President's Cup

[pendodave]

You have to wonder if Tiger's Ryder cup stats would be better if they played at 'proper' golf courses, rather than the highest bidder. The more skill required, the better he seems to play.

 

[pendodave]

And how much better would golf be if they junked the PGA as a major and had a southern hemisphere major at this time of the year or (say) Feb. Obviously Mr FedEx would never allow it, but you can dream...

 

[clubchamp98]

It’s nice to see a golf course that the bombers can’t overpower.
You need skill to play there.
And nice par 3s that aren’t 240yds.
I have to say though the greens look scary.

 

[Papas1982]

Ancer wanted the Tiger. Instead he got the Goat......................
Taking off his hat before the putt dropped was such a Boss move........

That was let down!

Was expecting it to be like 3ft out and he dropped the mic. It was literally an inch out lol

 

[Jacko_G]

The American strength and depth ultimately showed through in the singles. Some good performances on both sides and some good games.

I look at a couple of the "weaker" American players and think boy they're still formidable opponents on their game.

On another note how old does Tiger look all of a sudden??? Certainly think he has another major or two in him.

 

[Beezerk]

It really does make you fancy a holiday on the Melbourne sandbelt.
Kingston Heath is meant to be pretty special too, I believe.

100% mate, stay down on the Mornington Peninsula and nip up the road for some world class golf, what's not to like

 

[garyinderry]

Really enjoyed this. The course was superb. The Americans were just too strong in the singles.

Tiger was awsome

 

[clubchamp98]

Really enjoyed this. The course was superb. The Americans were just too strong in the singles.

Tiger was awsome

Yes just shows length isn’t everything.
I enjoyed the short game shots.

 

[Grant85]

Can you imagine England (or any other country qualified for Euro 2020) not playing any friendlies before the tournament, because they don't have the same level of intensity?

Sounds absurd.

This isn't the same kind of comparison. Football is far more of a team game with friendlies used to let players play beside each other and to gain / maintain fitness.

Golf is an individual sport, and despite the team dynamic, individual form is still far more important. Of course there's a bit of faffing over the pairings, but doesn't really matter all that much if the players are out of form. Playing in the majors and other big tour events is far more important than having played in a presidents Cup.

 

[Grant85]

When it was first announced I thought the European tour had missed a big trick. Seemed it would give more chances to find pairings, give newer players experience etc.
Kinda pleased it didn't seem to affect the Ryder Cup

I think in reality, the pairings are easy enough to work out. As long as you get 2 players who are comfortable with each other, they will generally have half a chance. This has been Europe's big strength in that anyone will play with anyone and be a positive impact for the other.

Obviously we've seen the American's mess it up far more often. Meanwhile European captains have come up with excellent pairings such as McDowell & Dubuisson at Gleneagles, as well as Stenson & Rose (which then became a specialist foursomes pairing in Paris). Not to mention Molliwood. The closest the US have come to this is Reed and Spieth, which they then broke up in Paris, causing enough unrest to unsettle the team.

 

[Captainron]

This isn't the same kind of comparison. Football is far more of a team game with friendlies used to let players play beside each other and to gain / maintain fitness.

Golf is an individual sport, and despite the team dynamic, individual form is still far more important. Of course there's a bit of faffing over the pairings, but doesn't really matter all that much if the players are out of form. Playing in the majors and other big tour events is far more important than having played in a presidents Cup.

I disagree to a point because this a team environment. The Presidents Cup is a bit of a freebie for the Americans because they get to pair their foursomes and fourballs up. The singles are a given and its 1v1 so no real change there.

BUT the dynamic of a pairing makes a huge difference (Molliwood/Spanish Armada etc.) and they get to play with this sort of thing in a competitive environment where it actually counts. Most players will say 'I can play with anyone' because they want to sound like a team player when in reality they probably don't fit with each other and pairing them up will be a mistake. They have had a chance to dry run the whole thing and it gives any rookies the chance to play in that sort of "patriotic cauldron" and get a feeling for how the crowds are etc.

