Peter Hanson questions
absent stars' Ryder Cup
hunger
FROM THE IRISHTIMES.COM WEBSITE
Peter Hanson, the Swede who has given Colin Montgomerie what Europe's captain calls a "more or less impossible" task, questioned how much some stars want to be part of the Ryder Cup.
Hanson spoke out shortly after arriving at Gleneagles for the final counting event, the Johnnie Walker Championship.
"If you really want to make the team - and, of course, if you are that close - then you should be here and playing," he said.
The 32-year-old moved up from 15th to eighth by capturing the Czech Open title in a play-off on Sunday and as a result pushed Paul Casey out of the top nine who automatically earn selection this weekend.
Casey and Pádraig Harrington, with top-five finishes, and Luke Donald, with a win, could all have guaranteed themselves another cap by switching from the first of the FedEx Cup play-offs to the Johnnie Walker Championship.
But not one of the trio has, and with Justin Rose and Italian World Cup winner Edoardo Molinari needing one of the three wild cards as well, Montgomerie knows he will have to face the Americans without two players who are in the world's top 22.
"This isn't difficult - it's more or less impossible," Montgomerie said on Sky Sports News. "It's a bit like Fabio Capello having to leave out Theo Walcott, I suppose. He could only take 23, I can only take 12.
"I wish I could take 20 - I do, I really do - because 20 deserve their spots this year. They've played great.
"Unfortunately, I can't please everybody on Sunday night. They understand my dilemma and their own and it is up to them to try to prove to me - this last final chance to make it pay."
Molinari is in Scotland, but Rose is with Harrington et al at The Barclays tournament in New Jersey. Montgomerie will make his decision before the winner there is known.
With so many big names now relying on a call-up, Hanson believes he has no chance of a wild card if he falls out of the top nine.
Miguel Angel Jimenez's late decision to enter Gleneagles was bad news for Hanson because he is ninth in the standings and could go past him by finishing in the top 14.
But even if that happens Hanson would still make his debut unless Ross McGowan comes second or Simon Dyson wins. Interestingly, Hanson plays with Dyson in the first two rounds - and with Alvaro Quiros, who could deny Jimenez with a win.
McGowan, meanwhile, plays with Jimenez and Edoardo Molinari, whose brother Francesco is almost home and dry at seventh on the points table.
While Montgomerie says he understands the reasons why Casey, Harrington and Donald have stayed in the States, it must still come as a massive disappointment that they have not answered the call he made last year and again in June.
Before the last Johnnie Walker Championship, Montgomerie stated: "It will be an amazing event here next year. You'll find number five through number 25 (in the race for places) automatically playing here.
"I won't even have to ask them."
Before the Wales Open at Celtic Manor two months ago, another event where the entry list was not as stellar as he had hoped, Montgomerie said of this week: "I want to see them showing support for European golf and the European Tour and I will be very, very surprised if they are not there.
"That would make a whole lot of sense to a whole lot of people. I am convinced that I will have around eight candidates for three spots.
"You can count on those eight playing at Gleneagles. They will be there."
It would have been 10 for three as it turned out. Instead it is six for three.
Monty should pick Casey, Donald,
Molinari, says Ewen Murray
FROM THE SKYSPORTS.COM WEBSITEThe excellent Peter Hanson pulled off one of the truly great victories on the European Tour at the Czech Open to dislodge Paul Casey in the automatic top nine of Colin Montgomerie's side to face America at Celtic Manor.
By EWEN MURRAY
I'm not sure what you think about Casey, Justin Rose, Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald possibly filling their boots with greenbacks in the Fed-Ex Cup while they are not qualified to play in Wales - and not appearing at Gleneagles this week.
To me, having your cake and eating it comes to mind. Montgomerie predicted, quite rightly, that eight players could be in contention for the three wildcards and if that was the case, then it's a given that they should be on the first tee at Gleneagles this Thursday.
My spirit will change before October, but I can't help thinking the Americans used to play for cash and the Europeans played for each other and glory. I have a disappointing feeling the tables are turned.
It's generally accepted that making the Ryder Cup side is worth roughly around £1million to those who represent Europe as off-course deals kick in. But Padraig "I will be devastated not to make the Ryder Cup" Harrington - only three events in Europe this year. What's all that about?
