“I’d rather be 260 yards in the fairway than 310 yards in the rough."

Between Twitter bickering and Monty's dubious claims of little course setup tinkering, Alistair Tait says "Friday can’t come soon enough."

However, it's hard not to comment on the setup and the hoped-for outcome.

Ian Poulter said the course is set up like a U.S. Open venue. “I’d rather be 260 yards in the fairway than 310 yards in the rough,” Poulter said. “That’s how penal it is around here.”

Of course, Monty’s favorite major is the U.S. Open, the one he’s come closest to winning on three occasions. No surprise, then, that Celtic Manor would be set up U.S. Open style.

There is no question course setup plays into the Europeans’ hands. With the U.S. containing more long-bombers than the Euros, it makes sense to grow the rough to catch the big hitters who hit it off-line. Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Jeff Overton, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson might struggle if they don’t put it in the fairway.

FYI Monty...Dustin Johnson led the U.S. Open through three rounds and the Woods/Mickelson combo each scored top 5's this year.