As some of you may know, as well as being a massive snooker fan and of course a snooker blogger, I'm an enormous fan of Golf and this upcoming week is of course the greatest event in Golf: The Ryder Cup. So to mark this week I've got a lot of features lined up for the next few days and the first of those is a Ryder Cup Preview, but this is no ordinary Ryder Cup Preview. This Ryder Cup Preview has been kindly written for me by snooker's very own Alan McManus who is surging back up the world snooker rankings at present and I'm incredibly grateful that he (as a massive Golf fan and proud Scotsman with the event being hosted in Scotland) has been able to take the time out of his busy schedule to write this for me so I have to thank him very much for that. I hope you're looking forward to so more snooker themed Golf pieces throughout the week and if you are a Golf fan, the Ryder Cup over the course of Friday to Sunday this week.
On with the show then and these are Alan McManus's incredibly interesting, in-depth thoughts ahead of the 2014 Ryder Cup looking at the key players, the captains, the course and everything else that the event will bring with it:
Hi to all you golf and snooker fans out there. As we all know, it's almost that time again to sit back and take in one of not just golf's, but the whole of the sporting world's great sporting occasions - The Ryder Cup.
Here's my own take, and hopefully some helpful info on what's sure to be a colossal encounter over the coming days:
Of course, being an extremely proud Scotsman I'm more excited than normal to have what I'd say is the greatest team event on earth just 40 minutes or so from my home town of Glasgow. This year's Ryder Cup will take place at the fabulous PGA Centenary course alongside the magnificent grandeur of The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire.
Firstly, I'd like to give you a small flavour of the history of Gleneagles and it's rich golfing heritage. As far as golf courses go, there were originally two courses built on the famous grounds. The King's and The Queen's courses were in fact designed by James Braid, a somewhat local lad from Earlsferry in neighbouring Fife who, having won The Open Championship five times between 1901 and 1910 was one of the great champions of his time. Although it would be until the summer of 1924 hotel opened it's doors for the first time, golf is thought to have first been played at Gleneagles some time around 1918. Some years later, the aptly named 'Wee Course" was added to the grounds. There would be striking similarities as to how this year's Ryder Cup layout came to be. The PGA Centenary course was in fact designed by another, and probably the greatest of all Open champions in the great Jack Nicklaus, and opened for play in 1990. The golf course itself was originally named The Monarch's, changing to The PGA course in early 2001.
Being a somewhat local lad myself, I've been fortunate to have the chance to play all three main golf courses many times down the years. The first thing I'd say is that there's one common denominator whichever course you play at Gleneagles - the incredible scenery. Having played quite a bit of golf all over the world, I can't think of any golfing destination that affords such stunning and natural beauty than the rolling hills surrounding the estate. Any first time visitors over the next week or two are sure to be in for a real treat on that score.
If snooker is my first sporting love - then there's no doubt that golf comes a close second. In fact, I've been hitting balls from the green fairways (sometimes) way before I ever got involved on the green baize. But no, I didn't change to the indoor stuff Because it's always raining in Scotland. Don't believe a word of what you hear on the Scottish weather front - it's all made up....honest.
That brings us nicely along to my only slight fear for the Ryder Cup matches. Yes, you've guessed it...the weather. With the Ryder Cup being played over the last weekend in September, there's always going to be a threat of heavy rain which can cause disruption. However, I've heard a recent interview with the head greenkeeper of Gleneagles, and he assures us that every precaution has been taken in terms of keeping the golfers out on the course should any abnormal amount of rain sweep in. There have recently been around 40 miles of new drainage pipes installed, added to a sub air system underneath the greens which he tells us can cope with a normal amount of rain without any problems.
Touch wood - but with not long to go now - there's been almost no rain to speak of during the last couple of months, so here's hoping.
Now to the most important part - the golf itself. And who do I think will win I hear you ask? Well, let's look at the recent history of the event. I don't think it's breaking news to any golf fan that Europe have dominated the American's in recent years, winning 7 of the last 9 Ryder Cup's. Much has been said about the team spirit aspect of these matches, and in certain team sports, these analogies can be overplayed for me - but not in a Ryder Cup. We can look back to those halcyon days of the early 1980's when the Tony Jacklin and Seve Ballesteros era was just getting into full swing, where I think it's fair to say that they pretty much fostered between them the indomitable spirit that has since been par for the course in the European ranks.