I suspect Padraig is not short of a few bob, so if he is so keen to play in Wales, why has his schedule favoured America? What has he got to prove over there, having already won three majors, playing in the ATandT Pro-Am and other ordinary events?
The new qualification system allowed for only four players from the world ranking points, while five places were available on the European points list. Graeme McDowell's win in the US Open and Martin Kaymer's success in Wisconsin along with the consistency of Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood took care of the four places.
Harrington's average year has left him in limbo, having missed the French Open and Loch Lomond which offered £1million in first prizes - and they were only two of several events he chose to forego. €70,000 won in any of these events would have been enough to still have his name in the top nine.
Trevor Hawkins wrote in and said: "If they don't want to play in Europe when they can, then they shouldn't expect to play for Europe." Good point.
Alan F said Harrington would be playing on past reputation. That's fair.
Alex Bell said: "Does Harrington deserve a wildcard? And would Casey be remembered for playing in the Tour Championship or the Ryder Cup? Those who have not made the effort have only themselves to blame." Good point.
Graham Donogue made an accurate comment that Casey and Harrington have no wins this year. Alvaro Quiros has the Spanish title, Donald the Madrid Masters, Hanson has two in Majorca and the Czech Open and Edoardo Molinari at Loch Lomond.
James H and Sam Baldwin said if the players in question don't appear in the Czech Open or Gleneagles they don't deserve it as they spend their energy chasing dollars stateside.
Conor Kelly says the criticism of Harrington is unfair and along with Owain Baglow, said I was singing his praises after the 3 Irish Open. Yes I was gentlemen. In anyone else's hands the halfway cut would have been impossible to make, yet he finished second. His scrambling was sensational, but would he make the ideal partner in the foursomes which are two of the five sections of play?
More than anything, if the four players who are playing in the four tournament Fed-Ex Series make the last week at the Tour Championship, incidentally the week before The Match in Wales, will they be fresh to play three days of intensive match play golf after another trans-Atlantic journey?
Our own players do not escape criticism. Quiros, who I would like to see make the side, chose not to go to Czechoslavakia. Why? You would have to ask him when the first prize was just under £300,000 and the Czech sponsors laid on a charter plane to fly those playing this week to Scotland. Like many, Gleneagles is huge for him and the splendour of Glendevon is his last-chance saloon.
Of course we can talk forever, but it is now down to Captain Colin and I don't envy his task. I will see him in Scotland this week and I will say nothing of his dilemma and he will reveal nothing - and quite rightly so. It will be a tough week for him and those still in with a chance. It's been a great fortnight for Martin Kaymer and Hanson.
Assuming nothing changes as far as the qualifying tables are concerned at Gleneagles, what do you think will happen?
It comes down to positives and negatives. Is multi-major winner Harrington - who has one point in his last nine Ryder Cup matches - a better bet than Edoardo Molinari, whose rise in world golf over the past year has been nothing short of phenomenal?
Should any of the stay-aways be considered? Colin stated at the start of the campaign he would like all possibles to play in the Wales Open and at the Johnnie Walker this week. That did not happen in June and it's clear it will not happen in Scotland.
Donald played at Celtic Manor and after a 75 in the opening round, the Englishman showed his class by finishing third to McDowell. The previous week he was runner-up at the showcase event of the Tour at Wentworth and the following week he won in Madrid; that's first, second and third in three weeks. Donald has made a decent effort to make the side despite being domiciled in Chicago.
Jules C said he would pick Casey because of his match play credentials and he has a strong case there. No-one mentioned Rose whose two wins in America this year has given him his best ever year.
Do these wins give him a wildcard ahead of those like Simon Dyson, who finished fifth last week after an impressive US PGA Championship, Molinari and others who have clearly made a huge effort to make a side that means much to them?
Rose has also said the Ryder Cup was "not one of his priorities".
Many questions and in the next few days we will know the answers. As things stand, I would pick Casey, despite his no-show at too many events, for the simple fact is his match play record is impressive; Donald because of his effort to play in Europe and he and Casey are higher ranked than Harrington and Rose. And I would also choose Molinari.
Whether Colin sticks to his original guns remains to be seen but I think he will go for - if the table doesn't change - Harrington, Casey and Donald. If the brilliant Peter Hanson had not forced Casey into 10th place he may have thought of Rose who is a perfect partner for last-time hero, Ian Poulter.
