It’s all spilt milk now but since we have properly praised the European Ryder Cup team for their magnificent performance and pointed out the weakest performers from the US team, let’s look at what would, could or should be done to enhance US chances in the future. COPY EUROPEAN SELECTION CRITERIA A no-brainer here. After the 2004 debacle at Oak Hill, the idiots at The PGA of America realized that the Euros had figured out how to select the hottest team possible, so they changed their qualification system. While it was a move in the proper direction, it is still just ... full post »

The European Ryder Cup team is to be congratulated for realizing their full potential. The whole was definitely greater than the sum of its parts. They were magnificent. There can be no excuse-making this time because they would have won this competition if it were played on the moon. The US team showed up with its C game and was beaten every way you can be beaten. Only a magnanimous gesture by the lovely man Paul McGinley prevented this from being a record-setting beating. His other eleven team members brought out a can of whip-ass. The main culprits of the US ... full post »

Media coverage for this 2006 edition of the Ryder Cup is off the charts. Every major newspaper carried a story, accompanied by a picture, of the US team arriving in Ireland on Monday. When was the last time the arrival of golfers at the airport was news? By now, many non-golfers have heard about jovial US Ryder Cup Captain Tom Lehman’s light-hearted approach to the most intense pressure cooker perhaps in all of sport. Lehman has everybody thinking the US golfers are going to play like surfer dudes, just chillin’ out. It’s a shell game - a diversionary tactic. Don’t be ... full post »

Apparently there is a conspiracy underfoot at Nemacolin Woodlands in Pennsylvania where the PGA Tour is playing the 84 Lumber Classic. It seems that a certain government agent by the name of A. Powers has notified golf officials that European badman Dr. Evil has stolen the mojo from US Ryder Cup players. All of a sudden top golfers Scott Verplank, Chris DiMarco and Chad Campbell can’t hit their ass with a shovel. There may be a foreign link to this plot as the top 2 players in the world, Tiger Woods & Jim Furyk - also from the US - ... full post »

US Ryder Cup Captain Tom Lehman is hoping to find one more super-pairing like he believes he has in Tiger Woods & Jim Furyk and Phil Mickelson & Chris DiMarco. In the 2005 Presidents Cup competition those two pairings were exceptional. While you have to believe that those two pairings will go out for all four matches during the first two days of 2-man team play, Lehman would love to have another pair that he could count on for at least 3 of the four sessions. As things stand right now, nobody in the European side is playing any better than ... full post »

The war of words has begun. Most of the golfing world is familiar with Tiger Woods’ reaction to slights, either real or perceived. Ask Vijay Singh, whose caddy wore a hat that said “Tiger Who?” during their singles match in the 2000 Presidents Cup – a systematic 2 & 1 loss for Singh. (I had the good fortune to personally witness that one.) Ask Stephen Ames, who referred to Woods’ poor driving prior to their match in the WGC Match Play – an 9 & 8 spanking. There have been other instances. And afterwards, Woods always lets it be known that ... full post »

In the end result it may not mean much but it seems as though European Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam has a leadership style that is upsetting to his team members. What style is that, you ask? His style seems to be that he doesn’t like to talk to his players. That’s a little old school - and truth be told, I usually prefer that - but here is a case where old school could use some modification. As Woosie has not kept in touch with his charges, they have been squabbling a bit in the media. Several of the ... full post »