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2008 Ryder Cup Drama already Underway as Captains Shoot Off Their Big Mouths
Friday October 12, 2007 | 15:46:19 307 words, 5393 views
This is beautiful. If you don’t think the Ryder Cup is the most contentious affair in the normally laid-back world of golf, you don’t know squat. For instance, have you heard any smack about next year’s Masters, PGA or Open Championships? No, I didn’t think so. And these are supposed to be golf’s biggest tournaments. I was thinking the Americans had gotten a break by having the aloof Nick Faldo chosen as Captain of the European side in the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla, KY. And Captain Wonderful did his part by slapping the Irish home crowd and not having an Irishman or two in his GB&I team at the Seve Trophy 2 weeks ago. Then Captain Knucklehead of the U.S. team – Paul Azinger - decides to one-up Faldo by denigrating the accomplishments of one legendary Jack Nicklaus in his captaincy at the Presidents Cup. This, despite the unanimous praise for his work by every team member including a certain Mr. Woods. Zinger must’ve remembered the old adage that any publicity is good publicity. Apparently this turn of events inspired Faldo to go one better when he snipes at Colin Montgomerie – to a reporter, no less - for his selfishness during the Seve Trophy. This thoughtless act brought out the competitive fire in old Euro Captain Bernard Gallacher who then criticized Faldo – to a reporter - for picking on Montgomerie in the press, instead of behind closed doors where this kind of thing belongs. Whew! I can only imagine how much fun the week of the Ryder cup will be. We may actually see fisticuffs by then. Perhaps now is the time to put to rest all of those old conceptions about how chummy the Euros are and how stolid the Americans appear to be. Winning is what conquers those stupid, silly characterizations. 
Comments:
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
No plaudits for Hunter Mahan? Where can I see Azinger's comments, pls? Can't find anything on net.
10/13/07 @ 14:55
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
 · http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
I hot-linked that article in the text above "any publicity is good publicity". Just click on it.
10/13/07 @ 16:20
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Thanks - I did the link on Azinger instead of publicity. Can't say I read as much into the article as you did though, especially compared to the Faldo comments.
10/14/07 @ 13:19
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Oh, I agree with you. Faldo & Gallacher's comments were harsher and trumped Azingers dismissiveness of Nicklaus' captaincy. Funny that Gallacher didn't scold Faldo "behind closed doors" since he criticized him for same. Perhaps he tried and Faldo wouldn't accept the call.
10/15/07 @ 07:38
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Wendy, the Ryder Cup teammate that Faldo didn't speak to was David Gilford. They partnered for session 3 (day 2) at Kiawah after Faldo/Woosnam lost 2 matches on day one and weren't speaking either. Hard to imagine now but Gallacher actually sat Faldo for the 4th session.
10/15/07 @ 08:10
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Thanks - that's the one. I was so angry with Faldo's behaviour towards Gilford that I cheered him being left out - whatever the result. Also read in article that Faldo was reluctant to play with the rookies - although maybe that was realism on his part that he needed to concentrate purely on his own game? (Shades of TW?. I was disappointed to read of Monty's behaviour, however. He may dislike Faldo but it was bad for the team. Yes, both criticisms should have been behind closed doors (although more fun for us that they weren't). I can only pray that Faldo & Monty sort it out privately for the sake of Ryder Cup
(won't put money on it, however). If not I may have to find ways of winding Azinger up a bit more! Does he have any history with any of the likely (US!)team by any chance? PS Hunter Mahan earned great plaudits from UK media for his play against Cabrera. Crikey - he said he had ENJOYED himself too. Now that's worrying.
10/15/07 @ 10:21
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Don't know if they chronicled Mahan's amateur acheivements in the press, but he was quite good in match play back then.
Azinger will be a regular quote machine during the next year. Don't know of any row he may have had with propective team members. I believe Faldo sees how Monty's play is declining and that he may not qualify on points for the Ryder Cup. And if he does not earn his spot, Faldo will not select him.
