The latest World rankings shows a symetry about the two sides. Both have 6 players in the top 20 , and 12 in the top 39, with Ben Crane the 12 th highest American at 36 , and Paul Casey the 12 th highest European at 39. A lot of golf will be played to change this but the summer will make it more interesting
Anyone who expects either side to walk away with it is dumb, this looks like a 14 1/2 plays 13 1/2 result decided by the last putt.
Oh dear, that reminds me of Kiawah Island....................
An American win may be a necessity to keep the interest in the Ryder Cup. Europe lost two in a row (1991, 1993), and the American media talked about how another American win might hurt the Ryder Cup in 1995.
The Europeans have won 4 out of the last 5 Ryder Cups, and it should have been 5 (Mark james basically handed us that one). 5 losses in 6 tries may make it extremely difficult for our fans to be excited about 2008, and 2008 would then be a must-win, or I don't believe we will care about 2010. It could easily go the way of the America's Cup.
We are definitely the underdogs for this Ryder Cup. We haven't won in Europe since 1993, and that's the only time we've won there since 1981.
An American win may be a necessity to keep the interest in the Ryder Cup.
Quote:
I'd only be happy with that result if the US team has the 14 1/2.
Why do you have to win to be interested? All those years in the fifties and sixties when USA beat little ol' Britain , you were more interested than now when the matches are not going your way? Healthy competition does not mean USA have to win.
I do care who wins and want Europe to win, but if USA win 14 1/2 v 13 1/2 on the last green I will enjoy the match and salute the Americans (unless they dance on the green while Ollie has a putt to halve the match) . The match is bigger than the reult , because the sport is bigger than the nations taking part. The Ryder Cup is good for the whole game of golf ,it gives individuals a chance to play in a team environment .
I like our chances this year. BTW, I did not say this in the past cup. I think the Americans will be hungrier and will not have as many distractions. The key will be if we can get some young guys who can flat out putt on the team this year. Zach Johnson and Lucas Glover come to mind.
The Ryder points scoring system this year will emphasize better play close to the actual Ryder Cup. I think we have had some cold players heading to the Cup each year in the past.
I know experience is also needed, but I've seen enough of Kenny Perry to know that he simply cannot putt. The numbers don't say Cink is a bad putter, but he is as well.
I want to see Lehman choose putting skills over ball striking skills (which is ironically the opposite of himself).
In 1995 , I remember one of the American commentators saying that USA would win because of their putting, quoting the number of broomhandled Euro's against Faxon,Roberts,Mickelson etc. When the last day started 9 - 7 to USA he took great pride in claiming how right he had been.
At the end of the day, the biggest hearts ,best players under pressure and luckiest players prevailed.
Thomas Bjorn is next in line, breathing hard down the necks of Broadhurst and Dougherty. Big name players needing to start getting it done are Harrington, Clarke, Poulter, Westwood, Jimenez.
Stenson, Olazabal, Garcia, and Monty probably have their places iced already. I expect Harrington will start moving up shortly. One of Broadhurst and Dougherty and possibly both will fall away.
But with Stenson locked and a newcomer, and Ollie returning to the side, it sure looks like one or two big names from the last team will miss out, even with the captain's picks.
Luke Donald has now fallen out of the side - Howell moves up from the Euro list to the World list, and Jimenez is now the 10th player into the team. Bjorn still 11th, Harrington 13th.
Actually naturalised citizenship doesn't count. Birthplace does. So Vijay can't play for the US and Michael Campbell might if he was entitled to citizenship from birth.
Anyway for Europe
Harrington, McGinley, Sergio, Clarke, Olazabal, Jiminez, + almost anyone else.
We've strength in depth now. Ideally would like Niclas Fasth to make it, Bjorn again in form.
Hopefully it will be closer than Oakland Hills.
You're kidding, right? The Ryder Cup is still one of the premier golf events in the world and simply because the American team has lost 4 of 5 doesn't detract from that. If anything, the losses have added to the interest of the Ryder Cup. Granted, there was a time when America dominated the matches (we still have have a large margin of victories) but the Ryder Cup isn't going the way of the America's Cup. I believe you're badly mistaken if you think American golf fans will lose interest if we don't win. I know I won't.
I am not kidding.
I really believe if we don't win at least one of the next three Ryder Cups, the American public won't care about the 2012 Ryder Cup here.
The losses helped in the past for the interest, but too many American losses could create apathy and disinterest among Americans. We hate losing.
May 30th, 2006, 08:39 AM
The Ryder Cup is still one of the premier golf events in the world and simply because the American team has lost 4 of 5 doesn't detract from that. If anything, the losses have added to the interest of the Ryder Cup. Granted, there was a time when America dominated the matches (we still have have a large margin of victories) but the Ryder Cup isn't going the way of the America's Cup.
I believe you're badly mistaken if you think American golf fans will lose interest if we don't win. I know I won't. 
Linear Mode
Similar Threads
