Ryder Cup

[kkott]

Man, the start couldn't have been any worse for the Americans. They are trying to rebound in the afternoon matches, but need some fire to close it out and pick up at least a bit of ground and stay in the match. Euros are being Euros: playing with fire and camraderie and just seem to have more on the ball vs the Americans for these matches.

Grace Charis is a good follow if you like golf and mounds, and she's over in Italy!

 

[hookyIU1990]

I believe she's been a Ta Ta Tuesday participant. If not, she will be next week.

The afternoon looks like it could easily be another big statement by the Euros.

Edit - And just like that we're up in two matches and tied in a 3rd.

 

[kkott]

I believe she's been a Ta Ta Tuesday participant. If not, she will be next week.

The afternoon looks like it could easily be another big statement by the Euros.

Edit - And just like that we're up in two matches and tied in a 3rd.

And just like that... Americans being Americans in the Ryder Cup. I'm not trying to be critical, but it just matters more to the Euros. And, while I've always liked Zach Johnson, I think he's 100% the wrong personality type we need as Coach. Not emotional, stoic, etc... Just listened to him and I think he says all the wrong stuff. They said he doesn't believe in all the "rah rah" stuff and they play it pretty straight. Guess what? The team that does all the rah rah stuff has been kicking your ass for 30 years now. So obvious just watching them on the first tee this morning: every Euro team save 1 (rose and ? ) that I saw had their arms around each other and were smiling, laughing and joking and enjoying the environment. US teams all standing apart with hands in pocket or behind them, looking like they have to be there, not want to be. We need some fire and we need to quit doing things the "American way" of the buddy-system, paying your dues, and pick who you think can win, instead of who you're supposed to because they've "been around" and paid their dues. No way I'd have picked Fowler, who already had a bad RC record, and Koepka should have been out in the first group, but the PGA guys wanted to punish him for being LIV. BS, put your best players out there; he's won what: 5 majors? With a team that seemed a bit rudderless, he should've been playing in the first matches.

Azinger to me seems on the outside of USA Ryder Cup circles (probably because he's honest and not afraid to criticize the American side), but I think he has the best handle on it. If I was Coach, it would have been all about prepping on the course, but evenings would have been team-building with everyone's favorite drinks and cigars and lots of team games like darts, cards, cornhole, whatever. Try and determine who likes playing with who. If I like you as my golf partner, I'm probably also going to play well with you in cards, darts, etc... Also, motivate. I'd have had some former American player as special dinner guest each night and let them tell their story about why the Ryder Cup was important to them, ideally with Nicklaus in there if he'd travel. Just bass-ackwards to me. Let Zinger run the show; he gets it.

 

[hookyIU1990]

And just like that... Americans being Americans in the Ryder Cup. I'm not trying to be critical, but it just matters more to the Euros. And, while I've always liked Zach Johnson, I think he's 100% the wrong personality type we need as Coach. Not emotional, stoic, etc... Just listened to him and I think he says all the wrong stuff. They said he doesn't believe in all the "rah rah" stuff and they play it pretty straight. Guess what? The team that does all the rah rah stuff has been kicking your ass for 30 years now. So obvious just watching them on the first tee this morning: every Euro team save 1 (rose and ? ) that I saw had their arms around each other and were smiling, laughing and joking and enjoying the environment. US teams all standing apart with hands in pocket or behind them, looking like they have to be there, not want to be. We need some fire and we need to quit doing things the "American way" of the buddy-system, paying your dues, and picking who you think can win, instead of who you're supposed to because they've "been around". No way I'd have picked Fowler, who already had a bad RC record, and Koepka should have been out in the first group, but the PGA guys wanted to punish him for being LIV. BS, put your best players out there; he's won what: 5 majors? With a team that seemed a bit rudderless, he should've been playing in the first matches.

Azinger to me seems on the outside of USA Ryder Cup circles (probably because he's honest and not afraid to criticize the American side), but I think he has the best handle on it. If I was Coach, it would have been all about prepping on the course, but evenings would have been team-building with everyone's favorite drinks and cigars and lots of team games like darts, cards, cornhole, whatever. Try and determine who likes playing with who. If I like you as my golf partner, I'm probably also going to play well with you in cards, darts, etc... Also, motivate. I'd have had some former American player as special dinner guest each night and let them tell their story about why the Ryder Cup was important to them, ideally with Nicklaus in there if he'd travel. Just bass-ackwards to me. Let Zinger run the show; he gets it.

Can't disagree with much, if anything, you've said.

 

[kkott]

Can't disagree with much, if anything, you've said.

It's just frustrating, and I think our guys really want to win and it does matter to them, so it may just not matter. Realistically the way Rahm played today, Koepka and Scheffler probably still don't beat them in that first match, but I'd have felt a lot better about our slate if it was Scheffler/Koepka, included Thomas/Spieth in the first group and still had Shauffele/Cantlay. I feel like that was our best chance at getting Ws to start and what the Euros would have done... so naturally, we don't.

Plus, there's just the Seve factor. Hard to believe after this long he still matters so much, but he does. I'd equate it to the influence MJ has had for UNC, but they keep his belief and desire for the Ryder Cup alive and it fuels them. We don't have that, which is why I'd try and counter with having past players like Nicklaus and Zinger talk about it. Heck, I heard Jim Gallagher Jr talking about how much it meant to him and it was inspiring. But, we don't like rah-rah stuff!

 

[evvcabinetman]

Also, motivate. I'd have had some former American player as special dinner guest each night and let them tell their story about why the Ryder Cup was important to them, ideally with Nicklaus in there if he'd travel. Just bass-ackwards to me. Let Zinger run the show; he gets it.

Those guys are pussies - Al Czervik for Ryder Cup captain!

