The Golf Thread

[NumberSix]

Garcia’s story is different. He’s had a few knocks but they’ve all been of the professional variety and he is young and talented enough to take them in his stride.

He might not have delivered in the majors yet but he is a major-league performer in this event. A bit like Monty, he putts in Ryder Cups as well as Tiger putts every week on tour.

And he also pulled off the most remarkable recovery shot I have ever witnessed, and I’m not sure the TV cameras picked it up because his drive was so wayward he was off their radar. The on-course radio commentary certainly knew nothing about it but the 500 or so who witnessed it will never forget it.

The shot came at par-four 11th. It dog-legs left and the Spaniard was clearly thinking about that when he hooked his drive into within 20 yards of the 12th tee, which is what everybody around me was looking at when his ball clattered into us and came to a rest under a tree.

At first nobody could work out where the ball had come from. It was that bad. But then Sergio came bouncing up the hill towards us, politely asked the crowds to part so he could see where the green was and then started to plan a flight path.

What followed was stunning. From an uphill lie, he sent the ball high over a huge oak tree that stood about 50 yards in front of him, blocking his way to the pin. Having cleared that, he managed to bring his ball to a halt, 10ft to the left of the pin.

Middle-aged men were hugging and high-fiving each other all around me. It was pure Seve Ballesteros genius.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/rydercup/2006/0...as_genius.shtml

[Sideshow]

Enjoing your 'top' pairing getting beaten by a team off form?

1-0!

Enjoying all your players getting the beating of their lives?

Eat it American boy!!!

[Girth Certificate]

that was a thing of utter beauty from Paul Casey

[Lilywhite]

Got his tee today, Paul Casey's that is

It was an amazing day at the K Club a great experience loved every minute of it.

An america boy have it!!! 10-6

[choddo]

That hole in one was the most fucking amazing thing I've seen in sport since Beckham's free kick against Greece. My & the boy child were jumping up & down & high fiving each other for hours

Are you saying you got the actual tee from that shot Lilywhite??!

And NumberSix, the TV cameras did get Garcia's recovery shot from the crap. It was awesome. That guy is sublime. I wish I had 10% of the talent of these guys.

[Lilywhite]

Are you saying you got the actual tee from that shot Lilywhite??!

Nah I wish only got one off him from the practice range Was unbelievable to actually witness the Ryder Cup and it to be in my hometown is amazing a place with around only 1500 people living here.

Also got to talk to the Irish rugby star Brian O Driscoll ,What a nice chap. Got a nod from Tiger himself too

[tyler]

That hole in one was the most fucking amazing thing I've seen in sport since Beckham's free kick against Greece. My & the boy child were jumping up & down & high fiving each other for hours

It was such a great moment. The Ryder Cup has been great so far and even at 10-6 the americans have a chance tomorrow. The time passes so fast though, a group of us stared at the TV for nearly 10 hours. We even totally forgot about the football which is a bonus really as MoTD is always better without knowing the scores (cue evil souls posting the results...)

[utopastac]

It was such a great moment. The Ryder Cup has been great so far and even at 10-6 the americans have a chance tomorrow.

1999.

All depends on the order of play, in my opinion. Honestly though, and i'm not just saying this, I think a lot of the Europeons have been annoymous at best. Harrington and McGinley were shit today, David Howell was poor, Stenson was poor and so was Colin.

Casey has been the star, by an absolute mile, along with Sergio. I do think Luke/Sergio have been really lucky to have walked away with 2 wins in the foursomes, though.

All about putting tomorrow; I still think the Americans will win.

[Lilywhite]

All about putting tomorrow; I still think the Americans will win.

like u toht americaa wud win all the othr days. get the boat ya bollix

[utopastac]

like u toht americaa wud win all the othr days. get the boat ya bollix

Yeah, i'm absolutely CERTAIN that makes sense.

Seriously though, i've predicted America behind or level every day. 10-6 can become 11-10 very quickly in singles...still though, 14.5-13.5 to USA. And i'm not even American.

[Lilywhite]

Yeah, i'm absolutely CERTAIN that makes sense.

Seriously though, i've predicted America behind or level every day. 10-6 can become 11-10 very quickly in singles...still though, 14.5-13.5 to USA. And i'm not even American.

yeyeye we wil see.

[utopastac]

1115 Colin Montgomerie v David Toms

1127 Sergio Garcia v Stewart Cink

1139 Paul Casey v Jim Furyk

1151 Robert Karlsson v Tiger Woods

1203 Luke Donald v Chad Campbell

1215 Paul McGinley v JJ Henry

1227 Darren Clarke v Zach Johnson

1239 Henrik Stenson v Vaughn Taylor

1251 David Howell v Brett Wetterich

1303 Jose Maria Olazabal v Phil Mickelson

1315 Lee Westwood v Chris DiMarco

1327 Padraig Harrington v Scott Verplank

See, out of those, I find it hard to pick any certain wins either way. I guess it helps you guys that you only really need halves. But, to any real and regular golf fans, would you really bet against any of the Americans (apart from Brett...) in any of those pairings? I wouldn't, but that's just matchplay.

