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RYDER CUP BLOG

FROM OUR REPORTERS AT THE K CLUB, IRELAND

Chocks away, Dublin here we come

  • Matt Slater - 主播大秀 Sport golf writer
  • 18 Sep 06, 10:01 AM

matt_slater55x55.jpgLONDON - The final pre-event tournaments have been played, the Sunday papers have made their predictions, has been to Stamford Bridge - the Ryder Cup silly season is finally over and a week of crescendoing excitement awaits in Ireland.

I've just been going through the pre-journey "passport, press pass, pants" mantra and can now consider myself ready to report for Ryder Cup duty.

Just waiting for the armoured van full of 主播大秀 spending money to arrive now. Apparently, the Celtic Tiger is hungry for licence-fee cash. Let's hope we - and the golf - are worth it.

But before I set off here are a few things that struck me during this weekend's golfing action:

- Both teams must be pretty good if the likes of Ben Curtis, Shaun Micheel and aren't good enough to make them. And has there ever been such a strong European second XII as there is now?

- Telling my mate Jimmy that Ian Poulter would "probably go and win the Madrid Masters now" is not the same as going to a bookmakers and saying the same thing. Memo to me: put money where mouth is.

- Tiger failing at Wentworth probably doesn't mean much in terms of his own form but it will certainly give the European who has to play him on Sunday a smidgen more confidence. Ditto Jim Furyk.

- Colin Montgomerie will be Europe's on-course captain but he isn't going to play five times. He said his legs were shot to pieces after his quarter-final on Friday and on Saturday morning he played like that was the case. Woosie must resist the temptation to over-play his trump card and he could do a lot worse than follow his lieutenant Sandy Lyle's advice to pair Monty with Henrik Stenson.

- What do the rest of the golfing world do during the Ryder Cup? Do the Presidents Cup boys cheer for us or the Americans? I can definitely imagine Ernie settling in for a Sunday on the sofa.

- Did you see those quotes from saying he struggled sometimes to see what all the fuss was about? It reminded me of the recent story in that suggested European golfers take the Ryder Cup way too seriously. I wonder if Chris DiMarco, Scott Verplank, Tom Lehman et al feel the same?

That's enough for now, the number 21 bus to London Bridge waits for nobody. More from Temple Bar - Dublin's stag do central - later.

颁辞尘尘别苍迟蝉听听 Post your comment

"The European team are scheduled to arrive in Dublin at 1415 BST after leaving Heathrow at 1300 BST."

Not a good sign for Europe. This sounds like an away match. The team should arrive separately in Dublin.

  • 2.
  • At 02:39 PM on 18 Sep 2006,
  • Tony Woodward wrote:

I feel the Euro Ryder Cup team look more for the team win more than the Americans, and are more relaxed (this is apparent when seeing them chatting on the tee, etc). They do not have the fear-of-losing approach of the Americans, winning is all that matters to them. Don't get me wrong I like to win, but living over here in Canada I see lots of sport on TV and see the anguish of not winning. People forget a loser in the US of A, no matter how good he is. The matchplay format does not sit too good with the USA players, it's too spontaneous and generates a lot of passion. A few bad bounces, etc, can cause them to criticise British courses, as we have seen in the past. It is not target golf after all. I am looking forward immensely to this Friday and hope the Euros keep up the good work. Only wish I could be there myself, let's see some great play.

  • 3.
  • At 02:46 PM on 18 Sep 2006,
  • toplanger wrote:

the waiting of the next 3-4 days before it starts will be terrible.
I just want it to start asap.
Roll on Friday.
I hope Woosnam uses his lesser experienced players on Friday. Stenson and Karlson could be real trump cards for us. Those Swedes are Ice Cool.

  • 4.
  • At 03:46 PM on 18 Sep 2006,
  • George wrote:

There is no doubt that the older players probably will only play once each day, unless they hit real putting form. I personnally would play the younger players in the morning, as I feel foursomes requires more experience. I feel the foursomes will be the most important games this year. Friendships and old pairings could be vital. A very big eight points are at stake.

