Question:
This could be the weakest European Ryder Cup team ever.
Everyone, including me, said the same thing last time and we came within an inch of pulling it off. The way it stands right now… Sam Torrance has to make two captains picks from Parnevik, Garcia, Olazabal, Jiminez, Langer, Woosnam, Faldo. I think the team needs the first five definitely. No doubt Parnevik and Garcia will get the picks. That means veterans like Olazabal, Jiminez, and Langer miss out.
Jiminez isn’t a Ryder Cup vet. But having seen the way that Woosie knuckled down to save his day on Sunday, I would like to see him make the team, maybe at the expense of Parnevik who lacks a bit of Euro-patriotic fire. The only hope is that three of the above list can qualify automatically knocking out chokers like Phillip Price, Paul McGinlay, and Andrew Coltart. I really can’t stand any of those three. If I was captain, I wouldn’t even use Price and Coltart because they are simply not very good. McGinlay might be a good foursomes player but he too chokes under pressure.
If Price qualifies, it will be on merit. I would rather see a consistent performer in the team than a flash-in-the-pan like Fulke. Fasth on the other hand looked real cool on Sunday and will be an asset. Its too late to worry about Fasth and Fulke. They have already qualified and besides, swedes always play well in the Ryder Cup. Let’s just hope Phillip Price doesn’t make it…
Stan — Stan The Man +++Naked Under This Macintosh+++ DELETE X if replying
Response:
Here we go again We heard exactly this before most of the last 10 Ryder Cups. Then ‘weak’ or ‘unknown’ players like O’Connor,Canizares,Gilford,Clark,Rocca etc etc etc proved at least a match for America’s finest. You really *must* get out more.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This could be the weakest European Ryder Cup team ever. The way it stands right now… Sam Torrance has to make two captains picks from Parnevik, Garcia, Olazabal, Jiminez, Langer, Woosnam, Faldo. I think the team needs the first five definitely. No doubt Parnevik and Garcia will get the picks. That means veterans like Olazabal, Jiminez, and Langer miss out. The only hope is that three of the above list can qualify automatically knocking out chokers like Phillip Price, Paul McGinlay, and Andrew Coltart. I really can’t stand any of those three. If I was captain, I wouldn’t even use Price and Coltart because they are simply not very good. McGinlay might be a good foursomes player but he too chokes under pressure. Its too late to worry about Fasth and Fulke. They have already qualified and besides, swedes always play well in the Ryder Cup. Let’s just hope Phillip Price doesn’t make it… Hello, The Euro Ryder Cup selection system needs to change. Not, as some have suggested, by allowing more Captains selections. The problem is that individual tournaments have way too much influence on who becomes an automatic selection. That is one of the reasons why journeymen pro golfers like Philip Price and Niclas Fasth are going to end up in the 2001 team after having an exceptional performance in a single tournament. I actually agree that players like Jesper Parnevik who are not willing to support the European Tour, should not receive equal consideration in the selection process. Maybe a point system based on a whole slew of variables rather than the money list would strengthen the automatic selections in the future. I think, Philip Price, Niclas Fasth, Pierre Fulke, etc… are going to be major problems for the Euro Ryder Cup team in the competition in 2001. Regards, JB —— Kapow! Sic semper FIACs Individualist, anti clique rebel With Cliques we Fall Without Cliques we Stand
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, The Euro Ryder Cup selection system needs to change. Not, as some have suggested, by allowing more Captains selections. The problem is that individual tournaments have way too much influence on who becomes an automatic selection. That is one of the reasons why journeymen pro golfers like Philip Price and Niclas Fasth are going to end up in the 2001 team after having an exceptional performance in a single tournament. I actually agree that players like Jesper Parnevik who are not willing to support the European Tour, should not receive equal consideration in the selection process. Maybe a point system based on a whole slew of variables rather than the money list would strengthen the automatic selections in the future. I think, Philip Price, Niclas Fasth, Pierre Fulke, etc… are going to be major problems for the Euro Ryder Cup team in the competition in 2001. Regards, JB —— Kapow! Sic semper FIACs Individualist, anti clique rebel With Cliques we Fall Without Cliques we Stand
They ( Americans ) said the same about Paul Lawrie a few years back and I think he won ( maybe halved one ) all his matches at Brookline Cheers
Response:
This could be the weakest European Ryder Cup team ever. The way it stands right now… Sam Torrance has to make two captains picks from Parnevik, Garcia, Olazabal, Jiminez, Langer, Woosnam, Faldo. I think the team needs the first five definitely. No doubt Parnevik and Garcia will get the picks. That means veterans like Olazabal, Jiminez, and Langer miss out. The only hope is that three of the above list can qualify automatically knocking out chokers like Phillip Price, Paul McGinlay, and Andrew Coltart. I really can’t stand any of those three. If I was captain, I wouldn’t even use Price and Coltart because they are simply not very good. McGinlay might be a good foursomes player but he too chokes under pressure. Its too late to worry about Fasth and Fulke. They have already qualified and besides, swedes always play well in the Ryder Cup. Let’s just hope Phillip Price doesn’t make it…
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, The Euro Ryder Cup selection system needs to change. Not, as some have suggested, by allowing more Captains selections. The problem is that individual tournaments have way too much influence on who becomes an automatic selection. That is one of the reasons why journeymen pro golfers like Philip Price and Niclas Fasth are going to end up in the 2001 team after having an exceptional performance in a single tournament. I actually agree that players like Jesper Parnevik who are not willing to support the European Tour, should not receive equal consideration in the selection process. Maybe a point system based on a whole slew of variables rather than the money list would strengthen the automatic selections in the future. I think, Philip Price, Niclas Fasth, Pierre Fulke, etc… are going to be major problems for the Euro Ryder Cup team in the competition in 2001. Regards, JB —— Kapow! Sic semper FIACs Individualist, anti clique rebel With Cliques we Fall Without Cliques we Stand
Response:
As long as you are going to worry about players "supporting the Euro Tour", there will be problems. The players you mentioned won Euro events and placed well in others. Thus they qualify. The US PGA TOUR is the top golf tour in the world, and to criticise or try to use the Ryder Cup to limit highly competitive althetes from taking a shot at the best is ludicrous. This year, you will have Garcia, Parnevik and Jimenez, one of which who cannot make the team. If the selectio were based on world rankings, a Woosnam could be a Captain’s pick, if thety were retained. Rob – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, The Euro Ryder Cup selection system needs to change. Not, as some have suggested, by allowing more Captains selections. The problem is that individual tournaments have way too much influence on who becomes an automatic selection. That is one of the reasons why journeymen pro golfers like Philip Price and Niclas Fasth are going to end up in the 2001 team after having an exceptional performance in a single tournament. I actually agree that players like Jesper Parnevik who are not willing to support the European Tour, should not receive equal consideration in the selection process. Maybe a point system based on a whole slew of variables rather than the money list would strengthen the automatic selections in the future. I think, Philip Price, Niclas Fasth, Pierre Fulke, etc… are going to be major problems for the Euro Ryder Cup team in the competition in 2001. Regards, JB —— Kapow! Sic semper FIACs Individualist, anti clique rebel With Cliques we Fall Without Cliques we Stand