Along For The Ryde
http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/588/1/Along-For-The-Ryde/Along-For-The-Ryde.html
Phil O'Neill
By Phil O'Neill
Published on 09/22/2006
Tiger Woods and his American teammates are off to a good start in the 2006 Ryder Cup after nearly a decade of poor showings. ASM's Phil O'Neill previews the tournament.
Tiger Woods and his American teammates are off to a good start in the 2006 Ryder Cup after nearly a decade of poor showings. ASM's Phil O'Neill previews the tournament.
Along For The Ryde
After two decades of dominance, Europe’s Ryder Cup team is brimming with confidence heading into this weekend’s event at Ireland’s K Club.
With only three outright wins in the last 10 tournaments, questions have been raised about the U.S. Ryder Cup selection process and the overall spirit of the team.
In 2004 the underdog European squad demoralized the U.S. team on their home turf at Oakland Hills (Mich.)
The 18 ˝ point total amassed by the Europeans was the largest total earned by either team since 1979 and the winning margin of nine points meant that the American team suffered their worse defeat in Ryder Cup history.
Such a defeat was particularly hard to take for American golf fans, particularly since they seemingly had the stronger team. Boasting three of the top six players in the world and players who had the experience of winning Major championships, many golf experts predicted the U.S. would win in a landslide.
This prediction was seemingly backed up by the fact that the European team only boasted one player in the top 10 and no Major championship wins. Individual talent and the ability to withstand extreme pressure seemed to lie firmly in the American camp. Maybe the American team underestimated Europe, something which you would not expect a repeat of this time around.
However, the virtues of having a strong team spirit need to be analysed when discussing the below par performances of the American team compared with a European team who continue to surpass all expectations.
Under normal circumstances golf would be considered an individual sport. Players rely on their own talent and mental strength to be the best and succeed in the major tournaments on the golfing circuit.
The Ryder Cup is completely the opposite. It is a team game where talent and application are not the only required ingredients for success. Inflated egos have no place in a team environment. This is a tournament where world rankings and individual tournament success count for nothing.
Rumours of players not getting on in recent American Ryder Cup teams have been rife. There are many theories on why this could be. It could be something as simple as personality clashes outside of golf, but if this were the case you would hope the player’s professionalism would take care of it.
If the rumours of unrest in the American camp are to be believed then it could be down to a clashing of egos. Players such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have enjoyed much success on the PGA tour, but the single mindedness required to be an individual champion could have an adverse effect in a team based tournament.
With only three outright wins in the last 10 tournaments, questions have been raised about the U.S. Ryder Cup selection process and the overall spirit of the team.
In 2004 the underdog European squad demoralized the U.S. team on their home turf at Oakland Hills (Mich.)
The 18 ˝ point total amassed by the Europeans was the largest total earned by either team since 1979 and the winning margin of nine points meant that the American team suffered their worse defeat in Ryder Cup history.
Such a defeat was particularly hard to take for American golf fans, particularly since they seemingly had the stronger team. Boasting three of the top six players in the world and players who had the experience of winning Major championships, many golf experts predicted the U.S. would win in a landslide.
This prediction was seemingly backed up by the fact that the European team only boasted one player in the top 10 and no Major championship wins. Individual talent and the ability to withstand extreme pressure seemed to lie firmly in the American camp. Maybe the American team underestimated Europe, something which you would not expect a repeat of this time around.
However, the virtues of having a strong team spirit need to be analysed when discussing the below par performances of the American team compared with a European team who continue to surpass all expectations.
Under normal circumstances golf would be considered an individual sport. Players rely on their own talent and mental strength to be the best and succeed in the major tournaments on the golfing circuit.
The Ryder Cup is completely the opposite. It is a team game where talent and application are not the only required ingredients for success. Inflated egos have no place in a team environment. This is a tournament where world rankings and individual tournament success count for nothing.
