Ryder Cup Blog...First of too many
September 3rd 2008 15:17
The Ryder Cup is in a tie for first with the Masters as my favorite golfing event of the (bi)year. It's kind of funny, I rarely watch the President's Cup, Solheim Cup, Seve Trophy, UBS or any other team events because the drama is either forced (Solheim) or simply not there (Presidents). On top of that, the Match Play Championships kind of bore me as well, since it's either Tiger dominating to another 4 & 3 win, or even worse, Tiger NOT dominating and David Toms or Jeff Maggert winning over Kevin Sutherland or some other non-marquee name.
But the Ryder Cup is different. There is real drama. While not Red Sox/Yankees or even Texas/Oklahoma, there is usually some hurt feelings and some good gamesmanship (Oh, Seve where have you gone? That's right. Two fairways over from your drive.)
So expect to read a lot about the Ryder Cup, since the "Playoffs" have turned into the Vijay Singh Kids College Fund. And since we have the always controversial captains picks (and this year is definitely not an exception), let's look at Europe picks today.
EUROPE
Picks: Two (And can someone answer, why Europe only gets two and U.S. gets four? Was the last two ass-whippings that bad? Can't we just have Team Europe play the tips and the U.S. get the blues? Or an extra putt every other hole?)
Paul Casey
Paul Casey was the slam-dunk pick, as he has both the normal requisites for Ryder Cup captain;s pick (Playing well experience!). No brainer. Let's move to the other one...
Ian Poulter
If Poulter gets the rest of the team to wear those sweet pants, this Yank will openly root for the Europeans. Promise.
On paper, not the greatest pick, as outside of The Open, he has done very little this year. (No top tens on the PGA, outside of the Open, a T9 in Au Dhabi all the way back in January). Still, I think it's a good pick, as he's always been one of the best ballstrikers, which will be very helpful in both four ball and four somes matches.
Some are saying that Poulter and Faldo are BFF's. Could be, as I know little about their friendship, but let's look at some of the other contenders:
Martin Kaymer
PROS: You see the first photo of Kaymer. That's a trophy he's holding up. Do you see any recent photos of Ian Poulter holding up trophies? No. Why? Because unless you steal it off the presentation table, you have to win to hold up a trophy. Kaymer has won twice this year, including the pretty good field at the BMW International Open.
CONS: He's only 23, though I don't see that as a big deal. I bet if Bernhard Langer would have een captain he would've taken him. (See, they're both German and all...like Poulter and Faldo are both English). Also, he REALLY likes Lavender.
DECISION: Probably Poulter, just on experience. But dammit, we need more Germans!!
Carl Petterson
PROS: Won recently in America, although it was a weak field. Old school guy (One of my favorites to root for). Very solid ballstriker. And, it could give the John Daly demographic someone to root for!
CONS: Can he walk 36? He makes Tim Herron look like Camillo Villegas.
DECISION: Seriously though, I think I would've taken him over Poulter, as he is playing better right now. Still, no experience is likely why he didn't make it.
Darren Clarke
PROS: Playing well (2 victories in '08, including one just three weeks ago). Tons of Ryder Cup experience (10-7-1 alltime). Still a great story.
CONS: Not BFF's with Faldo.
DECISION: This one puzzled me. Granted, I'm fairly certain if Europe got four picks he would've been on and either Hansen and Wilson would be gone, but still. He HAD to be picked before Poulter, right?
Colin Montgomerie
Oh wait, that's Old Tom Morris. Never mind.
PROS: The best Ryder Cup player of my generation. Maybe of all-time.
CONS: He's 45, hasn't won this year. Really, hasn't done much at all this year.
DECISION: Goes after Clarke for sure. If he played a little better, than maybe. I mean you don't see a lot of clamoring for Fred Couples on the American side, even though he's played better than Monty.
Next: The American picks. Twice as many picks, twice as long of a blog!
But the Ryder Cup is different. There is real drama. While not Red Sox/Yankees or even Texas/Oklahoma, there is usually some hurt feelings and some good gamesmanship (Oh, Seve where have you gone? That's right. Two fairways over from your drive.)
So expect to read a lot about the Ryder Cup, since the "Playoffs" have turned into the Vijay Singh Kids College Fund. And since we have the always controversial captains picks (and this year is definitely not an exception), let's look at Europe picks today.
EUROPE
Picks: Two (And can someone answer, why Europe only gets two and U.S. gets four? Was the last two ass-whippings that bad? Can't we just have Team Europe play the tips and the U.S. get the blues? Or an extra putt every other hole?)
Paul Casey
Paul Casey was the slam-dunk pick, as he has both the normal requisites for Ryder Cup captain;s pick (Playing well experience!). No brainer. Let's move to the other one...
Ian Poulter
If Poulter gets the rest of the team to wear those sweet pants, this Yank will openly root for the Europeans. Promise.
On paper, not the greatest pick, as outside of The Open, he has done very little this year. (No top tens on the PGA, outside of the Open, a T9 in Au Dhabi all the way back in January). Still, I think it's a good pick, as he's always been one of the best ballstrikers, which will be very helpful in both four ball and four somes matches.
Some are saying that Poulter and Faldo are BFF's. Could be, as I know little about their friendship, but let's look at some of the other contenders:
Martin Kaymer
PROS: You see the first photo of Kaymer. That's a trophy he's holding up. Do you see any recent photos of Ian Poulter holding up trophies? No. Why? Because unless you steal it off the presentation table, you have to win to hold up a trophy. Kaymer has won twice this year, including the pretty good field at the BMW International Open.
CONS: He's only 23, though I don't see that as a big deal. I bet if Bernhard Langer would have een captain he would've taken him. (See, they're both German and all...like Poulter and Faldo are both English). Also, he REALLY likes Lavender.
DECISION: Probably Poulter, just on experience. But dammit, we need more Germans!!
Carl Petterson
PROS: Won recently in America, although it was a weak field. Old school guy (One of my favorites to root for). Very solid ballstriker. And, it could give the John Daly demographic someone to root for!
CONS: Can he walk 36? He makes Tim Herron look like Camillo Villegas.
DECISION: Seriously though, I think I would've taken him over Poulter, as he is playing better right now. Still, no experience is likely why he didn't make it.
Darren Clarke
PROS: Playing well (2 victories in '08, including one just three weeks ago). Tons of Ryder Cup experience (10-7-1 alltime). Still a great story.
CONS: Not BFF's with Faldo.
DECISION: This one puzzled me. Granted, I'm fairly certain if Europe got four picks he would've been on and either Hansen and Wilson would be gone, but still. He HAD to be picked before Poulter, right?
Colin Montgomerie
Oh wait, that's Old Tom Morris. Never mind.
PROS: The best Ryder Cup player of my generation. Maybe of all-time.
CONS: He's 45, hasn't won this year. Really, hasn't done much at all this year.
DECISION: Goes after Clarke for sure. If he played a little better, than maybe. I mean you don't see a lot of clamoring for Fred Couples on the American side, even though he's played better than Monty.
Next: The American picks. Twice as many picks, twice as long of a blog!
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