You only have to think of Medinah two years ago when Europe trailed 10 - 4 late on Saturday afternoon, before Ian Poulter produced well, a 'Poulter' I suppose, in birdieing the last five holes of his fourball match to snatch an unlikely point alongside playing partner Rory McIlroy, who was pretty much a spectator as his compatriot almost single handedly turned over the American duo of Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner. The rest as they say is history, and 24 hours later when Martin Kaymer holed that famous 6 foot putt on the 18th green against Steve Stricker, it gave the Europeans the 14 points required to ensure that the famous gold trophy would return to Europe once again. One could recite similar tales of heroic victories by the boys in blue down the years - there's plenty to choose from after all.
For me, there's not a lot to choose between the teams in terms of talent and ability. After all, both teams are to a man, world class. Two key ingredients in a Ryder Cup - team spirit, and maybe just about wanting it that wee bit more, is what I think will sweep Europe to a 17 - 11 victory over the coming days. Of course, for sheer excitement purposes i think we'd all like to see it coming down to the last putt, of the last match, on the last green. Whether the nerve ends could take it though, is another matter altogether.
A word about the golf course itself. Having seen numerous pictures of the PGA course during the build up, I know that the course is looking magnificent. There hasn't been a shot struck on it for the whole of September. The fairly wide sweeping fairways have been sculpted beautifully as you would imagine. The greens will be like snooker tables (sorry), and a few areas around some of the green aprons have been changed to introduce those little run off areas that will collect any errant approach shots, which in turn will make chipping around the greens of huge importance. This in my opinion is where the European captain Paul McGinley has been clever. We can't be sure as to the extent of his input into these crucial details, but as the home captain, it's his prerogative to set up certain areas of the golf course in any way he thinks will be of advantage to his team. The reason I say he's being clever here, is that I'm sure (and I agree with him) he thinks that his charges possess superior short game skills than their opponents around the greens. I'm thinking of guys like Rory, Sergio, G Mac, J Rose and M Kaymer to name a few. I know it's obvious to say, but the 18th on the PGA course will be absolutely crucial in terms of the outcome. I'm highlighting it as it has possibly been changed more than any other hole on the golf course. It is a longish uphill dog leg to the right par 5. The tee shot will be pretty much the same as always, a drive up the right half of the fairway gives the shortest and best line to attack with the second shot, although it's up on and around the green that has seen big changes to the layout. It used to be that the pros would rip a drive and have something between a 4 iron and 3 wood to reach the green. In the past it was almost a case of hit the second shot anywhere up there, and more often than not, a birdie would follow. Not any more - For sure, the longer hitters like Henrik Stenson and Bubba Watson will go at it all guns blazing. But even then, there are lots of little humps and hollows surrounding the green that will be 'no go areas' depending on the pin position each day. Just being up around the green somewhere won't be an automatic birdie chance for the longer hitters. The completely new green is also very undulating, which again, will put accuracy at a premium. I'm sure we will see plenty of birdie 4's made up the last by players laying up to the 90 / 100 yard mark and controlling the fairly straightforward approach shot. Zach Johnson, a short to mid distance hitter would be one to fall into that category.
The final point on the changes to the finishing hole is the natural amphitheatre that's been created for spectators and players alike. It's sure to provide a raucous atmosphere for the players as they walk up the hill to the potential glory or failure that inevitably awaits. All in all, a terrific finishing hole where any score ranging from a 3 to a 6 will be on the cards.
Knowing how much us sports fans love a good old stat, here's one for you on the importance of the 18th hole at The Ryder Cup. - In the 2004 matches at Oakland Hills CC in Detroit, 11 of 28 matches went to the last hole. The European captain that year, Bernhard Langer's men won 8 and halved 3 of those matches finishing on the 18th. In the end, Europe ran out winners by a record margin of 18.5 to 9.5. More of the same wouldn't go amiss with most of you I'm sure. This brings sharply into focus, the finest of margins between success and failure under the most trying of circumstance.
The Captains
Let's have a look firstly at Team USA captain, the great Tom Watson:
I think it's been a shrewd appointment by The PGA of America in naming the 8 time major champion and golfing legend as skipper for Gleneagles. He still plays to a remarkable standard, and of course was just an 8 foot putt away from lifting the claret jug itself at Turnberry in 2009 at the grand old age of 59.
I've always been a huge fan of his, as I'm sure each and every one of his Ryder Cup team will be. He commands great respect on and off the golf course. I know myself from growing up in Scotland, and attending many of the Open Championship's down the years, that Mr Watson is almost regarded as one of our own up here, having lifted 4 of his 5 Open Champoinships on Scottish links land. All on different golf courses too - Namely Carnoustie, Turnberry, Muirfield and Royal Troon.
