Oct 01

Seve Trophy Has Ryder Cup Ramifications

Played in the shadow of the enormously successful and entertaining Presidents Cup was the Seve Trophy which is, outside of Europe, a little-known team event pitting the best professionals of Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) vs. Continental Europe (EUR). It is also entertaining, though quite a bit less successful. Keeping it deeper in the shadows was the lack of European superstar participation. The biggest of names stayed away in droves: players like Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Niclas Fasth, Henrik Stenson, Jose Maria Olazabal, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald. Despite being held in Ireland, nary an Irishman was in the GB&I side: not the afore-mentioned Harrington, Darren Clarke nor Paul McGinley. What gives?

I have to wonder if the desertion had anything to do with the formerly polarizing but now charming Nick Faldo captaining of the GB&I team. As he is on deck to Captain the European Ryder Cup team at Valhalla, KY in 2008, it was a great opportunity for all prospective participants to play either for or against under his watchful eye. I’ve yet to hear anyone other than the English sound excited or even pleased about his impending captaincy. This is a six-time major championship winner we’re talking about here, for crying out loud. Talk all you want about Greg Norman, aka the Great White Shark, and how long he was number one in the world, everybody who followed golf closely knew who the best of that era was. But where Norman was accessible to the media and other players on Tour, Faldo remained nearly reclusive in his drive to win every time he teed it up. He had no pals.

So, contrast this European apathy with the gushing of everyone on the U.S. Presidents Cup squad over their captain, the great Jack Nicklaus. Had HE captained the GB&I team, I would bet that most of those missing guys would have signed up to play. Something doesn’t seem right in the Kingdom and I’m wondering what effect, if any, will be felt in Kentucky next year.

« 2008 Ryder Cup Drama already Underway as Captains Shoot Off Their Big Mouths

Cup Fever culminates with Presidents Cup & Seve Trophy »

10 comments

Comment from: wendy (UK) [Visitor]

Shanks, I think the big names stayed away because they couldn't care less about the Seve Trophy itself. The older GB/I players still dislike Faldo (remember Mark James ripping up the good luck message from him?), and none of the current good crop of Europeans have a reason to bat for Seve. Garcia simply dislikes him.
I fear there will be an effect in Kentucky, although dislike of losing to the US might be enough to spur the team on. Anyway, even great captains have been known to lose and mediocre ones win. (Lehman/Woosnam) The saving grace might be if Monty does volunteer to be a vice-captain, as I've read he is thinking about. You wouldn't want to let him down in the US, would you, if you were part of his team?

10/05/07 @ 12:38

Comment from: Shanks [Member]

Rumor has it that Paul Azinger was spotted lurking about the Nicklaus compound in Florida in the hopes that he can attain good captain qualities through some sort of osmosis.

The US players like Azinger but, as you say, Lehman was a good man too. Was nice to hear Cink talk about proving they can play. You can bet that was part of their discussions in the team room. Still those guys will have to get over this "Euro hump" on the golf course, not just intellectually.

10/05/07 @ 13:46

Comment from: wendy (UK) [Visitor]

Too tired (and emotional)to look it up, but didn't Azinger come up with a chip in at a certain Ryder Cup to make me howl? You also didn't rise to my bait about Stewart, now did you? Of course the "Euro Hump" is all in the mind, so why do the US fans add to this negavity? Last night England beat Australia and France beat New Zealand at rugby - both against all predictions - and the supporters believed it could be done.

10/07/07 @ 14:56

Comment from: Shanks [Member]

Yes, Azinger holed out from the left greenside bunker on the 18th at the Belfry to gain a halved match & extend the RC. Jim Furyk nearly duplicated the feat from the same bunker in the very next match, hitting the flagstick but staying out of the hole. Paul McGinley, his opponent, then put the US side out of their misery with his famous putt.

Is it negativity to point out the US record? They've not played at a high enough level to win the Ryder Cup five of the last six. And the last two were blowouts. That's just a fact. There is a certain pressure from that trend that the Americans have not yet figured out how to overcome. That must be done on the course, not in the mind. To be honest, I get the feeling they are close and will finally win the Cup again in 2008. But a year from now, who knows?

10/08/07 @ 07:40

Comment from: wendy (UK) [Visitor]

Thanks Shanks - I really really didn't need the reminder - I can still see Azinger's shot today. Had forgotten Furyk's as it didn't go in.

I'm not convinced that these kind of records are so significant. I think the US can certainly win the next Ryder Cup - just feel a bit more support and belief from US wouldn't go amiss, even though I agree it has to be won on the course. Plus it is in the States, Azinger is listening to the players, and Faldo is still our Captain! Oh, wait a minute, am I being negative?

10/08/07 @ 15:00

Comment from: Shanks [Member]

To be fair, I also gave mention of McGinley's dagger, not that I enjoy re-living that particular moment.

Azinger concerns me because he's such a white-knuckle sort of fellow in the heat of competition. It worked for him as a player but not sure how well that will serve a Captain. On the other hand, the US team does have Faldo's detachment as an offset.

10/08/07 @ 15:31

Comment from: wendy (UK) [Visitor]

Seve's style of captaincy had me cringing - I half expected his own team to niblick him as he raced round geeing them up unnecessarily - the team won despite him. I think Faldo's style will be more acceptable to the UK and Northern European members, and others, like Sergio, just enjoy the whole thing anyway. Maybe that is also a missing element for the US - the enjoyment bit? A few Di Marcos/Woody Austin types might make the difference? Pleased to see that Woody is playing at Wentworth this week (realise now that he didn't mean he wouldn't come to UK; just hates link courses). Must go check out the water holes.

10/09/07 @ 10:22

Comment from: Shanks [Member]

Seems to me like the US may have started to figure out the togetherness thing. Just hope Azinger can make himself stay out of their own way. Faldo is so headstrong, I'm not convinced he can do the same thing for the Euro side. It was unconscionable to leave Paul McGinley off the GB&I team at the Seve Trophy. Nobody else would have been so insensitive to that situation.

10/09/07 @ 14:15

Comment from: wendy (UK) [Visitor]

I gave Faldo the benefit of the doubt by assuming that he had 'phoned his two picks BEFORE Harrington pulled out, and didn't want to go back on one of them. However, I believe you are right that he still wouldn't have picked McGinley anyway as his mind doesn't work that way. I know you'll be able to tell me who it was, but in one Ryder Cup he was playing with a fellow Englishman, a shy quiet rookie,(David??) although not a kid, who has disappeared since and I don't believe he said one word to him in the entire round. When asked about this, he simply replied that said partner was "a professional" or words to that effect. I have never particularly liked Faldo since then, even though he is our most successful player, but his commentating is pretty good. I assume he was chosen captain as "Buggins Turn" rather than captaincy qualities.

Will you be able to watch the HSBC WGC at Wentworth this week - or did you push your luck last week? Have just seen Justin Rose/Hunter Mahan,(great) Paul Casey/Jerry Kelly, and Henrik Stenson/Woody Austin pairings for tomorrow - can't wait.

PS Can you do a blog about people who won't let you play through - had to remove husband from golf course after 9 holes this morning to avoid bloodshed.

10/10/07 @ 14:33

Comment from: Shanks [Member]

Will eventually blog about the "playing through" situtuation. Should generate some really good responses.

10/12/07 @ 15:56

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