[Paul Dolton]

Not sure if this is old news or not but just noticed it on MNS.

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/golf/ryder-cup-not-that-big-a-deal-nicklaus/ar-BBq8WFw

Speaking from the European side of the Atlantic , the Ryder Cup is , shall we  say , more than a little over hyped !

[jeffwarne]

It's a good opportunity for a Top 10 finish.....


Jack's spot on. It would be nice if the Americans listened.
I'm always amazed when the Captains talk about giving up 2 years of their lives preparing.
Seriously?


Maybe just showing up,playing a couple of rounds and going with gut instincts on the fly.
Couldn't hurt...

[BHoover]

Nicklaus is right, IMO, it really is not that big of a deal. It was supposed to be a goodwill exhibition match. Now , like most events, the Ryder Cup has become too corporate and too focused on all things other than the golf. Look at the venues--no longer held at a Walton Heath or other classic venues, particularly in Europe. Look at the focus on the team uniforms and equipment. Hell, even the scuttlebutt on who wins freaking ping pong games in the team rooms! It's no longer just a fun exhibition match (Time Roseforte, I don't care whether Kuchar beat Mickelson with Tiger as his partner!).

The peak, at least for me, was in the 90s. But it's no longer a must-watch event for me. When the matches come to Hazeltine this fall, I'll be playing golf instead of watching. 

[John_Conley]

Maybe just showing up,playing a couple of rounds and going with gut instincts on the fly.
Couldn't hurt...

That's what I've always said!  I liken it to a wedding.  If you pick a date, find a venue, and send out invites you'll end up married just like the people who consult wedding planners and fret over ever detail.  Same result.

What can a Ryder Cup captain do now?  They are professional golfers who all know how to play.  The United States has been losing not because of lack of preparation, rather because on game day the players haven't been able to get the ball in the hole as quickly.

[Ed Tilley]

"People talk about the pressure. Are you telling me there is more pressure in the Ryder Cup than coming down the last fairway at Augusta or the US Open with a major on the line? Crap."

Ask Graeme McDowell. I believe he said the US Open was like "9 holes at Portrush with my Dad" compared to the pressure he felt at Celtic Manor when it all came down to him and Hunter Mahan - ask Hunter Mahan for that matter.

[JJShanley]

To quote young Scottish males at the dancing on the Saturday night: "Ah nivur fancied ye anyway."


If it didn't mean that much to Jack, why did he (apparently) order a bunch of U.S. flags for spectators to wave as Europe beat them on his own turf at MV back in 1987.

[Kalen Braley]

I'm calling BS on this.

I think this is just justification/rationalization for the Americans piss poor performance, since they are 1-6 in the last 7 matches and most haven't even been close.  Given they aren't winning... out comes the "well it doesn't really matter anyways" excuses....

[Tim Martin]

If she's not saving the world that week maybe the Captainess can help.

[jeffwarne]

"People talk about the pressure. Are you telling me there is more pressure in the Ryder Cup than coming down the last fairway at Augusta or the US Open with a major on the line? Crap."

Ask Graeme McDowell. I believe he said the US Open was like "9 holes at Portrush with my Dad" compared to the pressure he felt at Celtic Manor when it all came down to him and Hunter Mahan - ask Hunter Mahan for that matter.

or that could be why Jack has 20 majors.
and those guys together have 1

[BCowan]

"People talk about the pressure. Are you telling me there is more pressure in the Ryder Cup than coming down the last fairway at Augusta or the US Open with a major on the line? Crap."

Ask Graeme McDowell. I believe he said the US Open was like "9 holes at Portrush with my Dad" compared to the pressure he felt at Celtic Manor when it all came down to him and Hunter Mahan - ask Hunter Mahan for that matter.

or that could be why Jack has 20 majors.
and those guys together have 1

Jeff,

   +1,000

[Kalen Braley]

Sigh,

Looks like we're going to have to debate the relative era's again and the level of competition in them!!   

[JJShanley]

This is why Europe has won all but one RC this century. 

[BCowan]

Sigh,

Looks like we're going to have to debate the relative era's again and the level of competition in them!!   

Kalen,

   The reason why the Ryder Cup is so popular is you can lose a match and still be on a winning team.  Everyone gets a trophy.  Jack's era people actually had to win an event let alone a major to make a decent living.  The Ryder Cup has become a circus.  When players say they would rather be on winning team then when a major, that tells me society is failing. 

[Kalen Braley]

Sigh,

Looks like we're going to have to debate the relative era's again and the level of competition in them!!   

Kalen,

   The reason why the Ryder Cup is so popular is you can lose a match and still be on a winning team.  Everyone gets a trophy.  Jack's era people actually had to win an event let alone a major to make a decent living.  The Ryder Cup has become a circus.  When players say they would rather be on winning team then when a major, that tells me society is failing.

Ben,

I wasn't referring to team dynamics vs individual.  I was referring to winning in Jacks era, vs winning in todays era.

P.S.  I don't have a problem with people taking the Ryder cup seriously. How is it any different than the Olympics or a college tournament or anything else team related?  Is the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, or Stanley Cup any less gratifying because its a team sport?  If anything its more so because you are playing not just for yourself and rely on your teammates as much as yourself...but that's just my two pennies.

[BCowan]

PSS,
 
   Kalen, Golf is an individual game.  Ryder cup is an exhibition

[Kalen Braley]

PSS,
 
   Kalen, Golf is an individual game.  Ryder cup is an exhibition

Ben,

On a philosophical level, all sport is merely an exhibition....

