I am really looking forward to this year's Ryder Cup. I think it will be a raucous crowd but I hope we don't see a repeat of the antics at Brookline in 1999.
We seem to have a lot of the top ranked players in our team but it will be close and I hope we come out on top. I'm happy to be proven wrong and for it to be a rout for Europe!!
Ryder Cup 2012
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superfrank
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can't imagine how nerve-racking that first tee shot must have been for McDowell.
i was once on the first tee at Swaffham with a group of lady golfers all waiting and watching... i slapped it straight into the bushes about 30 yards away to the right
i was once on the first tee at Swaffham with a group of lady golfers all waiting and watching... i slapped it straight into the bushes about 30 yards away to the right
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JollyGreen
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I used to play golf to a fairly decent level and I caddied on the African satellite tour for the European PGA. That meant I could play the pro-am and practice rounds. I turned up expecting the place to have one man and his dog but the stands were packed!
Just my luck, protocol dictates the visitor is away!!
I pulled out a 3 wood went through my pre-shot routine and then I froze!! It was a real sphincter moment and I couldn't take the club back. I was with my mate but we were paired with the course pro which was fortunate so he came and spoke to me. I managed to swing the club but I swear I heard nothing at all. I was holding my finish and saw the crowd applauding. The ball had sailed down the middle with a slight draw 
I picked up my tea acknowledged the crowd and stood there as if it was an everyday occurrence. I was still shaking and I couldn't hear anything!!
I floated down the fairway and even knocked it to 10 feet on the green only to miss the putt. It was an indifferent round, I doubt I broke 85 but it was better ball so there was less pressure.
Just my luck, protocol dictates the visitor is away!!
I pulled out a 3 wood went through my pre-shot routine and then I froze!! It was a real sphincter moment and I couldn't take the club back. I was with my mate but we were paired with the course pro which was fortunate so he came and spoke to me. I managed to swing the club but I swear I heard nothing at all. I was holding my finish and saw the crowd applauding. The ball had sailed down the middle with a slight draw I picked up my tea acknowledged the crowd and stood there as if it was an everyday occurrence. I was still shaking and I couldn't hear anything!!I floated down the fairway and even knocked it to 10 feet on the green only to miss the putt. It was an indifferent round, I doubt I broke 85 but it was better ball so there was less pressure.
What happened to the golf ball?superfrank wrote:with a group of lady golfers all waiting and watching... i slapped it straight into the bushes about 30 yards away to the right
I remember teeing off first at Wentworth once, one of my most stressful experiences ever. I was certain I would scuff the green and shank it into the road. My swing was terrible but somehow I managed to correct it on the down stroke and get the ball away ok.
Do I smell a Bet Angel golf day coming on?
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JollyGreen
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I wonder if Davis Love III will have the bottle to rest Tiger Woods for the afternoon fourballs? He is playing some of the finest military golf I have seen in years!!
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superfrank
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i have this ongoing row with my bruv... i reckon woods is the luckiest player ever - he hits some atrocious drives but always seems to have a second shot and a route to the green. the first hole today he hit it way left into the hospitality area and they still managed to have a 2nd shot and he just hit another that hit the top of a tree and bounced out and nearly made the green.
my bro reckons he makes his own luck because of his positive attitude. i don't see much of a positive attitude with woods these days, but he still keeps his luck!
my bro reckons he makes his own luck because of his positive attitude. i don't see much of a positive attitude with woods these days, but he still keeps his luck!
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JollyGreen
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I'm with you Frank! Woods is supremely talented but he definitely gets more than his fair share of luck.
The one thing that really gets on my **** is the commentators who are all complete sycophants when it comes to Woods. If it's a tricky shot for Woods (when in reality it's nothing more than average) they say "he'll need all of his immense skills here" If he misses they say it was a tricky shot and if the world's greatest cannot pull if off....etc. If he makes it they swoon again....aaarrrgghhhh!!!
I see that despite the finest military golf I have ever seen in a Pro game Woods is playing the fourballs. Okay, so it is a different format but there are times when you need your partner as backup. If Woods is off exploring the Flora of Medinah then National Geographic might find more benefit than Steve Stricker!!
Rant over!!
The one thing that really gets on my **** is the commentators who are all complete sycophants when it comes to Woods. If it's a tricky shot for Woods (when in reality it's nothing more than average) they say "he'll need all of his immense skills here" If he misses they say it was a tricky shot and if the world's greatest cannot pull if off....etc. If he makes it they swoon again....aaarrrgghhhh!!!
I see that despite the finest military golf I have ever seen in a Pro game Woods is playing the fourballs. Okay, so it is a different format but there are times when you need your partner as backup. If Woods is off exploring the Flora of Medinah then National Geographic might find more benefit than Steve Stricker!!
Rant over!!
