Ryder Cup
A) Players/Teams:
Europe has chosen its players well. Despite the LIV Tour, the Europeans always choose many players not household names; but become famous with their play in the Ryder Cup. Tyrell Hatton despite being a multi-year blow torch for years on European play brought some competitive spirit into the European Camp. Hatton’s demeanor for many matches borders on unsportsmanlike conduct. The Ryder Cup play demands a feisty spirit to inspire your team. The American team did not have that same competitive spirit. Americans were quite good; but silent during crunch time (first day). George Custer stood a better chance than the Americans on opening day. Leaving Bruce Koepke, Patrick Reed, and yes – even Keegan Bradley off the team made no sense. We are in this to win; not tie or put on a show. Enough.
B) Difficult Course:
The NYC course Bethpage had rough close to Augusta National. At times players were rewarded for landing in the rough because the ball repeatedly stood up with a nice lie. Wedges into the 18th hole? When did golf design change from a long iron on the last hole to a par being a failure? I understand it is the same for both teams; but balls sprayed still ended up being pars due to the short length of the 18th hole.
C) Scoring:
The match play setup (real golf) is second to none. There is a total of 28 points. Fourteen points by the previous winner secures the Ryder Cup. Thus, in all sports comparably by if you tie, then you win if you won during the last competition. Golf matches, football and basketball games, ping pong, hockey, baseball, and virtually all sports excepting soccer declare a winner. This is a totally dumb Ryder Cup rule. The tied matches keep going with sudden death (first to score lower on a hole) on all days. There is no half points awarded for any matches. An extra singles match on Sunday is added for 29 points; therefore, we will have a clearcut winner. The answer is a playoff on Sunday (all players that receive a half point upon a tie should playoff until a disparity in score occurs (1-up). Please remove the half point Europe received for an injured player. If a soccer goalie, QB, starting basketball center, or hockey forward is injured, the teams play: “next man up.” Who engineered this rule…. because fake injuries occur.
D) Fans:
NYC and elsewhere fans at Bethpage who are unsportsmanlike should be removed immediately (not warned). Spilling beer on Europeans’ player wives, shouting during backswings, and voluntarily distracting a player is immediate removal from the golf course. Bethpage waited until the last day. The US and Bethpage failed.
D) Coverage:
NBC did a marvelous job of analyzing the matches, players, and course. Many holes had simultaneous critical putts or shots that demanded great coverage. Television was better than being present at the matches. There was tremendous golf all 3 days. I did not want the Europeans to jump to a killer lead; but did enjoy their competitive play and spirit until Sunday. Keegan Bradley like all captains took the heat for the loss; but realize it is a crap shoot. Steve Stricker at Whistling Straits did not play politics; and won by playing the hot players. Bradley should have played; and being a captain after one chooses the matches for the next day is in stature/name only. A captain walks around the course with no real effect on play. Yes, Keegan Bradley could have been a player-coach – instead of walking around the course with a forlorn look knowing he should have been playing. Yes, Keegan Bradley as a great should have been the player coach for the Americans. Setting up teams and order of play is a few minutes of crap shoot – nothing more. Americans need to play well and get back into the Ryder Cup so they do not have to win virtually all the singles matches on Sunday for the Cup. Change the rules and strategy of Ryder Cup play.