Lefty digs deep to provide ray of sunshine for Ryder Cup skipper Tom

Before Valhalla Golf Club was morphed into a yacht club and officials at the 96th US PGA Championship were forced to secure more life preservers for competitors, it was safe to say that Tom Watson had the roughest week of anyone.

Because he had made just one birdie in 36 holes and missed the cut? Nah. Come on, he’s securely cemented into the history books for his golf-playing prowess, and nothing he does now as a player will change any of that. You think a guy with five Claret Jugs gives a hoot about making a cut at the age of 64?

But Watson nearly two years ago took on the role of US Ryder Cup captain for 2014 and now that the big gamble is about to be called to the table, it’s difficult not to feel his pain. Especially after a week in which all news was bad news, or so it seemed.