Opinion & Analysis

Ryder Cup Heroes and Villains: The Gleneagles Story

Published

8 years ago

Sep 29, 2016

It was September 26, 2014, and the time was 6:20 a.m. on the first tee of the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles. Three thousand expectant faces peered through the concoction of dark and camera lights, with at least another 20,000 lining the first fairway. Literally caught in those camera lights, the man of the moment stood trembling, anxiously waiting for the starter to call out his name. In this instance, however, it was not Ivor Robson calling the shots. The producer of BBC Radio’s 5 live Breakfast put the thumbs up and after years on various American mini tours, the hard hours in the pro shop, many a media training and a very early alarm call, Andrew Jowett, head golf professional at Gleneagles, was good to go.

Andrew Jowett, head professional at Gleneagles.

Frivolous this may be, but talking to Andrew almost exactly two years since that day, he says he “genuinely felt a sense of what the 24 Ryder Cup players were about to experience.” As it happened, Andrew dealt beautifully with the pressure and successfully completed one of more than 20 interviews that he undertook during Ryder Cup week.

Understandably, Andrew considers that week the highlight of his working career. At the time, he was in his ninth year at the world-famous golf resort and had progressed from picking up balls on the range to become only the ninth ever head golf professional at Gleneagles.

“Standing on that first tee, with all the fans, all the expectation and after years of hard work, it was an emotional and nerve-wracking moment,” he said. He went on to pinpoint Webb Simpson’s 150-yard lob with a 3-wood as a case in point as to how the Ryder Cup can be a “leveller.”

Tom Watson was captain of the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup team.

“There is nothing quite like the first tee of a Ryder Cup,” he said, and he betrays a slight glee and relish about Simpson barely making the fairway. It is important to add that the USA halved that hole, with Bubba Watson sniggering to Simpson about his shot, but they would lose resoundingly to Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson.

Europe convincingly, and some might say predictably, went on to defeat the USA 16.5 to 11.5. Far from the drama of the “Miracle of Medinah,” it was a Ryder Cup to remember for the perfect staging, the immaculate golf course, the warmth of the Scottish crowd and a setting to beat all others. Plaudits included visiting Vice Captain Andy North suggesting Gleneagles should always be the host venue in Europe.

As a Scotland resident, Andrew is quick to thank the weather for playing ball. “About five minutes after that interview finished, the sun rose over the Ochils and the stage was well and truly set,” he said.

Some 250,000 spectators from 96 countries attended the event, 30,600 cars were parked, over 50,000 rail journeys were taken, more than 2,000 media were present and the Ryder Cup was mentioned in 500,000 tweets.

What pressure?

Andrew is a born-and-bred Mancunian who learned his trade from the ex-tour professional Denis Durnian. On joining Gleneagles, he never imagined having such an involvement in the sport’s biggest spectacle.

“The close proximity to the world’s best players was an absolute treat,” he said. “We were like kids in a candy shop. My team of professionals was positioned on the driving range, so the contact we had with the players and the exposure to their level of professionalism was second to none. I have always understood the different levels of player, but seeing it at such an event, at a place you know so well, having had so much involvement in the staging, it was brilliant.”

Andrew mentions that this was the same for all of the golf staff, including the 80 greenkeepers who formed a particularly strong and unique bond with the players.

“So much rides on the matches, there is so much focus on the players, yet somehow the atmosphere is fun and friendly,” he said. “Over 500 million homes watched on TV, 250,000 on the course, yet there was still time for a group photo with a stray dog.”

I asked Andrew if he thought the absence of Tiger Woods had any impact, whether negative or positive, on the week. “Yes, of course it would have been great for him to be there, but the event is bigger than one person,” he said. “His form wasn’t good enough, so it was right that he wasn’t picked.” An interesting comment considering the seventh-ranked player in the world, Bubba Watson, was not picked this year. Along with Woods, Bubba will watch the action with an earpiece and a golf cart. As cheerleaders go, they are probably the best paid in sporting history.

“I think this year the USA is as focused on success as they have been for some time,” Andrew said. “Of course they should have won at Medinah, but that was something that will never happen in the event again. I think the event needs a close contest, in fact from a USA perspective it needs a win!”