10/15/07 @ 10:42
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Don't recall reading too much about his amateur appearances, (diificult to follow from here) but knew why he was a Captain's pick for President's Cup.
Wow, leaving Monty out would be very foolhardy - he's still one of the few players the US are wary of in matchplay, and he's happy enough to play with rookies. I wonder, just wonder, however, if you're right. Guess we'll both watch this space with interest.
10/15/07 @ 14:17
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Pretty funny. Especially after the last 2 thrashings, I'd say the Americans are wary of just about everybody over there.
10/15/07 @ 14:39
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
OK I'll stop babbling on after this, I promise.
I doubt that TW/PM will ever be a Monty at the Ryder Cup - not from lack of commitment, but as "lone wolves forced to hunt with the pack". However, remember you said earlier that you had the feeling that the US will finally win the Cup again in 2008. So do I. I could give a long list of why I think so, including change of selection criteria, younger players coming along well (as well as some oldies of course), etc, etc. Whatever they say about chumminess, I recall Harrington saying that a week after the Ryder Cup the Europeans would be hugging each other, two weeks later, shaking hands, three weeks later, nodding to each other (or words to that effect - you get the picture). Sure, some are friends, some are not. Finally, England beat France in the rugby semi-final on Saturday(not that this was greeted with total joy in our household) and are in the final. Who gave them a chance based on results over the last few years? Hurry up with your blog on playing through, pls, but please, please, do not do a blog on Wie - I can't stand reading the comments back!!
10/16/07 @ 14:25
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Now Monty has fired back - to the press. Major schism developing.
11/01/07 @ 11:59
Comment from: wendy (uk) [Visitor]
Shanks - good thing I looked under Last Comments. Where, where, pls? Only stuff in UK papers (and can find on net) I saw today was Monty slamming Els for playing in Singapore instead of Volvo Masters.
BTW read a recent comment (on a US blog) that there is nothing going on re golf at the moment. Do only the tournaments played in US count - is there no interest or no access for tournaments elsewhere? I mean 6 out of the top 10 OWGR are playing and I think 25 out of top 50 - aren't they worth watching? I'm in Spain, Singapore and US are the moment.
11/01/07 @ 13:36
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
In the 11/1 Telegraph.co.uk, at the end of the article:
Montgomerie, meantime, did not need much pressing to return to his and Nick Faldo's differences of opinion following on from the Seve Trophy. To recap, Faldo complained about Montgomerie not attending all the team meetings and said that he had to be "teased" on to the 18th green to support his colleagues. Montgomerie said yesterday that Sam Torrance and Bernard Gallacher had spoken out eloquently on his behalf. "I didn't ask them to defend me but they did and they did it very well." Had he heard from Faldo? "No, no no," Had he expected a call? He shook his head again before explaining that his team-mates had told him that they "found it strange what Nick said". He reiterated that he found it difficult to believe that Faldo would question his commitment to a team event – "and to do it in public, I don't think that's the right way to go about it". The Seve Trophy captaincy was taken from Montgomerie to give Faldo experience in the captaincy role before next year's Ryder Cup. Now, as you would expect, Montgomerie wants the job back post haste.
11/01/07 @ 13:54
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Wendy, I hate that it is so, but many in the US think the only golf anywhere is the US PGA Tour. And even then, if Tiger Woods is not playing, they hardly notice. How sad.
11/01/07 @ 13:57
Comment from: wendy (uk) [Visitor]
Thank you. Well, Monty could have said worse, I suppose, although he didn't refute the specific criticisms, did he? Clear that both have massive egos. No-one I can think of with enough clout to bang their heads together. Certainly not Thomas Bjorn!
11/02/07 @ 12:43
Comment from: wendy (uk) [Visitor]
Well, each to his own, I suppose, but there is a good deal of drama in all 3 tournaments for me. Even w/o the big names in the Children's Miracle, for example, I am interested in who makes the top 30, 70 and 125 and thought a few others might be.
