The Golf Watch

American team silences critics, wins Ryder Cup

Kudos to an American team that I think we all had serious doubts about heading into this week.  On paper, the Americans were outmatched in both skill and experience.  Regardless, players like Kenny Perry and J.B. Holmes stepped up to bring the cup back to American soil, defeating the Europeans by a score of 16 1/2 to 11 1/2. 

Read the wire story here.

Ryder Cup Sunday breakdown

Alright, we’re in store for an exciting Sunday finish, so let’s break it down…

Sergio Garcia vs. Anthony Kim

Edge: Garcia.  Kim has been the only American to step up since Tiger Woods’ departure, but inexperience will catch up with him in this match.  Garcia is still fired up over yesterday, so the Spaniard gets the nod.

Paul Casey vs. Hunter Mahan

Edge: Mahan.  Hunter Mahan has always been clutch in match play and this dates back to his amateur days.  His ball striking will be too much for the Englishman.

Robert Karlsson vs. Justin Leonard

Edge: Leonard.  I expected more out of Robert Karlsson this week, and maybe today will be the day he steps up.  But Justin Leonard will be too much.  Question: Why isn’t Leonard playing in the back of the pack?

Justin Rose vs. Phil Mickelson

Edge: Rose.  I see Mickelson going up early in this match, but making some big mistakes down the stretch.  Rose will be steady throughout the day and will take home the point.

Henrik Stenson vs. Kenny Perry

Edge: Perry.  This Ryder Cup means too much for this guy.  He might have some jitters on the first couple of holes, but I can guarantee you he will step up his game for this one.  Watch out for Stenson’s streaky putter though.

Oliver Wilson vs. Boo Weekley

Edge: Weekley.  Boooooooo.

Soren Hansen vs. J.B. Holmes

Edge: Hansen.  I think the story of this match will be Hansen knocking it inside of Holmes after each approach shot, even though the native Kentuckian drives it 30 yards longer. 

Miguel Angel Jimenez vs. Jim Furyk

Edge: Furyk.  I see Jim Furyk taking this one.  Teaming up with Kenny Perry yesterday gave him an obvious boost.  I’ve never been overly impressed with Jimenez down the stretch.

Graeme McDowell vs. Stewart Cink

Edge: McDowell.  Stewart Cink hasn’t impressed me this week, while McDowell has been one of the steadier European players.  If you would have asked me to make this pick on Thursday, it would be the complete opposite.

Ian Poulter vs. Steve Stricker

Edge: Poulter.  This guy is fired up and will be too much to handle for Stricker. Even with Stricker’s hot putter, Poulter is playing too well right now.

Lee Westwood vs. Ben Curtis

Edge: Westwood.  Curtis plays well on big stages, but so does Westwood.  His comeback against Holmes-Weekley on Friday was enough for me to give him the nod.

Padraig Harrington vs. Chad Campbell

Edge: Harrington.  Even though Harrington hasn’t been himself this week, this match will be too easy.

"Yes, the Ryder Cup is back"

After an exhilarating first two days, it seems that most Americans are jumping back on the Ryder Cup bandwagon.  Take Gary Van Sickle of SI:

And the winner for Comeback of the Year is — sorry, Olympics — the Ryder Cup at Valhalla.

Yes, the Ryder Cup is back.

We missed the drama, the tension, the excitement, the churning stomachs.

We missed the fist-pumping, even when a quiet guy like Steve Stricker does it awkwardly Saturday, and for probably the first time in his life. No, especially when a guy like Stricker does it.

Ryder cup pairings released

The Ryder Cup pairings have been released for Friday morning:

Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson vs. Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim

Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey vs. Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan

Justin Rose and Ian Poulter vs. Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell

Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia vs. Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk

European verdict:

I like all four of these pairings from Nick Faldo--in particular the Westwood-Garcia and Harrington-Karlsson pairings.  Stenson-Casey could be dicey, but they aren't going up against the strongest American duo.

American verdict:

Let me start off with the good news--Mickelson-Kim and Perry-Furyk should provide good tests for the Europeans.  Other than that---I'm not quite sure what Paul Azinger was thinking.  Why not test out the Perry-Holmes pairing early on?  Or Stricker-Furyk?  Maybe I'm still sore over the Chad Campbell pick, but why Cink-Campbell?  I would have liked:  Mickelson-Kim, Furyk-Stricker, Leonard-Cink, and Perry-Holmes.    

Tickets no easy penny at Valhalla

Chris Otts of the Courier-Journal offers an eye-opening piece about the 3,600 people who have paid the Ryder Cup $220 for the chance to volunteer.  That's right, they are giving to the tournament both their time and their money.  Otts writes about one of these volunteers, Jack Sprauer, who lives across the street from the course...

As a marshal on Hole 14, Sprauer will help quiet the crowds, help in the crosswalks, pick up trash and find errant shots. For 16 hours of work, he'll get daily access to the event with the privileges of an upgraded ticket worth $555.

