Tags:
Journalism of Courage
It will be difficult to find a top-ranked European or American golfer, who does not play with the Ryder Cup points in view. No sooner does one match end preparations for the next begin. And the pressure intensifies as the event8217;s climax approaches.
The Ryder Cup, between Europe and America, is one of the most nerve-wrecking and yet exciting experiences, where a missed putt can haunt a player for years to come. For team captains its a time for speeches and motivating.
A match-play event that is played every alternate year,it is one of the few that follows this format, which is slowly losing out to the four-day stroke play. Golfers like Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Seve Ballestros and Bernhard Langer have been synonymous with this event. For both victories and the passion with which they approach the event.
This year8217;s Ryder Cup, at The Country Club outside Boston will be played from September 24 to 26 and the event has a younger look. Tiger Woods may have broken the preset rules that golf needs maturity and experience, by winning the US Masters at Augusta in 1997. But match play is a different ball game. Experience and maturity still play a major part.
There8217;s no need to venture too far to prove this point. Jeev Milkha Singh, the only Indian who currently earns a living playing on the European tour and competes with the best in Europe, lost one such close match. At the Cropmton Greaves Matchplay Championship played over the Bombay Presidency Golf Course in December 1996, he was beaten by a more experienced Simran Singh, one ofthe country8217;s first golf professionals.
Faldo, Woosnam, Langer and Ballesteros may not have performed very well at this year8217;s majors, like the others who have made the team, but their experience from victories and defeats in the previous years plays a crucial role. Matches between Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods may become the star attractions of the event, but this is a team event, where every point counts. With seven Ryder Cup rookies, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Paul Lawrie, Jean Van de Velde, Jarmo Sandelin and wildcard pick Andrew Coltart, there is not much that Mark James can teach them to prepare them for the weekend.
The Americans will also miss Fred Couples, but they have someone like Payne Stewart, with a great golfing record behind him and this year8217;s U.S Open.However, all said and done, these rookies could just prove everyone wrong. Just as Tiger proved wrong the millions, who thought golf was not a game for the young. The Europeans go in stronger, as the defendingchampions who just need to halve the match to reatin the cup for the third time running. This will be put pressure on the Americans. Further, these rookies have nothing to lose. It8217;s the first time they8217;re playing and they might just go for it, and bring back the cup.
Note: This was written before the start of Ryder Cup
8211;Shona Manco, ranked in top six of Indian ladies golf once, still tees off regularly, and can be reached at shonamancoexpress2.indexp.co.in
