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tyler

By tyler
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utopastac

utopastac

Posted
Posted
Gutted. I agree with Faldo's choice today though, shouldn't have left the best 4 to last especially when you are behind. We needed the points on board first with the big hitters.

I don't really see how changing the order would have helped you guys at all. If Sergio can't open, then no one on your team could have done. Apart from Tiger, he's easily the best ball-striker in the world. Harrington has been totally off form all weekend, and there's some value in having quality in the bottom order (Poulter) in case you'd have actually needed those matches to be won. I think Faldo called it right, personally. If you look at the pairings, any of them could have gone either way, but I think that would have been basically true whatever order people went out in. I don't think his picks were in any way controversial, nor the pairings, nor the order in which they played. Falso is fantastic and a great, hugely charismatic asset. I look forward to Woosnam stepping forward over Faldo, the short boring moody wanker.

All in all, it was an excellent match, played with an intensity and spirt beyond any that i've seen since I started watching golf (1995). Both teams were playing fantastic golf, the course was set up right, both captains were excellent and the crowd were almost wholly wonderful. I know a lot of people complain about American crowds, but they create the atmosphere, the pressure. There has to be some point in playing it home and away. Excellent entertainment!

I do think there would be value, on the whole, in a shotgun start from the singles. It would take away a little of the 'tv drama' but you wouldn't end up with so many pointless ties. Everyone would always have something to play for. :D

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choddo

choddo

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Eh? You don't sound American?

Well played Yanks, that was a great Ryder Cup. Seeing Perry close to tears in the interview at the end of his match, talking about it being a swansong to his career, was very moving. One thing with golfers, you rarely get a crap interview and Paul Casey for example, gives some fantastic post-match chat.

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Gabe

Gabe

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Well done the US, the scoreline probably is a little bit flattering, although that said we had too many players who just didn't perform. Harrington (especially), Garcia, Westwood, Casey and Jimenez - they should all take a look at their performances and be thankful the rest of the team saved it from being even more of a rout. Everybody should buy Ian Poulter a brewery by way of thanks, or something, I'm really glad he performed.

I think the pairings were all pretty good, and the order for the singles was fine. As Casey said, I think the middle-order (except for maybe Furyk) played above themselves, and had one of Stenson, Hasen or Wilson won and the others halved, you would have then been in to a strong lower order (on paper, at least). So I don't really think you can say much could have been changed over the course of the event - other than maybe the argument should have been made for Clarke's inclusion instead of Casey :D

Just out of interest, when asked if he'd consider doing it again, Faldo said there were some niggling things along the way - anybody know what he was referring to?

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choddo

choddo

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Posted
Well done the US, the scoreline probably is a little bit flattering, although that said we had too many players who just didn't perform. Harrington (especially), Garcia, Westwood, Casey and Jimenez - they should all take a look at their performances and be thankful the rest of the team saved it from being even more of a rout. Everybody should buy Ian Poulter a brewery by way of thanks, or something, I'm really glad he performed.

I think the pairings were all pretty good, and the order for the singles was fine. As Casey said, I think the middle-order (except for maybe Furyk) played above themselves, and had one of Stenson, Hasen or Wilson won and the others halved, you would have then been in to a strong lower order (on paper, at least). So I don't really think you can say much could have been changed over the course of the event - other than maybe the argument should have been made for Clarke's inclusion instead of Casey ^_^

Just out of interest, when asked if he'd consider doing it again, Faldo said there were some niggling things along the way - anybody know what he was referring to?

Sandwichgate? :D

Ooh, quick request; I've looked in the usual places for some highlights shows of the tournament days, from the BBC or elsewhere, but with surprisingly little luck. If anyone knows where I could acquire one from, even if some come up for just the overall tournament, that'd be grand.

BBC2 isn't it?

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Gabe

Gabe

Posted
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Sandwichgate? :D

I thought he meant further back during all the build-up?

Having a quick look on the 606 website (never a great place to go for discussion, that's for sure), it seems the Faldo-crucifying is in full-flow. Seems his media-handling is a big problem for many - was he really that bad? I admit to not having seen much of the build-up over the last few months, did he make any gaffes?

It also seems strange to make him the scapegoat when the top-3 Europeans on paper just didn't perform at all - if you're completely off your game I'm not sure what you can expect a captain to really do about that! I hope the press don't go overboard and marr what has been a fantastic spectacle, which really was a lot closer than a 5-point margin suggests, IMO.

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utopastac

utopastac

Posted
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I didn't think it was that bad, but then I love the way he commentates, and it was just really similar to that. I don't think he ever took it massively seriously, but to be honest I think that's a good thing. The Presidents cup is much more fun to watch, mainly because it's much more friendly. Anyone remember the presidents cup that was halfed a few years ago, with Tiger and Ernie up-seperable after their epic singles match? The played a couple of extra holes, then looked at each other and just shook hands, match halved. You wouldn't get that in the Ryder cup anymore. I do think we take it a touch too seriously over here, the coverage is very po-faced.

Eh? You don't sound American?

