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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Newport Cup 2K8: The Equipment

Join me as we take a look at the equipment behind the Newport Cup 2K8.

Bag DropThis past weekend we slogged through some rainy weather (and one ridiculously insane course) to play the Newport Cup. While not only enjoying the other participant’s company, I also enjoyed taking a sneak peak behind the bags of the equipment the other guys were using.

I also greatly enjoyed using the equipment that came courtesy of our sponsors. Each are very highly recommended and carry the Bag Drop seal of approval. I suggest checking them out during your next stop at your favorite golf shop.

What I found wasn’t too surprising (only one strange geometric-shaped driver) among the better players in the group and I came away with some ideas of what I may look for if I ever decide to revamp my bag (mostly in the wedge configuration).

So join me as we take a peak behind the curtain of the equipment that made headlines at the Newport Cup.

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Newport Cup 2K8: Some Photos

Some photos from the week that was the Newport Cup 2K8.

Newport CupThe 2K8 Newport Cup is in the books, but we’d like to share some photos of the event. Before doing so, again, we’d like to thank this year’s tournament sponsors, without whom the event would not be quite as fun: FootJoy, Titleist, Leupold, Frogger, Zero Friction, and Crocs. Please support our sponsors, as they were not chosen only because they were willing to put some nifty stuff into the hands (and on the backs or heads) of some avid golfers, but because they produce the finest quality stuff available. We all truly appreciate and like their products.

The images are in no particular order (except the first one), but click through to get a small glimpse into the week that was the Newport Cup 2K8.

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Volume One Hundred Sixty

The Ryder Cup is just around the corner, Monty is liking his chances in 2014, and Camillo finally shows his potential.

Hittin' the LinksHello and good day to you golf fans. Hittin’ the Links is again coming to you a day tardy this week due to the Newport Cup. I do apologize, but late is better than never.

In this one hundred and sixtieth volume of HTL we see why the Americans seem to always have trouble beating the Europeans, look at some more fixes for the FedExCup, and see where Aaron Baddeley will be spending the next month. Also, we take a new look at the LPGA’s recently changed English-only rule, see how Colin Montgomerie plans to get onto the 2014 Ryder Cup Team, check in on Annika’s last European tournament, and do an inventory on this week’s PGA Tour winner. Read on!

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Newport Cup 2K8: The Results

The Red team wins again, and Cody gets off the shnide, winning his first Newport Cup. 🙂

Newport CupNewport Cup 2K8 is in the books, and we have a winner. The Red team, taking up for Tiger Woods’ absence, overcame a two-point deficit in the Sunday singles to take this year’s edition of the staff competition, 19-17 in Erie, PA and surrounding areas.

As a member of the vanquished side, I can say that the week had a whole lot of laughs, a whole lot of rain, wind, clouds, and cold, and one incredibly stupid golf course.

What follows is a quick recap of the scoring. Though I’m sure the Red team might like to see more details, I’ve (fortunately for many) left those to the memories of the participants, where they will soon (hopefully) fade.

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Newport Cup 2K8: The Sponsors

The 2008 Newport Cup is here, as competitive rounds start tomorrow at one of America’s toughest courses.

Newport Cup 2K8The 2008 Newport Cup begins tomorrow, but staff members and competitors will arrive today. We’ll have a cookout, the guys will get settled in, we may play some Tiger Woods on the Wii or Xbox 360 (or watch coverage, if there is any, of the BMW Championship), and in general unwind after what will be a trying day for many aboard our nation’s airlines.

I along with other members of the staff will likely report on the Newport Cup – including the results – next week, but right now I’d like to take the opportunity to thank the sponsors of our event this year. FootJoy, Titleist, Leupold, Frogger, Zero Friction, and Crocs have all come through to provide our staff with a pretty nice goodie bag. All of the goodies were selected by me as “best-in-class,” so their sponsorship of this event can also be taken as an endorsement of their products.

So once again, and not for the last time, thank you to our sponsors. This year’s event is shaping up to be a great one, and we have you to thank.

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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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Golf Talk [Episode 099]

Maybe now Darren Clarke and Carl Pettersson can join Seve in rooting for the U.S. squad this year, eh?

Golf Talk PodcastThe LPGA talks about a new “English skills” requirement, Vijay Singh wins again and holds a big lead in the Playoffs, the Ryder Cup teams are now complete, and a whole lot more in this episode of Golf Talk.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed for our podcasts here or download Episode 099 as an MP4 file. For those who want to subscribe to us in iTunes, click here.

For this week’s Show Notes – links to articles we discuss in the show and additional information – just read on.

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TaylorMade Introduces Tour Preferred Irons, Rossa Core Putters, and More

TaylorMade has come out with everything but the kitchen sink.

Bag DropThe folks at TaylorMade continue to roll out the new products as a few weeks ago, we looked at the new Burner fairway woods and hybrids and now we get a total of (stay with me) two more iron sets, five putters, and two different drivers. They have been a bit busy to say the least!

The Burner name gets stamped on virtually everything now coming out of TaylorMade and for the most part, that holds true with the new items we will take a look at this week. There are a few exceptions to that rule and we get some new Moveable Weight Technology toys to tinker with as well.

Join me as we take a look at what TaylorMade has to offer.

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