11/02/07 @ 12:52
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
I really enjoy those little dramas myself, Wendy. Love to watch performance under enormous pressure. Thankfully, the announcers keep us abreast of that, especially the top 125 race. Although they are usually loathe to report in any depth on those that fail.
If you haven't picked it up yet, I recommend Feinstein's recent book on US PGA Q-School for a good read on that subject.
11/02/07 @ 13:20
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
OK, OK! I didn't get the Feinstein book in my Christmas stocking, but it's on order now. Happy New Year Shanks.
01/03/08 @ 10:51
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
I'll have a word with Santa. We can't have oversights like that in 2008 and beyond.
01/03/08 @ 11:12
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Always think of you when I hear little snippets on Ryder Cup. Did you catch the one where Faldo (in his commentary during MB) was asked who he would pair against Boo? He replied Monty (ah ha, so he would select him) but then couldn't resist the scratch that he would dress them both in skin-tight lycra, and we all know how much Monty appreciates comments on his physique.
On another topic entirely, I am getting some flak (via Chris Baldwin's messaging service - not just on his blog, for heaven's sake) because I can't agree that golfer is synonymous with athlete. Only reason I mention this is that during same commentary, Faldo wouldn't be drawn on this subject other than to say that perhaps golf did raise the pulse rate!
01/05/08 @ 11:15
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Yes, I did hear Faldo's comment. Very surprised at that. Sure doesn't sound as though he's concerned about Monty being in the side.
I feel that the world's best golfers are athletes. The game is certainly not the same as running or jumping, but more akin to hitting a baseball. IMHO the golf swing is an athletic move, requiring intelligence and rhythm as well as hand/eye coordination. It's just different. Another thing which may sway the opinion of the non-believer is the types of injuries that are sustained by full-time golfers: back, knee, ankle, elbow, pulled muscles and damaged nerves. Doesn't sound like tiddly-winks to me.
01/08/08 @ 10:40
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
IMHO some of the world's best golfers are athletes, some are not.
Tiddly-winks is going a bit far in the opposite direction, isn't it? You don't neeed to be a full-time golfer to suffer such injuries - just be stupid like me and play in bitter cold w/o warming up first. Have pulled shoulder muscle, badly inflamed, all way down arm to numb fingers. Threat of cortisone injection keeps me taking the tablets, however.
01/08/08 @ 12:35
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
OK, please forgive the tiddlywinks comment. Virtually all of these guys are working out nowadays not only to ehance their performance but to limit their exposure to injury. Just the wear & tear of the sport will make these things happen even to Tiger Woods, who certainly warms up properly before hitting balls.
01/08/08 @ 12:46
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
You're a wise man, and I respect your opinions, so following your remark re Europeans not being able to fully appreciate the emotional level re the KT fiasco, (or words to that effect) I won't post this on any of the related threads. However, have to disagree with you re your choices of replacement for her. You can't go for another Euro/Brit with Faldo, can you? Faldo has no time for Peter Allis (and I suspect that goes for any of the players under, say, 35). Whilst I appreciate his whimsical style, I think he would drive most Americans insane. Surely it has to be another American - if so, who? That's why I went for Dottie - not because she is female, but because I think she is v. knowledgeable, incisive, straight-talking - or is the fact that she is not a "doll" too big a strike against her?
01/10/08 @ 14:54
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Dottie Pepper is battle-tested under the cross-examination of the incredibly candid Johnny Miller in past broadcasts. Anybody who can hold their own with Johnny is easily good enough to handle booth duties. I don't imagine Kelly Tilghman could have taken that heat. You make a fair point about Dottie not being a "major babe" but she and Faldo make a handsome enough couple. (It's a shame that's a consideration.)
If we eliminate the non-US men from consideration, that leaves Mark Rolfing as the only American male there who I would recommend.
01/10/08 @ 15:59 Leave a comment: |
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