Sky Sports had interviewed Andrew the morning after the Miracle of Medinah, when all eyes turned to Gleneagles and Scotland. “It was a little surreal,” he said. “The interview was on the very spot I was interviewed in 2014 by the BBC and there were only three of us. Having had such drama the previous night, I didn’t quite know what the future would hold for the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. It seemed a long way off.”

Gleneagles was awarded the 2013 Ryder Cup in 2001, having originally bid for the 2009 event that Celtic Manor won. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the event was postponed by a year, so 2014 became Gleneagles’ year.

“I joined in 2006, so the planning was already five years down the line,” he said. “Fortunately for me, I was part of the PGA Centenary redesign process with Jack Nicklaus. Watching the course mature, develop and blossom was confidence-building. Gleneagles held a European Tour event each year, so with the pros’ feedback, the refinement of Jack Nicklaus and the passion of Scott Fenwick, our estate manager, the result was a massive success. We won over the doubters.”

Prior to the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, skeptics questioned why the Ryder Cup should be played on what was called an “American layout,” allegedly turning its back on the true courses of the home of golf. One of the chief protagonists was this year’s European captain Darren Clarke, who said: “It’s beyond my comprehension they’ve chosen to have the Ryder Cup on this course.” Interestingly, Andrew is not critical of these comments, but praises the various stakeholders who agreed to soften the PGA Centenary, bringing it in line with its sister courses the King’s and Queen’s, while still appreciating that the course had to host the third most-watched sporting event in the world.

“I don’t think the scale of the organization and operation is understood,” Andrew said. “The logistics involved to get that many people in place to watch four fourball matches is mind-boggling. And, you know what, we did!”

So what was done to specifically tailor the course in favor of the Europeans, as there is a lot of talk about how Davis Love III will set up Hazeltine?

“Scott Fenwick and head greenkeeper Steve Chappell worked closely with Paul McGinley – Europe’s 2014 captain – to present a European Tour-like course. It might have slightly favored the Europeans, as they had played events on it on more than one occasion, but professionals can adapt.”

Head greenkeeper, Chappell, said in a recent interview that Hazeltine will not benefit one team or the other, mainly due to the amount of golf the European team has played on the PGA Tour.

All Ryder Cups have a hero and a villain, so amid the perfect conditions, what was the 2014 Ryder Cup famous for? There were, of course, the Phil Mickelson vs. Tom Watson rumors, the emergence of the Task Force, no Spieth/Reed for the Friday foursomes, Spieth’s capitulation against McDowell, Patrick Reed’s shushing, the deer careering across the fairways and the post-Indy Ref fallout, but by and large Gleneagles staged one of the most successful Ryder Cups ever.

And who will be the hero and villain in 2016?

“It’s going to be close, but I think Europe will sneak it by a point or two,” Andrew said, smiling. “I was there when Sergio hit his rescue on (hole) 18 to 15 feet to halve his foursomes match on Friday afternoon. I know that shot and I know it’s impossible. I don’t think he would have hit that shot that well on any stage other than the Ryder Cup. His partner that day was Rory and I am confident that he will be the talisman. His form is back, $13 million back and despite his youthful comments he now knows what the Ryder Cup is all about. It’s under his skin.”

But it’s not all about Europe. Who will shine for the USA?

“In 2010, Jordan Spieth played the Junior Ryder Cup on the PGA Centenary at Gleneagles and won,” Andrew said. “It was great to see him back. I think he is fully focused on the win. He is saying all the right things in the media and I genuinely think he wants to be part of a USA win. Spieth vs. McIlroy down the stretch on Sunday will take some beating!”

Having been to three Ryder Cups, Andrew’s fondest memory of the tournament was watching Nick Faldo’s hole-in-one on the 14^th of the Belfry in 1993. The USA would prevail at the Belfry 15 to 13, the last time they won on European soil. With a nice synergy, the winning putt and the hero that year was this year’s captain, Davis Love III.

With clear emotion and plenty of fond memories, Andrew heads off to teach one of his regulars.

“I have immense pride in what we achieved, what we all achieved,” Andrew said. “I am sure Hazeltine are up to the challenge and I wish them well. Come on Europe.”

