91热爆

and what's worse, is that while everyone has brought their wife, he appears to have brought his mum!

Hello

My comment is not about this post but about site navigation.

Can you categorise the posts so they can be followed right back to when the blog started?

The way you have set this up makes it different to navigate the site and view anything older than the front page.

If I have understood the site incorrectly then I am sorry in advance.

Thanks

Philip Voice

The American team's attempts at bonding have been hysterical. Lehman really has no clue. Visiting college basketball coaches for advice? Singing contests? It's all so forced and fake and most likely alienates his team. The Americans are loners (esp. Tiger and Phil) and this week is very awkward for them.
The Europeans are all very natural with each other. The smiling and laughing is genuine and they don't need gimmicks to get along.
Europe is 1 up already.
I wonder if The Dubliner's fake photo story and subsequent apology isn't just a well-timed ploy to get under Tiger's skin?

Disappointed at the lack of practice today.

The Americans bonding efforts are a bit forced I agree. Those lads just need to get in the K Club bar, kick out the media people and get mullered together. That's almost definately what the Europeans will have done. A big boozy dinner.

With regard to the Americans practising today, I have to admit, watching them skim golf balls 40 yards over a lake (on tv), I couldn't help wishing I was there. It is so rare you see these guys showing off their circus skills. If you want to see 300 yard drives, there'll be plenty of time for that.

I don't understand a whole week for practice. Even for the majors they only have 2 days! All the American Team and most of the Europe players were here in the last month. This Ryder Cup event has become one big media mess and Dublin, which has the worst traffic in Europe can't cope with this circus. Take it to the Links of Scotland and leave it there (the finest courses in Europe)

I think that is most unkind. Woosie's wife looks a very pleasant and natural lady. What do you want her to be? A bimbo?

Twelve-ball my bott!. This was the masterstroke of the week: under the cover of bad weather, the boys were out there refining their Brookline Tango - a choreographed manouevre where the whole team (and selected detritus) come onto the green for a premature victory dance designed solely to allow the maximum number of feet to be tramped across the line of the European putt that can keep the match alive.

What's the fuss? The pictures of Mrs Woods have been out there for ages.
Just what do the press want to say exactly?.....Tiger is dead rich and has married a drop dead gorgeous woman...oh and he can play golf pretty well. The press don't deserve to sell papers, What happened to quality writing about one of the world's great sporting events?

Having been at the windswept K Club today, I have to say that Woosie's European team are already at least three up in the psychological stakes. Their morning practice in the difficult conditions was purposeful yet jovial and their co-ordinated walkabout between the 16th green and 17th tee, when they signed autographs and chatted with the punters, was a PR masterstroke.

Contrast this with the sullen and dis-interested Americans who were collectively the very definition of the phrase "going through the motions!" They showed no appetite to apply themselves to the prevailing conditions, drew jeers from fans for their aloofness and looked as much like a team as the Labour front bench. As a charm offensive it was heavy on the "offensive" and lacking in the "charm" - the fires of European partisanship have been well and truly stoked for the weekend!

In regards to comment #2, I believe you are a bit confused in terms of the Europeans being 1 up already. Being American, I shockingly agree that we are underdogs but I reckon Lehman is doing alright. The singing bit does not make much sense to me but you should do a bit of research in terms of your college basketball comment. Coack K is arguably the best in any sport in this country and he has the results to back it up. Personally, I think it is a brilliant idea and after the hiding we took in Detroit two years ago, we need as much positive reinforcement as possible. The story on Tiger's wife was disappointing and classless seeing how respected he is and what he has already been through this year. It is a shame European tabloids have to stoop to this level to adversely affect the mentality of the US team. With any luck the tabloids might stir a fire under Woods and his comrades. One can hope I suppose. Should be an incredible event. Ireland is such an incredible place and the atmosphere should be dynamite. Expect Garcia to play well too seeing that it is not a major. Just a parting shot. Go USA!

It looked like a scene from 'one man and his dog', Lehman carefully guiding his flock down a green lane....lambs to the slaughter?

Well, I find the Euros' confidence, seeemingly bordering on hubris at this point, to be risible.

