Ryder Cup Preview

The Americans can win this thing for one reason: Tiger is not playing. Wait, the best player in the world – perhaps ever – is not playing and that’s a good thing for the Americans? Hear me out.

It’s not like Tiger has dominated this whole Ryder Cup thing. He’s actually lost more matches than he’s won (10-13-2) in his career at the competition, and the Americans only won the Cup once when he has competed (1999).

Here’s the real reason: Tiger is a golfer who is all about himself, which isn’t a real problem because golf is an individual sport. This isn’t a knock on him; in fact it’s one of the reason’s he is so great, because he doesn’t let anyone else into his world on Sunday and he is the one that rattles his competition.

There’s one problem though. The Ryder Cup is one of those rare team competitions in golf. Maybe when he’s teamed up with people they are intimidated, trying to live up to the standard set by the world’s greatest. Maybe he is too focused on himself and the other players are annoyed by that. Maybe they just expect him make all the big shots and fail to step up on their own. Who knows?

One of the main reasons for the European team’s recent success has been their camaraderie. They all look like they’re having fun together, and they are united in a common goal. I’m not saying Tiger doesn’t care about the Ryder Cup, but if you told him he had to pick between winning a Master’s or a Ryder Cup, do you think he would even hesitate? I think some of the European players might actually think about that decision for a while.

Tiger and Phil and all the rest haven’t been able to get the job done in almost a decade. Who’s to say J.B. Holmes and Chad Campbell can’t do it? I’d rather take a chance that some relative unknowns, who have much more to play for, can step up than keep trotting out the same bunch that loses every year.