President's Cup

[triple_bogey]

Pretty sure that's fake news buddy.

Haters will say its fake..........

I know its fake ..............Its hard to describe sarcasm in an emoji.

 

[sunshine]

I took an interest in this event for the first time. I'm pretty sure it was because the course was amazing. So much more interesting than the boring resort courses used for the Ryder Cup. Would love to see the Ryder Cup at a classic heathland course and Walton Heath has the space to host it (and is easy to access).

The event doesn't have the same intensity as the Ryder Cup - the internationals aren't really a team, and are only united in a desire to see the US lose, not really a compelling motivator but was pretty fun this time.

 

[sunshine]

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.

Sorry totally disagree. I think you're missing the point that the Ryder Cup is a team event not an individual sport.

Playing in the majors isn't more important. The European team has consistently beaten the US in recent years despite having a vastly inferior major record. Being a team is far more important, and anything you can do to foster that team spirit helps.

 

[sunshine]

Pretty sure that's fake news buddy.

Good job you're around to point these things out

 

[Grant85]

Sorry totally disagree. I think you're missing the point that the Ryder Cup is a team event not an individual sport.

Playing in the majors isn't more important. The European team has consistently beaten the US in recent years despite having a vastly inferior major record. Being a team is far more important, and anything you can do to foster that team spirit helps.

I'm well aware of the team dynamic and that Europe are far more successful at capturing that and it being a big strength for them.

My point was that making the comparison with playing friendlies at football is not relevant. Friendlies are essential in football, prior to a tournament starting because of the fitness required and dynamic nature of a game. i.e. to give Raheem Sterling an idea of how Harry Kane likes to position himself when certain situations arise in a game.

Playing a friendly in golf is not essential, the team gels off the course and Henrik Stenson playing pairs in a low key event with Justin Rose or Sergio Garcia isn't going to help them particularly come a Ryder Cup - you'd much rather they'd played in the pressure of being in final groups and being in contention during a major. Well I would, you apparently wouldn't.

 

[Swango1980]

I think I'll have to agree along the lines with Grant here. After all, the European currently DO NOT play in the Presidents Cup, and that doesn't harm their performances in the Ryder Cup whatsoever. Nor does it take away from their team dynamic. Far from it.

Friendlies in team games where you act on instinct, like football, definitely require friendlies. There is so much to work on. Positioning, formation, players (and their best positioning), defensive and offensive tactics, set pieces and fitness. And most of that needs games to work on. Golf is still an individual sport when it comes to playing the shot, the team aspect in the Ryder Cup is all to do with camaraderie, your willingness to dig deep for your team mates and captain. That camaraderie does not need to be developed on the golf course (not like they need to work on, say, McIlroy hitting a drive, and then G Mac waiting on the fairway and volleying it onto the green). In all honesty, it could be developed in a pub. But, it just seems the Europeans have that bond, and I guess it may have a lot to do with how they socialise on the regular tours and perhaps their upbringing as an amateur?

In terms of Grants original point, that the President's Cup may harm USA's chances in the Ryder Cup. Difficult to say. Maybe, maybe not. Yes, if it is less intense than the Ryder Cup (it is), then the significantly higher intensity of the Ryder Cup, with all the media hype that goes with it, could put them on the back foot. It seems like, once on the back foot, a few of the American players don't seem to do so well when they have the underdog status? On the flip side, maybe the Presidents Cup helps the American develop that little bit of extra camaraderie, which could help them out. However, it sometimes only takes one bit of negativity from one player to harm the team. Patrick Reed seems to be the disruptive force over the last few years. I remember Mickleson being quite damning about Tom Watson during his captaincy, which must not have been helpful moving forward.

Personally, I love the Ryder Cup with a passion. But, I would hate to see a Europe versus Rest of the World fixture. I just don't think it would be the same. The Europeans look forward to the Ryder Cup like a kid looks forward to Xmas Day. When it comes around, every single player on that team are pumped up and raring to go. Squeeze in a versus the Rest of the World fixture, and I do not see the players picking themselves up for that at all. In fact, I can imagine some higher profile players like McIlroy skipping it entirely as it doesn't have the same sort of pull for them. Then, the big danger, is that there is a little bit more complacency when it then comes to the Ryder Cup with some players in "Rest of the World" mode.

 

[sunshine]

I'm well aware of the team dynamic and that Europe are far more successful at capturing that and it being a big strength for them.

My point was that making the comparison with playing friendlies at football is not relevant. Friendlies are essential in football, prior to a tournament starting because of the fitness required and dynamic nature of a game. i.e. to give Raheem Sterling an idea of how Harry Kane likes to position himself when certain situations arise in a game.

Playing a friendly in golf is not essential, the team gels off the course and Henrik Stenson playing pairs in a low key event with Justin Rose or Sergio Garcia isn't going to help them particularly come a Ryder Cup - you'd much rather they'd played in the pressure of being in final groups and being in contention during a major. Well I would, you apparently wouldn't.

I understand what you're saying, we'll just have to agree to disagree. I think pairs , like Rose and Stenson, perform better when they know each other's games and know where to leave the ball, when to be aggressive and when to be conservative.

If I was playing foursomes with Luke Donald, I'd have no hesitation going for a pin tucked behind a bunker because i'd back him to make the sand save. But I wouldn't want to leave Westwood with a tricky chip, best playing to the heart of the green. The more you play with someone the better this understanding is going to be.

The European Tour also thought it was a good idea to have a friendly competition - hence the Seve Trophy - although it never really took off.