Kind of steep, huh?

Do Tiger Woods and Paul Azinger have the same phone plan?

Even though it seems that Tiger Woods will not be on site for this week's Ryder Cup, he will be talking to Paul Azinger via cellular device.  Kevin Manahan of The Star-Ledger writes:

Azinger doesn't seem to worry about which button Tiger Woods will press. Answer? Ignore? At least for the next six days, they have included each other in their T-Mobile Favorite Five, and in his best Dwyane Wade impersonation, Woods has told Azinger: Call me any time.

And Azinger says he will.

Still, some are expecting a surprise visit from Woods, as Manahan indicates:

There are some who wonder if, on Sunday, Azinger will get a text from Woods that says, "I'm here for you, Paul." Azinger would smile and reply, "I know you are, Tiger. Thanks." And Woods, his knee in a brace but his thumbs working fine, would fire back, "No, I mean I'm here for you. I'm really here. Look behind you."

Speculation will grow as the competition -- which runs Friday to Sunday at Valhalla Golf Club -- draws near: Will Woods limp aboard his private jet and make the flight to Louisville to cheer his fellow Americans? And, if he did, would he be an inspiration or a distraction? Has Azinger told Woods to come or stay away? And will Woods address the team, in person or by speakerphone, or keep his mouth shut?...

Here's the thing: Woods was in New York a few weeks ago to unveil the latest version of his video game. If his surgically repaired knee could handle that, certainly it could withstand a day in a golf cart at Valhalla, rooting on the Americans in the dozen singles matches that will decide the outcome.

Ike inflicts minimal damage, Valhalla should be fine for Ryder Cup

Despite high winds and a considerable amount of rain from Ike, Valhalla should be ready to host spectators for the first full practice round on Tuesday, reports Louisville's Courier-Journal.  Mark Wilson, the Valhalla Course Superintendent, said:

“We got tree limbs, but we’ll take care of it.  This is what a golf course superintendent does, tournament or not. We’ll wait for the wind storm to get over and take care of business. I’m pretty confident that by Tuesday you won’t know anything about it...

“My guys are ready for it.  This is what they’ve been working for. The trees and limbs that are down, we’ll saw ‘em up, clean ‘em up and go down the road.”

"Faldo reveals that Azinger has become uncertain about his key lieutenants"

Nick Faldo has taken the first jab at Paul Azinger's team, questioning the selection of Raymond Floyd and Dave Stockton as vice-captains.  I'm hoping Tom English of Scotland on Sunday jotted down these quotes from Faldo correctly.  See for yourself:

I think he (Azinger] already regrets – not sure if regret is the right word – but if he did it again, I don't think those guys have brought to his team what he wanted. He's a bit like me, he feels that you've got to make the decisions yourself. Maybe those captains are from an old era and this is a new era in the Ryder Cup. He thinks he has (gone for the wrong guys].

"Faldo has done the next European captain a great service"

Peter Kostis gives quite the Ted Tryba analysis in his evaluation of Paul Azinger's U.S. Ryder Cup picks, but leaves us with this to think about with the Clarke and Montgomerie snubs:

Whether he knows it or not, Faldo has done the next European captain a great service. By leaving Clarke and Montgomerie off the team, he has pushed Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington into leadership positions. No matter who makes the team for Celtic Manor in 2010, the European side would seem to be assured of having leadership, experience and talent. In the long run, Faldo has ensured that the Euros will remain strong by making this the year of transition.

I never thought about it that way, but it's a great point.  I mean, do you see Montgomerie or Clarke making more than one more Ryder Cup team in their respective careers?

Taking a closer look at the Campbell pick

I am more than willing to hear some explanations as to why the Chad Campbell selection was somewhat logical.  First, Gary Van Sickle of Sports Illustrated:

Upon further review, as they say in the replay booth, picking Campbell isn't such a surprise. Campbell, a Texan noted for his Ben Hogan-like flat swing and low ball flight, has had a quiet, solid summer. That, combined with the fact that the other contenders have all but disappeared since the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, makes him a logical choice. Azinger's biggest problem was one the past three U.S. captains have shared: They wanted to pick the hottest players on the American side — and once again, there weren't any.

Is this a joke--what about Kevin Streelman and Brandt Snedeker?  Streelman has been on a roll since the Travelers, and Snedeker is the reigning Rookie of the Year with top-25's at the Masters, U.S. Open, and PGA Championship. 

Plus, if you're looking at Campbell for his Ryder Cup 'expertise', don't count on it.  He is 1-3-2 in the last two Ryder Cups.  If you're looking for someone with fond Ryder Cup memories and plenty of experience under his belt, a good ball-striker, while still being a surprise pick, why not a guy like Scott Verplank?

With all of the time in the world to think about these four picks, you would figure Zinger could do better than 3 for 4.