Tide may be turning for Team USA
I can understand why Nick Faldo wore those big sunglasses on Sunday -- the future does look bright for Team USA.
The key to the Americans' first Ryder Cup win since 1999 was the new guys. This was a different U.S. Team. Missing in action were longtime American Ryder Cup players like Davis Love III, Fred Couples, Brad Faxon, Scott Verplank and David Toms -- the old-guard guys, who for whatever reason couldn't get in done in previous Cups. The U.S. won this weekend at Valhalla because of the guys with little or no Ryder Cup experience: Hunter Mahan, Boo Weekley, Kenny Perry and, especially, Anthony Kim and J.B. Holmes.
Kim and Holmes are the best examples of the sea change that's happened on the American side. They are proven winners who played together as amateurs on the winning U.S. side in the 2005 Walker Cup. We watched a true changing of the guard, and now we've got a bunch of guys who can handle the pressure of this event. By contrast, the U.S. players on this team who lived through the bad old days were average at best. Phil Mickelson couldn't even beat Justin Rose on Sunday.
On the other side, the European team's DNA has been completely altered with the absence of Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke and Jose Maria Olazabal. [Olazabal was at Valhalla as an assistant.] And, Europe's big dogs, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, didn't get it done. I won't put Padraig Harrington in this group because he's never been a Ryder Cup standout, but Europe needed big wins from Garcia and Westwood, and they didn't get them. By contrast, Ian Poulter made me reconsider his ridiculous-sounding claim that he and Tiger Woods are the two best players in the world. Poulter was a monster and probably the best player this week on either side.
Speaking of Tiger, I expect he'll be stoked to play with Holmes, Kim and Mahan in Wales in 2010. The idea that not having Tiger was good for the U.S. is ridiculous. We won because of who was there, not who wasn't. You always want the best player in the world on your team. Our problem is that we never found the right partner for him. Based on what I saw this week, I think Mahan-Tiger would be a great team. No doubt Tiger will assume his usual defining role when he comes back to the U.S. team, but he'll like the new players and the new winning attitude around him.
Posted by: Mike | Sep 21, 2008 9:05:35 PM
Negative Brady
What makes Tiger so great is also what makes him a terrible team player. He has voiced his dislike for the Ryder Cup in the past and he does not like to share the spotlight. Where have you been? It's going to look real bad when Tiger comes back and they lose in 2010. He'll go down as the greatest player ever but the worst team player ever.
Posted by: KenC | Sep 21, 2008 10:00:52 PM
I think Phil has taken the position of best golfer with the most disappointing record in Ryder Cup play.
Posted by: Shagger | Sep 21, 2008 10:45:03 PM
Agree with Mike on Tiger. When he makes those comments about how he doesn't like the Ryder Cup it rubs off on the rest of the team. With him being the leader of the team how could it not affect the rest of the team. Anyway, no sense in arguing about it. Just look at the USA Ryder Cup record since Tiger has been eligible to play in it. We need more guys playing in it like Boo, JB and Anthony. I would have like to have seen Rocco and/or Woody on the team as well but I can't argue with Azinger's picks now that we've won.
Posted by: Jon | Sep 22, 2008 2:40:54 AM
Americans should not look simply to this current Administration for the reasons of decay in reputation the world round. This Ryder Cup is a perfect metaphor for what is wrong with this divided country. The whole "Boo" attitude, the excessive celebrations, the 13th man concept (like we can't just beat them with twelve, let's try and get more people to help us). The players and supporters act like they have been the champions all this long while rather than the Europeans. Where's the humility. Faldo critized for benching Garcia and Westwood? Are you kidding, he could see what was coming. If Garcia had an ounce of maturity, the champagne would be flowing in Europe. As for Azinger, "a genius"? He couldn't carry Faldo's bag in his best days. No one minds when winners celebrate being a winner. But it's losers pretending to be winners that no one likes. If you want to remember what things used to be like, study the class act of Kenny Perry from the time he decided to make the team, to the moment he held the trophy. Follow that lead back to the reputation once had, and then a true celebration could begin.
