US mission for Ryder redemption
Beautiful Mount Juliet in the heart of Co Kilkenny is the stage for the American Express World Golf Championship, when 19 of the protagonists of Oakland Hills will be in action.
And though the Ryder Cup is already part of golfing history, the outcome of the latest clash of the two teams hasn't exactly receded from the memory! It would really sicken the Americans if they were upstaged once again by the Europeans, so this meeting so soon after Oakland Hills adds a delightful piquancy to what should in any case be a great occasion.
A World Championship played over 72 holes of strokeplay is light years away from 18 holes of matchplay for the Ryder Cup and if the world rankings count for anything and Hal Sutton was one of those unsure on that count last week then Mount Juliet should really be a battle between a whole host of Americans and South Africans.
Nevertheless, a certain Kevin Cook, editor of the widely-read Golf magazine in the States, will be ardently hoping the Yanks redeem themselves following the snide and wild comments directed at the Europeans in his column in the publication's October edition.
It's one thing to be ridiculously wrong in predicting the outcome of a sporting event, but another thing altogether to belittle professional golfers who have proven their quality many times, if not always in the US of A.
In explaining why the Americans would prevail at Oakhill (sic!) Cook wrote: "Our team will win the Ryder Cup showdown because the better golfer always wins. Eventually.
Europe's recent victories were aberrations. That's what makes sport worth watching every once or twice in a while, David smites Goliath, Buster Douglas decks Tyson, Paul McGinley beats a real golf pro."
The last of those possibilities is especially unworthy. McGinley has been one of the most consistent players on the European Tour for many years. He is also one of the most respected, articulate and well liked. He doesn't deserve that kind of treatment. And for the writer's information, in 2002 Paul didn't beat Jim Furyk, that famous putt on the 18th at The Belfry may have won the cup for Europe but it only halved his contest with Furyk.
Incidentally, Furyk captured the US Open last year. Does that not make him a "real pro"? Don't worry, there's lots more to come from Mr Cook. Like this gem: "There is always the thrilling chance that a spunky, lucky underdog will shock the world and slurp Dom Perignon from the trophy."
Actually, I believe Bernhard and his players chose Laurent Perrier this time round.
"America's golf team is so talented and so deep that Europe may wish there were a mercy rule," continues Mr Cook.
"The merciful move would be to give the Euros a Jim Furyk or Scott Verplank or two, because this Euro crew is not even the second best golf team in the world. That honour belongs to the Internationals of the biennial Presidents Cup Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen and company who would open a jumbo can of 'whup-bum' on the Euros if the teams ever met.
"Good luck to the Euros. They'll need it to keep the scores close. But all the good fortune in the world won't help them win, because this year the skill gap is so wide Tiger vs Pádraig, Phil vs ... Joakim? that it can't be bridged. The question this year is not whether Team USA will win, but how big the blowout will be. On the evening of September 19, European captain Bernhard Langer will shake hands with his US counterpart Hal Sutton and say 'the best team won'."
We'll give the writer the benefit of the doubt and accept his piece went to press before the European team was finalised. Joakim Haeggman was, of course, one of Langer's assistant captains and not a playing member of his side, but why the broadside at Pádraig Harrington? Mr Cook must be confined to his desk all year long without any contact with the outside world, otherwise he would know Padraig beat Tiger head to head in his own tournament in California in 2002 and ran up for the US Players Championship in each of the last two years.
Then again, the outcome at Oakland Hills only underlines just how hopelessly out of touch this clearly jingoistic American happens to be. To be absolutely fair, none of the US players or backroom team spoke in such a superior tone before, during or after the debacle that was their Ryder Cup.
Instead, they respected their opponents and if they, their supporters and many media people had a harsh word to say about anyone, it was about themselves! Who can forget the look on Tiger's face when Phil sprayed the infamous 18th hole tee shot into the woods on that fateful Friday afternoon?
My thanks to Niall Welch for forwarding a copy of the Golf magazine article. It and others in a similar vein had to be answered.
For now, the Ryder Cup is history and we move on this week to the American
Express World Championship at Mount Juliet and send a warm welcome to all our American visitors.
None will be exposed to ridicule of any kind but then again, Mr Kevin Cook, that's not the Irish way.
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