Andrew Jowett was talking to Graham Hesketh. A big thank you to Billy Murray, Golf Marketing Manager at Gleneagles (gleneagles.com), Martin Smith and James Bledge, greenkeepers at Gleneagles and of course, Andrew himself.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s LIV Golf Singapore betting preview: Course specialist ready to thrive once again

Published

4 days ago

Apr 30, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

After another strong showing in Australia, LIV Golf will head to Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore looking to build off of what was undoubtedly their best event to date.

Sentosa Golf Club sits on the southern tip of Singapore and is one of the most beautiful courses in the world. The course is more than just incredible scenically; it was also rated 55th in Golf Digest’s top-100 courses in 2022-2023 and has been consistently regarded as one of the best courses in Asia. Prior to being part of the LIV rotation, the course hosted the Singapore Open every year since 2005.

Sentosa Golf Club is a par 71 measuring 7,406 yards. The course will require precise ball striking and some length off the tee. It’s possible to go low due to the pristine conditions, but there are also plenty of hazards and difficult spots on the course that can bring double bogey into play in a hurry. The Bermudagrass greens are perfectly manicured, and the course has spent millions on the sub-air system to keep the greens rolling fast. I spoke to Asian Tour player, Travis Smyth, who described the greens as “the best [he’s] ever played.”

Davis Love III, who competed in a Singapore Open in 2019, also gushed over the condition of the golf course.

“I love the greens. They are fabulous,” the 21-time PGA Tour winner said.

Love III also spoke about other aspects of the golf course.

“The greens are great; the fairways are perfect. It is a wonderful course, and it’s tricky off the tee.”

“It’s a long golf course, and you get some long iron shots. It takes somebody hitting it great to hit every green even though they are big.”

As Love III said, the course can be difficult off the tee due to the length of the course and the trouble looming around every corner. It will take a terrific ball striking week to win at Sentosa Golf Club.

In his pre-tournament press conference last season, Phil Mickelson echoed many of the same sentiments.

“To play Sentosa effectively, you’re going to have a lot of shots from 160 to 210, a lot of full 6-, 7-, 8-iron shots, and you need to hit those really well and you need to drive the ball well.”

Golfers who excel from tee to green and can dial in their longer irons will have a massive advantage this week.

Stat Leaders at LIV Golf Adelaide:

Fairways Hit

1.) Louis Oosthuizen

2.) Anirban Lahiri

3.) Jon Rahm

4.) Brendan Steele

5.) Cameron Tringale

Greens in Regulation

1.) Brooks Koepka

2.) Brendan Steele

3.) Dean Burmester

4.) Cameron Tringale

5.) Anirban Lahiri

Birdies Made

1.) Brendan Steele

2.) Dean Burmester

3.) Thomas Pieters

4.) Patrick Reed

5.) Carlos Ortiz

LIV Golf Individual Standings:

1.) Joaquin Niemann

2.) Jon Rahm

3.) Dean Burmester

4.) Louis Oosthuizen

5.) Abraham Ancer

LIV Golf Team Standings:

1.) Crushers

2.) Legion XIII

3.) Torque

4.) Stinger GC

5.) Ripper GC

LIV Golf Singapore Picks

Sergio Garcia +3000 (DraftKings)

Sergio Garcia is no stranger to Sentosa Golf Club. The Spaniard won the Singapore Open in 2018 by five strokes and lost in a playoff at LIV Singapore last year to scorching hot Talor Gooch. Looking at the course setup, it’s no surprise that a player like Sergio has played incredible golf here. He’s long off the tee and is one of the better long iron players in the world when he’s in form. Garcia is also statistically a much better putter on Bermudagrass than he is on other putting surfaces. He’s putt extremely well on Sentosa’s incredibly pure green complexes.

This season, Garcia has two runner-up finishes, both of them being playoff losses. Both El Camaleon and Doral are courses he’s had success at in his career. The Spaniard is a player who plays well at his tracks, and Sentosa is one of them. I believe Sergio will get himself in the mix this week. Hopefully the third time is a charm in Singapore.

Paul Casey +3300 (FanDuel)

Paul Casey is in the midst of one of his best seasons in the five years or so. The results recently have been up and down, but he’s shown that when he’s on a golf course that suits his game, he’s amongst the contenders.

