Who's going to Captain the next Ryder cup in Paris?
- Thread starter patricks148
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Deleted member 15344
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The people dismissing Westwood are mainly the two trolls who is appears are not very happy in regards the English and especially not Westwood - his record in the Ryder Cup is quite clear for people who can understand golf, others are obviously just on a wind up
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Deleted member 18588
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That is rather a pompous statement.
After all in 10 Singles matches his record is Won 3 Lost 7. Hardly outstanding although his Fourball and Foursomes record is very good.
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User62651
Guest
Its insightful not short sighted! All the other examples you've shown are English speaking countries, this is France where they defend their culture and their language vehemently. They hate playing second fiddle to English as an international tongue. They will need to get the Parisiens behind this event, France isn't a big golf country like Spain so they need to embrace locals by employing a French captain first and foremost imo to sell it. They put Spaniards in charge when RC was in Spain. I'm sure the powers that be, in awarding it to France, will have something in mind to keep Les Francais happy.
Not sure why France does have it really, not exactly a golfing hotspot.
The Main difference is the other countries you mentioned are all English speaking
Piece
Tour Winner
Pick the best man for the job. Not the next man in line, or the man who has served Europe best, not the man who has been most faithful, not the man who is most French, etc. blah.
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Deleted member 15344
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How is it pompous ?
He has 23 points in the Ryder Cup - 5th on the all time European list , that puts him amongst the European Ryder Cup greats
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Deleted member 18588
Guest
Suggesting that "people who understand golf" will appreciate his record rather implies that anyone not sharing your view of his record does not understand the game.
Singles records for Faldo & Langer are 6.5 from 11 and 5.5 from 10 respectively. Personally, whilst appreciating the importance of the other formats, I place greater emphasis upon the results in individual matchplay when measuring a player.
Certainly would not dismiss Westwood's achievements but just do not think they are quite as great as sometimes claimed.
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Deleted member 1147
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Is Davis Love III available - we could do like England Rugby and bring in a proven winner from the enemy camp
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Deleted member 15344
Guest
Why are you quoting just singles ? The Ryder Cup isn't just singles - the foursomes and Fourballs play just a big a part of the comp so quoting singles result on it's own is irrelevant - you don't win the Ryder Cup based on the singles - but if it helps dismiss a players record in the Ryder Cup
Seve's record in the singles isn't that impressive either - yet he is also one of the greatest Europeans in Ryder Cup
Place whatever emphasis you want but there are three formats in RC all with equal importance and any session can turn the whole tournament
You can think I'm implying what you like but my post was aimed at the two trolls who spent three days posting nothing but negative towards both Westwood , Clarke and English players
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Deleted member 1147
Guest
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I just don't agree with this "its in France so pick a Frenchman". If they have an outstanding candidate, yes, but not just because he's French.
Do the yanks pick a Minnesota captain, just cos its there.
No they pick a previous "failure" (in some eyes), who had a load more putts go in this time. Some people put too much thought into daft things.
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I do reckon they'll pick Stricker for 2020 at Whistling Straits as he's a Wisonsinite
LanDog
Journeyman Pro
I think most of the European captaincy is down to a formula, there's a system in place for it.
The most interesting selection will be for the 2024 RC at Bethpage Black for sure, you'd think that someone like Mickelson will be captain for the Americans which means Europe will need to select an appropriate adversary for both the crowd and captain because the New York crowd will be 10 times worse than the Minnesota one.
Someone like Poulter or Sergio would be my pick for that one
The most interesting selection will be for the 2024 RC at Bethpage Black for sure, you'd think that someone like Mickelson will be captain for the Americans which means Europe will need to select an appropriate adversary for both the crowd and captain because the New York crowd will be 10 times worse than the Minnesota one.
Someone like Poulter or Sergio would be my pick for that one
Val
Ryder Cup Winner
I don't get the Bjorn love in personally but is he not the chairman of the selection committee? He'd need to drop that role to be selected
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Deleted member 18588
Guest
Do you ever bother reading other's posts?
I clearly stated that I do not dismiss Westwood's record but personallyI place greater emphasis upon Singles when comparing players' records.
