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The Calm Before the Storm – 2010 Ryder Cup Preview
For most avid golf fans the Ryder Cup represents the most exciting tournament in the world – three days of pressure packed golf excitement with pride of patriotism causing nerves to be frayed and emotions exposed bare to millions of viewers. Those who succeed under these circumstances can reach the next level of stardom (Anthony Kim and Boo Weekley in 2008). Those who fail will have a hard time erasing the memories (Mark Calcavechia in Kiawah Island and Curtis Strange at Oak Hill). The Sunday singles matches are the most exciting day of golf in the sport, eclipsing even the final nine at Augusta. Coming off the impressive win at Valhalla in 2008, one would think the American team is ready to validate that performance with a win on European soil. After all, it was a dominant performance and many newcomers gained valuable experience on golf’s biggest stage. They silenced the critics with a selfless approach that stressed team over individual pedigree. It is time to begin an American string of victories that retain this cup on American soil for years to come, right? After all, we “broke the code” didn’t we? Unfortunately, this conventional wisdom is misguided. We are simply enjoying the calm before the storm of a European onslaught.
But why, you might ask? We have the two greatest players of the current generation in Tiger and Phil. We have young, talented players in Hunter Mahan, Dustin Johnson, and Rickie Fowler. We have a feisty, resilient captain in Corey Pavin. The main reasons we will lose are familiar to those that have been frustrated by our inept record in this bi-annual competition: 1) Lack of team camaraderie and 2) Lack of mental toughness.
The Europeans have an advantage in that they can pair players from the same country which increases their resolve and purpose. They feel they are not only representing Europe but their country within the continent as well. Remember the Spanish Armada of Seve and Jose Maria? Watch out for pairings such as Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter of England, and the Molinari brothers, Francesco and Eduardo, of Italy. In addition, many of them play on a smaller tour in which the better players form closer overall relationships. I believe Captain Montgomerie (a.k.a. “The Sweaty Scot”) values this trait and used it as part of his criteria to choose dedicated European player Edoardo Molinari over PGA Tour converts Justin Rose and Paul Casey.
The biggest reason for European victory is superior mental toughness. Martin Kaymer, Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood are as tough mentally as they come. Ross Fisher and Rory McIlroy have emerged as major tournament contenders and Graeme McDowell showed his grit at Pebble Beach with a rock solid performance with Tiger, Phil and Ernie nipping at his heels. On the American side, there is plenty of talent in players such as Matt Kuchar, Jeff Overton, and Bubba Watson but if I am relying on someone to pull out a tough match on foreign soil they are not at the top of my list. Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler are rising stars but have not experienced success on a large stage yet. To think that they will start achieving success on foreign soil is a stretch to say the least.
All this negative banter is not to say that the Americans will get blown out. They are shaky at the top with Tiger and Phil off their games and weak at the bottom with the likes of Overton and Watson but they have strength in the middle of the lineup with veteran grinders such as Zach Johnson, Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker that will keep the team competitive until the final day. Their only hope for victory is if Tiger and Phil re-emerge as the games’ best players, Hunter Mahan and Dustin Johnson utilize their immense talent and dominate while the grinders do what is expected of them which is win tough matches with rabid Welshmen screaming in their ears.
Unfortunately, the storm is coming. Enjoy the final days in the calm of hope and anticipation while harboring this precious hunk of silver called the Ryder Cup on American soil before it returns to the clutches of European hands.
Prediction: Euros 15 ½ Yanks 12 ½
JB Audi
JB Audi covers Golf for GolfWRX.com and can be reached at [email protected]
You can see what others are saying about this article here: http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/412955-ryder-cup-preview-and-predicitons/
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News
Four books for a springtime review
One thing that never changes over time: snowy evenings give purpose to reading (is it the other way around?) It has been a snowy 2024 in western New York, and I’ve had ample time to tuck into an easy chair with a blanket, coffee, and a book. You’re in luck, because despite the title of this piece, I’ll share five books and their worth with you.
There is great breadth of subject matter from one to five. Golf is as complicated as life, which means that the cover of the book isn’t worth judging. The contents begin the tale, but there is so much more to each topic presented within. If you’re like me, your library grows each year. Despite the value of the virtual, the paper-printed word connects us to the past of golf and humanity. Here’s hoping that you’ll add one or more of these titles to your collection.
