Making up Is Hard to Do
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RyderCup 19-21 September, 2008 USA 11 Making up is hard to do Perry gets ready for ...and Mickelsonhas Phil Mickelson shows the strain final fling at the KClub two years ago YOU might have thought his plenty to make up for one and only taste of the Ryder Cup would put Kenny Perry off it for the rest of his life. It is easy for people to forget By Mark Garrod had, of course, reflected long and hard, that he was even thereat not only about the Ryder Cup but also Oakland Hills four years ago. the last-hole double bogey in the US Hal Sutton did not pick him Tishard, cruel even, to blame a Open which prevented him winning for the opening session, he lost nine-point drubbing in theRyder three Majors in arow. his first match in the afternoon, I Cup on one man.But heregoes. “Those two events were what made he did not appear at all on If Phil Mickelson, the Masters 2006 adisappointing year,and they Saturday and he lost his singles. champion at the time, had won rather needed to be addressed. Why did that And, oh yes, the Americans than lost his opening match at the K happen, and what is it that Ican do to lost as well. Cheers Kenny.You Club two years ago, America would fix it?’’ could have stayed at home and have taken the session instead of losing On the US Open, it was poor driving been just as useful. it. that let him down, and he has since When he did not make the If he had then won rather than linked up with Tiger Woods’ former 2006 side it hardly seemed a halved his afternoon game, they would coach, Butch Harmon. loss. But now,especially without have had the overnight lead instead of But on the Ryder Cup, the putting Tiger Woods, Perry could turn being 5-3 behind. problems of the week had been over- out to be one of Paul Azinger’s If he had then won his two Saturday taken by something else –what shape key men. games rather than lost them, Europe he was in. For one thing, the 48-year-old would have trailed by three points “It’slate in the year,it’sthe last has just had the summer of his going into the singles instead of being tournament for me of the year,and I career,with three wins in five 10-6 ahead. don’tfeel as though Istood up physi- starts propelling him into the And if he had beaten Jose Maria cally,especially playing 36 holes a world’stop 20. Olazabal rather than lost to him, well day. For another,heisfrom ... it would have been atie overall and “So I’ve done alot to address that. I Elizabethtown, less than 50 Europe, as holders, would have kept immediately lost 20-25lbs, and put on miles south of Louisville, and the trophy. about 10-15lbs more with muscle from while any American will be What that all goes to show is that lifting, trying to build up stamina. I cheered at Valhalla, Perry Mickelson had ashocker.Heplayed all also started anew martial art.’’ Dublin, but also Oakland Hills four one in which he was able to celebrate a (below) is the local and the five sessions and his return for the Captain Paul Azinger will be hoping years ago and The Belfry in 2002. victory was at Boston in 1999, but his support will be all the more team was amiserable half apoint. all that pays offatValhalla, and that The left-hander’s cup career began story since then has been atale of woe. vocal. As the team faced the media after- Mickelson makes amends not only for so well at Oak Hill in 1995, even if that Unfancied Phillip Price beat him in a And for wards, the left-hander was inevitably did end in an American defeat as well. vital clash at The Belfry,Hal Sutton’s another,the asked to look back on his contribution. RYDER CUP FACT Mickelson played three games that experiment of pairing him with Tiger course is the “I don’tknow what to say. week, and came out on top in all of Woods in Detroit backfired horribly same one on Iexpected to get more points,’’hesaid. The 2010 match will be the first to them. After he combined with first with two defeats before Sergio which he “But Ifelt like we were in every match. be staged in Wales, at Celtic Manor Corey Pavin and then with Haas in the Garcia claimed his scalp in the came closest Ifelt like we had chances in every near Newport. fourballs, he beat former college friend singles, and then came Ireland. to winning match to win, to get momentum. Medinah in Chicago, whereTiger Per-Ulrik Johansson in the concluding The mental scars have to be aMajor, Things just didn’tgoour way. Woods has twice wonthe US PGA, singles, but that was academic as, from there, although perhaps not as losing a “It seemed to all come down to the has been awarded the 2012 match, 9-7 down overnight, Europe had many as you might think. play-off to greens.Wewould have putts from then it goes to Gleneagles in stormed back to win when Philip “Dealing with failure is part of Mark closer rangeand we wouldmissafter Scotland in 2014 and Hazeltine in Walton beat Haas in the 11th of the 12 the game –Ideal with it 90 per cent Brooks for they hadalready made.Thingslikethat Minnesota twoyears later. games. of the time,” he says. the 1996 US seemed to happen alot. The 2018 venuehas yettobe Twoyears later at Valderrama Mick- Coincidence maybe, but his best PGA. “It’sgoing to make me work harder announced, although it has been elson managed only two half-points Ryder Cup was the last one in which And for in puttinginthe off-season,because I decided it will be in continental from the first three sessions, was omit- Woods did not play. another,he just didn’t make anything and that was Europe providing asuitable course ted from the second foursomes, and a Should he shine again in Kentucky – did not like the certainly frustrating.’’ is found, and in 2020 it goes to singles win over Darren Clarke could when there is no Woods again, hammering he Mickelson took the next three WhistlingStraits in Wisconsin. not save the Americans from another remember –people could read alot took for skipping months off, and when he returned he defeat. Of his six appearances, the only more into that. the Open. He said: “I thought Ihad an opportunity to make the Ryder Cup team if Igot hot, it’sinmy Quiet man ready to unleash the Furyk home state and Iwanted to go thereand end my career there and celebrate with my friends By Laura Stevenson 1992 having inherited atalent Open at Royal Birkdale, Furyk slaves during Ryder Cup week. “We and my fans and my family. for golf from his father,Mike, looks to be building his game in are alittle tired by the time “That’skind of the way Iset THE quiet man with an unconventional head pro at their nearest time to hit form at Valhalla. Friday comes around –but, you know my schedule up. They criticised swing, Jim Furyk has been astalwart of country club. And the veteran is relishing what, so is the European team. me for that.’’ the USA’s Ryder Cup team for over a Widely known for his the prospect of doing battle. “They’re in the same place we are. Perry would presumably like decade –and could be athorn in distinctive, unorthodox “I love the Ryder Cup. It is There’salot going on, but it’sstill a nothing morenow than to be a Europe’sside in Valhalla. swing, which includes awild along week, it is ahard wonderful week.” star of the show at Valhalla, but The 38-year-old, playing his sixth looping motion, Furyk won week,’’Furyk said when asked Whether Furyk will be of the same his purple patch has already put Ryder Cup, has been one of golf’s most his first tournament in 1995 and to comment on remarks made opinion at Valhalla on the evening of him in the US Tour record consistent performers in recent years continued his rise throughout the by Hunter Mahan, who caused Sunday,September,21remains to be books. and afixture in the world’stop 20. late 1990s. aminor storm by saying seen. Nobody had ever beforewon Furyk (right) and the USA emerged Between 1998 and 2003 he players were Europe have dominated the Ryder three events at the age of 47. as awinner on his second appearance, won atournament every treated like Cup so far this century and, as Furyk “Well,” he added, “I got in 1999, but the Pennsylvania-born star year to climb into admitted after missing out on the 2007 something they can remember has been on the losing end in each of the world’stop 10. US Open title by one shot to Angel me by besides skipping the the last three outings. The 2003 US Having tied for Cabrera, “second is not much fun to be British.’’ Open champion turned professional in fifth at this year’s honest”. Be PGA PROactive. Forcoaching, advice and equipment give your PGA PRO agoVisit: www.pga.info.