Gleneagles prepares for 2014

THE date for the 2014 Ryder Cup has been announced with the match set to take place just a week earlier than when it was last held in Europe.

The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles will stage the 40th set of matches from September 26 to 28 and it will be just the second time Scotland has held the competition. The date for those matches, at Muirfield in 1973, was just a few days earlier on September 20.

After the weather experienced at Celtic Manor in 2010, when an extra day was required for the first time, it was mooted that the matches might be brought forward. But, having looked at the possibility of moving the dates, the committee insisted they were happy with a late-September position.

The course has been closed since the middle of October to allow work to start on changes to a number of holes – most notably the previously underwhelming 18th.  

So far the 9th and 10th holes have seen some significant changes with work on the 12th and 18th to follow. 

A large fairway bunker (main picture) at the has been removed meaning a larger pond coming into play for those taking on the green. The landing area for the lay up has also been narrowed.

At the 10th the championship tee has been moved to the left which should bring the greenside bunker more into play. 

While at the 18th significant work is being carried out from the landing area of the tee shot, up to and including the green and  surrounds. The championship tee here will be moved forward (see left inset) and to the left and raised by two metres to give a better view. 

From the landing area the fairway will be levelled with around 35,000 tonnes of earth being moved. The result of which being that the new-look hole will now only rise two metres to the landing area, it was previously seven metres to the green.

That green, which will have three tiers, will now be to the right of its current position (see right inset) and angled towards the hole. All of which means it is now more in range and a more dramatic finish in place than the one witnessed in the play-off at this year’s Johnnie Walker Championship.

Scott Fenwick’s team have been testing a sub-air system, an aeration and moisture removal system, on the 10th green and, if this proves to be successful, all 18 greens might follow suit.

The 2012 matches will take place at the Medinah Country Club near Chicago in September.