Its just that some are more compelling than others, and based on the ratings the Ryder Cup gets and that players actually want to make the team, I'd say its right up there.

P.S.  Are you saying that when high school teams and college teams play for team championships, that those aren't real?

[Ed Tilley]

"People talk about the pressure. Are you telling me there is more pressure in the Ryder Cup than coming down the last fairway at Augusta or the US Open with a major on the line? Crap."

Ask Graeme McDowell. I believe he said the US Open was like "9 holes at Portrush with my Dad" compared to the pressure he felt at Celtic Manor when it all came down to him and Hunter Mahan - ask Hunter Mahan for that matter.

or that could be why Jack has 20 majors.
and those guys together have 1

Jeff,

   +1,000

Yes, you're completely right. The reason that Jack Nicklaus won 18 majors and the other 2 have won 1 combined is due to how they view the Ryder Cup.

Leaving my sarcasm aside, Nicklaus last played in the event in 1981. He views it as an exhibition because that's what it was. There was comparatively little pressure when he was playing - can you imagine anyone giving a 3 foot putt for the half on the last green now.

Here is a quote from Nick Faldo, who I can think we all agree was pretty self obsessed when it came to golf and major championships, re the last hole of his match in 1995.

“It was the most pressure I ever felt when I was over that wedge shot – my legs had gone."

Personally, I think the Ryder Cup is way overblown and the majors are much more important. However, I believe that the pressure of being the person who decides the result must be the most that anyone will feel in golf.

[Andrew Simpson]

As a European I'm guessing all these American "it doesn't matter" "it's only a game" statements will go out the window with a win and it will become the greatest event in the world again. If it means so little why all the gamesmanship behind the scenes?
[/size]
Jack always put a lot into the event as a player and a captain so I don't buy this one little bit.
[/size]
I'm also certain that Jack winning so many majors was down being a far better golfer than everyone or was he simply the greatest golfer of all time because he wasn't thinking about what he was going to wear at the Ryder cup? :-)

[jeffwarne]

PSS,
 
   Kalen, Golf is an individual game.  Ryder cup is an exhibition

Kalen,
I have NO problem with players taking the Ryder Cup seriously.
I think Jack took it very seriously.
I also think he's suggesting taking a different approach (prepare like other weeks), and stop being such wusses about it.
because what they are doing is very excessive and not working.
Do Europeans players really play better because Sergio is running around like a child,Keegan is drooling, or an American teammate is in the bushes crying?
Pods, task forces, team meetings, stupid uniforms-two year commitments from Captains-all balderdash.
It's a match-one person wins, one loses.
Be properly prepared and Just go play.


Random results would be a far better performance than recent American showings....


and yes,
I think the reason Jack has 20 majors and Hunter has none is mindset.
i.e. putting majors and Ryder Cup in their proper perspective, preparing properly. without becoming obsessed, and then executing.


If it's simply that the Ryder Cup is soooo much more pressure than when Jack played, why does Hunter have no majors?


I'd argue that he simply doesn't perform at peak level at the times most important to him-but in the rank and file tour events his game resurfaces.
which is why Jack is trying to mind jedi the Americans into presenting the games they show up with at rank and file Tour events. (the Ryder Cup courses certainly are generally rank and file )

I'm pretty sure if the Ryder cup had been as big a deal in 1981 as it is now, Jack would've done ok.

[Thomas Dai]

I under$tand player contract$ can have $ignificant bonu$'$ attached if they make a Ryder Cup team and the Captain$ are alleged to do rather nicely financially a$ well.
Atb

[Dan Kelly]

We Minnesotans have long suspected that just around the time a Ryder Cup came here, the rest of the world would start pooh-poohing it.

[Andrew Simpson]

We Minnesotans have long suspected that just around the time a Ryder Cup came here, the rest of the world would start pooh-poohing it.

Naw, I think it's your fellow Americans who are, the rest of the world are just laughing at you all making excuses already :-)

[Kalen Braley]

We Minnesotans have long suspected that just around the time a Ryder Cup came here, the rest of the world would start pooh-poohing it.

Naw, I think it's your fellow Americans who are, the rest of the world are just laughing at you all making excuses already :-)

Amen Andrew,

nothing new, America is certainly like a spoiled two year old in many ways...

[BCowan]

PSS,
 
   Kalen, Golf is an individual game.  Ryder cup is an exhibition

Ben,

On a philosophical level, all sport is merely an exhibition....

Its just that some are more compelling than others, and based on the ratings the Ryder Cup gets and that players actually want to make the team, I'd say its right up there.

P.S.  Are you saying that when high school teams and college teams play for team championships, that those aren't real?

     Lets leave philosophy out of sports, can we go non dork for just little bit  .  I don't care about ratings and popularity.  You are basically saying some pop star who sells tixs to bubble gum chewing kids that I gotta like or respect them. 

   You aren't making any points.  All the team sports you listed are team sports.  They are great.  Golf is very unique.  It's a cultural change in society seeping into golf, people don't value winning.  Winning a major is difficult, why not just settle for a winning Ryder Cup team?  I'm still in awe of Martin Kaymer's man handling of Pinehurst #2.  I was there on Thur, saw the great set up (excluding #3) with Firm greens and relatively firm fairways and what it took to win and run away with it.  That's what makes the world go round, you will be watching the cup, I'll be playing golf or would rather be working. 

[Paul Dolton]

Naw, I think it's your fellow Americans who are, the rest of the world are just laughing at you all making excuses already :-)

I think most of the world couldn't care less. Its taken way too seriously. And I'm European !

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