 

[clubchamp98]

I disagree to a point because this a team environment. The Presidents Cup is a bit of a freebie for the Americans because they get to pair their foursomes and fourballs up. The singles are a given and its 1v1 so no real change there.

BUT the dynamic of a pairing makes a huge difference (Molliwood/Spanish Armada etc.) and they get to play with this sort of thing in a competitive environment where it actually counts. Most players will say 'I can play with anyone' because they want to sound like a team player when in reality they probably don't fit with each other and pairing them up will be a mistake. They have had a chance to dry run the whole thing and it gives any rookies the chance to play in that sort of "patriotic cauldron" and get a feeling for how the crowds are etc.

Yes agree here.
Putting someone who fades the ball with a drawer of the ball would cause probs.
Speed of play as well.
But players play better when playing with people they like.

 

[Grant85]

I disagree to a point because this a team environment. The Presidents Cup is a bit of a freebie for the Americans because they get to pair their foursomes and fourballs up. The singles are a given and its 1v1 so no real change there.

BUT the dynamic of a pairing makes a huge difference (Molliwood/Spanish Armada etc.) and they get to play with this sort of thing in a competitive environment where it actually counts. Most players will say 'I can play with anyone' because they want to sound like a team player when in reality they probably don't fit with each other and pairing them up will be a mistake. They have had a chance to dry run the whole thing and it gives any rookies the chance to play in that sort of "patriotic cauldron" and get a feeling for how the crowds are etc.

If that was the case, then America would make a far better job of the pairings given they usually send a fairly strong squad out in the Presidents Cup.

But for whatever reason Europe still make a habit of finding better pairings and doing well in the pairs matches - especially the foursomes where your partner is far more important. And even when they do throw together a pairing on the hop - McIlroy and Poulter - it often works because they all care about the team, more than themselves.

I mean the basic errors USA have made - for example last year, playing Phil in the foursomes as well as only giving Bryson a run in the foursomes - both would have been better fourball players. Also not playing Webb Simpson more often, ideally with a more neutral partner. Likewise splitting up Speith and Reed because Speith and JT are mates. It beggars belief how wrong they get it at some of these events, despite getting a practice run every other year.

 

[USER1999]

But Speith and JT played well together, and Reids second choice was Tiger, who he played with. Badly.

 

[USER1999]

P Reid also through Speith under the bus in the run up to the RC, by saying he had carried him last time out. Not surprised they were split up.

 

[Jacko_G]

If that was the case, then America would make a far better job of the pairings given they usually send a fairly strong squad out in the Presidents Cup.

But for whatever reason Europe still make a habit of finding better pairings and doing well in the pairs matches - especially the foursomes where your partner is far more important. And even when they do throw together a pairing on the hop - McIlroy and Poulter - it often works because they all care about the team, more than themselves.

I mean the basic errors USA have made - for example last year, playing Phil in the foursomes as well as only giving Bryson a run in the foursomes - both would have been better fourball players. Also not playing Webb Simpson more often, ideally with a more neutral partner. Likewise splitting up Speith and Reed because Speith and JT are mates. It beggars belief how wrong they get it at some of these events, despite getting a practice run every other year.

From what I hear the European players in general "gel" better and socialise better. The US players retire to their hotel rooms/apartments and get room service when playing tournaments, the European tour players socialise after they play/finish practice.

 

[patricks148]

From what I hear the European players in general "gel" better and socialise better. The US players retire to their hotel rooms/apartments and get room service when playing tournaments, the European tour players socialise after they play/finish practice.

plus the Europeans don't have a version of Dustin prowling the hotels looking to seduce other players wives

 

[Deleted member 1147]

From what I hear the European players in general "gel" better and socialise better. The US players retire to their hotel rooms/apartments and get room service when playing tournaments, the European tour players socialise after they play/finish practice.

Was it at the K Club where Mickelson took his own chef?

 

[triple_bogey]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1207030344207101952

 

[Papas1982]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1207030344207101952

Pretty sure that's fake news buddy.