I guess any golf event of such magnitude as the Ryder Cup will inevitably give column inches to the Tiger Woods situation. Unfortunately for us all, his ongoing injury problems meant he had to withdraw his name a number of weeks ago as a possible wild card pick for the US team at Gleneagles.As to whether the enforced absence of Tiger will have any negative impact on his team this week remains to be seen. For what it's worth, here's three reasons why I reckon the opposite may just prove to be the case:
For a kick off, considering his unheralded dominance in the sport down the years, he doesn't exactly have the most inspiring of Ryder Cup records for a man of his freakish talent. His record of (W13 - L14 - H2) being in negative equity, if I can put it that way.Also, the last American victory, coming in 2008 at Valhalla GC in Kentucky, under the considerable guile of captain Paul Azinger, was achieved while Tiger was sat at home watching on tv. There's no doubt for me when thinking back on that encounter, it was by far the closest I've seen the American's as a team since the Battle of Brookline nine year earlier. Finally, there's a strong case that having Tiger in the team has hindered the various captains he's played under down the years. Both in terms of finding him a playing partner he's truly comfortable with, and perhaps even more crucially, who to avoid pairing him alongside.
It may just be that Tiger's absence is the best thing that could happen for Tom Watson's team. I wouldn't bet against it having a galvanising effect as it clearly did for captain Azinger six years ago.
I don't think it's entirely wide of the mark to venture that Team Europe captain, the redoubtable Paul McGinley, wouldn't have been the non golfers first pick to lead his team into battle this week at Gleneagles.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of the man. He's the sort of guy who could go for a wander down Buchanan St in Glasgow next week, and not too many people would recognise him. There's no question from what I've seen and heard, that Mr McGinley is a thoroughly nice bloke, always well mannered, and naturally congenial with those around him. Being the golf fan that I am, the European Tour could scarcely have chosen a better man for the job in my opinion. Some will be surprised to learn that as a player in the Ryder Cup, he boasts three consecutive appearances as a player, in 2002, 2004 and 2006, finishing on the victorious side on all three occasions. A personal tally of 4.5 points from a possible 9 stacks up well enough too. He has also served as a captain's assistant at the last two Ryder Cup's, to Monty in 2010 at Celtic Manor, and to Olly in 2012 at Medinah. There can't be many, if at all, that can boast involvement in five of these contests, without suffering the bitter taste of defeat.
Although that my friends, is where the niceties end. There's no doubt that underneath that placid and affable exterior beats the heart of a true competitor. For me, it's in the relative quiet of the European team room where McGinley will come into his own. Obviously, he will have final say on his foursome and fourball pairings, but he'll be savvy enough to consult his players on who's comfortable playing with who. The chemistry of each pairing, as we've seen time and again down the years, isn't something that can be underestimated. One thinks of past duo's.......Seve & Olly - Faldo & Woosnam - Clarke & Westwood etc. There are one or two obvious partnerships that spring to mind. Poulter & Rose is one, Rory & G-Mac is another, both pairings having dovetailed beautifully at Medinah two years ago. The one double act I'd personally like to see is Rory McIlroy & Sergio Garcia. It just seems to me that they get on well, and had an absolute blast this summer going head to head down the stretch in the final group of a couple of major championships. Both are at the peak of their powers, and would any of the American pairings genuinely relish taking on such a potent force?
Finally, I'd like to take a look at the prospects of three players from each team, some of which aren't quite as familiar perhaps as some of the names already mentioned.
Jimmy Walker - Team USA - Ryder Cup record - Debut.
Before this season, Jimmy Walker more than any golfer on either team, would have fitted the profile of 'journeyman pro'. But an explosive start to the 2014 season, which produced 3 wins in just 8 starts on the PGA Tour, lay the foundation for the 35 year old from San Antonio, Texas to stake an early claim in the race for an automatic spot on the US team. Although the last of his three wins came back in early February at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am, his form in the major's this year has been almost as eye catching - high finishes of T8th, T9th, T26th and T7th in those tell us that the sparkling early season form has never really been far away. The 6ft 2in American possesses a golf swing that's easy on the eye, has an exquisite touch around the greens, and I expect him to play a big part over the first two days in foursomes and fourballs.
Jordan Spieth - Team USA - Ryder Cup record - Debut.
