Wednesday, August 25, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 7
Professional Golf
Merging golf cups suggested
The Associated Press
AKRON, Ohio — Forgive the Americans if this cup business is getting old.
They play the Ryder Cup one year, the Presidents Cup the other. They can't seem to hang onto either one, and it might not be long before they can't seem to keep them straight.
Nick Faldo set a record by playing on 11 straight Ryder Cup teams. Big deal. Barring injury or boredom, Tiger Woods will have played on his 11th straight U.S. team at the ripe young age of 31.
By then, the two cups may more closely resemble the Davis Cup — no one will care, including those who have to play it year after year.
"Whether the top players, that are going to be asked to represent their country every year for the next decade, will ever opt not to play, I don't know," Payne Stewart said. "I hope that never occurs, but I think we're going to have to take a long, hard look at it."
When Samuel Ryder commissioned that gold chalice in 1926, he never dreamed the world of golf would stretch far beyond the Atlantic Ocean to places like South Africa, Australia, even Paraguay. The only world powers in golf back then were Britain and the United States.
Imagine what Ryder would think if he could see all the talent assembled this week at Firestone Country Club for the NEC Invitational, the $5 million World Golf Championship bonanza for Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup players.
So many great players. So many cups.
In a downtown Atlanta hotel room last November, Jack Nicklaus first broached
Assume that Europe wins the Ryder Cup (again) next month at The Country Club Europe then would have the right to meet the International team in the 2000 Presidents Cup. The winner of those matches would play the losing Ryder Cup team in 2001.
The only drawback is where to play.
the idea of a tri-match, conceding that it might become harder every year to get the Americans motivated to play for a cup.
Interest would be minimal if Europe and the International team were to play the next Presidents Cup in Virginia, just as it would be if the International team played the Americans at The Belfry in 2001.
Plan A: The winner keeps playing
"Right now, it's pretty good the way it is," Nicklaus said. "Someday, probably sooner rather than later, that might happen."
The solution? The losing team would be the home team, giving it two years to prepare a site. It would help if each team stuck to one venue, although the International team should have more flexibility.
Here's how it can.
Each cup could keep its name, even if it lost some of its identity.
Plan B: The mother of all matches
This is a little more complex, but a lot more compelling.
The United States, Europe and International team would each bring 12-man squads to the new and improved and globally correct Ryder Cup — three teams playing every two years for one cup.
On the first two days, six best-ball matches would be played in the morning, followed by six alternate-shot matches in
For every session, the captain submits his pairings in what amounts to a blind draw. A U.S. team plays a European team in the first and fourth matches, Europe plays the Internationals in the second and fifth matches, and the Internationals play the United States in the third and sixth matches.
For Sunday singles, another blind draw. Six Americans would play six Europeans and the other six Americans would play six from the International team. The left-over six from Europe and International would play each other.
The team with the most points wins. In case of a tie, each captain submits one name to compete in a four-hole playoff.
The only hang-up is getting the PGA of America and the PGA Tour to agree on who runs the show and controls the dough — a major obstacle.
Still, it would help maintain pride and enthusiasm about playing for the flag, and it would reflect the global nature of golf.
Purists no doubt will protest that the storied Ryder Cup should never be tainted. Then again, the rest of Europe was invited to the Ryder Cup in 1979, and it somehow managed to survive. Is it too much to invite the rest of the world to the dance?
the afternoon.
Samuel Ryder surely would not have frowned on the inclusion of Seve Ballesteros, just as he wouldn't protest the inclusion of Ernie Els.
He would probably say the same thing he uttered to George Duncan that night in 1926 when the idea of the Ryder Cup matches was first hatched.
"Why not?"
Controversy dampens spirit at tournament
ALQHA, Ore. — Phil Mickelson was in a good mood when he came into the clubhouse.
The Associated Press
He had just shot a terrific round on an easy course at the Fred Meyer Challenge, a low-pressure charity tournament.
Walking up the 18th fairway, Mickelson waved to a group of fans in the grandstand after they yelled, "How's the baby?" in reference to his daughter, Amanda, born the day after the U.S. Open two months ago.
But Mickelson's demeanor quickly changed when he was asked about the lingering controversy about whether Ryder Cup players should be paid.
During the PGA Championship earlier this month, American team captain Bren Crenshaw angrily picked out Mickelson, along with David Duval, Tiger Woods and Mark O'Meara as players who wanted a say in how the PGA of America spends profits from the Rvder Cup.
"I did not say anything to the media. I did not say a word," Mickelson said Monday. "I didn't say what my views were. All Ben said was he was disappointed in me. That was a confidential meeting. He was out of line.
"And you'll have to ask him why he was disappointed in me."
Before his pointed comments, Mickelson was happier discussing his opening round at the Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club west of Portland. He made an eagle on No. 5 and seemed to gain momentum as the day wore on and the temperature climbed near 90 degrees.
Mickelson and teammate Jay Haas finished at 11 under-par 61 to grab a share of the lead in the $1 million best-ball tournament.
Billy Andrade and Brad Faxon had an eagle on No. 16 and a bird on No. 17 to also finish 11 under.
"Phil really played a great round of golf," Haas said.
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