React: Your thoughts on the Ryder Cup
Posted at 10:37 AM by Charlie Hanger | Categories:
Ryder Cup
Ok people, it's all over, and now it's time to revel in the U.S. victory, praise the almighty Azinger, bemoan the state of the European team and criticize Captain Faldo. Or maybe you'd rather berate the boorish Americans (Boo and the gang, the Kentucky crowds), tell us that Azinger got lucky, promise a Euro triumph in 2010 and stick up for Nick. Whatever your take, we'd like to hear it. Leave a comment below, and please, keep it civil.
Posted by: James Zahradka | Sep 29, 2008 2:36:39 AM
Paul Azinger set the unsportsmanlike tone when he said, "I love the patriotism and raw emotion of the Ryder Cup, the challenge playing for team and country. . . . we're in two battles overseas, it's a great time to wear the red, white and blue and represent your country." Hey Paul, did you notice that in those "two battles overseas" we're fighting insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, not Spain, Ireland, and England? In fact, did you know that almost 600 Europeans have died in Iraq in a war that your friend George W. Bush mislead this country into, as well as almost 270 in Afghanistan in solidarity with our fight against the real enemy, Al Qaida? How insulting to our European allies. I will never root for the Americans while this man is the captain.
Posted by: ArtHouse | Sep 24, 2008 1:43:39 PM
Euros need to quit crying everytime they lose. I watched at the KClub and saw the raucous Euro fans behaving the same way US fans did.
I thought back then that the way for the Amreican team to to shut them up was to play better. Same goes for the Euros here.
Posted by: Jay | Sep 24, 2008 12:05:14 PM
Yes, Americans are morons for shouting "get in the hole' on every shot. I am American and personally would like to shoot all if these folks. Seeing Boo riding his driver and slapping its rear was actually a cool thing to see. I love golf, but I think that the pros are a bit pretentious and have a attitude that they are above everyone else. Boo's attitude is refreshing. Oh, one more thing for the morons out there, "GET IN THE HOLE!!!!!"
Posted by: daryle | Sep 23, 2008 9:42:39 PM
Great golf! Good to watch. I'm really glad for the US team. On the flip side, I feel bad for Nick Faldo. He's taken too much heat from the British press. I enjoy his commentary and I thought he was a class act throughout the tournament. And did the US miss Tiger? I don't think Tiger could have beaten Kim on Sunday. Wow is all I can say.
Posted by: K O'Connor | Sep 23, 2008 1:33:43 PM
Nobody called Anthony Kim pompous, or criticised his enthusiasm. What Anthony Kim was criticised for was his lack of manners and unprofessional behaviour when he shouldered Ian Poulter when Ian was going from the green of one hole to the tee box of the next hole, as shown in the footage on tv, footage americans no doubt were not privy to as I am sure there were much more interesting add breaks on. Anthony Kim's singles match was over as we all know, and was supporting his own team.
Neither did anyone criticise Boo Weekly's enthusiasm and excitement for being involved in the Ryder Cup, I personally thought he was fantastic, to see someone so excited to be involved and representing his country. And when it was pointed out to him after day one regarding his hooting and hollering before his opponent hit his shot, then he made clear he wanted to show respect to his opponent and did refrain from hooting and hollering before his opponent hit his shot, in the following days. I was truely impressed at the maturity of his response and comments, and look forward to seeing him play in europe where he will be well recieved. Will Ian Westwood and and Ian Poulter be well recieved next time in america? Hardly!
Sergio, Hunter, Poulter and westwood all relieving pressure in there own way when they sunk high pressure putts, we can only imagine what it might feel like.
You are right streakers have been known to "bare" themselfs at some golfing events in the uk and ireland, but you certainly wont find anyone condoning them and they are an embarassment. The sportsmanship exhibited by paul mcginley when the streaker appeared and conceded a 20 foot putt for a half in the final match of the ryder cup only goes to show how the team felt at such behaviour.
Posted by: Michael | Sep 23, 2008 10:37:49 AM
what is all this nonsense about Anthony Kim being pompous for his excitement and great play and Boo Weekly being a country bumpkin because he celebrated and actually got the crowd into an event that has been lagging in recent years? are you not paying attention to when Sergio actually made a putt and screamed at the top of his lungs? or when Poulter sunk a 30 inch putt...yes A 30 INCH PUTT and celebrated with his eyes about to pop out of his head. you're only calling Westwood a gentlemen because he's passive-aggressive. when he won a hole, he stared down the crowd with a "how did you like that?" smirk.
all i'm hearing is a bunch of whining from sore losers.
and as i recall, do you have "high-brow" Euros have streakers that run across the greens at your most prestigious golf events? like at the last Ryder Cup at the K-club and pretty routinely at The Open Championship?