Rumours of players not getting on in recent American Ryder Cup teams have been rife. There are many theories on why this could be. It could be something as simple as personality clashes outside of golf, but if this were the case you would hope the player’s professionalism would take care of it.
If the rumours of unrest in the American camp are to be believed then it could be down to a clashing of egos. Players such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have enjoyed much success on the PGA tour, but the single mindedness required to be an individual champion could have an adverse effect in a team based tournament.
Along For The Ryde
Historically, team sports throughout the world have examples of teams packed full of individual talent that fail to deliver. Spanish soccer side Real Madrid has suffered recently from their ‘galactico’ policy of buying top named players for top money.
Despite initial success the plan started to falter as the individual ego’s of the top players affected team spirit. Rumours of player power circulated as individual stars put their own need for the spot light ahead of team success.
By no means am I suggesting that the way forward for America would be to select a team with out the two best players in the World involved. Perhaps what America has been missing recently is a strong enough captain to force these players to leave their egos at the door when they check in for Ryder Cup duty.
During the preparation period for the tournament there have been countless stories about a more unified American team, with Tiger Woods as its pillar of strength and solidarity. Time will tell if the pre-tournament team building will result in a championship, but much has been written about this American team being a ‘team’ for the first time in a long time.
Team Europe on the other hand, does not appear to suffer from a lack of team spirit. While the team is packed full of top-drawer players, there are no real stars. Everybody works hard trying to pull the team in the right direction.
Team Europe’s Colin Montgomerie epitomises this spirit with an attitude of ‘putting team needs before my own personal Ryder Cup record.’ At the same time though, it is baffling that a man who has never lost Ryder Cup singles match and whose overall record would stand up against anyone in the history of the tournament has not been able carry that success over to the Major Championships.
In a team sport everyone has a role to play whether that is in the front-line of the competition or in a supporting role.
I believe that this years Ryder Cup will be a lot more closely contested than in 2004. For one, the American team will not be allowed to underestimate the European team by captain Tom Lehman, who will also be hoping that the humiliation attached to the 2004 score-line will push his team on to victory.
The European team can also justifiably claim to have more international golfing experience than their American counter-parts. America have a side including the current top three ranked players in the World but one that may also includes several players who have never played golf internationally before.
A strong start by Europe may knock the confidence of the young American side and may test the team spirit that I believe is so vital at this level.
European captain Ian Woosnam certainly believes a lack of experience playing in Europe will give his side the upper-hand.
He said: “It can be windy in Ireland in September. Are they going to be used to those conditions? As things stand at the moment, I think we have a big advantage.”
Despite initial success the plan started to falter as the individual ego’s of the top players affected team spirit. Rumours of player power circulated as individual stars put their own need for the spot light ahead of team success.
By no means am I suggesting that the way forward for America would be to select a team with out the two best players in the World involved. Perhaps what America has been missing recently is a strong enough captain to force these players to leave their egos at the door when they check in for Ryder Cup duty.
During the preparation period for the tournament there have been countless stories about a more unified American team, with Tiger Woods as its pillar of strength and solidarity. Time will tell if the pre-tournament team building will result in a championship, but much has been written about this American team being a ‘team’ for the first time in a long time.
Team Europe on the other hand, does not appear to suffer from a lack of team spirit. While the team is packed full of top-drawer players, there are no real stars. Everybody works hard trying to pull the team in the right direction.
Team Europe’s Colin Montgomerie epitomises this spirit with an attitude of ‘putting team needs before my own personal Ryder Cup record.’ At the same time though, it is baffling that a man who has never lost Ryder Cup singles match and whose overall record would stand up against anyone in the history of the tournament has not been able carry that success over to the Major Championships.
In a team sport everyone has a role to play whether that is in the front-line of the competition or in a supporting role.
I believe that this years Ryder Cup will be a lot more closely contested than in 2004. For one, the American team will not be allowed to underestimate the European team by captain Tom Lehman, who will also be hoping that the humiliation attached to the 2004 score-line will push his team on to victory.
