Hazeltine National Golf Club

Hazeltine National played host to the 2016 Ryder Cup matches between the USA and Europe. Team Captains were Davis Love III (US) and Darren Clarke (Europe). The US team came out of the starting blocks at light speed in the Friday foursomes with a 4 - 0 whitewash, but Europe rallied in the afternoon four-ball matches to trail by 5 points to 3. Saturday’s foursomes went Europe’s way but the US won three of the four four-ball matches in the afternoon to lead 9½-6½. For a brief moment, Europe looked set for a Medinah-style comeback when they led in seven of Sunday's 12 singles matches, but another inspired performance by talisman Patrick Reed, who defeated Rory McIlroy in a thrilling battle, paved the way for the first of seven US singles’ wins. All twelve US team members delivered a point while four Europeans drew blanks, but ultimately it was superior putting that enabled the US to regain the trophy. USA 17 - Europe 11. The Ryder Cup was played at Gleneagles in 2014 and was played at Golf National in 2018.

Former USGA president Totton P. Heffelfinger founded Hazeltine National Golf Club in the early 1960s and Robert Trent Jones was commissioned to design a high quality course for the Midwest capable of holding a national championship. Hazeltine opened for play in 1962 and only eight years later the club hosted the 1970 US Open. In cold windy conditions Englishman and reigning British Open champion Tony Jacklin triumphed easily.

Hazeltine National was modified by Rees Jones (son of RTJ) ahead of the 1991 US Open which turned into a historic battle between Scott Simpson and Payne Stewart. The championship went to a play-off the next day and Payne Stewart came from behind to win his first US Open title.

The PGA Championship was hosted at Hazeltine in 2002 and it was one of the most memorable events in the history of the PGA. On the par five 15th hole during the final round Tiger Woods launched a charge, posting the first of four closing birdies. Rich Beem held off the rampaging Tiger to claim his first Major, winning by a single shot, but Tiger’s charge constituted perhaps the most exciting finish in PGA Championship history.

The 2009 PGA Championship returned to Hazeltine National and it was a tournament that the whole world expected Tiger Woods to win with ease. Woods had not won a major in 2009 and the world No.1 had a four-shot cushion at the halfway stage. Eight times Woods has led a major at halfway and eight times he has gone on to win. Woods lead had been cut to two shots from South Korea’s Yang Yong-Eun after day three. Against all odds, the South Korean easily outplayed Tiger Woods in the final round winning by three clear shots becoming the first Asian-born male winner of a major championship.

Hazeltine’s signature hole is the 16th, a 396-yard par four that requires skill and nerve. Lake Hazeltine guards the right hand side of the hole and a creek lurks menacingly to the left whilst the distant green beckons perched on a jutting peninsula that is surrounded by water.

Hazeltine National Golf Club was once more in the spotlight when the club played host to the thrilling 2016 Ryder Cup. In 2029 Hazeltine will become the first American venue to host the Ryder Cup for a second time.