Europe’s Winning Ryder Cup Team?

Sunday 31st August was Decision Day for Nick Faldo and a big day for at least seven contenders for places in the European team. At the start of the Johnnie Walker Classic at Gleneagles, the last three automatic places were held by Justin Rose, Sören Hansen and Oliver Wilson. All three knew a poor performance could lead to them being overtaken, and under the severest pressure, all three finished in the top ten to secure their places – showing exactly the character which captain Nick Faldo will be needing at Valhalla in a few weeks time. So far, so good.

By common consent, the leading candidates for the captain’s two picks were Darren Clarke, Paul Casey, Colin Montgomery and Ian Poulter. The favourite in the eyes of most golf fans and pundits was Clarke, partly due to his timely return to form by winning the Dutch Open, but mainly due to his popularity with his peers and his matchplay prowess (how many golfers could outplay Tiger Woods over 36 holes?). Monty hasn’t played well for months and Poulter had blotted his copy-book by choosing to chase the American dollar instead of turning up at Gleneagles in an attempt to play his way into an automatic place. Then both shot themselves in the foot by engaging in a childish feud via British and U.S. media, thus ensuring that Faldo couldn’t pick two players currently at loggerheads. This left Paul Casey, who has spent the past few weeks in the States, without much to show for his efforts.

When Faldo captained the Seve Cup at the K Club in Ireland, he declined to pick an Irish player – not the best example of P.R., which was punished by poor attendances – so when he ignored Darren Clarke and picked Casey and Poulter, none of us should have been surprised. The key to European dominance in the past decade has been team spirit and I’m sure some of those who won their place by right may privately resent Poulter’s reward for his mercenary approach, while Rose, Hansen and Wilson put themselves through an emotional wringer and had the strength of will and the ability, to come out on top. Only Faldo, who swears that Poulter did not get the nod well in advance, knows the real reasoning behind his decision and the justification for preferring materialism to loyalty and desire. The team in full is: Harrington, Garcia, Westwood, Stenson and Karlsson, via their world ranking; Jimenez, McDowell, Rose, Hansen and Wilson, who earned their places through their European points. Casey and Poulter are the lucky ones.

Tags: Ryder Cup