[Lilywhite]

1115 Colin Montgomerie v David Toms MONTY

1127 Sergio Garcia v Stewart Cink SERGIO

1139 Paul Casey v Jim Furyk HALVE

1151 Robert Karlsson v Tiger Woods WOODS

1203 Luke Donald v Chad Campbell LUKE

1215 Paul McGinley v JJ Henry HALVE

1227 Darren Clarke v Zach Johnson DARREN

1239 Henrik Stenson v Vaughn Taylor HENRIK

1251 David Howell v Brett Wetterich HOWELL

1303 Jose Maria Olazabal v Phil Mickelson HALVE

1315 Lee Westwood v Chris DiMarco LEE

1327 Padraig Harrington v Scott Verplank VERPLANK

See, out of those, I find it hard to pick any certain wins either way. I guess it helps you guys that you only really need halves. But, to any real and regular golf fans, would you really bet against any of the Americans (apart from Brett...) in any of those pairings? I wouldn't, but that's just matchplay.

thats how i see it but im fairly locked ah well wooooo cmon the ryder cup yeee

[choddo]

that was bloody sneaky pushing Furyk & Woods back 2 places

[choddo]

wtf is Sergio doing?

[tyler]

I think Cink is just firing in the birdies.

[The_Jack]

1999.

All depends on the order of play, in my opinion. Honestly though, and i'm not just saying this, I think a lot of the Europeons have been annoymous at best. Harrington and McGinley were shit today, David Howell was poor, Stenson was poor and so was Colin.

Casey has been the star, by an absolute mile, along with Sergio. I do think Luke/Sergio have been really lucky to have walked away with 2 wins in the foursomes, though.

All about putting tomorrow; I still think the Americans will win.

God this is embarrassing. I'd be embarrassed. Are you embarrassed? I would be.

More 2004 than 1999 it seems.

[choddo]

Nah, fair enough, we're only up in 8.

McGinley, Howell, Clark all doing very well. Westwood is kicking arse. Such a brilliant pick by Woosnam.

And Casey has been awesome.

Karlsson is doing well to keep Woods in check too. With the way Woods has been playing, that could end up halved (although I'm a big Tiger fan and would like to see him win it)

[tyler]

McGinley, Howell, Clark all doing very well. Westwood is kicking arse. Such a brilliant pick by Woosnam.

Pretty much all the picks, for both teams, have worked out great. I think the Americans have suffered from their odd qualifying system. They needed players like Davis Love here. The Ryder Cup isn't about form, though to be fair the rookies have handled themselves well.

[McFly]

Yes! 3 in a row boys

[tyler]

Amazing scenes as Clarke finished up. Man hugs all round.

[choddo]

Was it a good idea for McGinley to give away that half point & throw away the points gap record?

[tyler]

That was a bit baffling.

Steve Williams dropping Woods' 9 Iron into the water at the eighth. Did they mention if the divers found it?

What a performance from the Europeans though, on all 3 days. Casey, Monty, Westwood, Clarke, Garcia and the rest. Everyone did their bit.

[Exit Chamber]

Enjoing your 'top' pairing getting beaten by a team off form?

1-0!

It took a while, but I have decided this is the post I'd most like to sayLOL to Hope you enjoyed the friendly banter.

*edit* Oh, and well done to the European team!

[choddo]

Oh and o/\o to Verplank for that Hole-in-1.

I pissed myself when Harrington went for the half.

[Sideshow]

Amazing scenes.

The americans were outclassed all weekend. We're going to be the favourites again next time too, which is unheard of. The younger European players will be winning majors for many years to come.

[IR354Lifeqhybot]

It's still one of the best sporting events there is. But this afternoon it lacked that usual gut wrenching nervousness as the Europeans were just far too good for the Americans. Darren Clarke was just immense. I wouldn't have be able to leave the house after what he's been through. But to play the golf he did under those conditions was just superb and he deserves all the plaudits he will undoubtedly receive.

[choddo]

Amazing scenes.

The americans were outclassed all weekend. We're going to be the favourites again next time too, which is unheard of. The younger European players will be winning majors for many years to come.

Given the number of years none of them have bothered winning one for, it's about bloody time

[utopastac]

Amazing scenes.

The americans were outclassed all weekend. We're going to be the favourites again next time too, which is unheard of. The younger European players will be winning majors for many years to come.

Without a major between them already (excpet Olazabel)?

Fair play, though. Absolutely solidly beaten by a better team. I still had faith we'd get a draw EVEN when it went to 14 and you were up in every other match bar Verplanks (who played awesome both times he played - why not MORE!) but that's just how much of a BLIND FAN I am.

It does sadden me that the youngest player on our team is the world number one, the best player in the world and a living legend. Who's over 30.

We were definetly beaten on the greens though, which is a shame, becasue the USA team is full of great putters. I'm glad that the only bet I placed this tournament was Cink to beat Garcia, becasue he did throw in some utter shit with his brilliance in the fourballs and foursomes.

See you in two years, Faldo.

EDIT -

I know this is always bound to be heavily biased, but I think it does a real disservice to the American team, especially Tiger. It's also exceptionally generous to Padraig, who was fucking awful and Karlson and stenson were no better than Toms. OH WELL.

[utopastac]

This is the first year in 5 that I haven't just taken this weekend off to watch from start to finish, so i'll be constantly updating the BBC website all day. It's normally one of my highlights of the year.

Tiger to win, obviously.