There is defineitely more talent among starts 30 and under in Europe than in the U.S. Ben Curtis has the most wins of any American 30 and under (besides Tiger). Could this be the need to combine the other PGA players with the U.S. or at least Canada with S. America to make it more even?
For one, I think they need to find a better way to pick players. I like the Euro way of picking them. There's a few guys on this team i don't think should be on, and a few that aren't playing that should be.
I think another problem the last few Cups is we haven't had the best captains. Strange and Sutton did a poor job in preparing the team last time and made some horrible pairings in their matches. So far I think Lehman has done a good job with the pairings, and we started out decent today considering we usually start off worse.
And third, we need more fire and motivation on our team. We need more DiMarcos. I see a lot of fire in the Euors and not enough in the U.S. It just looks like the Euros want it more and take it more seriously.
For one, I think they need to find a better way to pick players. I like the Euro way of picking them. There's a few guys on this team i don't think should be on, and a few that aren't playing that should be.
I think another problem the last few Cups is we haven't had the best captains. Strange and Sutton did a poor job in preparing the team last time and made some horrible pairings in their matches. So far I think Lehman has done a good job with the pairings, and we started out decent today considering we usually start off worse.
And third, we need more fire and motivation on our team. We need more DiMarcos. I see a lot of fire in the Euors and not enough in the U.S. It just looks like the Euros want it more and take it more seriously.
I had a problem with Lehman not putting Verplank in for alternate shot today.
I think we need to use world rankings points in order to pick the best players. It is scary that B.C. Open winner John Rollins would have been in had it not been for Vaughn Taylor.
However, the best players born in 1976 or later are mostly Europeans and Australians. We simply don't have a lot of talent beyond the top 6/7 players right now.
How about we change the rules so that the team qualification is based on the country they live in the majority of the year, not where they were born? Or at least where they went to school (college). How about limiting the number of non-major USPGA events a Euro golfer can play, and vice versa for U.S. players in Europe?
What would the teams look like if the year prior to the Ryder cup, to qualify for the Euro team you could not play any U.S. events (except majors you might qualify for), and the potential U.S. team members could not play any Euro Tour events (again, except those qualifying for The Open). Would the potential for more money on the US Tour be enough to keep certain Euro players from qualifying for their team? Would Tiger reject the big appearance fees for events like Dubai?
What it must have been like back before WWII, when the players on either side rarely saw each other except during Ryder Cup matches. When it took a week to cross the Atlantic on a ship. No quick trips over for a practice round! Talk about home field advantage! Yet, until recently, the USA was always the team to beat, even when the matches were in the UK.
And while I'm rambling, since all of Europe qualifies to be on the team now, shouldn't they consider playing on courses outside of the UK? I hear Spain and Portugal have some beautiful courses, and the place they played this year's French Open appeared to be wonderful. I think it would be interesting to see a Spanish crowd following Sergio and Ollie around!
How about we change the rules so that the team qualification is based on the country they live in the majority of the year, not where they were born? Or at least where they went to school (college). How about limiting the number of non-major USPGA events a Euro golfer can play, and vice versa for U.S. players in Europe?
What would the teams look like if the year prior to the Ryder cup, to qualify for the Euro team you could not play any U.S. events (except majors you might qualify for), and the potential U.S. team members could not play any Euro Tour events (again, except those qualifying for The Open). Would the potential for more money on the US Tour be enough to keep certain Euro players from qualifying for their team? Would Tiger reject the big appearance fees for events like Dubai?
What it must have been like back before WWII, when the players on either side rarely saw each other except during Ryder Cup matches. When it took a week to cross the Atlantic on a ship. No quick trips over for a practice round! Talk about home field advantage! Yet, until recently, the USA was always the team to beat, even when the matches were in the UK.
And while I'm rambling, since all of Europe qualifies to be on the team now, shouldn't they consider playing on courses outside of the UK? I hear Spain and Portugal have some beautiful courses, and the place they played this year's French Open appeared to be wonderful. I think it would be interesting to see a Spanish crowd following Sergio and Ollie around!
If we included S. Ameirca and Canada, we would have Mike Weir, (maybe) Stephen Ames and perhaps Camillo Villegas. I'd take Mike Weir over Brett Wetterich any day.
