French accent on Ryder Cup team could help U.S.

American golf fans are looking forward to this year’s Ryder Cup the same way a PETA supporter looks forward to a pig roast: that is, we know it’s going to make us sick.

After the Dublin drubbing in 2006, the Michigan mauling in 2004, and the Belfry bell-ringing in 2002, the Ryder Cup is not even a contest anymore. We are the Cubs. We are the Washington Generals. We are Charlie Brown.

This year, Valhalla looks like more of the same. Sure, U.S. captain Paul Azinger will add a little edge to this year’s proceedings (he’s already called Europe captain Nick Faldo a “p---k”—he later said he meant it in a good way). But unless Sergio Garcia has a hair-styling accident or the Europeans do something incredibly stupid like leave Colin Montgomerie off the team, it’s hard to imagine any other result than blue flags across the leaderboard.

But take heart, American golf fans, we may have a secret weapon this year: the French.

That’s right, according to a story in the Welsh newspaper The Western Mail, this year’s European team may include a Frenchman:

France’s Raphael Jacquelin, in Shanghai this week to defend his BMW Asian Open title, believes that the French boys are again making waves following victories by Thomas Levet at last month’s Andalucia Open and Gregory Bourdy in the Portuguese Open the following week.

“It is not a big surprise as the French group is improving a lot. We are all working hard to compete at the top in Europe and maybe later the top of the world,” said Jacquelin. “Maybe we will see a French player in the Ryder Cup team at the end of the year.”

Hmmmmm. So the unbeatable Euros who make so much of their camaraderie may add a player from a country known mainly for mime and British Open collapses. Sounds like a surrender monkey wrench in the works.

Comments

[Bill K]

what does "p---k" stand for?

[phmoulski]

It seems that Mr Walker has forgotten the basic rules of Golf Etiquette. What would be understandable in a trash tabloid is hardly acceptable in a webzine dedicated to golf. In the Ryder Cup the truth is that the team with the best spirit wins, and it will be the case this year encore !

[Green Flag]

Snide comments like this won't prevent the US getting its derrière kicked at Valhalla.

[Baraise]

I'm French, I like to read articles on this web site but this one... What's the purpose ? Mr Walker, did you former girlfriend leave you for a French lover ?

[Jack]

This really is a bad piece of journalism. Mr. Walker is insulting French golfers and the french people in general. As an american I am ashamed at such journalists whose whole purpose of writing is to create controversy. If I am not wrong this is the same writer who suggested that golf fans be allowed to make noise during a player's swing. I thought Golf.com was a respectable magazine. Why stoop so low?

[Tristan]

What's the point of this article besides insulting? And you get paid to write this?
I suppose the gentlemen like attitude linked to golf does not apply to the journalists covering it.

[POTARD GAEL]

cher monsieur,
si tous les idiots étaient mis sur orbite, je pense que vous tourneriez pendant encore très longtemps...

[tom]

lol
american golfers are good but journalists...
dont be sad to lose every ryder cups guys...

[harryboy]

Mr. walker ...
must you be insulting ?

After all, we don't talk about hard standings on embassy roofs anymore,
do we !

Try to be less like a nasty tabloid journalist looking for head-lines ..

purlease ..

[taipan]

Monty would be my No 1 pick for the team. He has an incredible record in Ryder Cup play. But I would not bet on Faldo picking him.