RyderCup 19-21 September, 2008 Expert view 03 STAT ATTACK Results since European team Scrap captain’s picks? replaced GB and Ireland 2006 KClub Europe 181 ⁄2-91 ⁄2 US 2004 Oakland Hills Ian Poulter won Nick Faldo’s Europe 181 ⁄2-91 ⁄2 US vote ahead of Darren Clarke 2002 The Belfry and Colin Montgomerie Not such Europe 151 ⁄2-121 ⁄2 US 1999 Brookline US 141 ⁄2-131 ⁄2 Europe 1997 Valderrama Europe 141 ⁄2-131 ⁄2 US 1995 Oak Hill awild idea Europe 141 ⁄2-131 ⁄2 US 1993 The Belfry US 15-13 Europe Euro team selection shouldall be on 1991 Kiawah Island US 141 ⁄2-131 ⁄2 Europe merit, says former captain Gallacher 1989 The Belfry Europe 14-14 US HERE is asimple solution to 1987 Muirfield Village the controversy over Ryder RYDER CUP FACT Europe 15-13 US Cup wild cards, according to Forthe first time since 1999, the former Europe captain Bernard Ryder Cup will startwith 1985 The Belfry T Gallacher –scrap them! foursomes rather than fourballs. Europe 161 ⁄2-111 ⁄2 US Current captain Nick Faldo left out American captain Paul Azinger 1983 Palm Beach Gardens experienced pair Colin Montgomerie decided on the switch in the hope US 141 ⁄2-131 ⁄2 Europe and Darren Clarke in favour of Paul of giving his team an earlyedge. Casey and the flamboyant Ian Poulter Europe has wonthe last three 1981 Walton Heath for the crunch match in Kentucky. opening fourballs, but even in US 181 ⁄2-91 ⁄2 Europe But Gallacher believes the system is foursomes it is not since 1991 at 1979 The Greenbrier now outdated, and team selection Kiawah Island that the United States US 17-11 Europe should be based entirely on the world have taken alunchtime lead. and European lists. In the sevenmatches since then, Most appearances The 59-year-old Scot is one of the Europe lead 34-22 in foursomes and 11 Nick Faldo (Europe) most experienced men in the Ryder 31-25 in fourballs. 10 Christy O’Connor,Bernhard Cup world. He was once the youngest Langer (both Europe) man to represent Great Britain and 9Dai Rees (Europe) Ireland, went on to appear in the European system. That was why they Open in June, and Ihave no doubt that –the strength of the Ryder Cup is close 8BillyCasper,LannyWadkins, competition eight times, and captained were given, so it was quite easy for Colin in aRyder Cup would play well, matches. Raymond Floyd (all USA), the European team three times, in me to pick someone like Faldo, who but at the same time he hasn’tplayed “And it will be acloser match than Peter Alliss, BernhardHunt, 1991, 1993 and 1995. wasn’tplaying in Europe. well enough leading into the selection.” people think. On paper,Europe are the Neil Coles, BernardGallacher, He said: “My captain’spicks “Now there is astrong case for Many believe Faldo’ssingle-minded stronger side, especially as America Seve Ballesteros, Sam To RRance, weren’tsocontentious.Iwas having to having no wild cards at all, because of personality will make him acontrover- don’thave Tiger Woods. Ian Woosnam, Colin pick people like Faldo and Ian the world ranking system. sial captain, but Gallacher backs the “He has abetter record than people Montgomerie (Europe) Woosnam, who were playing mainly in “At the moment we have the first man who once played under him. think. He still had more points than America. five offthe world rankings, so guys Gallacher said: “On the captaincy everyone else in the American team Yo ungest player “The wild cards were designed who are playing in America every issue, Iamsure Nick will have spoken last time. When Tiger is in the field 19 Sergio Garcia originally for European players who week can qualify that way.Then you to the players and encouraged them. In you expect him to get five points out of (Europe) were playing in America, who have five from the European money the coming days, he will tell them he five, but he doesn’tdothat because 20 Nick Faldo,Paul wouldn’totherwise qualify through the list, so guys who are supporting the expects them to do well –and coming in these doubles matches you need Way, Bernard European Tour can qualify that way. from Faldo that will be agood thing. everyone firing. Gallacher (all “The European team selection “He will also have spoken to the “He is average in that he can be Europe) policy could easily go to six and six – players about who they want to play beaten in afoursome or fourballs 21 Horton Smith, adding one player to each current list – with or –more importantly –who they match when he has apartner,but he Tiger Woods ‘‘ and taking away the need for wild don’twant to play with. Nick will be has only been beaten once in singles, (both USA) cards. Then maybe everybody would good at that. and that was by Costantino Rocca. be happy,because there is so much “The captain’sjob is to keep the “But what will neutralise Europe’s Oldest player theatre attached to them. We all get players happy,and to make sure he slight advantage is the course, which 51 Raymond Floyd (USA) tensed up and the media try to cover it gets the best out of his foursomes and will be set up more for the Americans, 50 Te dRay (Europe), JayHaas (USA) from all available angles.” fourball partnerships. and the crowd, which will probably be Although he believes the system “But he has to keep an open mind vociferous towards the Americans. Most matches played should be changed, Gallacher has no about the pairings, because the first “Maybe they will have imported alot 46 Nick Faldo (Europe) problem with the selections Faldo two days are critical. If it doesn’twork of that Boston crowd from Brookline in 42 BernhardLanger (Europe) made. on the first day he has to have an open 1999 who created such an intense 40 Neil Coles (Europe) He said: “I think Nick will prove to mind to change the pairings. Youreally atmosphere on the final day,when 37 BillyCasper (USA), Faldo didn’t pick be agood captain as he is very meticu- need quite afew back-up plans. America came from 10-6 down to Seve Ballesteros (Europe) lous in his preparations, and he showed “And, in an ideal world, you would win. Colin Montgomerie, by his wild card picks that he is very want to play all your people before the “Most of all, Most matches won much his own man. singles, so they would get afeel for the Iwould like 23 Nick Faldo (Europe) and Iwouldn’t have “Everyone was surprised Darren course and the event.” it to be a 22 Arnold Palmer (Europe) Clarke wasn’tpicked, especially with As captain himself, Gallacher close match 21 BernhardLanger (Europe) picked him for this his very recent form and record in the (right) saw Europe defeated in 1991 and for 20 BillyCasper,LannyWadkins Ryder Cup. and 1993, before leading them to a Europe to (USA), Seve Ballesteros, Colin year either. Idon’t “But it is acaptain’sselection, and one-point win at Oak Hill in 1995. But win by the Montgomerie (both Europe) obviously Nick fancies Ian Poulter the last thing he wants to see is arepeat odd point.” think he has played more than Clarke. That’shis call. of the landslide victories for Europe in Most points won “He didn’tpick Colin Montgomerie, the past two meetings. 25 Nick Faldo (Europe) well enough ‘‘ and Iwouldn’thave picked him for He went on: “Despite obviously 24 BernhardLanger (Europe) this year either.Idon’tthink he has wanting Europe to win again, Ithink 231 /2 BillyCasper (USA), Colin played well enough. we really do need to have aclose Montgomerie (Europe) “I thought Monty was on course Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup is not 23 Arnold Palmer (USA) when he finished second in the French about one team winning by nine points Be PGA PROactive. Forcoaching, advice and equipment give your PGA PRO agoererererVisit: www.pga.info.