Overall lasting impressions

[Basher]

So then, it's all over for another two years, we lost, beaten by the better team.

Looking back over the weekends events, what will be your lasting impressions of the 2008 Ryder Cup?

For me:

The Yanks flying the Union flag upside down at the opening ceremony! Anyone else notice that?

Faldo's speech, a cringeworthy experience.

The awakening of a new golf legend that is Ian Poulter. Some may disagree but I thought he played out of his skin this weekend and justified his place in the team.

The God awful American crowds with their constant whooping and yelling.

A new side noticed of Boo Weekley - a perfect gentleman (Wonder if he'd been the same if they'd lost?)
Jim Furyk - as usual the quiet and gracious gentleman.

Ian Poulters expression on winning his final game. He looked absolutely gutted. Thrashed his opponent but knew his efforts were all in vain as he knew the competition was lost. A valiant effort.

I didn't think it had the same "watchability" as the 2006 RC but nonetheless, a superb display of golfing skill which will have raised the games profile manyfold.

 

[big_russ]

Ian Poulter- A star is born.

Jim Furyk - How gracious is that man.

Still dont like most of the Americans and some of the Europeans. I think Faldo is still a God and think he deserves more respect for being his own man.

Lasting memory will be that even though they had won the USA didnt realy seem to celebrate in the same way i remember winners celebrating in the past.

 

[birdieman]

1. Boo Weekley doing his Happy Gilmore impression "riding the bull...working it" off the 1st tee on singles day - it was priceless and only Boo could do it.

2. Poulter's mad stare after winning his Saturday afternoon fourball with GMac.

3. Garcia's look of desperation on losing to Kim.

 

[shanker]

The Yanks flying the Union flag upside down at the opening ceremony! Anyone else notice that?

How on earth can you tell if the Union flag is upside down or the ''right way up''? The Americans should, of course, know the answer!

 

[jeffc]

also true of the union jack actually

 

[viscount17]

The Yanks flying the Union flag upside down at the opening ceremony! Anyone else notice that?

How on earth can you tell if the Union flag is upside down or the ''right way up''? The Americans should, of course, know the answer!

Hopefully you are joking. but in case,
note the relative positions and thickness of the red and white in the upper and lower corners

[image] http://www.british-flag.org/british-flag-640.jpg [/image]

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Loved Boo's Happy Gilmore. Didn't he know the fate of the nation was on his head!!! Loved the Poulter stare too. I also loved the look on Micklesons face after Rose beat him - it had "Oh no not again!" written all over it.

Overall it was a better event than I hoped. I thought the crowds would play a negativepart but hollering (in da hole etc) I actually thought they were pretty good. Wasn't overly impressed with the course. Thought some of the greens weren't designed to receive the longer irons being played into them and that in general terms it was relatively easy (little rough low fairway bunker lips etc)

 

[happyhacker]

Lasting impression for me was just how much the USA wanted this! They showed real desire and team spirit to get the job done.

Not saying Europe didn't want it, but USA seemed more Driven?

 

[Cernunnos]

Oh & in the opening ceremonies did anyone notice how badly the band played our national anthem & yet got everyone elses right. tbh that was the start of the gamesmanship the Union flag upside down was another insult. Westwood getting insults, yet more gamesmanship & as for A.Kim not giving a put when he knew how Garcia would react. All that & more deliberate insults & gamesmanship from the Yanks plain & simple.

 

[vig]

Lasting impression for me was just how much the USA wanted this! They showed real desire and team spirit to get the job done.

Not saying Europe didn't want it, but USA seemed more Driven?

Can't agree more.
Sergio seemed very subdued over the whole 3 days apart from chucking his club down and reciving boos.
Big disappointment from Sergio & Padraig.
Massive plus for Poulter, he made a lot of people (and forumers) squirm by the way he played this week and I for one see him in a whole new light after his performances, he was hurting by the loss. Rose did well, Karlsson quietly efficient (Langer like) and underatted by some. G Mac did ok the other did their bit.
If Garcia & Harrington had done anything in the first 2 days then the result WOULD have been different.

I have a lot of respect for Faldo as a player but I think he lost the plot as a captain. We need someone with a bit of passion who is not afraid to show emotion for 2010

 

[USER1999]

My lasting impressions are Faldo out of his depth, Kim being an A hole (not picking up Sergio's marker after holing out, etc), Poulter delivering, Harrington who? Boo riding his driver (and backing up the daftness with great golf), JB hitting that monster drive against Hansen (on 16?), Hunter Mahan whacking putts into the hole at speed (mine always come out at that pace) and why did Wilson only play one pairs match?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Have to say I was wrong about Poulter (scary eyes). I thought he was a bit of a one trick pony with his gear - ok player but nothing special. Showed real bottle and determination and him, Rose and Gmac were the only ones for whom it seemed to really matter.