Posted by: Richard | Sep 23, 2008 4:43:23 AM
Well done the American team, definately the best team won with the Europeans losing due to their best players performance and not their captain, who I thought made some brave calls over the tournament. One observation on the crowd though: I've never seen such a bunch of fat sports fans, is everyone that size in the US??
Posted by: K O'Connor | Sep 23, 2008 2:57:52 AM
Next time it will be 12 against 12 in a game of golf, no 13th drunk to abuse the opponents, no hecklers when people are trying to make putts to save the match (Miguel on the 17th). Perhaps by then Anthony Kim will have learned some manners aswell and wont be shouldering players between green and tee from the opposition when his own match is over, in the words of Ian Poulter and Butch Harmon "Unprofessional behaviour". The European team should be proud, they upheld all that is good about the game of golf.
No doubt the europeans will be heckled and berated on there return to the states for trying to uphold the professionalism of a gentlemans game.
Posted by: Larry Parsons | Sep 22, 2008 11:34:51 PM
Most of the comments have been right on, but those that felt it was poor sportsmanship to cheer when we did good, have forgotten how the fans in Europe do when it is played there. Lets face it, the game of golf has evolved from the players dressed in coat and tie, and only for the rich to play. This event is not the same as your regular PGA events so it is bound to get a little more rowdy. Great Job USA Team
Posted by: Henry | Sep 22, 2008 10:45:40 PM
Woopee!! The Ryder Cup won by a bunch of yokels that 40 years ago would have been the grounds crew . I'm surprised that neither of the Commonwealth boys - J.B. and Boo -didn't hop on one of the golf carts and shred rubber around the 18th green, to the delight of their beer fueled yobs. Boy - this sure ain't the game that George Herbert Walker Bush's granddad had in mind...
Posted by: Bob F | Sep 22, 2008 6:40:00 PM
Wow; see TM's comments. Talk about sour grapes. Cudos to Azinger and his players; well done. I really enjoyed the enthusiasm displayed by the Americans and their fans (with one exception). And I thoroughly enjoyed the really good golf played by many of the players from both teams. It was riveting TV down to the wire. The only 2 things I didn't like during the competition was the American crowd clapping and cheering so loudly when a Euro missed a shot; and, any interview with Sergio. The guy still needs to mature. His excuses and suggested blame of others is still his trademark. I'm slightly biased, however, because I'll never forgive him for spitting into a golf hole cup; it's the ultimate insult to your fellow players. Lots and lots of great story lines to go around.
Posted by: K Schulte | Sep 22, 2008 5:59:20 PM
Congrats to the US team. It's great to see positive comments about Azinger's role as captain. I just read some of the European press's rants about how bad a job Faldo did.
I never really liked Faldo as a player, he always seemed uptight, and probably more important, he was always there beating the US, or winning majors against my US favorites. His comment that it was little things that made the difference may seem tright if you're looking for a reason to blame him, but he was right. One shot on each match that made it to the 18th hole probably decided the matches. I don't know who would take the captains job if you were to get blasted like Faldo did.
Posted by: Bob | Sep 22, 2008 5:16:06 PM
We really enjoyed a "winning team" effort at the Ryder Cup. Although neither Faldo nor Azinger hit a golf ball during the tournament, they did have something to do with the outcome. Faldo (I believe) left Monty at home because he didn't want Monty to break his own personal record of Ryder Cup appearances / wins. He probably sit out Garcia and Westwood so their game streaks would be stopped before they got too far. Naw, that surely didn't happen, did it?
Posted by: TM | Sep 22, 2008 4:44:06 PM
Congratulations to the US team, for they were a team for the first time.
But perhaps somebody could spend sometime over the next two years teaching them golf etiquette - Weekley's antics, while not to be unexpected from a barely literate thug - had no place on a golf course, and the actions of Kim and others were barely on the fair side of acceptable.
And why, oh why, oh why, do dimwitted American crowds feel the need to shout "in the hole" every time an American hits a shot - even a tee shot on a 500+ yard hole; are you really that stupid?
I look forward to the 2010 Ryder Cup coming to Wales, where the crowds will be fair and sporting, and the game will be played as Samuel Ryder envsioned.
Posted by: marcia | Sep 22, 2008 4:05:57 PM
Good for the American team, but Europe was exciting to watch. When will the PGA figure out that alcohol fuels bad behavior - the Ryder Cup isn't about money - skip the lucrative alcohol sales. The Ryder Cup's purity as a gentleman's game is what makes it so special. I don't agree with Chamblee and the rest - I didn't fall in love with Boo. Can't wait to watch the next Ryder Cup - there's nothing like it in all of sport.
