Europeans in control at Ryder Cup
October 4th 2010 01:09
It isn't fair. It might not even make a difference, but Tiger Woods, the U-S-A needs U now more than ever.
An imposing three points separates Team USA from losing its four-day custody battle with the Ryder Cup. The Europeans lead 9½-6½, and act, talk and walk like they're going to be spraying champagne on each other late Monday afternoon from a Celtic Manor balcony. Can you blame them?
They have the home-course, home-crowd and home-rain advantage. They have an impressive lead. They have a captain with a beating pulse.
But they don't have a Woods.
The Europeans trailed after the first and second sessions. But in the six-match third session, which stretched over Saturday and Sunday, they ole, ole, ole, ole-d the Americans into a red-white-and-blue mess. They were mostly spectacular, turning a 2-point deficit into a cluster migraine for Team USA. If there was a putt that needed to be made, the Europeans made it.
So now it comes down to Monday and the 12 singles matches. And in many ways, it comes down to Woods.
He is a captain's pick, a first for him. But make no mistake: He was the first player that the Europeans searched for when the singles draw was released. The results of his match -- he'll tee off eighth, against Italy's Francesco Molinari -- also could be one of the most closely watched of the 12.
There's no way around it. This has been the worst year of Woods' life, both personally and professionally. He lost a marriage and lost a golf swing. And both happened in full view of the world.
Woods, clueless or helpless for much of 2010, hasn't won a tournament this season. He has exactly two top-10 finishes. He suffered through a career-worst 72-hole performance at the Bridgestone. He changed coaches.
On Sunday he made a four-hole, 45-minute cameo appearance during foursomes play. He and partner Steve Stricker were taken to a Wales woodshed by Lee Westwood and Luke Donald. The 6 and 5 loss was a Ryder Cup worst for Woods.
Monday's singles match becomes Woods' fifth major. It is his last chance to extract something memorable -- positively memorable -- out of a difficult and humbling year.
Won't happen, you say? His swing is in more pieces than a box of LEGOs? He's the world's No. 1 in name and number only?
But Woods doesn't have to win a 72-hole tournament, just an 18-hole match against winless Ryder Cup rookie Molinari -- and maybe even not 18 holes if he plays well enough. He has to be the Woods we remember for only four or so hours, not four days.
Despite the disastrous, almost laughable blowout loss against Westwood and Donald, Woods still is 2-1 in this Ryder Cup. And in career singles play he's 3-1-1.
An imposing three points separates Team USA from losing its four-day custody battle with the Ryder Cup. The Europeans lead 9½-6½, and act, talk and walk like they're going to be spraying champagne on each other late Monday afternoon from a Celtic Manor balcony. Can you blame them?
They have the home-course, home-crowd and home-rain advantage. They have an impressive lead. They have a captain with a beating pulse.
But they don't have a Woods.
The Europeans trailed after the first and second sessions. But in the six-match third session, which stretched over Saturday and Sunday, they ole, ole, ole, ole-d the Americans into a red-white-and-blue mess. They were mostly spectacular, turning a 2-point deficit into a cluster migraine for Team USA. If there was a putt that needed to be made, the Europeans made it.
So now it comes down to Monday and the 12 singles matches. And in many ways, it comes down to Woods.
He is a captain's pick, a first for him. But make no mistake: He was the first player that the Europeans searched for when the singles draw was released. The results of his match -- he'll tee off eighth, against Italy's Francesco Molinari -- also could be one of the most closely watched of the 12.
There's no way around it. This has been the worst year of Woods' life, both personally and professionally. He lost a marriage and lost a golf swing. And both happened in full view of the world.
Woods, clueless or helpless for much of 2010, hasn't won a tournament this season. He has exactly two top-10 finishes. He suffered through a career-worst 72-hole performance at the Bridgestone. He changed coaches.
On Sunday he made a four-hole, 45-minute cameo appearance during foursomes play. He and partner Steve Stricker were taken to a Wales woodshed by Lee Westwood and Luke Donald. The 6 and 5 loss was a Ryder Cup worst for Woods.
Monday's singles match becomes Woods' fifth major. It is his last chance to extract something memorable -- positively memorable -- out of a difficult and humbling year.
Won't happen, you say? His swing is in more pieces than a box of LEGOs? He's the world's No. 1 in name and number only?
But Woods doesn't have to win a 72-hole tournament, just an 18-hole match against winless Ryder Cup rookie Molinari -- and maybe even not 18 holes if he plays well enough. He has to be the Woods we remember for only four or so hours, not four days.
Despite the disastrous, almost laughable blowout loss against Westwood and Donald, Woods still is 2-1 in this Ryder Cup. And in career singles play he's 3-1-1.
| 115 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
