Phil Mickelson: Bethpage Black an 'Ideal Spot' for Ryder Cup

Here is an idea to ponder as the USGA is now working on tearing down all the grandstands at another successful U.S. Open at Bethpage Black -- why not get a Ryder Cup out at the course?

If you think about it, and Phil Mickelson did, it makes perfect sense. It's an amazing golf course that can be played from all sorts of different tees and made to play easy or hard (as we saw, comparably, from 2002 to '09). If the wind blows it's a brute, but if it stays fairly calm and the rough isn't played knee deep, it could yield just about any score.

Mickelson made his case after he tied for second for a record fifth time at the U.S. Open, telling reporters it is the perfect spot for a Ryder Cup in the future.

"The people here are incredible, and I just keep thinking that this is like the ideal spot to hold the Ryder Cup," he said Monday.

"First of all, the course is terrific, because 16, 17 and 18 are so close together. And the way the fans are, I think we would have a big advantage."

That last part might be one of the few reasons Bethpage might not be considered for a Ryder Cup. With the Long Island crowd leaning on the "loud and rowdy" side, the Europeans might be at such a disadvantage it would make the matches almost unfair. Back in '02, crowds were all over Sergio Garcia for his waggles and slow play. This year they even jumped on Tiger Woods for his, get this, use of an umbrella during the rain. If the Cup was there, and fans were allowed to imbibe fittingly throughout the week, it might make the advantage too high for the Americans.

No matter, former Ryder Cup star and double-fist pumper David Duval agreed with Mickelson's novel idea.

Duval concurred. "Now that would be a heck of an idea," he said after tying Mickelson and Ricky Barnes for second place. "It's sure a good enough golf course for it."

With Medinah hosting in 2012, Hazeltine National taking the reigns in 2016 and Whistling Straits the host in 2020, the next available slot for an American course to host would be all the way in 2024, when Mickelson will be 54 and Tiger Woods will be 49, so it will probably be a new wave of Americans to battle the Europeans, but a good idea nonetheless.