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Ryder Cup Passion

Posted by: user33026 [FORUM MODERATOR] | Mon 22nd Sep 2008 10:14 | Last Reply

So we lost.  Disappointed, but it was probably best for the cup to keep it interesting.  The Europeans played well, but the Americans played just a bit better.  Congratulations to them and I'm really looking forward to my trip to the USA on Sunday.....

Now I noticed something over the three days that was especially prevalent during yesterday's singles that I believe is one of the key reasons that BooSA (great chant that!) won.  Passion.  Everyone one of their team really, really wanted it.  Every sunk puttt for halve was treated like an open winner and misses brought arms thrown to the heavens in apology and a determination to win the next hole.  There was little or none of this from many of the Europeans.  This 'gallic shrug golf' was summed up perfectly for me by Jimenez on the 14th green. 

He was 3 down with a putt to win the hole.  It goes in and 2 down with 4 to play has Furyk nervous and under pressure.  Miss it and 3 down with 4 to play is almost a guaranteed point for the USA.  He missed by a couple of inches.  Fine, that happens.  But the way he just strolled up and picked up his ball like as if he was the one who was 3 up riled me.  He didn't seem to care. 

Should I be bothered by this?  Is my will to win too great or should someone given an automatic selection as one of the top ten European golfers actually give a toss?  Would it have made a difference?  Thoughts anyone? 

re: Ryder Cup Passion
user33026 [FORUM MODERATOR]
Reply : Mon 22nd Sep 2008 12:01

I'm not assuming he didn't care JP, I just wish he looked like he did; like I said, he didn't seem to care.  I know some of the Americans can be a little over the top, but if you're playing for your continent, I want to see that it matters to them.  You can show some feelings without losing focus.  Unless you're Hunter Mahan of course......

re: Ryder Cup Passion
user33026 [FORUM MODERATOR]
Reply : Mon 22nd Sep 2008 13:29

Wilson only just stopped himself from burying his 6 iron after putting it right of the green.  And I applaud Garcia for keeping his cool when he obviously was out of it depsite Kim effectively using him as a headcover. 

You're missing my point JP.  I'm not after swearing, club throwing tantrums or doing laps of the green with their shirt over their head when they half the hole.  It would be nice if they would show that it mattered to them.  The Americans really wanted to win and weren't afraid to show it.  It just seemed they 'wanted it more' as they say in football and that can be the difference.  Some of the Europeans came across as if it didn't matter to them.  I don't see how showing a little desire and passion can play into the hands of your opponent unless it is an obvious head drop and showing your opponent how fired up you are can put them on a back foot. 


Last edit : Mon 22nd Sep 2008 13:30
re: Ryder Cup Passion
user33026 [FORUM MODERATOR]
Reply : Mon 22nd Sep 2008 15:20

He behaved, in my opinion, like he had two putts to win the hole and it didn't matter that the first one didn't drop.  Anything would've been better than nothing; even his eyes showed total non-commitance.  Something as simple as a glance to the heavens or a shake of the head would've at least showed that he gave a toss.  There was just no reaction at all. 

re: Ryder Cup Passion
user33026 [FORUM MODERATOR]
Reply : Mon 22nd Sep 2008 17:05

I didn't deduce, I said APPEARRED.  I'm sure he did give a toss, he just didn't APPEAR to.  And I honestly believe if ALL the Europeans showed the passion of the Americans and a desire to win it would rattle them and not play into their hands.  That's why the Americans whip up the crowd, to rattle the Europeans. 

And I don't think the Europeans played badly.  I heard a commentator say at one point about one player (Wilson I think) after ten holes; "If he'd have played [the same opponent] yesterday with the round he's got now, he'd be four up".  At that point he was three down.  The Americans wanted it more on singles day and stepped up their game to a new level - one of them went out in 29!  Simple as that.

re: Ryder Cup Passion
user93950
Reply : Mon 22nd Sep 2008 18:12

We are all golfers here, and we all know how hard it is to hit the perfect shot, make the perfect putt, etc.  And we all know how irritating it is to play with people who go ballistic when they miss a shot or a putt.  None of that happened with any of these guys on either side.

But my country was taken to task today by some co workers saying that American fans are rude.  Then I remind them that all home teams in every sport has the emotion of playing in front of their fans which is why it's called home field advantage.  I've watched Ryder Cups on both sides of the pond and fans over here are just as supportive on the course as the American fans.  Fans are fans, no matter which country you are from.  That said, those moron's who constantly shout "In the hole" should be escorted off every course in the USA because it's just plain stupid.

And to say that Faldo failed, or that the Euro's choked is just as crazy.  It's golf man.  Passion or not, one still has to hit the ball and both sides hit some unreal shots this weekend.  The USA guys just hit a few more that's all. 

re: Ryder Cup Passion
user26342
Reply : Mon 22nd Sep 2008 19:53

Michael,

I don't recall Westwood or Clarke riding their driver down the 1st hole to get the crowd behind them. Even the US commentators were saying how annoying the BOO-SA chant was.

Boo was even told by his team captain to stop geeing up the crowd in between shots, fair play to him he apologised to Westwood after.

My point is that all players show emotion when they hole a crucial putt or hit it stiff to the flag but he was doing it after every shot.

 I think I saw Poulter have a go at Kim when he started going ballistic after someone had hit a good shot to one of the par 3's & Kim wasn't even playing.

I'm all for home advantage but as Westwood said "these fans don't know the difference between suppoting their own team &  putting the other team down".

John,


Last edit : Mon 22nd Sep 2008 19:53

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