Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Ryder Cup 2014
There were some pretty nasty comments floating around following last Sunday’s conclusion of the Ryder Cup. At least from the contingent on the North American continent.
Every two years, an
American contingent of golfers takes on a group from Europe
for bragging rights. There is a wee cup that goes to the victors, seventeen
inches in height. That little cup is perhaps the most hotly contested piece of
hardware in the sporting world today.
For many years, the
Americans dominated the game. 1977 was the last year that the championship was
played between Americans and golfers from Great
Britain and Ireland Denmark
The Europeans won the
title for the third consecutive time on Sunday at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perth and Kinross ,
Scotland Minnesota France
For the past couple
of years, legendary golfer Tom Watson has been responsible for assembling the
American team. He is the captain, and it was his duty to put together a winning
team. There are singles matches, and different types of foursomes. There are 28
points at stake, and teams receive half points for ties.
Following the
devastating loss, an American commentator spoke with Phil Mickelson, the most
successful player on their team. I was a bit shocked when the interviewer
intimated that one day Phil would likely become the captain of the team. I was
more shocked when Phil began criticizing the entire American process: team
selection, team chemistry, team philosophy. Hardly a team approach from the
left-handed player.
Watson had decided to
sit Mickelson out for the games last Saturday. Mickelson and Keegan Bradley did
not play well Friday, and the captain went with a hunch to play Rickie Fowler and
Jimmy Walker. Mickelson was steamed at the slight, and likely dashed his
chances of becoming a captain any time soon with his tirade.
The European team was
led by Rory McIlroy, the best golfer in the world today. But it was a 38 year
old rookie from Wales
The Europeans had
scored 16 ½ points to 11 ½ for the Americans. They got to pop the corks, and
kept the Ryder Cup for the eighth time in the last ten championships.
The players receive
no prize money for their efforts. The golf associations and the television
networks do quite well from the event. There are enormous crowds following the
golfers throughout the week. All matches are hotly contested, to say the least.
National pride, and all that stuff.
Serious golf fans on
this side of the Atlantic can now go back on
their regular sleep schedule. They set their alarms for three in the morning
last weekend, as the golf was six hours ahead of us, thanks to Sir Sanford
Fleming.
James Hurst
September 30, 2014
sportslices.blogspot.com
# posted by James Hurst @ 4:58 AM 