Who cares about all this bonding stuff? No one is keeping score -- not yet.

The real golf will be played on the course, not in blogs or in the papers or in these practice sessions that count for nothing, if you haven't forgotten.

Anything can happen and it will depend on the golfers themselves whether they make the right decisions, hit straight drives, make or miss the nail-biting 5-foot putts.

Woosie or Lehman won't be playing for them.

If I was the American captain, I would have shown them all the 1st 25 minutes of "Saving private Ryan" then put them all in a truck with just a 2 iron strapped around their backs made them jump off at the 1st tee shouting GO GO GO.

They would have been so pumped they couldn't fail.

After travelling from donegal in terrible early morning weather (4hrs)I attended wednesdays' practice day at the K Club. Contrary to many media reports the course was emminently playable by, and sometime before, lunchtime. It was galling therefore, to see the trivial attempt of the American team to 'play' golf.

I could not agree with Matt Slaters view on the matter.

The American attitude, in response to the patience and goodwill shown by the fans, was self serving and insulting. It wasn't far removed by the attitude we so often see and abhore in Premiership football players.
Many fans that I spoke to shared this view.

My instinct was that the correct choice for European captain was certainly Nick Faldo. Bernard Gallacher did the captaincy three times if I recall correctly. Faldo has the brain and the energy and the media skills for the job, he could have done it this time and next. Woosie has nothing but a congenial personality.

However, Matt Slater's article almost has me persuaded that that is enough.

As for the singing lessons, I am cringing on Tom Lehman's behalf. Bob Rotella's excellent golf psychology books draw heavily on lessons from other sports so I am much more positive about the basketball ideas.

Anyway roll on Friday 8,30 and the 91热爆 highlights.

Woosie may have given the impression of being aloof, awkward in his dealings with the media and having his head in the sand in not consulting with former team captains. His master stroke though has been his deep knowledge of what has worked for Europe in the past. The pairings of Monty and Harrington, Donald and Garcia and Casey and Howell are not the act of an indecisive captain in experimentation but were successfully tried and tested on the fairways of Oakland Hills.

The master stroke though has been landed by Monty. He has publically endorsed the Woods Furyk pairings. No European team would ever concentraite their 2 best players into a single team. It didn't work with Woods and Mickelson and is destined to be going down the same path again. History does have a habit of repeating itself...

i think that Matt Slater looks like Arnie.

I was there on Wednesday and the American attempts at approach practice were a joke - they were out on the course because they were told to go.

On the 6th, of the 12 approach shots, only 3 hit the green, 6 landed 10-15 yards short, and three ended up in the drink. Tiger's ball was 30-40 yards short and very wet ! If they were practicing their approach shots, one would have expected some second or third attepmts, but there were none !!

On the green they looked like a disparate group of players - no atmosphere.

Over on the back 9 the europeans were finding out what the rough is really like, playing some great recovery shots and generally praciticing - oh, and they also provided lots of entertainment and autographs.

You can't make a team using a plan Tom !

Firstly. Why don't we all get off Woosie's back and judge his tenure as captain come Sunday evening. Secondly, I think it was a low blow making comment on the appearance of Woosnam's wife - you're just as bad as the press. Besides, if I remember correctly Sergio Garcia brought his mum to Brookline in '99 and that didn't do him any harm. The build up to this Ryder Cup has been extraordinary - I don't remember there being this much hype about it in previous years. I sincerely hope that the matches live up to the expectaition that everyone is hoping for!

I was at the K Club yesterday and was totally disgusted by the American team and their arrogant attitude.
I left at 5.30am yesterday morning and sat in traffic jams for over one hour to eventually get to the course for 11.10am.

It was superb to watch the Europeans playing golf from tee to green but we decided around mid-day to then go and hopefully view "Team America".

After having had a brief lunch we sat in the grandstand at the 1st tee from 1pm until 2pm when the Yanks decided to arrive. They promptly got out of their buggies and started walking down the 1st fairway. At first people couldn't believe this was happening but the cheers that had initially greeted them turned to boos and jeers as they totally ignored the paying fans.

