The Ryder Cup...Do the players really care?

[PaddyHarrington]

Been having this debate on a Irish forum I use.
With Harrington,Rose,Casey and Donald all opting to play in the US this week instead of at the final qualifying event at Gleneagles do you think the Ryder Cup has become a unnecessary distraction for some of the top players?

Does the ultra hyped up Euro/US rivalry really exist?

Personally I love the Ryder Cup and its format,after all it's golf and its on TV so its always going to be good in my view!,but I would be honest and say I find it odd cheering for a European team,I'm Irish and thats how I see myself I don't ever think of myself as being European even though obviously I am,and I don't hold any grudge towards Americans so I don't get the European/US rivalry angle.

Now if it was Ireland v the UK or something I would understand the rivalry but Europe/US no sorry I don't see it.

Anyway just thought I'd get some opinions from both sides of the Atlantic on this.

[James_Black]

I love the ryder cup, I think there is a bit of rivalry because the american's think the quality of the euro tour isn't as good as the PGA tour and some people want to prove them wrong about it.

[deronsizemore]

I'm sure the players don't care about it as much as the fans and the media do. Once the guys get out there, you can see that their competitive juices start flowing and they really want to win, but I don't think it something a lot of the guys lose sleep over if they don't get to play.

Especially for guys like Rose, Casey and Donald. Didn't Casey and Donald attend college in the USA? And, Rose currently lives in Orlando. So, for those guys in particular, the rivalry probably isn't what it is for other guys on the Euro side since for all intents and purposes, they might as well be Americans.

[Fontaine]

I imagine that for some players it's not too special. Players like Woods, Mickelson, Harrington have multiple major victories, that's what they really play for.

Then you have have a couple guys like Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy that will basically fail if they never win a major. Majors are also what they play for.

For the rest of the players a Ryder Cup victory probably is the most special they'll achieve. So they probably care most, players like, Ian Poulter, Soren Hansen, Jeff Overton.

[James_Black]

I hope Monty picks Ryys Davies.

He's a brilliant putter, it's his first year on tour and he's doing great.
He's welsh too so it'll be good for the home crowd.

[Acropo]

Unnecessary distraction? No, I don't think so. When the event happens you can see how much it means to the players.

Lack of 'real' rivalry? Just check the records and remind yourself what led to Paul Casey losing his Titleist contract...

I strongly suspect the reason the players aren't at Gleneagles this week is to do with tax. The new government introduced a rule whereby non-resident visitors will have to pay tax on a proportion of their whole overseas earnings. An exemption - which has already been rganted to the 2012 Olympics - is urgently being sought for the Ryder Cup but it isn't in place for Gleneagles. Longer term, the rule should be rewritten. It was intended to catch people taking advantage of the UK's rules on 'resident, non-domiciled' status and was aimed at businesspeople like Lord Ashcroft, who claims to be a citizen of Belize, and Lord Paul of Marylebone, who has been living in the UK and running businesses here since 1968. A nice guy (the latter) but it is taking the mick a bit, not payiing tax on earnings that aren't remitted to the UK.

It's complicated and will take a while to iron out - but that's the score right now.

[chriskzoo]

The problem is, the Euro Tour is like what people in the US refer when they call a baseball player a AAAA player (AAA is the highest level before the Major Leagues). These are guys who, for the most part, can play as well as the top players in the world in any given tournament, but aren't going to be top 50 players on the PGA Tour over the long run. Then you have guys like Jimenez who have played the PGA Tour for a couple years, but likes the lifestyle in Europe better - can't blame him having travelled in Spain - home is home.

The Euros just need to re-figure their Ryder Cup picks - I understand they want to give credence to the Euro Tour, but to "penalize" someone like Harringtons, Donald, etc. for playing a tourney against the best in the world is asinine.

[whatwhatwhat]

Did you hear what jimenez is doing this week?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/8937078.stm

I heard the american public dont really care but I dunno, tiger doesnt get too into it as well

[JWL1957]

Did you hear what jimenez is doing this week?

I hope he makes it. He's fun to watch.

[chriskzoo]

I hope he makes it. He's fun to watch.

I love Jimenez because he looks like a dude who just knows how to enjoy life - cars, wine, scotch, cigars. I also want him there because he has a terrible Ryder Cup record!