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JollyGreen
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Wow! I have watched the Ryder Cup since...well I can't remember but it was GB & Ireland in those early days.
In the last 12 years it was generally close, one side has a run and the other side struggles. Then fortune changes and things even up. This year is so weird with the USA team playing unbelievable golf especially their putting. They must have holed a mile of putts!!
The only thing I disagree with is the layout of the course. If you ignore the holes where water is in play then it is possible to stand up to the ball take a wild slash at it and no matter where it lands you will have a lie for your second shot. I know the USA setup the course this way to suit their team and that is fair enough but I can't help thinking there should be some sort of price to pay for such spraying off the tee. Yes, Seve was renowned for this type of play but even then he had to struggle with the lie of his ball. This course has rough akin to the fairway on most courses. So that means it is a game of putting and the Americans are winning that hands down.
I just wonder if things may change slightly if the Europeans get off to a flyer in the first 4 singles matches and the pressure builds.
This isn't sour grapes, the USA have been the better team by miles, they setup the course to suit them and they have taken advantage of it. I just hope our boys can get on a bit of a roll and make a fight of it.
On another point, I think the crowds have been pretty good. There are a few idiots but beer does that to people. The cheering on a bad euro shot is to be expected, it happens the other way around over here. I don't agree with it, I would never boo anyone or any team but it seems to be the norm these days.
C'mon Europe fight all the way in the spirit of Seve!
In the last 12 years it was generally close, one side has a run and the other side struggles. Then fortune changes and things even up. This year is so weird with the USA team playing unbelievable golf especially their putting. They must have holed a mile of putts!!
The only thing I disagree with is the layout of the course. If you ignore the holes where water is in play then it is possible to stand up to the ball take a wild slash at it and no matter where it lands you will have a lie for your second shot. I know the USA setup the course this way to suit their team and that is fair enough but I can't help thinking there should be some sort of price to pay for such spraying off the tee. Yes, Seve was renowned for this type of play but even then he had to struggle with the lie of his ball. This course has rough akin to the fairway on most courses. So that means it is a game of putting and the Americans are winning that hands down.
I just wonder if things may change slightly if the Europeans get off to a flyer in the first 4 singles matches and the pressure builds.
This isn't sour grapes, the USA have been the better team by miles, they setup the course to suit them and they have taken advantage of it. I just hope our boys can get on a bit of a roll and make a fight of it.
On another point, I think the crowds have been pretty good. There are a few idiots but beer does that to people. The cheering on a bad euro shot is to be expected, it happens the other way around over here. I don't agree with it, I would never boo anyone or any team but it seems to be the norm these days.
C'mon Europe fight all the way in the spirit of Seve!
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superfrank
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agree. the layout of the course spoils the spectacle imo. they keep saying the USA wanted a putting competition - it's proved that Amercians are better at putting on ultra-fast greens, but we knew that anyway.
i think it's the 15th - a drivable par 4 - where all the players just smash the ball at the bunker on the left knowing they have a good chance to get up and down from there. there should be reward for keeping the ball on the fairway, not just who can smash it the furthest with a driver that has a head the size of a melon.
also, those "cheat" putters should be banned. they obviously give an unfair advantage to those who have mastered their use.
one last thing, Poulter should learn to celebrate with a bit more grace instead of eye bulging aggression - he looks like an idiot and very much like beaker.
i think it's the 15th - a drivable par 4 - where all the players just smash the ball at the bunker on the left knowing they have a good chance to get up and down from there. there should be reward for keeping the ball on the fairway, not just who can smash it the furthest with a driver that has a head the size of a melon.
also, those "cheat" putters should be banned. they obviously give an unfair advantage to those who have mastered their use.
one last thing, Poulter should learn to celebrate with a bit more grace instead of eye bulging aggression - he looks like an idiot and very much like beaker.
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JollyGreen
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Beaker = Poulter, 
nice one Frank I can see where you're coming from on that although I hadn't thought of it myself.
I love Poulter though and I think if you took that aggression away from him he would be half the player! He's tied for the most successful player in this Ryder Cup so he must be doing something right!
nice one Frank I can see where you're coming from on that although I hadn't thought of it myself.I love Poulter though and I think if you took that aggression away from him he would be half the player! He's tied for the most successful player in this Ryder Cup so he must be doing something right!
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superfrank
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it would just be nice if he at least smiled when he makes a putt rather than look like he's knocked someone out in a cage fight.
he's a good player but imo he needs to get down the gym to have a chance of winner a major cos he's too short off the tee compared to most - although having said that, Bubba Watson looks like he couldn't knock the skin off a rice pudding yet hits it miles.
he's a good player but imo he needs to get down the gym to have a chance of winner a major cos he's too short off the tee compared to most - although having said that, Bubba Watson looks like he couldn't knock the skin off a rice pudding yet hits it miles.