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…)

DL3 and Ollie announce pairings in the Pomp and Circumstance

It’s about time. Balls will finally be in the air in about 13 hours when the foursomes get underway with the first match starting at 7:20am. I might stand up in the middle of the press room and perform a cheer. Or not. But wow, now I know what all the veteran scribes were warning me about. The lead-up to the Ryder Cup is a somewhat tedious, drawn-out event. I’m guessing you’re all just as excited for the talk to stop and the golf to commence. (continue reading…)

Best dressed American couple at the RC Gala: Jason anad Amanda Dufner

Covering the Ryder Cup Gala was probably the most fun I’ve had in a long time (working-wise). It was quite the spectacle, but a nice change of pace. I live-tweeted and ‘grammed the festivities, so I recommend going through my timelines, along with Alan Shipnuck’s Twitter. I missed the first hour or so of the Gala, including the introduction hosted by Chicago sports legends Scottie Pippen and Ernie Banks, and Blues Brothers cover band.

I arrived just as Jean Van de Velde strolled down the red carpet. Perfect timing. (continue reading…)

Thinking of you: European team bags bearing an unmistakable silhouette.

In deference to the formidable competitive spirit of his close friend and Ryder Cup comrade, Seve Ballesteros, who passed away in May of last year, European team captain José Maria Olazabal has made space for at least two low-key tributes to the five-time major champion during this week’s festivities. (continue reading…)

Frosty: Harrington and Olazabal in the immediate aftermath of their Seve Trophy debacle.

When Padraig Harrington shot 64 to seize the lead at Bethpage on Thursday, his performance was immediately cast in light of his ongoing struggle to secure a place on Jose Maria Olazabal’s Ryder Cup team roster. (continue reading…)

Hold up, hold up

I’m catching up on the good ol’ blog since I took a much-needed respite the last few days. (Yes, I’m in Hilton Head for The Heritage, but I made my grand entrance into the media center only today — hey, it was at 7am, though!) I’ve obviously watched Bubba Watson on Letterman, along with several other moments of his dazzling post-Masters victory media tour in NYC. There were a few other gems that came out of the woodwork, while I was sleeping resting.

Let’s take a gander: (continue reading…)

Ollie: wants to keep it in the fairway (for once).

It got a little bit lost in the chatter surrounding Tiger Woods’ appearance at the Abu Dhabi Championship this week, but José María Olazábal, the all-powerful European Ryder Cup captain, has confirmed a potentially significant alteration to the process [summary of the process here, courtesy of the Guardian's Lawrence Donegan] by which he’ll select the dozen players worthy of giving the U-S-A (U-S-A) a jolly good shoe-ing at Medinah later this year. (continue reading…)

Branden Grace: Saturday wasn't plain sailing for the youngster.

Thanks to an oddly lopsided third round, during which overnight leader Branden Grace failed to preserve his equanimity and a host of high-profile challengers nudged their way into contention, the final round of the Volvo Golf Champions may well prove worthy of the tournament’s claim to “elite” status. (continue reading…)

Harrington and Els ponder the meaning of Life.

The European Tour’s 2012 schedule begins in earnest this week with the Volvo Golf Champions at Fancourt, something of a poor man’s Tournament of Champions (didn’t think that was possible, did you?).

With eligibility limited to recent European Tour winners and those who have amassed more than 10 victories in their career, the 35-man field is an unusual blend of established stars and young pretenders. (continue reading…)

Competitors of the Ole Seve pro-am

Several top European golfers paid tribute to Seve Ballesteros by playing in a pro-am event to raise money for cancer charities. Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal, Colin Montgomerie, Graeme McDowell, Retief Goosen, Paul Casey, Justin Rose and Ross Fisher were among the competitors in the “Ole Seve” event at Wentworth, the site of this week’s BMW PGA Championship. (continue reading…)