Category: Thrash Talk

2008 Ryder Cup Keys to Victory

Find out what each team needs to do to be successful next week at Valhalla.

Thrash TalkThe 2008 Ryder Cup is only one week away, and the media hype is increasing by the day. On paper, this is one of the most intriguing competitions in the event’s history. The two captains aren’t afraid to take friendly jabs at each other, and they aren’t afraid to speak their minds either. That’s just one of the key storylines heading into Valhalla Golf Club.

The absence of a few select golfers is also garnering plenty of attention. Tiger Woods won’t be playing competitively until 2009, and the United States will attempt to win without the world’s greatest golfer. On the other side, the absence of Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke have European fans wondering how well the team will perform. Both are past Ryder Cup stalwarts, and it will be weird seeing the two missing in action.

All that aside, this year’s Ryder Cup will come down to the play of the 24 golfers who made their respective teams. What does the United States have to do to win for the first time since 1999? Also, what does Europe have to do to continue their recent dominance? I’ve put together a few keys to victory for each team, so sit back and enjoy.

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The Lighter Things in Golf

This week’s article focuses on some of the things I’ve enjoyed recently in the world of golf.

Thrash TalkThe 2008 Ryder Cup teams are set, and the sport’s greatest spectacle will begin two weeks from tomorrow. Both captains did a great job in picking the remaining members of their respective teams, albeit with a little second-guessing from some of the golf media. Nonetheless, this year’s playing should be full of great drama and excitement. It might even be close this time around as well.

With all the Ryder Cup talk swirling through the golf world, I’ve decided to take a week to reflect on some of the golf-related things I’ve enjoyed lately. Whether it has to do with the professional ranks, a reality television show, or a video game, the world of golf has been expanded to great lengths over the past several years. I’m one of many who enjoys all types of golf material, and hopefully you are as well.

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Nick Faldo is on the Clock

Which European golfers deserve a captain’s pick next week?

Thrash TalkThe FedExCup playoffs kicked off last week, and while this week’s Deutsche Bank Championship is big news, the Ryder Cup takes the cake as usual. A couple weeks ago, I dissected the United States team and predicted the four golfers Paul Azinger will pick next Tuesday. European captain, Nick Faldo, has to make his two captain’s picks the day before on Labor Day.

It was tough finding four worthy golfers for Azinger to pick, but the same can’t be said for the European side. While there are only two picks, there are a handful of worthy choices. It’s going to be tough for Faldo, so I’ll lend him a helping hand this week. I’ll eliminate a few of the more undeserving choices, and then I’ll select the two guys most deserving of making the European team.

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Bunker’s Dozen: August 2008

Can Padraig Harrington stay atop the rankings two months in a row?

Thrash TalkThe 2008 majors are in the past, and now it’s time to start talking FedExCup and Ryder Cup. A few weeks ago, Padraig Harrington won his second consecutive major. In case the media was still wondering about his legitimacy, he clearly put that to rest. Sergio Garcia once again felt heartbreak at the PGA Championship and again this past weekend at the Barclays. How will that affect his ranking this month?

This time last month, Vijay Singh was winless in 2008. Fast forward to the present, and Mr. Singh has multiple quality victories this season. Also, Fred Funk tasted major success for the first time, albeit in a Champions Tour event. Both guys are in the rankings this month, but where did they end up? Keep on reading to find out.

And as always, if you have anything to add, please comment below or discuss it in the forum.

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2008 FedExCup Playoffs Rundown

The FedExCup playoffs are here, and it’s time for some predictions.

Thrash TalkWhen the FedExCup was announced, there were mixed reactions from the golf world. Fast forward to 2008, and there are still a lot of different opinions on the first-ever playoff system in golf. Nonetheless, this year’s FedExCup playoffs start today.