This season, Casey has finishes of T5 (LIV Las Vegas), T2 (LIV Hong Kong), and a 6th at the Singapore Classic on the DP World Tour. At his best, the Englishman is one of the best long iron players in the world, which makes him a strong fit for Sentosa. Despite being in poor form last season, he was able to fire a Sunday 63, which shows he can low here at the course.

It’s been three years since Casey has won a tournament (Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2021), but he’s been one of the top players on LIV this season and I think he can get it done at some point this season.

Mito Pereira +5000 (Bet365)

Since Mito Pereira’s unfortunate demise at the 2022 PGA Championship, he’s been extremely inconsistent. However, over the past few months, the Chilean has played well on the International Series as well as his most recent LIV start. Mito finished 8th at LIV Adelaide, which was his best LIV finish this season.

Last year, Pereira finished 5th at LIV Singapore, shooting fantastic rounds of 67-66-66. It makes sense why Mito would like Sentosa, as preeminent ball strikers tend to rise to the challenge of the golf course. He’s a great long iron player who is long and straight off the tee.

Mito has some experience playing in Asia and is one of the most talented players on LIV who’s yet to get in the winner’s circle. I have questions about whether or not he can come through once in contention, but if he gets there, I’m happy to roll the dice.

Andy Ogletree +15000 (DraftKings)

Andy Ogletree is a player I expected to have a strong 2024 but struggled early in his first full season on LIV. After failing to crack the top-25 in any LIV event this year, the former U.S. Amateur champion finally figured things out, finished in a tie for 3rd at LIV Adelaide.

Ogletree should be incredible comfortable playing in Singapore. He won the International Series Qatar last year and finished T3 at the International Series Singapore. The 26-year-old was arguably the best player on the Asian Tour in 2023 and has been fantastic in the continent over the past 18 months.

If Ogletree has indeed found form, he looks to be an amazing value at triple-digit odds.

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Opinion & Analysis

Ryan: Lessons from the worst golf instructor in America

Published

4 days ago

Apr 30, 2024

Brendan Ryan

In Tampa, there is a golf course that boasts carts that do not work, a water range, and a group of players none of which have any chance to break 80. The course is overseen by a staff of crusty men who have succeeded at nothing in life but ending up at the worst-run course in America. However, this place is no failure. With several other local courses going out of business — and boasting outstanding greens — the place is booked full.

While I came for the great greens, I stayed to watch our resident instructor; a poor-tempered, method teacher who caters to the hopeless. At first, it was simply hilarious. However, after months of listening and watching, something clicked. I realized I had a front-row seat to the worst golf instructor in America.

Here are some of my key takeaways.

Method Teacher

It is widely accepted that there are three types of golf instructors: system teachers, non-system teachers, and method teachers. Method teachers prescribe the same antidote for each student based on a preamble which teachers can learn in a couple day certification.

Method teaching allows anyone to be certified. This process caters to the lowest caliber instructor, creating the illusion of competency. This empowers these underqualified instructors with the moniker of “certified” to prey on the innocent and uninformed.

The Cult of Stack and Jilt

The Stack and Tilt website proudly boasts, “A golfer swings his hands inward in the backswing as opposed to straight back to 1) create power, similar to a field goal kicker moving his leg in an arc and 2) to promote a swing that is in-to-out, which produces a draw (and eliminates a slice).”

Now, let me tell you something, there is this law of the universe which says “energy can either be created or destroyed,” so either these guys are defying physics or they have no idea what they are taking about. Further, the idea that the first move of the backswing determines impact is conjecture with a splash of utter fantasy.

These are the pontifications of a method — a set of prescriptions applied to everyone with the hope of some success through the placebo effect. It is one thing for a naive student to believe, for a golf instructor to drink and then dispel this Kool-Aid is malpractice.

Fooled by Randomness

In flipping a coin, or even a March Madness bet, there is a 50-50 chance of success. In golf, especially for new players, results are asymmetric. Simply put: Anything can happen. The problem is that when bad instructors work with high handicappers, each and every shot gets its own diagnosis and prescription. Soon the student is overwhelmed.

Now here’s the sinister thing: The overwhelming information is by design. In this case, the coach is not trying to make you better, they are trying to make you reliant on them for information. A quasi Stockholm syndrome of codependency.

