A couple years ago I was playing in a Member-Guest with a good pal. We were cruising along pretty good…2-0 in the multiple 9-hole match format.
Then we met our next opponents. The team consisted of one of the local car dealers and his “friend”, a plus one handicapper.
When the plus hit a 630 yard par 5 in two with an 8-iron and made the putt I think I said something close to “You know boys I’ve never felt like I should get my butt beat in a match quite as much as right now” And we did.
What made me think of this long ago ass-kicking was the recent attention to The President’s Cup…it seems to me the event has two flaws. One, it’s not The Ryder Cup. Two, we are not so arrogant as to think we can play the entire world and get away with it are we? Golf has always been played around the globe, but not like now. It was a good format back in the day but it’s as antiquated as an 8802 with a slippery grip (sorry Mark).
The funny thing is the guys on the International team to worry about aren’t Reteif and Ernie anymore…it’s Angel Cabrera, Nick O’Hern, Adam Scott, and most of all K.J. Choi. In fact I wouldn’t want to send any of our two out against K.J. without some odds…the guy is too good.
So here are the teams for next month’s matches:
Us: Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Zach Johnson, Charles Howell III, David Toms, Scott Verplank , Steve Stricker, Stewart Cink, Woody Austin, Hunter Mahan, Lucas Glover
Them: Stuart Appleby, Trevor Immelman, Adam Scott, Ernie Els ,Vijay Singh, Geoff Ogilvy, Rory Sabatini, KJ Choi, Reteif Goosen, Angel Cabrera, Mike Weir, Nick O’Hern.
It’s just my opinion of course but this doesn’t look even close to me.
Is it time to rearrange the event? Ditch the Presidents Cup…it’s too much to have an event like this every year. Secondly, the PC was invented because the rest of the world is left out of the RC, and that’s not good…too many great players who don’t come from Europe…it’s just out of balance.
Cynics will say the PGA Tour wanted their own event…and that’s as true as a US Open downhill two-footer. When the PGA of America (Sweater Jim Club-Pro) and the PGA Tour split back in the 1960′s the Ryder Cup went with the Club Pros…talk about the one that got away?
But in fairness these were the days when Jack, Arnie, Billy, Raymond, and the boys were basically taking a 2-week trip to knock off another one for Old Glory…not a bead of sweat shed.
C’mon Lee Trevino and Tom Weiskoph against Tommy Horton and John O’ Leary?
So here’s my plan.
We’ll retain the name Ryder Cup just cuz it’s cool and make it a Europe/The Americas vs. Asia/Australia/Africa affair…that’s right, join forces with the South Americans and the Euros, and the occasional Canadian if need be. We’ll have to get over our single minded patriotism for a few days…but we can do it…it will only take one great year.
Think about how cool it would be and with all due respect to the guys that made the last few teams…Ryder and President’s…it gets a little thin around #8 anyway…for both sides
How about this for the teams:
Europe /The Americas: Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Angel Cabrera, Sergio Garcia, Steve Stricker, Padraig Harrington, Henrik Stenson, J. M. Olazabal, Andres Romero, Luke Donald, and Justin Rose.
Austraila/Asia/Africa- Ernie Els, Reteif Goosen, K.J. Choi, Stuart Appleby, Nick O’ Hern, Adam Scott, Vijay Singh, Rory Sabatini, Aaron Baddeley, Geoff Ogilvy, Trevor Immelman, Tim Clark.
The time has come…don’t make me sit through another 18 1/2- 9 1/2 I beg you.
If the PGA Tour thought their fall season had trouble against football, both Saturday and Sunday, with a helping of several pennant races (my poor Cubbies , c’mon boys, you’re killng me!), and a dash of Nascar, they ain’t seen nothin‘ yet.