  • 5.
  • At 05:19 PM on 18 Sep 2006,
  • Andrew wrote:

I think it is right that the USA are underdogs.
They look the weakest team on paper. The way they do the qualification now has stuck them with four rookies, none of whom have really set the world alight.
In this format you never know what you will get from Tiger and Phil.
They have some good grinders in Toms, DiMarco and Furyk, but I'm sure Woosie's men aren't exaclty quaking in their boots.
Europe looks solid. The two rookies are playing very well. McGinley is the obvious worry; I suspect Woosnam will bench for much of the time.
Westwood's pick was a toss-up, but no one can argue with his Ryder Cup record. The only way the team might have been stronger would be the inclusion of Pettersen, but it's really his own fault he's not on the team.
The Europeans are transformed by the Ryder Cup. They all play above themselves - Sergio can even putt for one week every two years!
I suspect Monty will be the man again. He lives for this.
One thought to end on: if he had been standing over that second shot at Winged Foot with the Ryder Cup on the line rather than the US Open, would the outcome have been the same or would he have stuck it 6 feet and holed the putt? Hmmm...

  • 6.
  • At 06:18 PM on 18 Sep 2006,
  • Trevor Ledger wrote:

What kind of a word is 'crescendoing'? FFS

  • 7.
  • At 06:29 PM on 18 Sep 2006,
  • Axel wrote:

Friday can't come soon enough. These three days every other year are the highlight of the golfing calender that sometimes lack the spark we get this week.

As a swede I hope Woosnam realize that Henrik Stenson is an amazing player that should be played a lot this week. He has proven his quality time and time again over the last couple of years and it wasn't a coincidence that he finsished top of the Ryder Cup World Points List.

I also hope Woosnam involve all twelve team members before the singles. Mark James's mistake from 1999 when he didn't trust three of the players (Coltart, Van de Velde and Sandelin) and only played them in the singles should not be repeated. Bad management that maybe cost us the cup that year. Be wise Woosie!

To those of you that travel to The K Club: get behind our european team as loudly and intensely as you can and let the americans feel just a little bit unwelcome. Come on Europe!

  • 8.
  • At 06:37 PM on 18 Sep 2006,
  • Eamon wrote:

Is this possibly the most hyped event ever!!!! While I enjoy golf I have found the whole media circus around this event to be off putting. All I want to see is the golf with the respective players pitting their wits against each other and may the best team win and not have any 'Brookline' incidents. Come lads 'keep it golf' and get some perspective. It is not the most important sporting event in the world.

  • 9.
  • At 07:57 PM on 18 Sep 2006,
  • Martin wrote:

It's not the most important thing in the world, but it is quite possibly the most exciting sporting event in the world. You can't help but be partisan.

George is right - Foursomes is the key and old pairings will be vital. Look for Donald/Howell and Clarke/Westwood to feature. Also how about Garcia/Stenson and Montgomerie/Harrington..??

Roll on Ftiday...


  • 10.
  • At 10:42 PM on 18 Sep 2006,
  • Matt Slater wrote:

Trevor Ledger, you're absolutely right. Crescendoing is a word made up by me, this morning, in Bermondsey. Good word, though, isn't it? I will try to make that the last word I make up this week but I can't promise that...not with any real sense of certainty. I did, at least, get the sense of the word right. Far too many people have events building up to/ending in a crescendo of excitement/noise/whatever. This, of course, is a nonsense to anybody that speaks Italian or has at least grade two piano. Anyway, sorry. Eamon, Martin et al...roll on Friday indeed...and come on Europe!

  • 11.
  • At 12:38 AM on 19 Sep 2006,
  • Ricky wrote:

I'm a Ryder Cup Junky !! Missed last one, but the first one since '93.
Best event in the World. Can't wait to hear 5 live in one ear and earth shattering cheers from all corners of the course going off in the other.
May the best team win.

  • 12.
  • At 01:24 AM on 19 Sep 2006,
  • Mike wrote:

Go Europe. I'll be watching from the US so should be fun.
PS: Can you really make a very out of crescendo? I'm not convinced.

  • 13.
  • At 11:29 AM on 19 Sep 2006,
  • Mary wrote:

Hi Guys can we get something right the "Ryder Cup" is not being held in Dublin it is being held in Kildare. The K Club is in Straffan Co Kildare Ireland.

  • 14.
  • At 03:50 PM on 19 Sep 2006,
  • Matt Slater wrote:

Hi Mary, you鈥檙e spot on about the K Club not being in Dublin and I鈥檝e just posted a similar reply to this one on a different thread. Thing is, this thread is about our journey to Dublin, which is where we and many others at the K Club this week are staying. No excuse if we do it again, though. And thanks for reading and commenting. Much appreciated.

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