I voted for the US, but the Euros always seem to find a way, even if their personnel doesn't look as good on paper.
I just read an article that asserted that Europeans win these kinds of team events because they're more comfortable with the idea of playing sports to represent their nations as a result of soccer matches, which are an expression and extension of national pride. In contrast, Americans mostly play among themselves in their major sports: baseball, football, basketball. I don't know how valid that idea is. Perhaps the writer has forgotten the intensity of regional rivalries in our college sports, in which most of our golfers have participated.
I always used to think the US would win every time, on paper, this is probably the case. But recent history seems to suggest that the Euro guys do have the edge in terms of playing as a team and I think this is hard for the US to counter, even with their statistical strength. Quite why this is, who knows. The suggestion of valeogut seems valid. Internationally speaking, most of the european team members will not represent Europe, rather their own countries. The result I see is that alot more of the Europeans will have had competition of this sort....
I've got a sneaky feeling this year that Europe will win. Usually you look at the USA team on paper and they look far stronger, with no apparent weak players. This year it's Europe who doesn't have a weak player with the U.S. fielding several players who I fancy to struggle. Tiger's all over the place. Furyk has had a long lay-off. Campbell, Di Marco, Funk and Riley are all players who are hardly going to frighten the Europeans, many of whom have spent a lot of time over the last two years playing in the States. ROLL ON SEPTEMBER 17th!
I voted for the USA, although Im not altogether sure why. I think Europe will have a stronger desire to win it, though i dont think bernhard langer will be as good a captain as sam torrance was. if the american team plays good, and hal sutton keeps them motivated they can do it no problem.
August 30th, 2004, 04:22 PM
Now that they added Monty, they are an unstoppable force. Watch out Tiger.
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