President's Cup: Day Two Thoughts

Filed in archive Golf News on September 29, 2007

Courtesy: Canadian Press

20 professional golfers were up very early this morning and on the practice range at Royal Montreal Golf Club to start day three of the 2007 President's Cup.

As of this posting, the American team was leading in all four matches.

Here are some random thoughts on the play of both teams. Lucas Glover, Hunter Mahan and Woody Austin are, in many ways, the strength on the American team. They are playing superbly from tee to green, with few exceptions. And, with them playing so well, guys like Furyk, Mickelson and Woods can relax a little, knowing the burden of victory does not rest solely on their shoulders.

They also have very talented playing partners in Mahan, Glover and Austin, should captain jack Nicklaus choose to mix up his match-ups this afternoon.

On the International side, it's heartening as a Canadian to see Mike Weir playing so well. His short game is wonderful and his putting stroke seems to be back to where it was when he captured The Masters some years ago. And when the partisan Canadian crowd roars for Mike, it lifts the whole International squad.

Rory Sabbatini and Trevor Immelman are playing excellent golf. Sabbatini can putt and Immelman is strong tee to green. Vijay can still pull off great shots around the green but it's always a bit of a nail-biter watching him putt. He's reverted to his long-handled putter again. His putting stroke always seems to be a work-in-progress.

By contrast, Retief Goosen and Stuart Appleby are not having much fun at this President's Cup. Enough said.

Several of the American players commented in a pre-packaged item about how much they enjoyed playing for Jack Nicklaus. He's been a hands-off captain who has given the players the reins and it seems to be working.

Nicklaus is commanding the American team in the President's Cup for the third time. He now has plenty of experience in the job and the players respond to him. As Tiger said, "He doesn't say much but when he speaks, the whole room goes quiet."

So why not talk Jack into taking on the captaincy of the Ryder Cup team on a semi-permanent basis? He was the successful Ryder Cup captain in 1983 at the PGA National.

Teams win championships in other sports because of continuity in the leadership and a presidential-like reign of two Ryder Cups provides that same continuity in golf. Besides, it's been done before with the likes of Ben Hogan in 1947 and '49 and Walter Hagen in '35 and '37. Tony Jacklin did it for the Europeans in '85 and '87 and they won both times.

One of the fascinating and more subtle aspects of the alternate-shot format in match-play is when these top players have to play their partner's ball. The professional golfer is so dialed in to his mental game, physical well-being, equipment and specific golf ball that any change can result in some surprising shot results. Woods and Furyk discovered that on Friday when Tiger had to play Furyk's ball into the green on at least one hole.

Different ball characteristics mean different spin characteristics and feel. All of which is critical for these guys.

And that's another reason to enjoy the variety of action afforded in a match-play competition.

You can never grow weary watching.