Hughes Norton interviewed with Mark McCormack for 20 minutes (30 if you count the missed exit at Logan International) while driving the founder of IMG from Harvard to the airport. The lesson of taking advantage of each moment, of every dollar, because you might not get another opportunity, is the most valuable one that life offers. I say to you, be certain to read this book, because another opportunity to bend the ear of Hughes Norton may not come our way.
Hughes Norton was with Tiger Woods for waaayyy fewer years than you might guess, but they were the critical ones. Be warned: not all of the revelations in this tome are for the faint of heart. Some, in fact, will break your heart. Golf was a sleepy hamlet in the 1990s, until the 16-lane interstate called Eldrick “Tiger” Woods came into town. Everything changed, which meant that everything would change again and again, into eternity. Once the ball starts rolling, it’s impossible to stop.
My favorite aspect of this book is its candor. Hughes Norton is well into his time on Planet Earth. He has no reason to hold back, and he doesn’t. My least favorite aspect is that George Peper got the call to co-author the book (and I didn’t.) Seriously, there is no LFA for me, so this is the best that I could do.
Decision: Buy It!
The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor
Michael Wolf, James Sitar, and Jon Cavalier, in abject partnership, collaborated to produce a handsome volume on the work of gone-too-soon, engineer-turned-golf course architect. Seth Raynor was pulled into the game by Charles Blair MacDonald, the crusty godfather of American golf. Raynor played little golf across the 51 years of his life. His reason? He did not wish to corrupt his designs with the demands and failings of his own game.
Jon Cavalier began his photography career as a contributor to the Golf Club Atlas discussion group. I met him there in a virtual way (we still have yet to shake hands) and have exchanged numerous emails over the years. Despite the demands of his day job, Cavalier has blossomed into the most traveled and prolific course photographer alive today. His photography, both hand-held and drone, makes the pages pop. Michael Wolf invited me and two friends to play his home course, despite having never met any of us in person. His words, melded to those of James Sitar, are the glue that connect Cavalier’s photos.
My favorite aspect of the books is the access it gives to the private-club world of Raynor. Fewer than five of his courses are resort or public access, and knowing people on the inside is not available to all. My suggestion? Write a letter/email and see if a club will let you play. Can’t hurt to try! My one complaint about the book is its horizontal nature. Golf is wide, but I like a little vertical in my photos. It’s not much of a complaint, given the glorious contents within the covers.
Decision: Buy It!!
Big Green Book from The Golfer’s Journal
Beginning with its (over)size, and continuing through the entire contents, there is no descriptor that defines the genre of the Big Green Book. It is photography, essay, layout, poetry, graphics, and stream of consciousness. It harnesses the creative power of a lengthy masthead of today’s finest golf contributors. Quotes from Harvey Penick, verse from Billy Collins, and prose from John Updike partner with images pure and altered, to immerse you in the diverse golf spaces that define this planet.
One of my favorite aspects is the spaces between the words and photos. Have your friends and others write a few notes to you in those blank areas, to personalize your volume even more. One aspect that needs improvement: the lack of female voices. I suspect that will be remedied in future volumes.
Decision: Buy It!!!
Troublemaker and The Unplayable Lie
Books that allege discrimination and mistreatment check two boxes: potentially-salacious reads and debate over whose perspective is accurate. In the end, the presentation of salacious revelation rarely meets the expectation, and the debate over fault is seldom resolved. Lisa Cornwell spent years as a competitive junior and college golfer, before joining The Golf Channel as a reporter and program host.
Despite the dream assignments, there were clouds that covered the sun. Cornwell documents episodes of favoritism and descrimination against her, prior to her departure from The Golf Channel in 2021. Her work echoes the production of the late Marcia Chambers, who wrote for Golf Digest in the 1980s and 1990s. Chambers took issue with many of the potential and real legal issues surrounding golf and its policies of access/no access. Her research culminated in The Unplayable Lie, the first work of its kind to address issues confronted by all genders and ethnicities, and immediately predated the professional debut of Tiger Woods in 1997.
My favorite aspects of the two works, are the courage and conviction that it took to write them, and believe in them. My least favorite aspects are the consistent bias that many groups continue to face. Without awareness, there is no action. Without action, there is no change.
Decision: Buy Them!!!!
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Raul Pereda – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Tony Finau’s new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Asleep
Sep 28, 2010 at 2:02 pm
I agree, Euros will take it.