My mother is American, though i've never lived over there. Please don't hold it against me. :D

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Distinct muttering

Distinct muttering

Posted
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Its a shame we were never able to get it really close on the points front, although at times the leaderboard did look quite favourable for us. I think people would have taken more heart to see us with points up there and inspired them, as such I think Faldo should shoulder some of the blame there (that said the "best" players didnt really perform anyway).

I think Harrington struggled with the expectation on his shoulders. Strangely I think if Tiger had been playing he would have been better, he just didnt seem to handle the headline billing very well.

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utopastac

utopastac

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as such I think Faldo should shoulder some of the blame there (that said the "best" players didnt really perform anyway).

Perhaps, but the course wasn't set up for them really (apart from Sergio). Harrington is never going to shine on an American course that easy - it doesn't rely on grinding and concentration, it's just about birdying every other hole. It's interesting that people think the American middle order outplayed themselves, particularly coming from someone like Casey (I didn't see the interview). Every single person on the american team is a multiple winner on the PGA Tour. How many of the European team have ever won on the US tour? Sergio, Harrington...and? I'm not even sure Westwood ever has done, certainly not in the last 5 years. It was a very 'American' course. Maybe that's why Clarke should have been picked, as a multiple winner in American with a game designed for American courses.

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milko

milko

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Posted

Did Westwood cop some abuse from the crowd that wasn't really picked up on TV? He seems really angry about it but all I could see that was possibly a bit much was people cheering a bit OTT before holes were complete ie after the americans had holed out but before the european guy could take his chance to level the hole. Then again even then so what, they're the home crowd.

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utopastac

utopastac

Posted
Posted
Did Westwood cop some abuse from the crowd that wasn't really picked up on TV? He seems really angry about it but all I could see that was possibly a bit much was people cheering a bit OTT before holes were complete ie after the americans had holed out but before the european guy could take his chance to level the hole. Then again even then so what, they're the home crowd.

there were probably a few twats handing out personal insults when they were walking by the galleries. He could have easily had them thrown out at the time, but I guess you don't want to let it distract you. I remember a few years ago Davis Love had someone chucke dout in an event (world matchplay?) for shouting 'no love!' after he'd taken his tee shot. :lol:

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Gabe

Gabe

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Great leaders inspire people to perform better rather than worse though.

His speech before the event was apalling, from what I've heard. He's also got a reputation as an arrogant bastard.

He apparently has changed a lot from when he was a player, mellowed a bit and certainly is very highly-regarded as a commentator these days, but yeah, there will always be the stigma that he's an arrogant bastard. He did come across as a bit bumbling in his interviews that I saw, mind.

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Gabe

Gabe

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Perhaps, but the course wasn't set up for them really (apart from Sergio). Harrington is never going to shine on an American course that easy - it doesn't rely on grinding and concentration, it's just about birdying every other hole. It's interesting that people think the American middle order outplayed themselves, particularly coming from someone like Casey (I didn't see the interview). Every single person on the american team is a multiple winner on the PGA Tour. How many of the European team have ever won on the US tour? Sergio, Harrington...and? I'm not even sure Westwood ever has done, certainly not in the last 5 years. It was a very 'American' course. Maybe that's why Clarke should have been picked, as a multiple winner in American with a game designed for American courses.

Yeah, Casey wasn't the right person to talk about people playing above themselves when he was so disappointing. But saying they've all won on the US tour is a bit of a red-herring really; how many of that team have won in Europe? How many have even ever *been* to Europe? Likewise, how many of the European team *regularly* play in the US? There's no doubt that home advantage has a massive impact; in recent history at least, the US don't travel well, whilst the Europeans are getting stronger (and more consistent) away from home.

I think it helps to make it a fantastic competiton though, period, and I think it is one of the best team events in any sport - I was praising the virtues of the format to my other half at the weekend - one of the few sports AFAIK where every member of the squad is guaranteed to play a part.

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Gabe

Gabe

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I didn't think it was that bad, but then I love the way he commentates, and it was just really similar to that. I don't think he ever took it massively seriously, but to be honest I think that's a good thing. The Presidents cup is much more fun to watch, mainly because it's much more friendly. Anyone remember the presidents cup that was halfed a few years ago, with Tiger and Ernie up-seperable after their epic singles match? The played a couple of extra holes, then looked at each other and just shook hands, match halved. You wouldn't get that in the Ryder cup anymore. I do think we take it a touch too seriously over here, the coverage is very po-faced.

When is the President's Cup held then? And does it get any UK coverage (BBC or Sky)?

And just a final note about Faldo (I'm begining to feel like an apologist for him!), I think saying he wasn't taking it seriously was massively unfair - he came across to me as somebody who was really caught up in the emotion of the event (didn't he nearly cry at one of the press briefings?), and I just sensed a real enthusiasm from him.

I do think his reasons for accepting the job were possibly to gain him a bit more adoration and fame over here and Europe in general (had he won), and also that his brow-beating may have had to be tempered somewhat to avoid antagonising his US-employers (whomever he does commentary for), but I do think he took it very seriously.

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