 

[andiritchie]

I was more suprised about Justin Rose's performance i always thought he was a bit of a bottler although he won the order of merit,Its great to see some young guys with a load of passion,Sergio was a disapointment he is normally smiling in the ryder cup maybe a few lost majors have got to him now

 

[rgs]

On the golfing front enjoyed the performances of G Mac, Rose,Poulter.

Downside Garcia, Harrington and Faldo. Faldos speech at the opening cermony was cringeworthy. To insult both Harrington and G Mac in a few seconds was woeful. In case people missed his comment on Harrington--"He hits more ball than they dig potatoes in Ireland". Then asking GMac was he from Ireland or Northern Ireland, was a crass question-he should have found out the answer before starting his speech. Asking a man from NI that type of question is putting the man in a horrible position-.Faldo was a T**t.

His constant reference to how many Ryder Cups he played in was a case of ME ME AND MORE ME.

I can testify that the irish anthem was played off key and at the wrong tempo. They even got the USA anthem wrong.

 

[shanker]

To insult both Harrington and G Mac in a few seconds was woeful. In case people missed his comment on Harrington--"He hits more ball than they dig potatoes in Ireland". Then asking GMac was he from Ireland or Northern Ireland, was a crass question-he should have found out the answer before starting his speech. Asking a man from NI that type of question is putting the man in a horrible position-.Faldo was a T**t.

You seem a serious guy RGS but I find it hard to believe that Faldo made such crass comments. If he did, then apologies to the Irish posters on the forum. Faldo is not Brain of Britain but surely he was advised about his speeches.
Regards
Shanker

 

[rgs]

Shanker i was listening to his ramblings (wont call it a speech) and he did make those comments.
Fellows were shot over the past thirty years for answering that quesion wrong.

Theres no need for an apology from a fellow poster for Faldos idiotic antics.

PS i can be serious but do have a lighter side.

 

[Dodger]

he did ask exactly that question to Gmac and the thing re paddy just a stupid thing to be saying.
he also was getting mixed up with where he was.....thought he was at Valderamma at one point not Valhalla!!

 

[shanker]

Shanker i was listening to his ramblings (wont call it a speech) and he did make those comments.
Fellows were shot over the past thirty years for answering that quesion wrong.

Theres no need for an apology from a fellow poster for Faldos idiotic antics.

PS i can be serious but do have a lighter side.

All I can say, RGS, is that the next captain be given lessons in history and tact.
Shanker

 

[RGuk]

It's taken me nearly 48 hours to get over it, but I'm cool now.
Firstly, I think the event is now back where it should be, the US are surely back into it more, winning it has awoken the sleeping "team mentality" of the Americans and overall, they deserved to win.

I can't see any point in knocking Faldo, he was let down by some of our best guys. The big boys were lacking, the rookies did their best and a couple of players are born again in our eyes.

Paddy was nowhere, but I don't see him falling of the top of the pile just yet.
Sergio was not great.....I just wonder if he is just too arrogant to see that in the overall scheme he is no longer a wonder kid and needs to chase the n.k.o.t.b. Kim played well and would have beaten almost anyone (8 under?)
Poulter and Gmac were legends. The north Europe boys were quite good but nothing outstanding. Wilson tried but I predicted weeks ago he would simply not be able to fight in the singles. Westwood, disappointing, but hey, I never thought he'd bounce back to the highs anyway.
As for the Americans.....I think I like them less.
Furyk and Leonard (despite the odd moment) are good guys and the good 'ole US of A country bumpkins just surprised me, folks appearing to have nothing between their ears playing some corking golf!!

It'll be different next time. I do feel that the venue and course was ideal for the US and the crowd and players wanted it SO much.....so I say, good for them.

 

[TonyN]

Overall lasting impression was Kim making a BIG deal our of sergios free drop near the steps.

'so thats your normall stance'

'yes'

'your telling me that is your normal stance, that is his normal stance'

'yes'

'you would normally stand like that'

'yes'

'Do what you want' and stormed off. What a w***er, I hate him.


So glad Poulter did well. Glad I never slagged him off or said he would be crud, I actually quite like him, and did so before the R.C so to see him play so well was a kick in the balls to all the critics!