Fred Couples wants to be Ryder Cup Captain

[mvmac]

I find it kind of funny that Couples is making a "career" out of being a team captain.  Especially when his style is to be very hands off.  But maybe that's what the guy needs, Freddy seems to be "one of the guys" rather than trying to coach them.  Maybe more or just as important than parings the players with their partners it's about creating the right atmosphere in the team room.

Recently Couples said he would love to be Ryder Cup captain

Quote:

Speaking in Dubai on the eve of the Dubai Desert Classic, where his playing partners will be John Daly and Colin Montgomerie, Couples said: “Maybe in the next two or four years, I’ll get a shot at it. But they are going to name another Presidents Cup captain in another month, and I know they’re all pushing for me to do it again, so I’m all for that. But obviously I would love to be a Ryder Cup captain, there’s no doubt.”

Tiger Woods threw his support behind Couples in a post on TigerWoods.com in December .

Quote:

I've heard people question whether Fred would be a good Ryder Cup captain, and I just don't get it. I think that Fred is a great captain. Whether it's The Presidents Cup or the Ryder Cup, it doesn't matter.

The way he keeps us loose and how much fun we have -- it's just great to play for him. He's a lot more competitive than people realize. He just doesn't show it. He shows it with us around, but the public doesn't see it.

[tristanhilton85]

Seems like Freddy would be a good guy for the job.

[jamo]

I'd imagine a "rah rah" guy would do well as captain for these events, especially these last few American teams. It's not like a more strict guy is going to make them run windsprints or do anything to their mechanics anyway.

[Beachcomber]

On XM Radio - PGA Tour Golf, they were talking about the last Ryder Cup teams.... The Europeans bar bill was in the $40K range.  The Americans bar bill was in the $1K range.  They were just speculating that the American teams are far too uptight and putting too much pressure on themselves.  Whereas the Europeans like to go have fun and are more of a team.  They hang as a team and play as a team.

My opinion on the matter, Freddy lets his guys go play.  I like that.  And believe the Americans put too much pressure on themselves and need to have more guys like Bubba Watson who is going to have fun and make the rest of the team more relaxed.

[BallStriker]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

The Europeans bar bill was in the $40K range.  The Americans bar bill was in the $1K range.

As an American (and a big fan of alcohol), this is simply embarassing......if I was a US Ryder Cupper and coudn't find a mate to drink with, I'd just go join the Euros in the bar.....

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by BallStriker

As an American (and a big fan of alcohol), this is simply embarassing......if I was a US Ryder Cupper and coudn't find a mate to drink with, I'd just go join the Euros in the bar.....

I'm not a huge drinker...But I know if I was in a team competition with a bunch of guys I enjoyed hanging out with, we would be drinking at the bar and having a good time together after the rounds.  Just goes to show that the US team once the golf round is complete - is off doing their own thing.

But I guess they could've went off site?  I have no idea... Maybe the US team felt the European team was hanging out there... And they needed to go somewhere else?  Who knows... I just thought it was an interesting point brought up by John Maginnes on Maginnes on Tap awhile back.

[brocks]

I think Elton John would make a great Ryder Cup captain. Seriously, what do you have to do? You don't know what the Euro pairings are until you've already set yours, so there's no strategy involved, unless you want to put your best players last, which involves the very complicated process of glancing at the world rankings. The last RC captain we had picked a guy who had never won anything (and still hasn't won anything in a first world country, and incurred a bonehead penalty for playing the wrong ball that may have cost us a point) as one of his Captain's Picks, couldn't manage to book a plane big enough to hold the team, and couldn't even manage to order rainsuits that kept people dry. And when he had one chance to actually make a decision that might help the team, namely whether to put Tiger in fourball or foursomes, he put the very erratically driving Tiger in foursomes, where he predictably lost the match. How much worse could Couples be?

[TourSpoon]

Originally Posted by brocks

I think Elton John would make a great Ryder Cup captain.

He could sing Rocketballzman..."oh no no no, I'm a Rocketballz man".

Freddy for president baby.

[xxsoultonesxx]

Originally Posted by brocks

I think Elton John would make a great Ryder Cup captain.

Seriously, what do you have to do? You don't know what the Euro pairings are until you've already set yours, so there's no strategy involved, unless you want to put your best players last, which involves the very complicated process of glancing at the world rankings.

The last RC captain we had picked a guy who had never won anything (and still hasn't won anything in a first world country, and incurred a bonehead penalty for playing the wrong ball that may have cost us a point) as one of his Captain's Picks, couldn't manage to book a plane big enough to hold the team, and couldn't even manage to order rainsuits that kept people dry.

And when he had one chance to actually make a decision that might help the team, namely whether to put Tiger in fourball or foursomes, he put the very erratically driving Tiger in foursomes, where he predictably lost the match.

How much worse could Couples be?

Ouch! Pavin is crying in a corner right now. But that is the truth. All a good captain needs to to is schedule an awesome "team competitive vacation" and do it right, make sure you put the players that mesh well with each other....keep your players dry, well fed and happy. When you allow the players to bond, the spirit of the team ignites, and that is when you see the results.

+1 vote for Couples