 

[hookyIU1990]

Everyone saw that coming from a mile away.

 

[kkott]

Everyone saw that coming from a mile away.

Yeah, I thought the Euros just played really inspired golf, so I don't know that there's much that could have been done, but I do think Johnson made some questionable calls: I'd not have picked Fowler, not have sent a rookie out first on Friday and Koepka would have been playing in the first set of matches to start. But... the Euros just made a ton of "wow" shots, and the Americans didn't have nearly as many. I'd love to see a stat of how many 20'+ putts or chip ins each team had. I'm guessing Euros would be around 30 and Americans around 7-8.

 

[tbone6004]

Only major criticism for me was that ZJ should not have sent Speith back out Saturday afternoon. He was in his pocket 5 of the last 9 holes on Friday. He could not find a fairway and his usually accurate iron game was also bad. I would have loved to see Lucas Glover on the time also. The guy is laser like with irons and would be an excellent foursomes partner.

 

[kkott]

Only major criticism for me was that ZJ should not have sent Speith back out Saturday afternoon. He was in his pocket 5 of the last 9 holes on Friday. He could not find a fairway and his usually accurate iron game was also bad. I would have loved to see Lucas Glover on the time also. The guy is laser like with irons and would be an excellent foursomes partner.

Yeah, that would have been my for-sure swap: Lucas Glover for Fowler. I thought both Koepka and JT were solid captains picks. I'd have definitely liked a way to get Cameron Young on the team too, but I'd have to go back and look as to who I'd have dinged to do so. But, Glover for Fowler was an easy choice to me. I think there was a lot the coaches could've/should've done, but like I said, I'm not sure it would have mattered the way the Euros played. But, I think the sooner the American side rids itself of guys like Furyk, Stricker, Cink, etc... who's biggest Ryder Cup experience is losing, the better. The Euros did all kinds of stuff to inspire their players and create great team chemistry, while the Americans eschewed that because "it creates pressure and makes our guys nervous". I thought it was pretty evident which way worked better. They better be careful about the next choice of a captain too, because based on Rory's comments, I think the Euros are determined to come here and win on foreign soil in 2 years.

 

[tbone6004]

Yeah, that would have been my for-sure swap: Lucas Glover for Fowler. I thought both Koepka and JT were solid captains picks. I'd have definitely liked a way to get Cameron Young on the team too, but I'd have to go back and look as to who I'd have dinged to do so. But, Glover for Fowler was an easy choice to me. I think there was a lot the coaches could've/should've done, but like I said, I'm not sure it would have mattered the way the Euros played. But, I think the sooner the American side rids itself of guys like Furyk, Stricker, Cink, etc... who's biggest Ryder Cup experience is losing, the better. The Euros did all kinds of stuff to inspire their players and create great team chemistry, while the Americans eschewed that because "it creates pressure and makes our guys nervous". I thought it was pretty evident which way worked better. They better be careful about the next choice of a captain too, because based on Rory's comments, I think the Euros are determined to come here and win on foreign soil in 2 years.

I did see a statistic that all of the assistant captains had losing Ryder Cup records. Cam Young would have been good but he like Burns and Fowler were not really playing that well in the lead up. Glover clearly was on a heater. I think they need to remember that next time and bring the guys who are playing well now. Spieth just had a another child so I would not be surprised if his preparation was poor. JT's problems were well known but he seemed to hit the ball OK. Unfortunately, JT putted the worst of any player in the Cup.

 

[kkott]

I did see a statistic that all of the assistant captains had losing Ryder Cup records. Cam Young would have been good but he like Burns and Fowler were not really playing that well in the lead up. Glover clearly was on a heater. I think they need to remember that next time and bring the guys who are playing well now. Spieth just had a another child so I would not be surprised if his preparation was poor. JT's problems were well known but he seemed to hit the ball OK. Unfortunately, JT putted the worst of any player in the Cup.

well, that was the problem for the Americans: no one was playing well for them in the weeks immediately prior. Even Glover had cooled back down, but he had the most recent success. While, many Euros had peaked just prior. That's why, even though I'm critical of ZJ and the coaches, it just may not have mattered. Especially with the Euros making all those crazy long putts and chips. I'd still love to see a stat of +20' putts and chip ins for each side. I think it would be nearly 30 for the Euros and I have a feeling single digits for Americans.

 

[tbone6004]

Did you see the chip in that Hovland had on the very first hole of the first day of matches? Absolutely ridiculous. He chipped in while on the green and the chip had to clear a large slope and broke about 20 feet to the left. When they make stuff like that you really have no chance.

 

[kkott]

Did you see the chip in that Hovland had on the very first hole of the first day of matches? Absolutely ridiculous. He chipped in while on the green and the chip had to clear a large slope and broke about 20 feet to the left. When they make stuff like that you really have no chance.

Yep, the way he and Rahm started, you knew it was probably moot. Rahm probably had 8 chip ins or 20'+ putts. Only thing for the Americans that compared was Cantlay's finish on Saturday, that I recall.

 

[tbone6004]

Did you see the chip in that Hovland had on the very first hole of the first day of matches? Absolutely ridiculous. He chipped in while on the green and the chip had to clear a large slope and broke about 20 feet to the left. When they make stuff like that you really have no chance.

Yep, the way he and Rahm started, you knew it was probably moot. Rahm probably had 8 chip ins or 20'+ putts. Only thing for the Americans that compared was Cantlay's finish on Saturday, that I recall.

Here is another good one. Friday four-balls. Sheffler and Koepka are 2 up with 5 holes to go. They birdie the last 5 holes and still halve the match because Rahm had a chip in eagle and a bomb putt eagle. Crazy golf. Europe shot 7 under on 5 holes to get a half point.