Posted by: sml | Sep 22, 2008 3:41:29 AM
happy 150th b-day shagger-
Posted by: sml | Sep 22, 2008 3:43:00 AM
oops i mean jon
Posted by: Mark | Sep 22, 2008 7:40:26 AM
Hey Jon, don't choke on your sour grapes.
Posted by: reidme | Sep 22, 2008 7:52:04 AM
If you want to teach others how to behave with class Jon, I'd suggest you begin by demonstrating some.
Posted by: Al | Sep 22, 2008 7:55:20 AM
Cheer up Shagger -- hopefully the U.S. team will validate their recent victory with a win in Wales in 2010. As for the celebration in Kentucky over the past few days, I didn't see anything unlike what the atmosphere has been in years past at previous events at the K-Club or at the Belfry?
As for the Captains, I feel too much is made of their role. The U.S. players simply outplayed the Euros this week. Outside of having attended the 2004 Ryder Cup (at Oakland Hills) in person, I found this to be one of the most entertaining events that I have seen.
Posted by: Al | Sep 22, 2008 7:57:54 AM
Oops -- I meant Jon
Posted by: Al | Sep 22, 2008 8:34:59 AM
Yanks 16 1/2 - Euros 11 1/2. Any questions Jon?
Posted by: Dale | Sep 22, 2008 9:47:58 AM
Beat down. Period.
Posted by: Ondrej | Sep 22, 2008 10:09:55 AM
BTW - is JON a nick name of Lee westwood?
Posted by: Bob | Sep 22, 2008 10:10:39 AM
Couldn't agree more with Mike. A major reason the Americans won is no Tiger. More than half of the points in the competition come from team play (4-ball and 4-somes) and Tiger is the antithesis of a team player (it's part of what makess him ironically so good). Tiger on team - big losses. Tiger absent - team wins. Simple as that.
Posted by: K O'Connor | Sep 22, 2008 10:43:19 AM
Well spoken Jon, nice to see someone with some common sense.
One of my work mates quoted it for truth today, the Americans have turned Golf into a sport for Yob's, beer swilling and rowdy. In Europe your not aloud beer on the course, not aloud to take it outside of the tented village / club house / corporate hospitality, in saying that I was once at the European Open and two American tourists stood out like sore thumbs with there beers in hand before noon, standing behind the ropes. It would appear most American fan sports revolve around the consumption of beer and rowdiness, unfortunately this has extended into American golf.
What happened to respectful cheering for the home team and away team, respect for quality golf.
Someone commented yesterday that Americans never "whine" when they lose, of course they don’t, they get treated with the utmost respect while they play, have you ever heard an American golfer in the Ryder cup in Europe say they were abused for the whole week by the fans? American fans who were involved or condone the treatment Lee Westwood received should be embarassed, and the others should be ashamed.
In europe your dont hear fans screaming the second the players hit the ball some inane comment for the sake of being first to shout something.
The barracking of Miguel on the 17th green for his final putt summed up the week. Unfortunately the golf has been over shadowed by the roudyness and lack of respect.
Posted by: joe | Sep 22, 2008 11:01:00 AM
K O'Connor.
You are out of your mind to say that sports in Europe does not revolve around alcohol. Have you ever been to the world cup? Seen football (soccer) in England? As Paul Azinger said, the European fans would routinely celebrate missed shots and were rowdie and disrespectful. It is funny to see "Old Europe" people like you defend Lee Westwood. When played in Europe, I am sure you would have jumped all over the likes of Tiger or Phil had they whined about the crowds being mean. Just take the loss like a man and be on your way.
Posted by: Shermdog | Sep 22, 2008 11:02:24 AM
Euros. Glad you were defeated. Look forward to our next meeting. In the meantime its an American celebration, you're not invited and we don't care if you approve, because you never have understood us, that's why we're here and you're over there.
Posted by: K O'Connor | Sep 22, 2008 11:30:45 AM
Joe.
If you read my post you will note I did not say "sports in Europe does not revolve around alcohol". That you can compare the behavior of the fans at the Ryder cup last week to that of football louts is sad, and I would agree the comparison is there to be made between what happened at the Ryder cup and some football games in Europe.