Posted by: Mark | Sep 22, 2008 3:56:15 PM
Hopefully this is the start of something new and lasting...truly competative Ryder Cups. I was in a sportsbar on Sunday with all of the NFL games on. But, other than the crowd watching the local team, the biggest group was watching GOLF!! Their cheers caused me to turn my attention away from the NFL for a while. Now that's something new!
Posted by: BD | Sep 22, 2008 2:47:15 PM
Congratulations to a very fine USA team who thoroughly deserved their Ryder Cup win. I’ve watched many Ryder Cups and the standard of golf on this occasion far surpasses, in my opinion, anything seen before. In addition the players on the USA team were (with the exception of Anthony Kim whose boorish behaviour, in his match with Sergio Garcia, showed he has still a lot to learn about the game of golf) a credit to themselves, to their country, and to the game of golf.
But if it is true, as widely reported in the media here, that Paul Azinger exhorted fans to ‘cheer when Europeans missed putts’ then shame on him and shame on you. That kind of yobbish behaviour has no place on a golf course. Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson would not condone, or even tolerate, what Azinger (reputedly) suggested? It is perhaps noteworthy that Jones et al, unlike Azinger, were GREAT American golfers. It is to the credit of the American golf fans that they chose not to behave in the unsportsmanlike manner (reputedly) suggested by Azinger.
Posted by: Nat | Sep 22, 2008 2:36:33 PM
Azinger? Faldo? Neither one made or missed a putt, drove in the fairway or the water.
Tournament golf is a crapshoot, matchplay doubly so. Johnny Miller had it right: Tournament winners are grinders (read: Harrington, Woods) who are great at avoiding big numbers.
Matchplay stars (like Seve, and Poulter) let it all hang out on every shot.
We happened to get the best of Perry and Weekly, but our main matchplay guy was J. B. Holmes, who absolutely terrified everybody, except his partners.
Just as John Daly would have done, in his prime.
Posted by: Bob O'Brien | Sep 22, 2008 2:05:12 PM
One for the ages.Boo and friends made this event one that no one will ever forget. I watched every minute on t.v and when it was over I felt sad to think I would have to wait 2 years for more.
Posted by: Bowl 300 | Sep 22, 2008 1:04:50 PM
Well what a wonderful weekend. To see these guys play with their emotions on their sleeves was absolutely wonderful.
I know I will take flak for this but I think the best thing that happened was that Tiger Woods was not there. I know he is a great golfer but when he is present the whole focus is on him and not the rest of the team, its what tiger did and didn't do. Without him there these guys knew this was their team not just tigers team. It was wonderful to watch and not see tiger on every minute of the telecast. GO AMERICANS
Posted by: Michael | Sep 22, 2008 12:43:20 PM
Being a PGA Professional I was embarrassed by the way the US team acted for the weekend. Fans cheered missed shots by the Euros and the US team did nothing but encourage. Poor choices by Faldo was the difference in this cup. Payback now will be the order of the day when we go back in 2 years. The cup has become somewhat of a joke because of the silly acts by players and their fans. Just play golf and shut up.
Posted by: gary carter | Sep 22, 2008 11:40:57 AM
It was great seeing the young guns on the U.S. team do so well especially on Sunday and the singles matches. This beats the back nine on Sunday at Augusta for sheer drama and excitement. Boo gets my vote for greatest horse ride at the Ryder Cup.
Posted by: J Esparza | Sep 22, 2008 11:12:16 AM
Great win for the US team. In the true spirit of team play, when one player faltered (or was simply outplayed), there stood another to execute a great round, hole or putt. So satisfying to see the US players look like they were having fun while still feeling the pressure of playing for the cup.
Kudos to the Euros for their sportsmanship and their professional play. They can be proud of their showing and go home knowing they lost to a another great team that played better on this weekend.
There were so many great shots from both sides, it was chilling. Every hole seemed to possess a 4 footer that was a momentum-swinger. That's what Ryder Cup should feel like.
I hope Mr. Mahan has found new perspective on the Ryder Cup.
J. Esparza
Posted by: Sylvia | Sep 22, 2008 11:04:24 AM
Congratulations to Mr. Azinger and the entire team. It was an exciting and amazing 3 days of golf, I was glued to the TV and thoroughly enjoyed it. The rookies were pretty awesome and hope that they'll come back for the next Ryder Cup. The outcome could have gone either way - but in the end - we were THE WINNERS!