Presidents Cup 2007

Vartan Kupelian: Burning Questions

Burning questions from Europe’s overwhelming 18 1/2 -9 1/2 victory at the Ryder Cup:
Q . Same old question: What’s wrong with the United States at the Ryder Cup?
A . Same old answer: Everybody is missing the obvious.
The American performances at the Ryder Cup haven’t been the same since the introduction of the Presidents Cup.
Every year is simply too much for this kind of competition.

The Americans have played better at the Presidents Cup because it is owned and operated by the PGA Tour, the organization to which the golfers all belong. The PGA Tour is the players. The PGA of America, owner and operator of the Ryder Cup, isn’t.

It looks to me like the players feel more at ease and at home within their own organization at the Presidents Cup.

The first Presidents Cup was played in 1994. The U.S. has won the Ryder Cup only once since then, in 1999, but the nature of that victory, the unlikely rally, suggests it was an aberration.

Since the beginning of the Presidents Cup, the U.S. has lost the Ryder Cup five times, including the last three straight.

Look for all the reasons you want, I’m sticking with the Presidents Cup as my reason until somebody comes up with something better. I don’t know any other way to explain what has been a huge disparity in performance versus talent.

The Europeans simply aren’t that much better. If they were, they’d be winning majors.

Q . What else?

A . I’ll be repeating myself here. I said it two years ago after the Ryder Cup.

I’ll use Phil Mickelson as an example. He’s a guy who packs away his clubs after the major championship season. Any golf after August is the silly season for Mickelson.

The players who qualify for the U.S. Ryder Cup team should be given 72 hours to decide whether they want to participate. There should be no stigma attached if a player says no.

That way you’ll have guys who really want to be at the Ryder Cup. That might not be the case at the moment.

Mickelson, who gained only a half-point, was speechless after his subpar performance.

Q . And the U.S. point system? It was changed but failed to produce any tangible results.

A . Agreed. It needs review and revision. Again.

The other side kept changing and adding until it found something — the inclusion of Europe — that worked.

Q . What else does it need?

A . Substance over style. If the goal is to win, the PGA of America would be better served emphasizing the competition more and the opulence less.

Q . Which players rose to the occasion and made a name for themselves?

A . For Europe, Paul Casey was a star. Naturally, Colin Montgomerie was the leader.

Nobody had more fun than Sergio Garcia, who won four matches in four-ball and foursomes but was trounced by Stewart Cink in the singles.

It’s funny how Garcia comes up big alongside a partner but isn’t the same player when he stands alone. That explains why he hasn’t yet won a major.

Garcia is 1-3 in singles in his four Ryder Cup appearances. The only victory was two years ago at Oakland Hills over Mickelson but that probably says more about Mickelson’s level of play than Garcia’s.

Q . And disappointments?

A . None among the Europeans, but Mickelson didn’t play like the second best golfer in the world. He hasn’t been the same since his meltdown at Winged Foot in the U.S. Open in June.

On the positive side for the U.S., two of the rookies, Zach Johnson and J.J. Henry, didn’t look scared.

David Toms, despite his defeat in singles to Montgomerie, was just as solid as he could be for three days despite poor results.

Q . What’s the verdict on the K Club in Ireland?

A . Like one of my colleagues said, imagine the surprise when we found that they had moved the famous Doral resort courses in Florida to Ireland.

Not a course with a lot of charm and certainly not a course you’d clamor to play.

Too bad they didn’t showcase one of the terrific Irish courses, but we know why. The Ryder Cup is for sale, and Dr. Michael Smurfit, owner of the K Club, had the deep pockets to afford it.

You can reach Vartan Kupelian at (313) 222-2285 or vartan.kupelian@detnews.com.