supporters. However, American fans have traveled across to Europe in their numbers in previous tournaments.

Le Golf National is also set to be one of the venues used for the 2024 Olympics, which will be in Paris. Therefore, it is a course that the players will want to shine at over the next seven years.

Team USA
It is easy to see why the USA are the - 120 favorites in the latest golf odds for the 2018 Ryder Cup. During the 2017 season, three of the four Major Champions were won by Americans, as Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, and Justin Thomas lifted titles. All three of those players are likely to be in the American squad for the trip to France next year.

Jim Furyk is set to captain the USA team and that is a great appointment as the former US Open winner has a wealth of experience in the Ryder Cup. There will be four captain's picks this year and Furyk is likely to have a selection headache as there will be lots of players pushing for a place in his squad.

Team Europe
Europe will be hoping the home advantage will play in their favor in 2018 as the majority of the crowd at Le Golf National will be right behind them and spurring the hosts on. The players will be very familiar with the course in Paris as the majority will have likely played the 18 holes at least once in their careers.

Rory McIlroy will obviously be the player that captain Thomas Bjorn will be hoping can lead the challengers to the trophy. The former world number one has a great record in the tournament and, if he is back to his best again next September, he will be the one player the Americans fear the most.

The 2018 Ryder Cup takes place from 28-30 September with the tournament concluding with 12 singles matches where every player from the two squads will participate.