Billed by many as the next superstar of golf, the 21 year old Spieth has been a virtual shoe-in for the US team throughout the qualifying process. In the early to mid season tournaments on the PGA Tour, it seemed that his name was on the first page of the leaderboard every time you looked. Twice a winner of the US Junior Amateur (matched only by a certain Tiger Woods), this youngster from Dallas, Texas, became the first teenage winner on the PGA Tour in 82 years, when winning the 2013 John Deere Classic. The only surprise is that this remains his solitary win in the paid ranks. Since that early season consistency, his form has tailed off in recent months. It will be interesting to see how many times he is given the nod by captain Watson come friday and saturday.
Rickie Fowler - Team USA - Ryder Cup record - (W0 - L1 - H2) 2nd appearance.
Since working alongside his swing coach Butch Harmon, the 25 yr old California kid has elevated his game to new heights over the last 18 months. Top 5 finishes in all four of this year's major championships goes a long way to proving just how far his game has come this year. Like Spieth, it's surprising that the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship remains his only victory on the PGA Tour, but the way he's improved his all round game and golf swing, I'd be shocked if he wasn't back in the winners circle sooner rather than later. Though he may still be just 25, I'm sure Tom Watson will place a lot of responsibility on his shoulders at Gleneagles. I expect him to play in at least three matches, and possibly all four on friday / saturday.
Victor Dubuisson - Team Europe - Ryder Cup record - Debut.
Hailing from Cannes on the French Riviera, the stylish 24 year old enters the fray at Gleneagles as a bit of an unknown quantity. Good showings in the fairly recent last two majors this year however - T9th at The Open, and T7th at the USPGA would suggest he's in good enough form. From what I've seen, it's the short game department where he excels. He possesses the touch of a surgeon around the greens, and is rock solid with the short stick in hand, which in matchplay is obviously a huge asset.
He's also sneaky long off the tee, wayward at times, but averaging over 300 yds this year. If he can turn up with his 'A' Game this week, rather like Nicolas Colsaerts two years ago, he could be Europe's secret weapon.
Sergio Garcia - Team Europe - Ryder Cup record - (W16 - L8 - H4) 7th appearance.
If there's one player, Ian Poulter aside, who embraces the Ryder Cup more than any other, then surely it's the enigmatic Spaniard. Still only 34, this will be his seventh appearance since his debut in '99.
With a partner in tow, his formidable record in foursomes and fourballs, 14 wins, with just 4 defeats, stacks up with the the very best of them. This ridiculously talented golfer from Castellon hasn't had his troubles to seek at times, both on and off the golf course. Temper tantrums, shoe kicking, and saying the wrong thing on occasion, have meant the wrong kind of headlines all too often for Garcia.
For me though, he's grown enormously as a player and a person in 2014. Gone are the negative statements of recent years, and a new found consistency to his game has seen him contend more often than not. Famously, the one thing missing from his CV, is that elusive major championship triumph. Ten top 5 finishes, including four runner up berths have kept 'El Nino' frustrated at the major's.
At only 34 however, you'd think there'll still be plenty of chances to make that particular breakthrough. As I mentioned earlier, I'd like to see Sergio and Rory let loose as a partnership this week. Captain McGinley will have done his homework for sure, and given Sergio's record, I expect him to feature in every session at Gleneagles. I for one, can't wait to see who he's partnered with this week. We'll know soon enough.
Stephen Gallacher - Team Europe - Ryder Cup record - Debut.
I couldn't sign off without a word for my fellow Scotsman. The 39 year old resident of Linlithgow, just 20 or so miles from Gleneagles has fought long and hard for his place in golf's premier team event. And being the nephew of former captain Bernard Gallacher, he comes from rich golfing stock.
When announced as one of the three wild cards a few weeks ago, few would've argued with his inclusion. Indeed, the way he performed in the last counting event in Italy tells us all we need to know about his determination to make the team under the utmost pressure. To finish outside of an automatic pick by just a solitary shot, from at one stage being 14 shots behind midway through his second round, was an incredible effort given the circumstances. At 6 ft 2in, he's plenty long enough off the tee, and for a big man, has a very tidy golf swing. Having watched a lot of him this year, it's his short iron approach play from 150 to 100 yds in that's impressed me most of all. Being the home town boy, he's also sure to have the crowd right behind him. Like Garcia, I'm interested to see who McGinley pairs him up with once we're underway.
With the waiting almost over, the captain, players and caddies alike, will be keen to get this week's gala dinner, opening ceremony, and other formalities out of the way. Then it's down to the serious business on early friday morning, in what promises to be a red hot atmosphere. Like all of us this side of the pond, I'm hoping there's not too much red on the board come sunday evening.
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