My answer to the problem. More gin and tonics every night and fewer Bible classes.

I am reminded of the time when Harry Vardon was asked to take the Pledge by a curmudgeon from the Womens Temperance League. He drew himself up to a great height and thundered, "Madame, I have yet to be beaten by a tee-totaller and see no reason to change my daily choice of a good tot of whisky."

My sort of guy.

Bob

I'll bet it was more like 40 to 1 this year.

91 to 57 was the breakdown I heard on birdies.  No wonder they lost.

Tim, John Daly has been "the people's choice" for a captain's pick for years.  The problem is he can never qualify on points.  The reason he can't qualify on points is that he's just way too erratic.  

The myth of 4-ball, and this runs from Tour pros to local amateurs, is that you want a guy "that makes a lot of birdies".  That is a euphemism for "he hasn't learned to manage his mistakes the way Tom Kite or Bernhard Langer do".  Give me David Toms and Steve Flesch all day.

Foursomes is FATAL if you have the bad shots of guys like Bubba Dickerson dragging you down.

In betterball you do want a lot of birdies if you expect to win.  Hell, even at my level I would expect to have to make 3-5 birdies as a team to have a god shot at winning the match assuming we aren't playing a real tough course.  I will agree in foursomes you want a steady partner who first and foremost keeps the ball somewhere in position.  However, at the Ryder Cup level even fours will lose many a match.  

Ciao

Sean

I used to get really involved with these cup matches and the courses the tour played. A friend of mine whose father helped run the Senior Tour Championship enlightened me on some things.  The Ryder Cup and the PGA Tour are about one thing MONEY!  Everyone I know says those guys should care more because there playing for there country. There not playing for there country there playing for the PGA to make tons of money and the American players know that. The European players if they make the team then the European tour pays all there travel expenses to Euro events for the next two years. Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, and even Tiger should be embarrassed at there performances but I don't think they are cause they will move on to the next event and win a cool million and who cares. I'm a huge Davis Love fan and a friend of mine asked do you think he was upset at not being picked, No I replied I'm sure he would have been happy if he was but he got to stay home last week be with his family count his money and not take the beating the American players will the next month. If the truth really be known Tiger and Phil for sure would not play in this event if they had there choice what reason do they have to waste a week of there time for no profit and to get slammed by the media.

Lawrence

Lawrence - you should consider this...

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I apologize for my ignorance.

Lawrence

Our Ryder Cup selection method needs to be changed. The points system is outdated and does not reflect strength of field. I would go somewhat along the European style, six players make it off the a weighted money list, four players off  the world list.
    I don't like the generic total birdies list, concentrate on those who birdie 3s and 4s.
    The Sagarin Index has Steve Stricker as #8 in the world.
It looks at strenght of field, matchups against top 10, top 25, top 50.
    In the fourball, send Tiger out alone.
    Sit Phil.
    Encourage players to visit site before the team is selected.
Get to know some of the best players and caddies at that club. If it holds a tournament, the PGA Tour should grant exemptions to play there.
    The PGA should hold two match play events, one at fourball, one at foursomes. Maybe make it double elimination, but if you lose you need to pick a new partner.