Plenty of examples over the years in Fourballs where one player has carried his partner, something that cannot happen in Singles. Hence I hold Singles as the truer measure, be it Westwood, Seve, Montie, Langer or Faldo.
I do think it is sad that West wood is now being trashed with the benefit of hindsight. He does not deserve that but, on the other hand, I would have to acknowledge that this was probably one Ryder Cup too far for him.
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User62651
Guest
Sandy Lyle made noises a few years back about captaincy but seems to have fallen off the radar, maybe went down in folks estimations when quitting the Open at Birkdale cos he'd cold hands I recall, or something like that.
He has an even temperament and played RC many times and is the only one of the big 80's European golf stars not to get it (Langer, Woosnam, Seve, Olazabal being the others).
What about it if not France then the next one? He must be more deserving than younger guys like Poulter or Bjorn etc.
edit: just read he was assistant captain to winning captain Woosie too.
He has an even temperament and played RC many times and is the only one of the big 80's European golf stars not to get it (Langer, Woosnam, Seve, Olazabal being the others).
What about it if not France then the next one? He must be more deserving than younger guys like Poulter or Bjorn etc.
edit: just read he was assistant captain to winning captain Woosie too.
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Deleted member 18588
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Unfortunately I feel that it is probably too late for Sandy, which does seem a little unfair but the trend appears to be for someone who is reaching the end of their Tour career rather than an elder statesman.
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User62651
Guest
Really, he's only 58. Watson nearly won the Open older than that. Good age to be Captain I'd have thought. Even his nemesis enemy Faldo got to do it.
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Deleted member 18588
Guest
But Faldo was 51 when he did the job.
As I said I don't think it is right that he should be overlooked, but that it seems that is the way of things.
PhilTheFragger
Provider of Entertainment for the Golfing Gods 🙄
Im calling a halt to the labelling of fellow forum members as trolls, Its not nice, it creates a bad atmosphere, they have a right to their opinion as does everyone else.
If anyone considers another member to be trolling, then you report it to the mods who will sort it out. You do not start banding the accusation around the forum.
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the_exile
Medal Winner
As well as France in 2018 Italy has been given 2022. Also I think it's been said that the 2026 and 2030 events will also be on the continent rather than GB&I although the venues have not been decided yet. I think it may be part of a plan to "spread the gospel" of golf to countries with a less strong golfing culture?
I personally don't see it as a nescessity that the captain in 2018 is French. It may set a dangerous precedent where they then feel they have to have an Italian captain in 2022 to sell that, even if no Italian is actually good enough, and so on. That will be especially bad if the plan is to take it to less "golfy" countries in 2026 and 2030 which are less likely to then have a countryman with the relevent experience and canniness.
On the subject of experience is there a Frenchman that has done the Ryder Cup Vice-Captaincy in the past? I think European captains usually have done a Cup or two as a VC before getting the nod for the top job.
In terms of selling tickets (I assue that is what you mean when you say a French captain is needed to sell it) I am sure plenty of French from around the country will attend anyway - after all the French Golf Federation helped to fund the bid to host by getting their members to pay higher membership fees so there must be support from a lot of French people who are already golfers for the Ryder Cup. And people from other countries around Europe (not least the UK) will buy tickets. For example for someone in the South-East of England it's a shorter drive to get to Le Golf National than it would have been to get to Gleneagles so I expect a bunch of soft Southerners like me will be headed over. In a couple of years I really think Pieters could be a star of European golf which will encourage a decent chunk of Belgians across the border to Paris too!
To be honest the best thing that could happen to a) ensure tickets sell, and, b) the competition helps convert some more French people to golf would be if a French player or two got into the team through the points system with a couple of months to spare so they can be featured in the marketing if it hasn't sold out and be featured heavily in coverage of the event when it is on. I know if the roles were reversed and the UK was a not so strong golf playing country granted the Ryder Cup I'd be more motivated to see a European team with a Brit or two in the twelve than one that just had a British non-playing captain. Unfortunately I belive Pieters is from the Flemish part of Belguim otherwise, if he was from the French-speaking part and I was one of the 2018 organisers, I'd be using him in my marketing aready.
