The Ryder Cup is over, and the Americans came through despite being “Tigerless.” It just goes to show that just because Tiger is on the bench that American golf, and golf, in general, isn’t down until his return.
New stars and heroes emerged from Valhalla Golf Club, just down the road in Louisville. Players that bomb the ball like JB Holmes and Boo Weekley captured golfers’ hearts with their go-for-broke, swing-from-the-heels attitudes. They also brought something we had not seen from the Americans in past Ryder Cups – team spirit.
It seemed everyone on that team jelled, and when they got up, they let the fans know they wanted to hear noise. Sure, it might have upset some Euros, but Americans aren’t exactly treated like royal guests when we travel across the pond for the Ryder Cup.
Everyone also is wondering about Phil Mickelson. Sure, Phil has missed his fair share of crucial putts but remember you must be one of the best to be put into those situations. Sometimes you make it, and sometimes you don’t.
Hats off to Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger for his “plan” for the week. He did a great job of matching players and getting his rookies in the mix early. As far as rookies, my opinion is you are a rookie for only one shot in the Ryder Cup, your first shot. After that, it is the same game you have being playing for years to achieve Ryder Cup team membership.
Now on to the FedEx Cup. Oh, yeah: That already has been decided. Congratulations to Vijay Singh for that win. All he has to do is play this week, and he is your FedEx Cup champion.
This FedEx Cup race, playoffs or whatever they decide to call it, does not have any spark at all. Let’s face it: The top players around the world like money, but they really want major titles.
Speaking of majors, I played last week at Crooked Stick Golf Club in the Pete Dye Cup National Pro-Am. The event is a scratch pro-am in which a professional teams with an amateur in a two-day competition that features a Pinehurst alternate-shot format on the first day and then a stroke-play format in which the individual scores are added to the teams’ best ball for a total of four scores in the two days.
Crooked Stick, located in the Indianapolis suburb of Carmel, is the site of the 2009 U.S. Senior Open. The course was in magnificent shape and played to more than 7,400 yards. Thankfully, the wind did not blow hard, and the fairways were running.
I partnered with Chris Williams, who is also from Indy, and we finished 12th. Chris played great, and I faltered on the last six holes, or we would have finished easily inside the top 10. The Stick will be a great test next July for the Seniors. Hopefully I can make my Senior debut there, as I will turn 50 two weeks before the event.
Here are some odds and ends from the last couple of weeks, in which I apologize for no blogs.
Over Labor Day Weekend at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, I saw a car (Comp Eliminator, I think) that had Boo Weekley Golf on the side as a sponsor. During MotoGP week, I met three-time MotoGP World Champion Kenny Roberts, an avid golfer who played 36 holes here at The Brickyard.
This weekend, about 20-plus PGA Professionals from around the country are going to Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, to do some teaching for a charity event and participate in a two-day Pro-Am. Fortunately, I will participate and will report back on the results of that event.
Remember, just because it is fall, you don’t have to put away the clubs. There are still some great days left and some good deals on golf.
Jeff Schroeder
PGA Head Professional
Brickyard Crossing