Let’s get all of the second guessing out of the way in one fell swoop so that we can just move on. We’ll play a game called “Why in the Hal?” as in “Why in the Hal did he do that?”
Why in the Hal were Tiger and Phil paired? Twice!? And then Tiger was paired with Davis Love III, who’d sucked it up earlier the previous day. The only player Woods won with: his friend Chris Riley.
Why in the Hal did Phil switch clubs and balls just before the Ryder Cup? Why in the Hal didn’t Phil practice with the team? Why in the Hal did the captain let him?
Why in the Hal didn’t the US team play mock matches against each other in its three days? Strategy in a team game is important and a little more complex than “I’ll hit one safe so you can really go at it, pardner.”
Why in the Hal did Sutton choose to walk on Saturday, admitting later that it prevented him from getting to every group that needed information?
How in the Hal (okay, so it’s not a “why”) can the Europeans be underdogs when they’ve won six of the last nine Ryder Cups?
Why in the Hal was the course set up with narrow fairways, thick rough, and slick greens? The US team hits the ball long, high, and a little more than slightly crooked. Driving in particular killed the US team. Two Par 5s? C’mon.
Why in the Hal was Sutton in such a good mood on Sunday?