Really? That's the thing I like most about the Ryder Cup.

"Back-loading" a lineup, like anything else in team golf events, makes a captain look like a genius if it works, but it's totally overrated. Even the best player on a team probably doesn't win a match more than 60-65% of the time in this competition (unless their opponent is Paddy Harrington, in which case they win 100% of the time).

The US won two years ago mostly because the top Euro players laid an unbelievable egg. All the best at the time - Garcia, Harrington, Stenson, maybe Westwood, can't remember - had an absolutely atrocious RC whereas the Oliver Wilson types pulled their weight just fine. Playing the best at the back would have backfired.

Just watched the presser. I couldn't help but think, "Isn't this all a little overdramatic?" It's a golf event. They went over there, tried, and lost... now it's over. LOL at it being Mahan's fault, LOL at caring that he "choked," but equal LOL at him being in that situation proving that he's a "real man" or anything.

Hard for me to feel bad for 12 of the biggest superstars in American golf.

NAH MAN DIDN'T YOU LISTEN TO AZINGER??? IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE POD SYSTEM!!!!!!

Meh.

He's not crying because he didn't win a big silver trophy. He's crying because he feels like he let his friends/teammates down.(and maybe a small sliver his country).

Anyone who has played team sports has had/felt similar things. I don't really have an issue with it.

I've been to several US Amateurs and although the importance between a US Am and Ryder Cup cannot be compared, I thought that it was just proper etiquette to cheer a positive shot over cheering for an opponent's missed shot. I might be in the minority with this, but I just prefer the gentleman's aspect of the game, regardless of the level of competition. But, I guess that's just home-field advantage defined.

I think Mahan going out late was a mistake because his short game sucks, and as we saw its even worse with all that pressure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BkIh1R5utY

idk about all u guys but i was very impressed with woods (especially today!!) he seems to be back on the right track somewhat and has something to build off at the least..gosh i hope he keeps it up!

i couldnt agree more..it shows that these guys really cared and i feel like sports have lost that a lot and are so money-oritented..this ryder cup was amazing and i feel like it might be hard to top in the next one..all in all what a great experience

Media is so sadly outcome based.

If one or two putts (no, just one putt!) go the Americans way, the headlines would be about how the Europeans suck at singles and how are they ever going to fix that. Corey Pavin was a genius with his Monday line-up. The Europeans don't play well when they have to relay on their own ball...etc. etc.

Now because the Europeans won, the same old stuff is being thrown out again. One coach had attention to detail and the other didn't. The Euros had passion, they hang togther and they travel together. The Americans can't play as a team, etc, etc

It was great golf, and it was one putt. Everyone of those 24 players could have swung the entire winning outcome by one missed or one made putt.



It would be really great to give the media and alternate ending two days from now, and have Mahan chip in on 17, and then tie 18 for a US retention of the cup. All the silly press who wrote "why the americans lost and why the euros won" would all have to change their stories." Then two days later we could tell them we lied, and would they please stop with the why X lost and why Y won crap when it was one stroke over 3 days of matches.

Silly goofballs. It is golf. Stuff happened, and a team lost.

Johnny Miller

Can you please shut-up when you can't think of anything to say.

When he said about Mahan "you can't hide behind those sunglasses" after Mahan chunked his chip, I thought what an a**hole comment. Why would he think Mahan wouldn't take the miss like a man, and why would you ever say that a guy is 'trying to hide' after what will be the lowest point in his career.

Except this.

In the press conference Phil (who I never used to like) owned up for not playing well, admitted that the US could have won if he'd have found a 1/2 point somewhere, and admitted he wanted to be a leader. He alsoshowed class in the whole press conference.

Tiger looked like he always does. I really don't give a crap, and even in this venue, I'm still giving you stock answers. Oh. and I'm not capable of saying anything heartfelt, and not really interested in taling like a leader.



PS. Oh sorry, you were talking about Tiger's golf game. It was 18 holes, so it is hard to say he's back.