[BallStriker]

I think the answer is that some do and some don't......there are guys that really cherish the history of the game and their place in it and, as a result, very much embrace the opportunity to play........then there are others that play but wouldn't be hurt if the timing was shifted to every 4 or 6 years (which I think it should given the existence of the Presidents cup)......and some in between.


As an American and a lover of the game, I am happy to see Tiger emphasize that he wants to play...........

[jamo]

What is the Gleneagles qualifying for? The Ryder Cup or the Race to Dubai? I would imagine that those guys you named are already pretty secure in their spots for both the Race and the Cup. But they see that $10 million prize available over here, and it's pretty hard not to give it a shot.

[pcmancini]

The problem is, the Euro Tour is like what people in the US refer when they call a baseball player a AAAA player (AAA is the highest level before the Major Leagues).

I have been a baseball fan all my life (50 years) and I have never heard the term "AAAA player." You really do learn something new every day and usually from an unexpected source. Thanks

[James_Black]

What is the Gleneagles qualifying for? The Ryder Cup or the Race to Dubai? I would imagine that those guys you named are already pretty secure in their spots for both the Race and the Cup. But they see that $10 million prize available over here, and it's pretty hard not to give it a shot.

It's for both.

There's a big prize pool for the race to dubai but that's Europe's order of merit too. It's only 4 competitions for the fedex cup? (not sure). So if you go on a hot streak you could be running away with a lot of money.

[Acropo]

These are guys who, for the most part, can play as well as the top players in the world in any given tournament, but aren't going to be top 50 players on the PGA Tour over the long run....

Well, who are 'the best' It's an ongoing discussion but we can always start with this year's Major winners. Three of the four are from the European Tour and only an inspired performance from Phil Mickelson kept the Masters from Westwood's hands. Oousthuizen and Kaymer aren't at the Playoffs because they aren't members of the PGA Tour. McDowell is but his lowly ranking indicates that his focus has been the European Tour. Westwood (world No 3) is recovering from injury - but he wouldn't have been there, either, because he's not a member of the PGA Tour.

The field at the Johnnie Walker (Scottish PGA) championship is rather good and it's looking exciting. I respect the in-contention players' decisions for preferring the Playoffs to Gleneagles but the reasons given above are rather narrow-minded. btw - the Race to Dubai (European Order of Merit) is pretty valuable, as well. The winner of the season-ending Dubai World Championship (open to the top 60 in the rankings) will get a rather nice sledge of wedge (share of the $7.5 million prize fund and $7.5 million) bonus pool distributed among the top 15) - even more ($1.5 million) if he wins the Race outright.

[ghalfaire]

Does the ultra hyped up Euro/US rivalry really exist?

I believe the rivalry certainly exists. But it is about who buys the beer after the matches. I also love to watch and certainly want to see the US win. But it is a friendly rivalry and about bragging rights, not anything else. I believe the players do care and I believe they give it their best. Where else could Sergio consistently sink 40 foot (~12M) putts?

Since my grandfather immigrated from County Waterford when a teenager I understand your final comment too.

[Acropo]

Now if it was Ireland v the UK or something I would understand the rivalry but Europe/US no sorry I don't see it.

Well, you won't mind if Harrington isn't picked, then, will you? As you say, it isn't that important.

(yeah - right.)

[Acropo]

I believe the rivalry certainly exists. But it is about who buys the beer after the matches. I also love to watch and certainly want to see the US win. But it is a friendly rivalry and about bragging rights, not anything else. I believe the players do care and I believe they give it their best. Where else could Sergio consistently sink 40 foot (~12M) putts?

A guy called Wayne Riley, formerly a useful-ish player, Australian, said he really didn't understand what it is about and no-one would - until they went to one.

He said 'it's Like England against Australia in The Ashes', or Germany against England in football. This is a grudge match, with bragging rights for the next couple of years. Yes, everyone gets on fine the rest of the time but it matters. It matters to the spectators and it matters to the players. If it didn't matter, why the hoots of 'USA! USA!' (Yes, Europe, Europe doesn't sound quite so impressive but that's a syllable problem. I'll be pushing to adopt 'Europa! Europa!' and meanwhile howl the individual names and cheer their every good shot.)