How about we change the rules so that the team qualification is based on the country they live in the majority of the year, not where they were born? Or at least where they went to school (college). How about limiting the number of non-major USPGA events a Euro golfer can play, and vice versa for U.S. players in Europe?
What would the teams look like if the year prior to the Ryder cup, to qualify for the Euro team you could not play any U.S. events (except majors you might qualify for), and the potential U.S. team members could not play any Euro Tour events (again, except those qualifying for The Open). Would the potential for more money on the US Tour be enough to keep certain Euro players from qualifying for their team? Would Tiger reject the big appearance fees for events like Dubai?
What it must have been like back before WWII, when the players on either side rarely saw each other except during Ryder Cup matches. When it took a week to cross the Atlantic on a ship. No quick trips over for a practice round! Talk about home field advantage! Yet, until recently, the USA was always the team to beat, even when the matches were in the UK.
And while I'm rambling, since all of Europe qualifies to be on the team now, shouldn't they consider playing on courses outside of the UK? I hear Spain and Portugal have some beautiful courses, and the place they played this year's French Open appeared to be wonderful. I think it would be interesting to see a Spanish crowd following Sergio and Ollie around!
Just a thought, but rather than trying to hamstring the Euro team, why not try to make the US play better?
Not to say that they won't, but all that talk of preventing Euro players from playing in the US during that year is pretty harsh.
They played Valderrama, Spain in '97 when Seve was captain.
Ah, you're correct! I was looking over a list on Wikipedia and somehow overlooked that one. My apologies.
Looking again, I see that 2018 is "TBA (continental Europe)". Wonder where that will be? Tiger will be about 42 - think he'll still be playing? Wonder how many of the current Ryder Cup participants will be on thoseteams?
Ty Webb, of course it's up to the US Team to play better. I don't want to "dumb down" the competition at all. I thoroughly enjoy watching players like Donald, Olazabel, Clarke and Harrington, even Sergio now and then when he isn't whining about how something isn't fair. It's wonderful golf. And when it comes to the RC, if our guys don't have the "team" concept down pat or the captain makes bad decisions, we'll just have to hope for better next time. Of course, this year's RC is far from over, and I'm not conceding anything yet.
I was just wondering how much of all this "team spirit" the players are supposed to have would be evident if they had to put their money where their mouth is, and play exclusively on the tour they are supposedly representing. Maybe the money and prestige of the Euro Tour would grow and it would be looked upon as an equivalent Tour to the USPGA.
Of course, without the Euros for balance, the PGA winner each week would usually end up being either Tiger, a South African or an Australian!
Ah, you're correct! I was looking over a list on Wikipedia and somehow overlooked that one. My apologies.
Ty Webb, of course it's up to the US Team to play better. I don't want to "dumb down" the competition at all. I thoroughly enjoy watching players like Donald, Olazabel, Clarke and Harrington, even Sergio now and then when he isn't whining about how something isn't fair. It's wonderful golf. And when it comes to the RC, if our guys don't have the "team" concept down pat or the captain makes bad decisions, we'll just have to hope for better next time. Of course, this year's RC is far from over, and I'm not conceding anything yet.
Wouldn't it be great to be America vs. Europe instead of USA vs, Europe? Just having Mike Weir on our team would give it some strength.
Last edited by wazmankg : September 23rd, 2006 at 02:58 AM.
Reason: fixed quote
I think the Ryder Cup is fine the way it is. Sure, as an American i wish we hadn't lost four of the last five, but with the exception of the drubbing at Oakland Hills in 2004, the matches have been competitive.
As far as the future of US golf, I would hope that teachers and golf camps around the country would teach the game from the green OUT. Our young players should learn putting and touch and creativity rather than just beating balls on the range. I practice with and compete against many young guns who play in AJGA and IJGT events, and they all hit it a ton, but have trouble getting the ball in the hole.
Lehman (#39) is ranked higher than two of his own players.
I'm kind of glad Lehman didn't automatically qualify. I think it would be too much to expect him to captain and play. His putting is quite suspect also and it seems that's what these things always come down to.
September 22nd, 2006, 07:00 PM
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