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Inside the Ropes
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 U.S. captain Paul Azinger won't deny Europe is the Ryder Cup favorite. (Photo: Courtesy The PGA of America) With the United States trailing 10-6 heading into the final day of the 1999 Ryder Cup, American captain Ben Crenshaw uttered, “I’m a big believer in fate. I have a good feeling about this. That’s all I’m going to tell you.” Then came the team’s miraculous run through the singles round against Europe, a stretch punctuated by a 50-foot birdie putt from Justin Leonard that generated one of the biggest brouhahas ever on a putting green. The U.S., which had lost the previous two biennial matches, won by a point. So why hasn’t the Stars and Stripes won in three matches since then? The Euros don’t need to credit fate — they’ve simply had more top-to-bottom talent than American teams. This year’s competition, which will be held Sept. 19-21 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., has the most glaring skill discrepancy of the decade, and it’s not only because Tiger Woods is on the sidelines. The Euros have arguably the two best players in the world right now in Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia, and Englishmen Lee Westwood and Justin Rose and Swedes Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson combine to form a dominant top half. Of the top eight players on the U.S. squad, the only one who has contended at any of this year’s majors is Ben Curtis, who was 20th in the team standings before a tie for second at the PGA Championship vaulted him to a guaranteed berth. But he, Boo Weekley and Anthony Kim have never played in a Ryder Cup, and the résumés of their teammates aren’t encouraging. Not one of them has a winning record in Ryder Cup matches — not Phil Mickelson, not Jim Furyk, and not Leonard, who has never won a match (his big clinching putt in 1999 only allowed him to halve his match with Jose Maria Olazabal). “For the first time in a long time, Europe is going to have kind of everything to lose here in these matches. It’s usually the other way around,” U.S. captain Paul Azinger said a day after the PGA Championship. “Even though they [have] won five of the last six, somehow they just seem to come in as the underdog. This time, I think it’s clear that we are the underdogs.” But there’s still hope. Here are three reasons why I think the Americans will pull off the upset this month: 1. Underdog mentality History and the talents of superstars such as Woods and Mickelson made the U.S. a perennial favorite, even when Europe began to even the score in the 1990s and take control this decade. If the underdog role suited the Europeans, why can’t it suit the Americans? The U.S. still has plenty of talent, and a newcomer like Kim, who competes with flair, might provide an emotional spark that rubs off on his teammates. Discarding lofty expectations will promote a more relaxed attitude, a demeanor that has appeared to be lacking during the Americans’ recent shortcomings. 2. Selection process In years past, the U.S. team was composed of the top 10 players in the standings and two captain’s picks, which were made the day after the PGA Championship. Azinger changed the process this time, lowering the number of automatic berths to eight immediately following the PGA and increasing the number of captain’s picks to four. Those selections will be made Sept. 2, enabling Azinger to tab golfers whose games will be better closer to the event. It makes a lot more sense. European captain Nick Faldo finalized his squad on Aug. 31. 3. Home-course advantage It’s not that Valhalla’s layout will provide the Americans a significant advantage, but an enthusiastic U.S. gallery will help. This is a course that witnessed one of the most memorable major duels ever between Woods and Lynwood native Bob May at the 2000 PGA Championship, so local patrons are undoubtedly chomping at the bit for another dramatic atmosphere. The presence of Kentucky native and U.S. team member Kenny Perry also should raise the decibel levels. SG MILLER TIME: SOUTHLAND STARS AT THE RYDER CUP Phil Mickelson: The 2008 Ryder Cup probably won’t be the defining moment of the San Diego native’s career, but it deserves to be in the same breath as his three majors if he is instrumental in an American victory. Mickelson has the most Cup experience of any U.S. member, and he should embrace that fact despite past struggles. The 38-year-old also has finished inside the top 10 in the two instances Valhalla has hosted the PGA Championship. Anthony Kim: Many have coined the Los Angeles-area native as The Next Big Thing in professional golf. Kim plays with no fear and plenty of fire, and he won’t shy away from the biggest spotlight he’s seen in his rapid ascent this season. The 23-year-old attributes some of his success to being active in team sports as a youngster, and he isn’t too far removed from his participation in the 2005 Walker Cup, which he helped the U.S. win by going 2-1-1. Eli Miller also writes a weekly blog at southlandgolfmagazine.com. Reach him at emiller@churmmedia.com. |
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It brings to mind underdog wins like 20-year-old Francis Ouimet'sin the 1913 Open at The Country Club, and, in 1964, when Ken Venturi got his comeback win at the US Open at Congressional Country Club. Underdog is a good thing. People like to prove the experts (and bookies) wrong. It also makes for good movies and books.
| Comment at 9/14/2008 |
John Wooden has repeatedly said "failing to prepare is preparing for failure". After viewing today's new conference with both Azinger and Faldo, Paul Azinger appeared remarkbly relaxed. He commented on how little stress he felt. Nick Faldo was impatient, had an irritated tone in his voice for most of the interview and made faces as if to mock the press and their questions. The European captain was always a technician on the course and his success due to meticulous preparation, but I wonder whether that ability is as present as captain.
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