They skipped down the 2nd fairway and eventually tee-ed up at the Par 3 3rd. Corey Pavin walked past me and I asked "What do you think you're doing - people have paid money to watch your team play golf, not give an exibition from 150 yds or pitching to tee pegs". He replied that "we are having a fun day".

They treated the paying fans with total disrespect and appeared to be totally disinterested.

I hope the Europeans hammer them into the ground and send them back home in their tweed jackets and tank tops with a lesson learned in manners and pr!!!

Concensus is by definition general. At least you haven't fallen to the level of "General Concensus of Opinion"

Hold on a minute Simon, you're agreeing with me, aren't you. I didn't like the Americans' practice yesterday and neither did you. Give it another read, go on!

Christian, Palmer or Schwarzenegger?

Concensus...what's that? Isn't that what Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem for?

And Christian, you card, are you posting the same message on every one of my posts? If so I'll ask the same question, Palmer or Schwarzenegger?

I was there on wednesday and while I would have sympathy for the fans who waited at the first tee, I saw the Americans at the 8th green and Cory Pavin and David Toms spent several minutes signing hats etc and chatting to the crowd.

I saw no problem with their behaviour, though I wonder if myself and eleven mates stood at the 8th tee box, how many of us would get off our tee shot before the ranger or those behind us ran us off the course?

That comment about Woosnams' wife is disgraceful and dishonours he who made it.

I was at the K-Club yesterday. The course in in great nick. Greens are perfect. The weather wasn't great, but if it was the monthly medal at your home club you wouldn't bat an eyelid going out. Meanwhile, back in the tented village the bar did a roaring trade and everyone wondered what all the fuss about the weather was.

From a fans point of view the Americans screwed up yesterday. I can see what Lehman was trying to do, but they even upset some of their own fans by not a least playing 9 holes. I watched them play nearest the pin on the 7th. by skimming the ball over the lake onto the green. They all seemed to have a good laugh doing it. However, Tiger just walked over to the side, dropped down a ball and played in. He was chatting away with his team mates coming down the fairway alright, but you had a sense he didn't overly approve of the way the session was being conducted.

I thought the Americans were practising for a major sporting event. They should be able to practise how and when they want. If you want to watch real golf, get tickets for the match itself - practise days are just that.

Hi Chopper, I kind of agree with you apart from one quite important detail. The Ryder Cup's organisers have decided to sell tickets for three days of practice and they have been as highly sought after here as the tickets for the three days of competition. In fact, many here are saying the people here Tuesday through Thursday are the "real" fans and the crowd in the weekend are the "prawn sandwich brigade"...many of them coming from, whisper it softly, "that London"! Can't comment on that now but I do know that the Europeans clocked up some big PR points yesterday by giving the crowd some genuine action...the Americans let themselves down and short-changed the punters.

For all of those European Ryder Cup fans who like to crap on us every opportunity they get--you'll no doubt win this cup as well as many more in the years to come. Frankly, I could care less if our side even wins a point. One more loss is no big deal on this side of the ocean. As one reader said--the USA team is probably using gimicks to show they can get along as a team. The news media is also putting on a good show. They will probably dedicate a small column whether the US wins or not. On to the next PGA event. Cheers.

Matt is exactly right about ticket allocation. I and many like me were offered the chance to get tickets for the practice days as a consolation for missing out on competition day tickets in the public lottery - a lottery whose odds were undoubtedly significantly longer because of the large number of tickets set aside for the corporate schmoozers who wouldn't know whether a golf ball is blown up or stuffed!!

I agree with Chopper. It was a practice day, not a debutante ball. They should be able to practice, or not practice any way they want. Don't blame the players because the organizers charge money to see a practice. I've never heard of any other sport where the fans believe that they can dictate how a team or player practices, whether they have paid to get in or not...Get over it.

Meeja Eejit indeed.

Is this your first time outside the South East and you have discovered that people speak English in a different way to you Matt?

Everytime you hear a different accent in the UK do you make a point of phonetically spelling out how they speak?
I doubt.

Time to show your writing skills instead of your insularism!