RyderCup 08 The captains 19-21 September, 2008 Barneys and birdies – meet Europe’s captain By Mark Garrod by Mark James, with whom he fell out European Tour,tends to keep himself Gilford to arecord 7&6 drubbing as in the final week of qualifying, Faldo so much to himself, and tends not to Faldo was accused of failing to sent aletter of encouragement to the acknowledge people. communicate with his rookie partner. ICK FALDO has been a side. But it was not received in the “Somebody the players do not Back at The Belfry in 1993, Faldo colossus of the Ryder Cup way he hoped. particularly get on with would salvaged ahalf in the fourballs against ever since he beat four Major The letter read: “As Tony Jacklin probably not make agood captain and, Azinger and Fred Couples and they champions in the week he once said to me ‘Good luck and play unless Faldo’srelationships with also finished level in the singles, N became the event’sthen well’ goes out of the window.Just others improve, Idoubt he would ever although America had already youngest player. win! be elected. Just because he has achieved retained the trophy by the time they Three matches, three victories. Not “I believe you can bring the Ryder what he has does not automatically came to the last. bad for a20-year-old. Cup back to Europe –again –where it qualify him for the captaincy.” Faldo aced the short 14th in that Beating nobodies would have been belongs. Iamright behind you and But Faldo is now Europe’scaptain, match and talked Azinger into conced- notable but, playing with Peter will be supporting the team through- recommended by the Tour tournament ing afive-foot putt on the 16th. Oosterhuis, Faldo beat Ray Floyd and out the event, even if it is from 2,000 committee after Jamie Spence had “He said ‘It’sover.You guys have Lou Graham in the foursomes despite miles away. succeeded James as chairman. won’. So Iwaived the putt. Then losing the first three holes, and then “My very best wishes to each of His experience is obviously his Davis Love ran over and got the better of Floyd and Jack you. Above all, enjoy it.” greatest asset. “I’ve had 11 Ryder told me the match was still Nicklaus in the fourballs. James had been upset by earlier Cups.I’m sure I’ll getthrownafew tied. Ican’ttell you how Not content with that, he overcame comments from Faldo. While other curveballs, but I’ll take all that irritating that was. reigning Open champion TomWatson experience on board,” said Faldo. “Then, on the 18th, on Royal Lytham’sfinal green in the “And I’ll take alittle bit of every- when America had singles. thing from the captains I’ve played already won, Ineeded a “I never thought Iwould be thrown ‘‘ under.Tony Jacklin was inspirational 10-footer to win the hole in at the deep end against all these Just because he has to us, Bernard Gallacher was agreat and halve the match. great players, but it’squite alot of fun diplomat, and then Seve Ballesteros Who cared about our and I’m not as nervous as Ithought I achieved what he has does was the passion.” match, because the might be,” he said at the time. One thing Faldo never did during result of the Ryder Cup What made that 1977 performance not automatically qualify his Ryder Cup career,though, was was already decided? even more remarkable was that Faldo him for the captaincy ‘‘ come out on top against Paul Azinger, “I went through the had been suffering from glandular the man he opposes now. motions of preparing fever and might not even have played. Former Ryder Cup They first met at The Belfry in for the putt expecting The team –Britain and Ireland for captain Mark James 1989, two years after Faldo had any second for him to the last time –still lost by five points pushed the American into second tell me to pick the and, competing as Europe, Faldo was notes from Seve Ballesteros and Ian place at The Open and had apparently ball up. It would to be on three more losing sides Woosnam went up on the noticeboard upset him with a“tough luck, old boy” have been the sport- before victory was finally tasted at in the team room, Faldo’swas tossed remark. ing thing to have The Belfry in 1985. in arubbish bin. Azinger,whose father Ralph said done, and Icouldn’t Ironically,hecontributed nothing to “I could not believe Faldo had sent that his son “wanted to make Faldo eat believe it when he that win. Awild card pick for the first it,” said James. “Not only had he had his words”, and Chip Beck became said nothing. of four occasions, he played only two aserious barney with me, but he had the first pair to beat Faldo and Ian “I holed it, and games and lost them both. also slagged offMonty.Idecided to Woosnam in eight matches. that gave me so By 1997, though, Faldo had posted seek the views of afew other people, That came after Faldo went behind much pleasure.” all sorts of records –most cup appear- including some of the players, and the line of one of Beck’sputts and His Majors and ances with 11,most points with 25 and everyone’sreaction was the same – Azinger asked him what he was doing. cup records Nick Faldo had most wins with 23. bin it.” “Oh, just helping out,” was Faldo’s show that the aphenomenally Having collected six Majors as In his subsequent book, James also answer according to Azinger,who told Faldo approach successful well, three Opens and three Masters, cast doubts about Faldo’ssuitability as him “I’ll help my partner,not you” worked. Now career as a he had aclaim to being the greatest apossible future captain. before commenting to his partner “I’m he aims to player,but one European golfer of all-time. “A lot of players, including me, do taking this match personally.” make the Ryder studded with His impact on the match was not not understand Faldo. They do not like Twoyears later Azinger and Mark Cup captaincy controversy and over,though. Left out of the 1999 side him because he has been critical of the O’Meara sent Faldo and David work too. confrontation Needle helped the Ryder Cup –Azinger ELEVEN nice guys and Paul Azinger.It the States for sure. Idon’t think people out on top –but if there’sthat was not the kindest thing Seve lost respect for me or Seve as aresult, element it becomes more Ballesteros ever said about somebody. but of course thereare regrets. compelling. Therewas anatural For awhile the feeling was mutual. “It got ugly,but it wasn’t all my fault animosity when Europe was “The king of gamesmanship,” said that it got ugly –and it wasn’t all Seve’s winning. Some of the things Azinger of the Spanish star. fault. It just got ugly. said about the Americans at the But the man who is now captain of an “How you can sum it all up is that time created it. American side desperate to avoid a thereisahuge element of patriotism that “There’sprobably abit of fourth successivedefeat, does not believe comes with the Ryder Cup. There that coming into this one –but the highly-charged matches he had probably will be moresuch moments. If not coming from the captain. against Ballesteros wereall bad for the there’salittle animosity,insome “Thereare players on the team Ryder Cup. respects it makes it morecompelling. that have watched us getting “I have regrets, but Ithink it helped “You’renot looking for that crushed, and they might the Ryder Cup in some perverted way,” animosity –it’sabout sportsmanship and come in with alittle said Azinger (left).“Ithink it helped in getting it done with the best team coming animosity.” Be PGA PROactive. Forcoaching, advice and equipment give your PGA PRO agoVisit: www.pga.info.