Things aren’t perfect with the current playoff system (144 golfers is far too many for a playoff), but golf fans are still going to have a chance to see some high-quality golf over the next month or so. Even though Tiger won’t be able to defend this year, eight of the top 10 golfers are playing the Barclays this week. The fields will be strong, the courses will be nice, and the golfers will be playing for $10 million. That sounds like a winning recipe.

Which golfers are going to be the toughest to beat this year? Also, which golfers might have a disappointing run the next month? Finally, who might get hot late in the season and make a surprising run up the FedExCup standings? Keep reading to get my thoughts on this year’s playoffs.

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Captain Azinger is on the Clock

Find out which golfers Paul Azinger should pick for this year’s U.S. Ryder Cup team.

Thrash TalkI want to start by congratulating Padraig Harrington on his second consecutive major victory. Over the past 13 months, he has gone from one of the best without a major to one of the best, period. As for Sergio Garcia, maybe next time. Speaking of Harrington and Garcia, they will both be stalwarts on Nick Faldo’s favored European Ryder Cup team next month.

The European golfers still have a couple more events to lock in their spots on the team, but the eight guaranteed United States spots have already been decided. Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Kenny Perry, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, Justin Leonard, Ben Curtis, and Boo Weekley locked in their spots after the PGA Championship. Captain Paul Azinger has a few weeks to decide the remaining four golfers that will represent the Americans at Valhalla.

Azinger could go down the list and pick the next four in line, but that’s not happening. Unfortunately, after looking at the standings, it’s hard to find four guys worthy of a spot on the team. That doesn’t bode well for the U.S. chances, but you never know. I’ve studied the standings long and hard, and these are the four guys most worthy of a captain’s pick.

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2008 PGA Championship Predictions

The staff gives their predictions on the season’s final major championship.

Thrash TalkThe season’s final major begins today, and it’s time for more predictions from The Sand Trap staff. After an exciting WGC-Bridgestone Invitational last weekend, names like Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, and Lee Westwood have popped up as favorites this week. Mickelson and Singh have three major victories apiece, while Westwood is still looking for his first.

The golfers are only half the equation, however. The venue for this year’s PGA Championship is Oakland Hills, and it will be a tough test to say the least. It will play nearly 7,400 yards, and with par being 70, it will be a beast.

Who is going to win this year’s final major, and who else might be a serious threat? Also, who are some possible dark horses and disappointments? As always, we will give it our best shot. If you have any predictions to add, please comment below or discuss them in the forum.

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Glory’s Last Shot (2008)

There are plenty of intriguing storylines to follow at next week’s PGA Championship.

Thrash TalkThe season’s final major starts one week from today. That’s hard to believe. It seems like just yesterday Greg Norman was on the verge of winning this year’s British Open, only to falter in the final round. In the end, Padraig Harrington won his second consecutive Claret Jug and will be a favorite next week at Oakland Hills. My most recent memories of Oakland Hills aren’t real positive. It was the sight of Europe’s blowout Ryder Cup victory in 2004. Nonetheless, it’s a great golf course and will do its part to make next week’s PGA Championship an exciting one.

As for storylines, there are plenty heading in. A certain contender for PGA Tour Player of the Year will be teeing it up in a major for the first time this season. It’s about damn time by the way. Also, with Ryder Cup picks coming in the next few weeks, there are heavy Ryder Cup implications at the year’s final major championship. I’ll talk about that and more as we gear up for glory’s last shot.

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Crazy Week in Review

This past week has given golf fans a lot to talk about.

Thrash TalkIt has taken a few days to recover from the crazy last week in the world of golf. Padraig Harrington won his second consecutive British Open, and congratulations are definitely in order for the Irishman. The Open Championship also provided a couple turn-back-the-clock moments as well. Were the names Duval and Norman really at the top of the leaderboard heading into the weekend?

In other happenings, Michelle Wie officially put her name right in the middle of the spotlight once again. Wie had an up-and-down week to say the least, and I’ll talk more about that later in the article. Continue reading to find out what I think about Harrington, Duval, Norman, and Wie.

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