"Paul Azinger said", I will quote Paul Azinger for you because I saw the interviews, he said "fans in Europe routinely cheer when we missed shots", i.e. cheering in support of there team. Not as you state being "rowdie and disrespectful", like Lee Westwood said, there is a fine line between the two. "Old Europe" I have to laugh, what next, I am with you or against you? LOL.
Again Tiger or Phil have no need to whine about crowds being mean in Europe, because they are treated with respect, if they weren’t you would know about it.
Butch Harmon in his commentary on sky sports stated that "Lee Westwood is a gentleman on and off the course, and if he says he was routinely abused on the course then I believe him". Gentleman on and off the course, and that’s how he gets treated, because he aspires for the game of golf to be a gentleman’s game. I am sure in two years time in Wales we shall see another fine example of respect for the game as was exhibited in the K-Club.
Enjoy it while you can yanks, without your 13th Drunk abusing the Europeans it will be a different game of Golf.
Posted by: David | Sep 22, 2008 11:44:07 AM
What is the word I'm looking for... sounds like booligan? Mooligan? Oh ya... it's hooligan. Why does that word come to mind. Here we are talking about how degenerate American sports fans have become. How we drink and are prone to 'abuse.' Anyone help me out?
Posted by: Cary Wood | Sep 22, 2008 12:08:05 PM
Does Phil have a side job for playing the dummy in heimlich maneuver classes? He is an expert at choking.
Posted by: wadster | Sep 22, 2008 12:23:29 PM
As an American cheering for the Euro's watching the golf this weekend was slightly disappointing. What was more disappointing was the crowds reaction led by Azinger asking them - actually telling them - it was okay to cheer for a bad shot by the Euro's. I agree with K O'Connor that the Euro's cheer for their team not against the Americans. Celebrating a bad shot is not to be condoned (much less requested by the captain). C'mon, try and act like you've been there before. And to say that this could be the beginning of domination by the Amercans. No Luke Donald is a big loss and the emergence of Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Robert Karlson should not be ignored. Sergio at "home" will be a different story along with the potential addition of Matin Kaymar in 2010. I believe this could be the beginning of a real battle for the RC for the next 10-20 years with the influx of new stars on both sides of the Atlantic.
Posted by: Michael | Sep 22, 2008 1:52:40 PM
as i recall, don't you guys have streakers running across the greens at you most prestigious golf events? like at the K-club and pretty routinely at The Open?
contain your fans and we'll try the same. but until then, stop whining.
Posted by: Tomas | Sep 22, 2008 2:49:12 PM
I think the whole crowd atmosphere of the Ryder Cup started to change in the 80's, when the Euro's ran off three in a row (two of the three being played at the Belfry). While always knowledgeable, the European fans began to ratchet up the intensity during the 80's to the point they began cheering mistakes by the US (tennis fans also do this now, and they didn't used to). Then in 91 at Kiawa (unfortunately nick-named The War on The Shore), the US fans responded and were also very, uh, exuberant. From there it was on, baby - the fans pay their entry fee and then proceed to get their money's worth; screaming, yelling, clapping, singing. It's great!
Sure, the US fans might take a few more cheap shots than their Euro counterparts, but jeers are not the exlusive domaine of the Yanks - not by a long shot. And victory celebrations? Please. The Euros have launched into some excellent singing, dancing, drinking celebrations right off the 18th green, with their fans.
The fan participation, for both sides, and the expressive celebrations for both teams, have just evolved into excellent parts of what has become an great event. Get over it, dude.
Posted by: Dan | Sep 22, 2008 10:21:26 PM
I guess the people who say the euros don't cheer bad shots have forgotten the loud cheer that went up when Azinger wiped his approach shot into a greenside bunker on the 72nd hole at the 1987 british open giving the championship to faldo.
Posted by: vanasian | Sep 23, 2008 12:25:18 AM
Some people think that USA lost because of Tiger absence. How ridiculous and wrong to generalize such a conclusion from accident that Tiger did not play this time! USA did not win before because they did not play better than Europe.