Team events in golf are a rare bird, and the Ryder Cup soars miles above all the wannabes and knockoffs in terms of fervor and flavour.
Players are immersed in the pride of country and continent, wrapped in the corresponding colours, and so are the fans. The Atlantic Ocean is the line of demarcation and allegiances are as obvious as the cities listed on spectator birth certificates.
Which brings us to Steve Elling and John McAuley, writers at The National who hail from the United States and Northern Ireland, respectively, and have covered the game on both sides of the Pond. Here are their admittedly stilted, irreverent and jingoistic reasons why the other guy’s side has no chance to win as play begins on Friday at Gleneagles in Scotland.
Europeans cool as ice
If conventional wisdom posits that the Ryder Cup jangles nerves more than any other event in golf – hey, even US captain Tom Watson said so this week – then Europe undoubtedly have the upper hand. Just look at Victor Dubuisson, Martin Kaymer and Henrik Stenson: a trio with enough ice in their veins to sink the Titanic. In contrast, their fidgety American counterparts seem to forever straddle the line between fired up and freaked out. Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan have overactive tear ducts, while you can usually hear Jim Furyk’s knees knocking over a short putt. No gimme for Jimmy this week.
Target-rich environment
This European side is so brimming with talent that the Americans cannot agree who represents the prized target. Predictably, Ian Poulter has a “target” on his back, as does Rory McIlroy, the world No 1. And would not the US love to knock Mr Ryder Cup, Sergio Garcia, down a tee-peg or two? Yet the hosts see that only as a compliment, as well they should. The truth is, regardless of the teams’ average world rankings the Yanks win 16 to 20 – Europe’s line-up packs way more punch. America’s best prizefighter is Phil Mickelson, a man defeated more times than any US player in cup history?
Home crowd advantage
The biennial battle is one of sport’s finest spectacles, in large part because the typically staid and stuffy game morphs into an explosion of pumped-up patriotism and garish garb. It is golf let off its leash. The galleries are actively encouraged to be boisterous. And when it comes to Europeans, they simply do it better. Players have dedicated songs, while the “Ole, Ole, Ole” has become part of tournament fabric. How will the Americans respond? With “we believe that we can win”, apparently. As chants go, it is a little, well, wet. Europe have the 13th man and, with it, the win.
Meticulous McGinley
Paul McGinley may not boast the CV of his lofty predecessors, or even his opposite number this week. In fact, he openly cites Watson as one of his boyhood heroes. But do not misinterpret the sentiment for subservience. In the Irishman, Europe have the perfect captain, meticulous and measured in everything he does, underlined by his mastery as captain at the Seve Trophy team matchplay event. And one thing is as guaranteed as the wind at Gleneagles: McGinley will have prepared for every eventuality. Rumours that he plans to sleep Saturday night at the foot of McIlroy’s bed have yet to be corroborated.
Loose-lipped Lefty
Mickelson is no stranger to shooting himself in the foot. America’s great gunslinger was at it again, throwing a metaphorical grenade under what had been a pretty placid affair. His saucy comment, “we don’t litigate against each other”, was accompanied by that Walt Disney smile, but it was a clear jab at the pending legal action between McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. It was ill-advised, too. McDowell is golf’s grittiest competitor, needing no extra motivation. As for McIlroy, consider the past three months. The winner of the two most recent majors is so good, in fact, he can even triumph in the dark. G-Mac and Wee Mac, spurred by Lefty’s lapse, will lead Europe to glory.
Prediction Europe 14.5, United States 13.5
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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