News
USA Team Azinger Wins Ryder Cup
The professional pen-wielders said Paul Azinger’s team was a serious underdog in this years version of the Ryder Cup. After all, Tiger Woods wasn’t playing due to injury, while Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard, Stewart Cink, and Jim Furyk had all been utilized as cleaning solvent by the Euros in Cups past. The rest of the squad a bunch of Cup rookies whose underwear was sure to shrink so small as to make breathing a conscious activity.
The professional pen-wielders said Paul Azinger’s team was a serious underdog in this years version of the Ryder Cup. After all, Tiger Woods wasn’t playing due to injury, while Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard, Stewart Cink, and Jim Furyk had all been utilized as cleaning solvent by the Euros in Cups past. The rest of the squad a bunch of Cup rookies whose underwear was sure to shrink so small as to make breathing a conscious activity.
Nick Faldo’s European squad had a bunch of guys with winning Ryder Cup experience led by Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Padraig Harrington and Miguel Angel Jimenez. It was a given these guys would come in to Kentucky and make putts from all over the yard leaving the US squad cleaning their wounds and drowning their sorrows with imported Tennesee Whiskey.
Something happened on the way to the mugging. How about the only American not to win a match being Steve Stricker, the captains selection whose putting prowess is well documented managed a half point over the three days. The rest of the US team won two matches each save Mr. Mickelson, Ben Curtis and Mr. Cink who won one match apiece. Compare that to the European squad members who won no matches; Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey, Soren Hansen, Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Lee Westwood. If I had been offered a wager on that group being winless, I’d have lost a nice tidy sum. Mr. Faldo’s controversial captains picks, Justin Rose and Ian Poulter were 3-1-0 and 4-1-0 respectively. I’d say 7 of the 11.5 total points confirms the wisdom of those selections.
Anthony Kim dismantled Mr. Garcia during Sunday singles, recording 3’s on the first four holes and playing the front nine 4 under par thanks to two birdies and an eagle for a 3 up lead. He closed Mr. Garcia out 5 & 4 with two more birdies along the way. Quite a display from a young man on the way to the top of his sport. It was marvelous to watch great golf shots and the exuberance of youth. The talent was obvious, as was the sense that the best is yet to come.
Kenny Perry was a man living a dream. His goal, as anyone who paid any attention to golf this year, was to make this team. To see him Sunday roll in putts of various lengths in jumping out to a 3 up lead was to see a man performing at his best. When Henrik Stenson turned his game around on the 10th hole by making a birdie, Mr. Perry followed with a birdie of his own on the 11th hole. Mr. Stenson birdied the 12th, Mr. Perry the 13th, Mr Stenson the 14th, Mr. Perry the 15th, a remarkable stretch of golf as one could ask to see on any stage. Mr. Perry then closed out the match on the 16th hole with a par. Exciting stuff.
Boo Weekley started Sunday riding his driver like a horse into battle, a vision I will never forget. All three days Mr. Weekley waved his arms exhorting the crowd to cheer louder, antics which got under the waistband of Mr. Westwood on Friday. Mr. Weekley subsequently stayed calm until everyone had holed out before returning to his role as cheerleader. If there ever was someone so obviously having fun with this atmosphere, it was Mr. Weekley. For a man not know for his putting prowess, he made enough to earn 2.5 points. The game is certainly easier when you’re having fun, both to play and to watch.
Hunter Mahan, captain’s choice maligned by both talking heads and pen wielders alike for speaking his mind about the inanities surrounding the Ryder Cup, only won more points than anyone for the US team. I liked his selection immediately because the guy can putt and has streaks where he makes everything he looks at during a round. Witness his 5 rounds of 62 in 5 years on tour. This is a player who can go low consistently. Putting wins Ryder Cups, so give me all the putters you can find. He and Justin Leonard’s two wins Friday helped the US to an early lead they never surrendered. He almost stole a half point from Paul Casey Sunday when he made a side hill bomb on the 17th hole, but gave it back with a drive into the hazard on the 18th hole.
I should leave Phil Mickelson alone, but can’t, really I just can’t help myself but to say this is not the format for Mr. Mickelson. His putter just let him down too many times all weekend. They say that Ryder Cup pressure will expose the weakness in your golf game and it surely did that today. 18 hole match play is just not his forte. Too bad, because Mr. Mickelson is someone who could have real fun with this environment. Maybe he should stay home next time.
So the day ended with Team USA holding the Cup. For some, Captain Azinger with be hailed as a genius for his changing the rotation of events on Friday, and in allowing for 4 captains selections. His course set up will probably be praised to the heavens as a feat similar to that of walking on water, hey he even got the way they cut the grass in the rough named after him. Captain Nick Faldo will be swatted around in the British press like a badminton birdie for his team losing to a bunch of underdog nobodies. Neither will deserve everything handed out by the all knowledgable press monkies. These two did a great job promoting the event, witness all the made for the tube competitions they aired because there was nothing else to show. What we saw was an entertaining event, the first such in 9 or so years. It did what it was supposed to do, show us how good these guys really can be, and how funny the game of golf can be at times.
I salute both teams, the last three days were as entertaining as any tournament this year. I thank you all for your stellar performances.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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bobsuruncle
Sep 26, 2008 at 1:14 am
Great golf all round. It looks like the side with the burden of expectations (this year – Europe) has faltered again. The stars with the burden placed on them to “carry the team” on both sides, especially Europe’s Big 3, faltered. Historically, the world #1&2 also didn’t deliver for the USA. Perhaps they should just loosen up and relax to play their best.
cody
Sep 23, 2008 at 7:15 pm
i think this was one of the most exciting molments in golf for me ever. Even though the Americans were slated as the underdogs for not having Tiger. I KNEW that they were going to win because they did not have Tiger, they had a bunch of young bloods that wanted to win very very badly. that is all the ryder cup takes determination and a will to represent ones county> I hope future American ryder cup captains take not and look for young hot players that want to go and wail.
mark
Sep 23, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Great golf to watch. GREAT for golf itself. Very well done T.V. even when I had to use the mute button when Mr Miller rambled on. Course conditions and set up looked fantastic. Both captains and there interactions made it even better. Celtic Manor here I come. Thank god for that ancient Scott so long ago who had that wonderful idea.
ander
Sep 23, 2008 at 9:06 am
justin rose wasn’t the other captain’s pick, that would be paul casey. good article though.
Joef
Sep 22, 2008 at 5:25 pm
How on earth do you bash Mickleson but praise Kim? Mickleson is not a great match play player no doubt there..But Remember he had to Birdie the last 2 holes on His own Friday to salvage that match he also played very well in the first match which they might have won if Anthony Kim had not duffed the shot out of the bunker on 18. Also he kind of fell apart on Saturday Morning which is why He did not play Saturday afternoon and what did it take to beet mickleson and Mahan on Saturday afternoon? Robert Karlson went lights out and shot 6 birdies on the back..Mickelson finished Even 1-2-2 thats 2 points for 2 against…YEah what a smart comment Dont show up next time…Anthony Kim praised Phil for helping Him..
Frankie
Sep 22, 2008 at 10:23 am
This was VERY exciting! Some will say that because the Americans won is the reason I think it was great (true) but to see Mr. Karlsson make putts for everywhere says one thing to me…. look out world “this guy is good!” Mr. Poulter gained a lot of respect from me as I love the guy that has fire in his gut and he does, there is nothing wrong with showing some emotion, then there was Mr. Garica shouting after holing the long put for birdie and Mr. Stricker (I think) holing out on top of that! Just a great Ryder Cup.