No Tiger, no problem. Or so might be the thought for the American squad this weekend as the Europeans cross the pond for the 37th Ryder Cup, which starts Friday at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
Tiger Woods, who had knee surgery two weeks after the U.S. Open, will not play for the first time in six matches. But with a 10-13-2 record in his five Ryder Cups, it might be for the best if the Americans want to end the Euros’ streak of three straight and five of the past six.
Instead, the Americans will have six Ryder rookies, three of whom are in their 20s — Anthony Kim, 23; Hunter Mahan, 26; and J.B. Holmes, 26. But that doesn’t seem to bother the experienced American players.
“Not being a part of the last few U.S. teams is not necessarily a bad thing,” Phil Mickelson told reporters this week. “So the guys who haven’t played, they have never lost this event.”
Schedule.
Friday and Saturday, four morning foursome (alternate-shot) matches and four afternoon fourball (better-ball) matches; Sunday, 12 singles matches.
TV.
ESPN (Friday, 6 a.m.-4 p.m.) and NBC (Saturday, 6 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.).
Rosters.
(Captain’s pick – c)
United States: c-Chad Campbell, Stewart Cink, Ben Curtis, Jim Furyk, c-J.B. Holmes, Anthony Kim, Justin Leonard, c-Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Kenny Perry, c-Steve Stricker, Boo Weekley. Captain: Paul Azinger.
Europe: c-Paul Casey, England; Sergio Garcia, Spain; Soren Hansen, Denmark; Padraig Harrington, Ireland; Miguel Angel Jimenez, Spain; Robert Karlsson, Sweden; Graeme McDowell, Northern Ireland; c-Ian Poulter, England; Justin Rose, England; Henrik Stenson, Sweden; Lee Westwood, England; Oliver Wilson, England. Captain: Nick Faldo, England.
Last time out.
Europe routed the U.S. 18 1/2-9 1/2 in 2006 at The K Club in Ireland, winning for a team-record third straight time and for the fifth time in the last six events.
Bigger than Derby?
There’s no question Kentucky will get a lot of attention this week. About 1,600 media credentials were issued for the Ryder Cup, almost a third of those going to media from foreign countries. It will be televised in 150 countries.
“In terms of making an international impression, this is the biggest event there’s ever been in Kentucky,” sports marketing guru Jim Host said. “Interest in the Ryder Cup worldwide is immense.”
The Kentucky Derby issued about 2,000 credentials this year, but only a handful went to foreign media.
No kidding.
Kentucky native J.B. Holmes has a Ph.D. in pressure.
As an 8-year-old, Holmes played on the varsity golf team at his high school — nervous as a kid can be, but never scared. He proved that by boldly calling a penalty on an opposing player who was double his age and three times his size.
Let’s rock.
U.S. captain Paul Azinger has been hinting he likely will start Friday’s matches by pairing his team’s two native Kentuckians in the first group in alternate-shot competition. Kenny Perry, a 48-year-old tour veteran who grew up in Franklin and played college golf at Western Kentucky, and Holmes have been drawing large crowds during practice.
“Yeah, I’ve thought about what I’m going to do with those two guys, should I put them together, should I keep them apart?” Azinger said. “You know, I’d like to put them off first match out, to be honest with you, and get this crowd rocking.”
Series.
While the U.S. leads 24-10-2 overall, Europe is 7-3-1 in the last 11 events. The team from Great Britain and Ireland was expanded in 1979 to include all of Europe.
Next up.
The 2010 matches will be played at Celtic Manor in Wales and 2012 at Medinah near Chicago.