What I do know is that Colin will pick what he believes to be his strongest and best-matched team.
absent stars' Ryder Cup
hunger
FROM THE IRISHTIMES.COM WEBSITE
Peter Hanson, the Swede who has given Colin Montgomerie what Europe's captain calls a "more or less impossible" task, questioned how much some stars want to be part of the Ryder Cup.
Hanson spoke out shortly after arriving at Gleneagles for the final counting event, the Johnnie Walker Championship.
"If you really want to make the team - and, of course, if you are that close - then you should be here and playing," he said.
The 32-year-old moved up from 15th to eighth by capturing the Czech Open title in a play-off on Sunday and as a result pushed Paul Casey out of the top nine who automatically earn selection this weekend.
Casey and Pádraig Harrington, with top-five finishes, and Luke Donald, with a win, could all have guaranteed themselves another cap by switching from the first of the FedEx Cup play-offs to the Johnnie Walker Championship.
But not one of the trio has, and with Justin Rose and Italian World Cup winner Edoardo Molinari needing one of the three wild cards as well, Montgomerie knows he will have to face the Americans without two players who are in the world's top 22.
"This isn't difficult - it's more or less impossible," Montgomerie said on Sky Sports News. "It's a bit like Fabio Capello having to leave out Theo Walcott, I suppose. He could only take 23, I can only take 12.
"I wish I could take 20 - I do, I really do - because 20 deserve their spots this year. They've played great.
"Unfortunately, I can't please everybody on Sunday night. They understand my dilemma and their own and it is up to them to try to prove to me - this last final chance to make it pay."
Molinari is in Scotland, but Rose is with Harrington et al at The Barclays tournament in New Jersey. Montgomerie will make his decision before the winner there is known.
With so many big names now relying on a call-up, Hanson believes he has no chance of a wild card if he falls out of the top nine.
Miguel Angel Jimenez's late decision to enter Gleneagles was bad news for Hanson because he is ninth in the standings and could go past him by finishing in the top 14.
But even if that happens Hanson would still make his debut unless Ross McGowan comes second or Simon Dyson wins. Interestingly, Hanson plays with Dyson in the first two rounds - and with Alvaro Quiros, who could deny Jimenez with a win.
McGowan, meanwhile, plays with Jimenez and Edoardo Molinari, whose brother Francesco is almost home and dry at seventh on the points table.
While Montgomerie says he understands the reasons why Casey, Harrington and Donald have stayed in the States, it must still come as a massive disappointment that they have not answered the call he made last year and again in June.
Before the last Johnnie Walker Championship, Montgomerie stated: "It will be an amazing event here next year. You'll find number five through number 25 (in the race for places) automatically playing here.
"I won't even have to ask them."
Before the Wales Open at Celtic Manor two months ago, another event where the entry list was not as stellar as he had hoped, Montgomerie said of this week: "I want to see them showing support for European golf and the European Tour and I will be very, very surprised if they are not there.
"That would make a whole lot of sense to a whole lot of people. I am convinced that I will have around eight candidates for three spots.
"You can count on those eight playing at Gleneagles. They will be there."
It would have been 10 for three as it turned out. Instead it is six for three.
Monty should pick Casey, Donald,
Molinari, says Ewen Murray
FROM THE SKYSPORTS.COM WEBSITEThe excellent Peter Hanson pulled off one of the truly great victories on the European Tour at the Czech Open to dislodge Paul Casey in the automatic top nine of Colin Montgomerie's side to face America at Celtic Manor.
By EWEN MURRAY
I'm not sure what you think about Casey, Justin Rose, Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald possibly filling their boots with greenbacks in the Fed-Ex Cup while they are not qualified to play in Wales - and not appearing at Gleneagles this week.
To me, having your cake and eating it comes to mind. Montgomerie predicted, quite rightly, that eight players could be in contention for the three wildcards and if that was the case, then it's a given that they should be on the first tee at Gleneagles this Thursday.
My spirit will change before October, but I can't help thinking the Americans used to play for cash and the Europeans played for each other and glory. I have a disappointing feeling the tables are turned.
It's generally accepted that making the Ryder Cup side is worth roughly around £1million to those who represent Europe as off-course deals kick in. But Padraig "I will be devastated not to make the Ryder Cup" Harrington - only three events in Europe this year. What's all that about?
I suspect Padraig is not short of a few bob, so if he is so keen to play in Wales, why has his schedule favoured America? What has he got to prove over there, having already won three majors, playing in the ATandT Pro-Am and other ordinary events?
