NICKLAUS SHOWS AZINGER HOW TO GET THE
BEST OUT OF AN AMERICAN GOLF TEAM
FROM THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Paul Azinger now knows the captaincy mantra for next year's Ryder Cup: Walk softly and carry a big stick.
Jack Nicklaus proved once again over the past four days that Uncle Sam's men respond better to a light touch and occasional joke than to a commanding hand brandishing a whip.
In the aftermath of the U.S. squad's demolition of the favoured Internationals at Royal Montreal (19½-14½), one of golf's great enigmas can again be pondered:
How can a U.S. bunch with one victory in the last six Ryder Cups dominate the Presidents Cup (now 5-1-1) against an International roster routinely stronger on paper than its European counterpart?
Given that the nucleus of the U.S. team is virtually the same from year to year (Tiger, Phil, Furyk, David Toms and Stewart Cink), perhaps the simplest answer to a complicated question must involve the part of the team that changes the most: its captaincy.
Some would argue that the Presidents Cup's smaller-stage feel is what reduces stress on an American team that clearly plays better when it snickers rather than when it scowls. Don't buy that. With seven instalments now in the books, the Presidents Cup now equals the Ryder Cup in virtually every category other than corporate greed.
Nope, Nicklaus is the man who deserves a major measure of credit for keeping the U.S. squad loose. Sure, Captain Jack probably doesn't know what brand of ball Scott Verplank plays or Toms' career foursomes record.
Heck, he didn't even know it was Vijay Singh's turn to putt when he suggested that Mickelson and Woody Austin concede a 4-footer to the International pairing of Singh and Mike Weir in the Friday foursomes. With his broomstick putter, cross-handed grip and spotty history with the blade, Singh's circle of trust doesn't extend past 20 inches.
What Nicklaus does know is that all that technical stuff is overrated. Just ask Hal Sutton, who took a trunk of data with him to the 2004 Ryder Cup and then proceeded to author the pairing shank of the century (Tiger/Phil), a move that set the tone for the worst-ever U.S. loss on home soil.
What Nicklaus knows is that a captain can't win a Ryder or Presidents Cup, but he can darn sure lose one.
BEST OUT OF AN AMERICAN GOLF TEAM
FROM THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Paul Azinger now knows the captaincy mantra for next year's Ryder Cup: Walk softly and carry a big stick.
Jack Nicklaus proved once again over the past four days that Uncle Sam's men respond better to a light touch and occasional joke than to a commanding hand brandishing a whip.
In the aftermath of the U.S. squad's demolition of the favoured Internationals at Royal Montreal (19½-14½), one of golf's great enigmas can again be pondered:
How can a U.S. bunch with one victory in the last six Ryder Cups dominate the Presidents Cup (now 5-1-1) against an International roster routinely stronger on paper than its European counterpart?
Given that the nucleus of the U.S. team is virtually the same from year to year (Tiger, Phil, Furyk, David Toms and Stewart Cink), perhaps the simplest answer to a complicated question must involve the part of the team that changes the most: its captaincy.
Some would argue that the Presidents Cup's smaller-stage feel is what reduces stress on an American team that clearly plays better when it snickers rather than when it scowls. Don't buy that. With seven instalments now in the books, the Presidents Cup now equals the Ryder Cup in virtually every category other than corporate greed.
Nope, Nicklaus is the man who deserves a major measure of credit for keeping the U.S. squad loose. Sure, Captain Jack probably doesn't know what brand of ball Scott Verplank plays or Toms' career foursomes record.
Heck, he didn't even know it was Vijay Singh's turn to putt when he suggested that Mickelson and Woody Austin concede a 4-footer to the International pairing of Singh and Mike Weir in the Friday foursomes. With his broomstick putter, cross-handed grip and spotty history with the blade, Singh's circle of trust doesn't extend past 20 inches.
What Nicklaus does know is that all that technical stuff is overrated. Just ask Hal Sutton, who took a trunk of data with him to the 2004 Ryder Cup and then proceeded to author the pairing shank of the century (Tiger/Phil), a move that set the tone for the worst-ever U.S. loss on home soil.
What Nicklaus knows is that a captain can't win a Ryder or Presidents Cup, but he can darn sure lose one.
Labels: Pro Men
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Monday, October 01, 2007
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