Mickelson: Par-4 15th more layup than drivable

• By Jay Coffin
• Sep 26, 2012 4:20 PM ET

MEDINAH, Ill. – Anyone who believes the short, par-4 15^th hole will provide plenty of fireworks during the Ryder Cup may be disappointed, according to Phil Mickelson, who says the hole is “overdone” and birdies will flow easier from the fairway.

The hole is listed at 391 yards on the scorecard but tournament officials have the ability to make it play as short as 280 yards, enticing some of the game’s best to drive the green. But Mickelson made it sound like it won’t happen as often as many believe.

Tee to green: Nobilo's video tour of Medinah CC

“It’s a reachable par 4 but it’s not really drivable,” Mickelson said Wednesday at Medinah. “I think most guys are going to lay up. I just think it's overdone as a hole.

“I think it’s an easy birdie laying up, and as disappointing as the fans are going to be to see that, we have to play what’s there in front of us and try to shoot the lowest score. The lowest score will be shot by laying up.”

Following the 2006 PGA Championship at Medinah, Rees Jones reworked the 15^th hole, putting water to the right of the fairway and shortening it by 100 yards. Mickelson has been a harsh critic of Jones in the past, including last year here in the Windy City at the BMW Championship where Mickelson bashed Jones' changes to famed Cog Hill.

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