Practice

One of the most important scientists of the 20th century was Ivan Pavlov. As you might recall, he found that animals, including humans, could be conditioned into biological responses. In golf, the idea of practice has made millions of hackers salivate that they are one lesson or practice session from “the secret.”

Sunk Cost

The idea for the worst golf instructor is to create control and dependency so that clients ignore the sunk cost of not getting better. Instead, they are held hostage by the idea that they are one lesson or tip away from unlocking their potential.

Cliches

Cliches have the effect of terminating thoughts. However, they are the weapon of choice for this instructor. Add some hyperbole and students actually get no information. As a result, these players couldn’t play golf. When they did, they had no real scheme. With no idea what they are doing, they would descend into a spiral of no idea what to do, bad results, lower confidence, and running back to the lesson tee from more cliches.

The fact is that poor instruction is about conditioning players to become reliant members of your cult. To take away autonomy. To use practice as a form of control. To sell more golf lessons not by making people better but through the guise that without the teacher, the student can never reach their full potential. All under the umbrella of being “certified” (in a 2-day course!) and a melee of cliches.

This of course is not just happening at my muni but is a systemic problem around the country and around the world, the consequences of which are giving people a great reason to stop playing golf. But hey, at least it’s selling a lot of golf balls…

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans betting preview

Published

2 weeks ago

Apr 22, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

The PGA TOUR heads to New Orleans to play the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. In a welcome change from the usual stroke play, the Zurich Classic is a team event. On Thursday and Saturday, the teams play best ball, and on Friday and Sunday the teams play alternate shot.

TPC Louisiana is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards. The course features some short par 4s and plenty of water and bunkers, which makes for a lot of exciting risk/reward scenarios for competitors. Pete Dye designed the course in 2004 specifically for the Zurich Classic, although the event didn’t make its debut until 2007 because of Hurricane Katrina.

Coming off of the Masters and a signature event in consecutive weeks, the field this week is a step down, and understandably so. Many of the world’s top players will be using this time to rest after a busy stretch.

However, there are some interesting teams this season with some stars making surprise appearances in the team event. Some notable teams include Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala as well as a few Canadian teams, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin and Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners.

Past Winners at TPC Louisiana

2023: Riley/Hardy (-30)
2022: Cantlay/Schauffele (-29)
2021: Leishman/Smith (-20)
2019: Palmer/Rahm (-26)
2018: Horschel/Piercy (-22)
2017: Blixt/Smith (-27)

2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Picks

Tom Hoge/Maverick McNealy +2500 (DraftKings)

Tom Hoge is coming off of a solid T18 finish at the RBC Heritage and finished T13 at last year’s Zurich Classic alongside Harris English.

This season, Hoge is having one of his best years on Tour in terms of Strokes Gained: Approach. In his last 24 rounds, the only player to top him on the category is Scottie Scheffler. Hoge has been solid on Pete Dye designs, ranking 28th in the field over his past 36 rounds.

McNealy is also having a solid season. He’s finished T6 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and T9 at the PLAYERS Championship. He recently started working with world renowned swing coach, Butch Harmon, and its seemingly paid dividends in 2024.

Keith Mitchell/Joel Dahmen +4000 (DraftKings)

Keith Mitchell is having a fantastic season, finishing in the top-20 of five of his past seven starts on Tour. Most recently, Mitchell finished T14 at the Valero Texas Open and gained a whopping 6.0 strokes off the tee. He finished 6th at last year’s Zurich Classic.

Joel Dahmen is having a resurgent year and has been dialed in with his irons. He also has a T11 finish at the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass which is another Pete Dye track. With Mitchell’s length and Dahmen’s ability to put it close with his short irons, the Mitchell/Dahmen combination will be dangerous this week.

Taylor Moore/Matt NeSmith +6500 (DraftKings)

Taylor Moore has quickly developed into one of the more consistent players on Tour. He’s finished in the top-20 in three of his past four starts, including a very impressive showing at The Masters, finishing T20. He’s also finished T4 at this event in consecutive seasons alongside Matt NeSmith.

NeSmith isn’t having a great 2024, but has seemed to elevate his game in this format. He finished T26 at Pete Dye’s TPC Sawgrass, which gives the 30-year-old something to build off of. NeSmith is also a great putter on Bermudagrass, which could help elevate Moore’s ball striking prowess.

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