The New Boss Man

The U.S. Ryder Cup team will have a strong, passionate leader at the head of the table at Gleneagles in Scotland during the 2014 matches. On Thursday morning the PGA of America president Ted Bishop officially named Tom Watson as the next boss of the American squad.

Watson was the captain at the ’93 matches at Belfry, which was the last time the U.S. team won on foreign ground. The Americans have only clinched the Cup twice since then, losing seven of the past nine biennial matches against the Europeans. Yikes.

Who better to break the America’s dismal losing streak in 2014 than the five-time Open Champion Golfer of the Year? I can’t think of one. Not when the venue is in Scotland. It’s important to note that Gleneagles is not a links course, but it doesn’t matter — it’s still Scotland, a magical place filled with remarkable memories for the 63-year-old Watson. (continue reading…)

Ed. note: I started writing this post before Rosaforte’s article with the breaking news was published.

Watson saluting the fans at St. Andrews at The Open in '10 (it was quite poignant)

If you woke up this morning and thought David Toms or Larry Nelson or anyone else not named Tom Watson were the favorites to be tapped as the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup captain, you may have changed your mind by now.

While the PGA of America won’t make an official announcement until Thursday at 8:30am EST on The Today Show (under the radar, per usual), industry insiders are putting their money on five-time Open Champ Tom Watson, who captained the last American team to win on foreign soil in ’93. Phrases like the PGA is “thinking outside the box” or “shaking it up” have been tossed around by respected journalists. (continue reading…)

Toms in action at at the Olympic Club in June.

David Toms is one of the most successful American golfers of his generation. He’s collected 13 PGA Tour victories, including the 2001 PGA Championship; played on three Ryder Cup teams; and, over a career spanning nearly 25 years, amassed a little under $40million in prize money.

And yet, if he’s named on Thursday as Davis Love’s successor to the Ryder Cup captaincy, there remains a sense the decision will have owed more to his inoffensiveness and political good fortune than golfing pedigree. (continue reading…)

For the love of...

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III has publicly handled the stunning loss of his team to the Europeans at Medinah with grace and candor. He’s admitted to second-guessing his decisions, like benching the dynamic duo of Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson on Saturday afternoon, his four captain’s picks, and the pin placements for Sunday singles.

Love, the tournament host at this week’s McGladrey Classic, knows his leadership has been criticized by the press and the public, but perhaps he’s beating himself up over the loss more than anyone else. He’s able to look at the positives of the week, but he’s still not sleeping well. Three weeks later, the ghost of the historic Ryder Cup continues to follow him around. (continue reading…)

The grumbling of Ryder Cup darlings Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy appears to have paid off: the European Tour is preparing a change to its membership criteria that would allow appearances at team events like the Ryder Cup, Seve Trophy and President’s Cup (shrewd, that one) to count towards its established 13-tournament minimum.

The plan has even piqued the interest of Tiger Woods. (continue reading…)

Oh no, I did it again...

Before the Ryder Cup matches started, Tiger Woods accepted responsibility for the American team’s shortcomings against Europe in the last few decades. After the U.S. blew a 10-6 lead heading into Sunday singles where the Europeans staged an epic comeback to win, he also expressed regret.

Woods apologized to Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner, Brandt Snedeker and Webb Simpson, the four rookies on the U.S. squad, for failing to secure a full point in the 13 1/2 – 14 1/2 loss, according to Golf Channel’s Tim Rosaforte: (continue reading…)

Timeless

Wow, it doesn’t get much — actually, any better than the singles matches at the Ryder Cup and Team Europe’s unbelievable comeback. Well done. Kudos to the Europeans.

I’m sure you’re all itching to chime in on the epic loss and win. First, I’ll share the way Sunday unfolded from my viewpoint, and then I’ve posted the full transcripts of both teams press conferences. You may have heard about the legendary drunkenness of the European team. (Can anyone say best presser ever?!) (continue reading…)

Just get on with it and make out!

The U.S. dominated in morning foursomes, highlighted by Keegan Bradley/Phil Mickelson romping Lee Westwood/Luke Donald 7&6, and the pattern looked to continue in the afternoon four-balls with the Americans winning three of the four matches until a late charge by the Europeans put them in the game again. (continue reading…)

I love you, man!

Change has been a major theme all year in one of golf’s most thrilling seasons. So it shouldn’t have been a surprise that the Americans dominated the afternoon four-ball matches on Friday at the Ryder Cup.

The U.S. and Europe split the morning foursomes, earning two points a piece. The Americans were led by the dynamic duo of Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, who handed the previously indomitable Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia their first loss in the alternate shot format (going into Friday, Donald-Garcia were a combined 14-0-1 in that format and as partners they were 4-0). (continue reading…)

Crooner and light entertainer Justin Timberlake helmed the Ryder Cup Opening Ceremony™ this evening, and commenced the speechifying with a reading of “Golf”, a poem by laureate-in-waiting-indefinitely Randy Sabados.

His path was not eased by the portentous stylings of Chicago’s Youth Symphony Orchestra. (continue reading…)