2014 Ryder Cup Discussion Thread

[natureboy]

Interesting statistical analysis of Ryder Cup teams (made before the tournament) from across the pond:

http://golfanalytics.wordpress.com/2014/09/23/ryder-cup-preview-team-usa/

http://golfanalytics.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/ryder-cup-preview-team-europe/

http://golfanalytics.wordpress.com/2014/09/21/ryder-cup-preview-the-course-home-field-competition/

[mvmac]

OWGR points for European Tour players are inflated.

Funny, I thought this was pretty common information. Thanks for all the good info anyway Erik.

[weekend hacker1]

Funny, I thought this was pretty common information. Thanks for all the good info anyway Erik.

It may be true, and it is undoubtedly the case that the fields are stronger in PGA events, but the European Tour is more interesting to watch. Every week on the PGA tour looks like the last.The courses they play on always look the same.

[boogielicious]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mvmac

Funny, I thought this was pretty common information. Thanks for all the good info anyway Erik.

It may be true, and it is undoubtedly the case that the fields are stronger in PGA events, but the European Tour is more interesting to watch. Every week on the PGA tour looks like the last.The courses they play on always look the same.

A bit off topic.  There are other threads on this.  Let's stick to the Ryder Cup please.

[Crim]

Has this been posted yet? Tom Watson apparently dismissed a gift offered by the players.....

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/watson-lost-his-locker-room-well-presser/?cid=twitter_cen_A_WATSONLOSSESROOMICYMI

[RH31]

Whats he supposed to do, lie and say how special it is to have a memory of what a lousy team they were?

[Crim]

Whats he supposed to do, lie and say how special it is to have a memory of what a lousy team they were?

Seeing how it was on Saturday, just to keep everyone's spirits up going into the final day....yes, that's exactly what I'd have done. Dismissing a gift is just silly.

[RH31]

Seeing how it was on Saturday, just to keep everyone's spirits up going into the final day....yes, that's exactly what I'd have done. Dismissing a gift is just silly.

Different view points I guess. I think signing a Ryder Cup trophy and presenting it as a gift is silly, when it's done while you're getting your asses kicked.

[Crim]

I think signing a Ryder Cup trophy and presenting it as a gift is silly, when it's done while you're getting your asses kicked.

I actually agree with you there. Silly time to present it and silly gift.

Just thought Watson could have accepted it and gone about his business.

[mvmac]

Has this been posted yet? Tom Watson apparently dismissed a gift offered by the players.....

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/watson-lost-his-locker-room-well-presser/?cid=twitter_cen_A_WATSONLOSSESROOMICYMI

http://thesandtrap.com/t/77390/mickelson-vs-watson-was-phil-right-to-be-critical-of-watson-at-the-press-conference/234#post_1062119

[Crim]

http://thesandtrap.com/t/77390/mickelson-vs-watson-was-phil-right-to-be-critical-of-watson-at-the-press-conference/234#post_1062119

Ughh, I'm always late to these things.

Speaking of being late, I saw this for the first time today. I lol'd.

[Ken Lines]

If I were the U.S. captain,  I would let the players make all of the decisions as a group on the spot.  I would do this because some guys need two hours to get loose and warm up.  Some guys are ready to roll all day and maybe the next.  It just depends on how they feel, (if you have ever thrown your back out you know how that feels).  These guys, like Phil, do not need to be told how to play golf.   They got to where they are in golf for a reason so let them be involved in the decision process.  The captain, in my opinion, should make decisions only if the group lacks the ability to make their own decisions which is not the case with the caliber of players the U.S. has.  However, it is not Tom Watson's fault they lost.  Europe has fun winning so why not the U.S.  Golf is not a sport where extra pressure helps.

[k-troop]

If I were the U.S. captain,  I would let the players make all of the decisions as a group on the spot.

So in your view the Captain is essentially the team secretary.

[Shorty]

If I were the U.S. captain,  I would let the players make all of the decisions as a group on the spot.

That would be  great plan.

Imagine Phil and the rest of the "group" coming to a friendly consensus.

[Tomputt]

You can have all the so called pods and investment by the players...it still would not make a bit of difference. The Europeans Won fair and square and they simply out played the Americans.  All this finger pointing makes the Americans look lik a bunch of spoiled, whiney little babies.  I would just like to point out one thing...our older more experienced golfers do not really have stellar performances at the Ryder cup.  I think the younger PGA players are hungrier to attack at the Ryder cup.  For example..remember Boo Weekly, Anthony Kim...How about Patrick Reed  and Jotdan Spieth.  Let the younger players out of the barn!

[newtogolf]

You can have all the so called pods and investment by the players...it still would not make a bit of difference. The Europeans Won fair and square and they simply out played the Americans.  All this finger pointing makes the Americans look lik a bunch of spoiled, whiney little babies.  I would just like to point out one thing...our older more experienced golfers do not really have stellar performances at the Ryder cup.  I think the younger PGA players are hungrier to attack at the Ryder cup.  For example..remember Boo Weekly, Anthony Kim...How about Patrick Reed  and Jotdan Spieth.  Let the younger players out of the barn!

I don't think anyone said the Europeans didn't deserve to win or that they in any way cheated.  What is being questioned is how much better the American team might have been if they had a better captain.

In the US we're encouraged to question the actions of our leaders and learn from our losses.

[trickyputt]

What was the average team ages anyway?

[jamo]

What was the average team ages anyway?

Look up their ages and calculate it. I'm sure we'd all like to know.