Saturday, September 29, 2018

They Went To Paris, Part 2

Earlier in the week, I shared remarkably optimistic lyrics for The Ryder Cup, which concludes this morning, if you are reading this on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018.

Team USA did get off to a great start in the morning session of fourball (all four players play their own ball, if you are not familiar with the Ryder Cup format), but all hell shook loose in the foursome session, where two players use one ball, hitting alternate shots. This is a tough format. Very, very, very tough in the best of conditions.

The Euros won all four matches in foursomes, the first time they'd swept USA in that format, and seized a 5-3 lead after Friday's two sessions.

Saturday's two sessions were just as horrid for Team USA, which managed to win 3 points , 1 in fourball, 2 in foursomes, while the Euros again claimed 5.

This Ryder Cup is being played on a course outside Paris, France. It is one of the regular European Tour venues. The Euro team, thus, knows the course, having accumulated some 250 or more rounds on that layout.

Team USA had eight rounds of experience.

The Euros, as host team, get to set the course up.  Thomas Bjorn, the Euro captain, let the rough grow. Think Gabby Hayes at Woodstock. Think wheat fields. Corn as high as elephant's eye.

Why?

Because the Euros have a bunch of players who drive the ball straight, while one of the key strengths of team USA was how far some of its players can hit the ball. Usually, it comes down to putts to decide team competition. Bjorn cut to the chase by making hitting the fairway an equal component, and considering how the Americans have performed, the deciding component.

The feed for this blog sends new posts out at 6 a.m. This will arrive in your email about the time singles play begins. Europe leads, 10-6. There will be 12 singles matches. Because USA won the last Ryder Cup, they need 14 points to retain the Cup. The Euros need 14 1/2.

The Euros, obviously, are in great shape.

Match play can be fantastic theatre. Even if you don't care or know much about golf, you might find observing what pressure can do to be of interest.

My prediction for the outcome returns to to the Jimmy Buffett song, HE WENT TO PARIS.

Today, I suspect another rewrite is in order. This one is not long.

They went to Paris
Looking for answers
To questions that bothered them so.

And failed.

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