Ya, I wasn't actually trying to disagree with anything you wrote, I just quoted it because you mentioned the press conference. And I guess I was referring more to the media's questions and to some of the things Cink/Pavin said ABOUT Mahan, not the things Mahan himself said. What Mahan said was obv meaningful and from the heart, I'm not trying to be like "LIGHTEN UP LOSER."

sweet, I finally settled in to watch Monday's coverage on my DVR after miraculously avoiding all spoilers. I get to right before the end of McIlroy vs. Cink and of course my DVR decided to take a break for a few hours. At first I'm like meh, Euros prolly just ran away with it, so I google Ryder Cup and the first article is "A RYDER CUP FOR THE AGES."

ricky looks so much better in conservative attire. shame he will go back to his regular ugly outfits, but for 3 days he was a respectable pro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp0SJRSSu3c great candid of tigers swing

Some great comments in this thread. Would love to hear how different things would be had America won

Yay europe, woo!

hard luck America. It was an awesome ryder cup. I love a tight ryder cup and the way Fowler came back in his match was fantastic!

You could also argue that if we swapped Mahan with Woods so Mahan was playing F. Molinari, then F. Molinari would have beaten Mahan given he was like -4 and that the Woods McDowell match would have been pretty close thus meaning if Woods did win the match would have already been over...

My thoughts about the European players performances.

Better than expected:
Ian Poulter 3/4 - expected him to do well and he delivered everything you could ask for. Great play and great passion.
Luke Donald 3/4 - same as Poulter. I really like his attitude.
Miguel Angel Jimenez 2/3 - I didn't expect him to do very well at all and 2/3 points is definitely more than I expected from him.

As expected:
Lee Westwood 2.5/4 - the player to lean on alongside Poulter and Donald on the European team. He did what he was supposed to but was slightly dissapointing in his single. Not trying to take anything away from Stricker though, he played really well.
Graeme McDowell 2.5/4 - his pairing with McIlroy dissapointed me a little but what a fantastic birdie at the 16th in his single.
Ross Fisher 2/4 - carried Harrington for 2 playing under slightly less pressure.
Padraig Harrington 2/4 - expected him to be complete and utter crap, and he was. Worst captains pick I can remember.
Peter Hanson 1/3 - did not expect much from him, and got what I expected.

Dissapointing:
Martin Kaymer 2.5/4 - eventhough he had 2.5/4 points he was the biggest dissapointment to me during this Ryder Cup. I expected him to do really well but imo he was carried by Westwood/Poulter for all of his points. His long game was not impressive and he couldn't hole a putt when he needed to.
Rory McIlroy 2/4 - as written above I expected more from his partnership with McDowell. He holed some good putts late in his single, but he also put himself in some bad spots.
Edoardo Molinari 1/3 - not going to bash him for the tie vs Fowler, just a great effort to birdie 15-18 (although 16 was conceded). I did expect more from the Molinari pairing though.
Francesco Molinari 0.5/3 - finally found his putter in time for the singles match but when Tiger's gonna Tiger there's just nothing you can do. As with his brother it was the team matches that dissapointed me.

Random thoughts:

I feel like the Europeans showed less passion/enjoyment and seemed to be more under pressure/nervous, and having less fun than previous years.

Most likable US team I can remember.

In previous years it always seemed to me that whichever team putted better ultimately ended up winning. In this one I actually felt that the US team holed more putts but that is obviously subjective and I could be completely wrong.

Tons of respect for Rickie Fowler and the way he finished his single.

American players seemed to enjoy the banter at 1st tee. Was good to see.

Ironic that Cink missed short putts on 15 and 17 after putting great in earlier rounds.

US team imo showed a ton of heart, team spirit and everything else they're usually accused of not showing during the Ryder Cup.

I would argue that my suggested change is a lot less drastic than the change that was made this year (albeit due to weather).

Agree Tiger has had a lot of runs this year where it looked like he was back but then he goes out the next morning and puts up 2 doubles on the front 9 to turn a winning tournament into a top 10.

He needs to show he can consistently deliver 72 holes where he doesn't make any killer bad shots.

"Cigar Guy" is an even bigger sensation:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39522903/?GT1=43001

crossposting to OOT because I lack discipline and can't help myself.

Going through the coverage on my DVR.

I can't remember such a clutch call by Dottie Pepper regarding Furyk's fidgeting over that short putt (which he proceeded to lip out).