The European team can also justifiably claim to have more international golfing experience than their American counter-parts. America have a side including the current top three ranked players in the World but one that may also includes several players who have never played golf internationally before.
A strong start by Europe may knock the confidence of the young American side and may test the team spirit that I believe is so vital at this level.
European captain Ian Woosnam certainly believes a lack of experience playing in Europe will give his side the upper-hand.
He said: “It can be windy in Ireland in September. Are they going to be used to those conditions? As things stand at the moment, I think we have a big advantage.”
Along For The Ryde
However, Tom Lehman, whilst acknowledging the fact that his side will start as underdogs, believes the emergence of fresh talent with an appetite to win could work in his teams favour.
He said: “You know, the young guys are really hungry. They are really motivated to be part of this team.
"You can't replace the attitude of guys who have a bit of a competitive chip on their shoulder. They have something to prove. That's a great way to play golf. They have this bit of an edge to them. I like that.”
Lehman also indicated what his opening partnership would be for the 2006 competition, an admission which may also indicate he is also well aware that team spirit and chemistry is every bit as important as individual talent and success in a team game.
Woods and Mickelson were paired together on the first day of competition in 2004 in what was billed as a dream partnership. Both went on to lose their matches, enhancing rumours of bad blood between the pair that had surfaced after Mickelson refused to practise with the rest of the team on the two days prior to the tournament.
However Woods’ successful pairing with world No 3 Jim Furyk at the Presidents Cup has led Lehman to confirm that: “Now I can start with Furyk and Tiger. That seems to be a strong option.”
This admission could suggest that Lehman’s captaincy will be about picking the strongest partnerships based on overall chemistry, unlike previous captain Hal Sutton, who paired the current top two golfers in the world in 2004 with the logic that they would be successful because of their ranking whilst ignoring the obvious tensions that existed between them.
What ever does happen at the K Club this weekend, you can be sure of one thing, it will be fiercely competitive. Team USA face the mighty challenge of proving out on the course that they are not a bunch of talented individuals who cannot work as a team.
Europe on the other hand faces the challenge of expectancy. For the first time it is they who are expected to win as the American side face the unusual prospect of being tagged as underdogs. Will the side be able to cope with this pressure? Only time will tell if their team spirit is enough to make history and score Europe their first ever hat-rick of consecutive wins.
He said: “You know, the young guys are really hungry. They are really motivated to be part of this team.
"You can't replace the attitude of guys who have a bit of a competitive chip on their shoulder. They have something to prove. That's a great way to play golf. They have this bit of an edge to them. I like that.”
Lehman also indicated what his opening partnership would be for the 2006 competition, an admission which may also indicate he is also well aware that team spirit and chemistry is every bit as important as individual talent and success in a team game.
Woods and Mickelson were paired together on the first day of competition in 2004 in what was billed as a dream partnership. Both went on to lose their matches, enhancing rumours of bad blood between the pair that had surfaced after Mickelson refused to practise with the rest of the team on the two days prior to the tournament.
However Woods’ successful pairing with world No 3 Jim Furyk at the Presidents Cup has led Lehman to confirm that: “Now I can start with Furyk and Tiger. That seems to be a strong option.”
This admission could suggest that Lehman’s captaincy will be about picking the strongest partnerships based on overall chemistry, unlike previous captain Hal Sutton, who paired the current top two golfers in the world in 2004 with the logic that they would be successful because of their ranking whilst ignoring the obvious tensions that existed between them.
What ever does happen at the K Club this weekend, you can be sure of one thing, it will be fiercely competitive. Team USA face the mighty challenge of proving out on the course that they are not a bunch of talented individuals who cannot work as a team.
Europe on the other hand faces the challenge of expectancy. For the first time it is they who are expected to win as the American side face the unusual prospect of being tagged as underdogs. Will the side be able to cope with this pressure? Only time will tell if their team spirit is enough to make history and score Europe their first ever hat-rick of consecutive wins.