The new qualification system allowed for only four players from the world ranking points, while five places were available on the European points list. Graeme McDowell's win in the US Open and Martin Kaymer's success in Wisconsin along with the consistency of Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood took care of the four places.
Harrington's average year has left him in limbo, having missed the French Open and Loch Lomond which offered £1million in first prizes - and they were only two of several events he chose to forego. €70,000 won in any of these events would have been enough to still have his name in the top nine.
Trevor Hawkins wrote in and said: "If they don't want to play in Europe when they can, then they shouldn't expect to play for Europe." Good point.
Alan F said Harrington would be playing on past reputation. That's fair.
Alex Bell said: "Does Harrington deserve a wildcard? And would Casey be remembered for playing in the Tour Championship or the Ryder Cup? Those who have not made the effort have only themselves to blame." Good point.
Graham Donogue made an accurate comment that Casey and Harrington have no wins this year. Alvaro Quiros has the Spanish title, Donald the Madrid Masters, Hanson has two in Majorca and the Czech Open and Edoardo Molinari at Loch Lomond.
James H and Sam Baldwin said if the players in question don't appear in the Czech Open or Gleneagles they don't deserve it as they spend their energy chasing dollars stateside.
Conor Kelly says the criticism of Harrington is unfair and along with Owain Baglow, said I was singing his praises after the 3 Irish Open. Yes I was gentlemen. In anyone else's hands the halfway cut would have been impossible to make, yet he finished second. His scrambling was sensational, but would he make the ideal partner in the foursomes which are two of the five sections of play?
More than anything, if the four players who are playing in the four tournament Fed-Ex Series make the last week at the Tour Championship, incidentally the week before The Match in Wales, will they be fresh to play three days of intensive match play golf after another trans-Atlantic journey?
Our own players do not escape criticism. Quiros, who I would like to see make the side, chose not to go to Czechoslavakia. Why? You would have to ask him when the first prize was just under £300,000 and the Czech sponsors laid on a charter plane to fly those playing this week to Scotland. Like many, Gleneagles is huge for him and the splendour of Glendevon is his last-chance saloon.
Of course we can talk forever, but it is now down to Captain Colin and I don't envy his task. I will see him in Scotland this week and I will say nothing of his dilemma and he will reveal nothing - and quite rightly so. It will be a tough week for him and those still in with a chance. It's been a great fortnight for Martin Kaymer and Hanson.
Assuming nothing changes as far as the qualifying tables are concerned at Gleneagles, what do you think will happen?
It comes down to positives and negatives. Is multi-major winner Harrington - who has one point in his last nine Ryder Cup matches - a better bet than Edoardo Molinari, whose rise in world golf over the past year has been nothing short of phenomenal?
Should any of the stay-aways be considered? Colin stated at the start of the campaign he would like all possibles to play in the Wales Open and at the Johnnie Walker this week. That did not happen in June and it's clear it will not happen in Scotland.
Donald played at Celtic Manor and after a 75 in the opening round, the Englishman showed his class by finishing third to McDowell. The previous week he was runner-up at the showcase event of the Tour at Wentworth and the following week he won in Madrid; that's first, second and third in three weeks. Donald has made a decent effort to make the side despite being domiciled in Chicago.
Jules C said he would pick Casey because of his match play credentials and he has a strong case there. No-one mentioned Rose whose two wins in America this year has given him his best ever year.
Do these wins give him a wildcard ahead of those like Simon Dyson, who finished fifth last week after an impressive US PGA Championship, Molinari and others who have clearly made a huge effort to make a side that means much to them?
Rose has also said the Ryder Cup was "not one of his priorities".
Many questions and in the next few days we will know the answers. As things stand, I would pick Casey, despite his no-show at too many events, for the simple fact is his match play record is impressive; Donald because of his effort to play in Europe and he and Casey are higher ranked than Harrington and Rose. And I would also choose Molinari.
Whether Colin sticks to his original guns remains to be seen but I think he will go for - if the table doesn't change - Harrington, Casey and Donald. If the brilliant Peter Hanson had not forced Casey into 10th place he may have thought of Rose who is a perfect partner for last-time hero, Ian Poulter.
What I do know is that Colin will pick what he believes to be his strongest and best-matched team.
Labels: RYDER CUP
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Tuesday, August 24, 2010
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