Tommy,
As much as I value your opinion I think I have to disagree with you about the disgustingness of golf, or professional golf due to the Ryder Cup.
I thought the Ryder Cup was great. Sure, they could have definitely played the matches on a much better course. I personally think the Old course at St. Andrews would be the ultimate sight for a Ryder Cup. They think 18 at the Belfry is exciting... imagine 17 and 18 on the Old course in a Ryder Cup! The ampitheatre on 18 would be an amazing theatre for the Ryder Cup. Sure, Davis Love was being a little too sensitive about Garcia making a mockery of sportsmanship on 18 the way the Americans did to Olazabal on 17 at Brookline. But Davis WAS right, Sergio should have waited until that match was over. He owed the players still playing the respect to finish their matches.
I thought the Ryder Cup was actually quite exciting. I was almost in tears when Azinger holed out on 18 from the bunker. It was almost as if Payne Stewart was talking to Azinger like Obi-Won Kenobi, "Use the force, Paul". That shot was eerie to me. Then, Furyk almost does the same thing. If Furyk holes that bunker shot or McGinley misses that putt I think the US team would have tied the matches and kept the cup.
I guess I am a total sucker for the drama and I can look past some of the ridiculous behavior of the players in the event. Even though Hoch, Cink, and Strange are two of my least favorite professional golfers ever, I was still rooting for them as if they were on my team. Maybe I still have the ability to look at the US team proudly and feel that they represent my country, even if they are a bunch of crybabies sometimes.
To me the Ryder Cup isn't about how the pros want their money or how they think it doesn't matter or even the event being played on an abortion of a golf course. It's about drama, guts, emotion, and exciting golf. Seeing people crack or be clutch under the most intense pressure in the game is what does it for me. I am zoned in on the TV every time it is played. Maybe it's because I have always dreamed of playing in one, who knows?
I do think the Ryder Cup is better than the Walker Cup by a mile. The Walker Cup is a "Rookie All-Star Ryder Cup" because the players are 90% college kids who are about to turn professional anyway. They need to have a Walker Cup/Mid-Amateur and then it would be a true amateur team competition to me. At least the Ryder Cup doesn't sell itself as something it isn't. The Walker Cup does just that.
Anyway, to all of those that lost faith in the Ryder Cup, I say take a look at all the amazing shots, putts, chips, emotions, etc. over Sunday's matches, and the first two days as well, and you will see a lot more than egos and money grubbing crybabies.
Jeff F.