Ryder Cup Preview and Thoughts

OK. Here are the facts:
- Europe has captured the Ryder Cup 3 straight times, 5 out of the last 6, 8 out of the last 11.
- For the 1st time, all 12 of Europe’s players are among the top 50 in the world
- For the 1st time in the history of the Ryder Cup, there are no current major champions on the U.S. side.
- No one on the American squad has won a tournament since July – and that was Kenny Perry’s win in OT – at the John Deere - where he gaffed on the last hole in regulation prior to taking down Jay Williamson and Brad Adamonis. Who?
- The Americans have 6 rookies on the team, the most since 1979.
- The best player on the planet, Tiger Woods, is not on the U.S. squad.
- The last time the U.S. had a lead at the end of a day’s competition was the last day in 1999. WOW!

Here are some other thoughts of prevailing wisdom I have heard/read over the last few weeks and my thoughts:
- Comment: Faldo’s ego in not picking veteran Darren Clarke will prove to be a problem in the European locker room.
- Response: Darren Clarke has been a great performer in the Ryder Cup and a great partner for Lee Westwood. However, Westwood has arguably played on the world stage better this year than any other year in his career. He should be favored in any match he tees it up, except maybe against Mickelson. I will buy this only if Pouler and/or Casey put too much pressure on themselves. If Faldo was smart, he won’t overuse the two picks.

- Comment: Faldo’s ego in not picking a 2nd vice captain will be an issue. (JM Olazabal is his only vice captain.)
- Response: Huh? Being the captain of the Ryder Cup is the most overrated sports position in the world. Just ask Jack Nicklaus, the captain of the last 2 President’s Cup teams who just said “Have fun. Go play.” Exactly what does Faldo need with another vice captain? Please tell me what Dave Stockton and Ray Floyd are adding to the U.S. squad?

- Comment: Tiger Woods not being on the team will encourage the U.S. team to “step up” and become more accountable in their own matches.
- Response: Again, huh? You don’t think the past teams knew it needed every point it could get the last few years? Tiger’s influence on a team match is the least influence he could possibly have in a golf tournament. Just ask Hal Sutton and Phil Mickelson.

- Comment: Paul Azinger made a mistake in not picking Rocco Mediate.
- Response: Rocco had one great week and one OK week (Memorial top 10) the entire year. Rocco doesn’t putt very well. Rocco has said almost every week since the U.S. Open “I’m spent.” Sure he might have been disappointed. A snub, I don’t think so.

- Comment: The U.S. team cannot come together and the Euros travel and eat together so they are a tighter bunch than ever.
- Response: Azinger said this best recently when he posited “How happy and jovial would YOU be if you were losing the Cup every year for the last X amount of years”? Also, keep this in mind. The European playing landscape is changing. Poulter, Casey, Rose, Harrington and Garcia are actually members of both tours and some would say that Casey and Poulter actually are mainly U.S. Tour members now. More of these guys have homes in the U.S. now also.

Here is the bottom line summary folks:
- Since I have been following the Ryder Cup, this is easily the worst team ever put together for the U.S. side.
- Since I have been following the Ryder Cup, this is easily the best team ever put together for the European side.
- Since I have been following the Ryder Cup, this is the first time the U.S. team has been the clear-cut underdog, (if ever).

Folks, I would love to see the U.S. side win, but I think the Europeans are stronger, more confident and are playing much better right now than the U.S. squad. I believe the Europeans will win again.

I hope it’s not the case and Azinger's squad puts some life back into this event but consider this:

- I am very concerned with Kenny Perry’s recent form as he seems to have burned himself out trying to qualify and taking all the abuse from the media about his schedule.
- Phil Mickelson hasn’t been in contention on the back nine since when? Colonial in May?
- Stewart Cink and Jim Furyk have played decent of late but not great, especially on Sunday.
- Boo Weekley hasn’t exactly lit the lamp recently and who knows how he'll react.
- Chad Campbell’s top 10 in one of the playoff events was reason enough for Paul Azinger to select him as one of the wildcard picks.
- Ben Curtis was never mentioned for the team until he played well at the PGA and made the team under Azinger’s revamped selection system. Luckily, he has played pretty well since then to validate his making the team.

- Meanwhile, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood arguably just had the best years of their careers.
- Robert Karlsson won last week in Germany.
- Jimenez at least once earlier in Europe and played well in the U.S. also.
- McDowell won twice I think on the Euro tour.
- Hansen has been steady if not spectacular of late.

However, there are some dynamics that are interesting also.
- Poulter and Casey have big expectations on them for being wildcard picks by Faldo over Darren Clarke.
- Justin Rose is a rookie and has had a poor year.
- Does anyone know what to expect of other rookies like Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson?
- Is Harrington burned out?
- Will the U.S. team have such fresh faces that they won’t remember they lost?
- Will the Kentucky crowd help boost J.B. Holmes’ and Kenny Perry’s play to new levels? Or scare the bee-jesus out of them?

The key is the U.S. staying tied or only 1 point down after 1 day. Another key is getting a W out of Phil Mickelson on Day 1. Ditto for Kenny Perry. I would ride A. Kim and H. Mahan if they show any sign of their solid play of late. They both can get hot with their irons and ignite the U.S. crowd as well - hopefully, the pressure doesn’t get too great on them.

Not that anyone asked me and this is much harder to pull together than you could imagine. 10 of us could think completely different things here, let along what Azinger is thinking.

Here would be my pairings in the morning round in 4-somes (alternate shot):
Perry/Curtis – Not the sexiest pairing, I know, but have the crowd get behind Kenny Perry early and pair him with the stoic Curtis to keep Kenny’s emotions in check. 2 guys who hit it straight and Curtis can putt. Risky if Perry plays like a deer in headlights, but how can Azinger not play him first?

Mickelson/Mahan – get Mickelson away from boring partners like Cink and Toms. Sure, these guys aren’t that straight off the tee, but how can you not play Mickelson in every match possible? Azinger won’t have the rough high anyway and Mahan can get scary hot with his iron play.

Kim/Furyk – Kim is playing some of the best U.S. golf and Furyk was Tiger’s partner for a couple of wins and is determined. He also obviously is a straight-hitter and although hasn’t putt very well this year compared to his lofty standards, is still the U.S. side’s best available option here.

Cink/Leonard – the last two automatic qualifiers deserve the start here. Leonard is accurate off the tee and both can make putts.

I am avoiding Stricker here because his driving is questionable at times and Weekley probably has never played this format. Campbell was arguably the last guy to make the team and it could be too much to ask JB Holmes to hit the fairway so early in the matches.

Afternoon pairings:
I would make sure the 4 players who sat in the morning get to play in the afternoon, unless the U.S. has been skunked, or is down 3-1.

- Pair Holmes with Mickelson. Unless Mickelson holds some sort of grudge for J.B. taking him down earlier this year at the FBR, the crowds here would be "loose" in the 1st match of the afternoon.
- Pair Weekley with Chad Campbell – arguably the weakest two players on the team perhaps generates an unexpected win.
- Pair Kim with Furyk again if they win in the morning
- Pair Stricker with Mahan.

One caveat. If the U.S. has the morning lead and Kenny Perry wins the 1st match, I would have to play him again. Although I would not want him to get too tired too fast, it would be hard to pass up the chance to keep the momentum going with the crowd.

One can only hope that at least Sunday means something this year! Go U.S.A.!