Predicting any winner of a golf tournament is extremely difficult. Predicting the winner of a Major is crazy hard. Predicting the winner of the 2020 Masters is almost impossible. And yet, I am here to offer my views on the next green jacket wearer and see where the chips fall. It is always fun to make a prediction especially since I have nothing to lose!
Continue readingFred Couples
Do You Have a Consistent Golf Swing
Every golfer understands that the key to success in golf is a consistent golf swing. Developing something that is repeatable in all situations; especially when the pressure is applied due to unforced errors. For years, I have worked on this fundamental and when I score well, my swing is consistent and reliable. The two go hand in hand for me. Yet, I wonder sometimes on how to actually develop this miracle movement…..say like Freddie Couples.
Continue readingWho Will Be Named the Team USA Ryder Cup Captain in 2020?
Team USA has yet to choose their leader. There are five players in the running according to various sites, however I believe that there are only two should be considered. I feel either would provide the type of leadership that Team USA needs to defeat the powerful Europeans.
As we know, Team USA has not performed well despite being the odds on favourites. It is a perfect example of “it looks good on paper”, but in reality their chemistry wanes and as a result are coming up short. Well, maybe in 2020 at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, Team USA will pick a Captain that will provide the type of leadership required to unite these great individuals into a cohesive unit. Continue reading
A Hole in One That Was Not A Hole in One
This is a story I just have to share. It is something that we all dread and unfortunately it happened to Marlin. It was a hole in one, that was not a hole in one. Not sure what I mean, then read on! Continue reading
Davis Love III – 2016 US Ryder Cup Captain
Davis Love III will be the 2016 US Ryder Cup Captain. This is his second try at the helm; is first being a loss at Medinah in 2012. As a reminder, the 39th Ryder Cup was held at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois, U.S. The team captains were Davis Love III and José María Olazábal for Europe. As defending champions, the European team was down 10-6 going into the last day! Depending on which side of the fence you sit, the results were either a miracle or a meltdown! The Europeans rallied and won the match 14 1/2 to 13 1/2. It was the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history!
There is little question that “how” Love failed to keep his team together on the last day will be a focal point of future conversations. There will be plenty of second guessing and armchair quarterbacks who think they have the answer. But, the decision is made and now is the time for the potential US players to start thinking as a team.
Names like Fred Couples (who I actually would prefer) and Paul Azinger (2008 winner at the Ryder Cup as US Captain) were bantered about. In the big scheme of things…..it does not matter.
Adam Sarson makes a great point:
The role of the captain at the Ryder Cup is to put your team in the best possible place for success. Love did that at Medinah and it didn’t work out, while Watson very clearly didn’t do that and unsurprisingly, it didn’t work either. The PGA of America tried to hit the home run with Watson and it didn’t work, so they went with the safe, reliable play in Love but all of it will mean nothing if the players don’t perform better at Hazeltine and get a little bit of luck along the way as well.
The players have to take ownership for how they play at the Ryder Cup. Past records are fine, finger-pointing is not helpful, and hoping for a magic solution just does not cut it. If the US Ryder Cup Team plans to beat the Europeans in 2016, the players are the ones who have to step up.
The ifs, ands, and buts will change 50 times before they players tee it up at Hazeltine National Golf Club from 30 September to 2 October, 2016. The only thing I am confident about is that it will be interesting to watch Davis Love III navigate his way through all the minutia in attempts to bring the Ryder Cup back to the US.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 