When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
Bonjour from France as ShackHouse reviews Tiger’s 80th win, the world reaction to his comeback and then dives deep…deep into the 2018 Ryder Cup with some reflections on the venue, where the teams stand and a look at some fo the fun prop bets offered up.
As always, you can listen wherever podcasts are streamed or via your ShackHouse free subscription.
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The course setup for Le Golf National is distinctly retro.
As in, the loathsome injury-thick rough of the 70s, 80s and 90s that no one misses. Yes, the landing areas are generous enough at their widest spots—35 yards—but many of the holes feature water down one side, hack-out rough on the other side. The Forecaddie with details and photos.
Philosophically, I’m not sure how intentional the effect is to offset the Americans’ distance advantage off the tee, but like most, have my doubts. The strategy could backfire for Europe with players like Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy, who thrive off hitting driver.
As a spectacle, the rough off the fairways is trimmed enough that we should see some strategic dilemmas, but any more than 10 yards off the fairway will force automatic layups and take away some of risk-reward intrigue posed by Le Golf National’s plethora of water hazards.
Golfweek asked me to look into what Team USA has planned to overcome a 25-year Ryder Cup winless drought in Europe.
Sending the strongest team top-to-bottom in a few decades is a good start. Yet as noted, home course advantage and local knowledge deficiencies have hurt the Americans, with another European Tour venue hosting this year.
So get ready stat geeks, the USA has even more analytics than last time! From Captain Furyk:
“We had an issue with winning there for a little while,” Furyk said. “We have got 2016 under our belt, but what we haven’t been able to do in ‘99, and then again in ‘08, was turn around and go in on European soil. I know Jason from Scouts has got a couple of ideas about that we’ve talked about. He’s sent me a couple e-mails regarding that and what he’s seen.”
That would be Jason Aquino, president of Scouts Consulting Group, who helped Davis Love prepare for the 2016 matches at Hazeltine and who Furyk said has helped the 2018 preparations go to “the next level.”
I can’t wait!
The 2018 Ryder Cup is hardly a matchup of drama-prone captains, a compliment to Thomas Bjorn and Jim Furyk’s general steadiness.
Though if one lead cart driver is capable of saying something incendiary, it will be Bjorn. If you want to know more about Europe’s leader this week and his career, check out Andrew Cotter’s European Tour podcast with Bjorn.
More recently, The Guardian’s Ewan Murray sat down with Bjorn to discuss all things Ryder Cup and Bjorn did his best to try and rally his continent.
“I think sometimes what is forgotten, in the political discussion, is how great this continent is,” Bjørn says. “From all the way down in Greece, to Iceland, there are so many great countries and so much natural common ground. It is such a small continent compared to the others but together we have so much history and so many great things going for us. I think that is forgotten a little bit in the political picture.
“It means a lot more to us as golfers because we grow up with the European Tour. The backbone of that tour is still our European events. It is part of the life we live. It has a meaning.”
He also goes on to discuss several things of note, including his falling out with former Captain Ian Woosnam.
But his decision to lean toward veterans with his picks will get the most scrutiny and he’s already pushing back:
“I think you’d have found if it was old pals there would be one or two others playing,” Bjørn says. “Some of the guys left out are very close to me and I was never scared of making tough decisions. Now, if people think I made these decisions on the back of them being pals then they don’t know me very well and that’s OK. That mostly comes from people who have no idea who I am, what I think and what I believe in.”
Hey, I just copy and paste, remember that.
Alex Myers on Bryson DeChambeau revealing his big pre-Ryder Cup purchase for…team room table tennis.
"What I'm looking forward to most is the team atmosphere. I remember that at the Walker Cup, and that was like nothing else, and I know it'll live up to the same standard. Maybe even better, too. So a lot of ping-pong going on over there, I know that for me. I just actually bought a ping-pong paddle last night, another new one. I needed a new rubber, so..."
The only question: has he tested his new rubber on his launch monitors? With mist simulation?
For those not on The Twitter, DeChambeau was seen hitting shots with two launch monitors and some misting.
PGA Tour’s Sean Martin caught up with DeChambeau and Jonathan Wall talks to his team to understand what the FedExCup leader was doing.
Michael Bamberger covers a lot in this Golf.com interview of 2018 Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk, from the infamous 2014 press conference to this year’s team
But this diplomatic answer on the USGA is worth noting.
What’s your take on what’s going on with the USGA?
Well, they’ve made it so easy to pick on them. The greens at Chambers Bay [in 2015]. How they handled Dustin Johnson’s situation at Oakmont [in 2016]. Then, with that gal [Anna Nordqvist] that same summer, in the Women’s Open. That was a travesty. Some of the pin placements at Shinnecock, on Saturday, on 13, 15 and 18. Plus, they changed the course so much from the last time we were there. The anchored putting ban. Now the green maps. But it was the USGA that let putting get there, let the maps get there. Then they want to turn it back. So it’s tough. But what I think people don’t realize is that they’re trying. They’re trying to do what’s right for the game. I know [USGA CEO] Mike Davis. I like Mike. But I don’t have a good relationship or a bad relationship with the USGA. I just don’t have much of a relationship. I’m not trying to be critical of the USGA. They have the best interests of the game at heart. They really do.
You have to give credit to whoever cooked up the idea to put four European Ryder Cup team stars in a car and call Thomas Bjorn with a ridiculous request. (Kind of) Carpool Karaoke for golf!
First, the video if you didn’t see Rory’s post and award-winning performance requesting $20k cryotherapy units to help with team recovery and (Captain’s) weight loss.
Calling the captain. 😉 Here is what happens when @RyderCupEurope players share a BMW... #BMWCHAMPS #DRIVENBYPASSION pic.twitter.com/2cRnln6rxU
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) September 9, 2018
According to this Sky Sports report, Captain Bjorn has now vowed revenge though it’s hard to picture an equally devious and as visible a response.
As the LPGA’s Evian Championship gets underway, Graham Dunbar of the AP reports on Evian chair Franck Riboud grousing about what the Ryder Cup will do for French golf. You know, the Ryder Cup that was going to lead to 100 new six or nine hole courses and new fans galore.
Let the grouchiness begin!
“Perhaps you are surprised,” Riboud said. “Because personally I think the Ryder Cup is not building or helping to reach the objective” of developing talent.
Though Tiger Woods is making a rare visit to France, Riboud played down the impact his selection for the United States team could have.
“No, the best ambassador for golf in France is going to the next French champion at the same level (as) Tiger Woods,” the businessman said.
Right, good luck with that!
More importantly, is the media center going to have fresh baked croissants in the morning and suitable wine/cheese spreads at filing time? That could determine the future of French golf, in this reporters’ opinion.
Well 72% of you voted for him in the short time between the end of the BMW and Captain Furyk’s announcement. He’ll be counted on to make some four-ball birdies with Phil Mickelson, most suspect. And a most deserving selection rewarding season-long consistency and stellar play in the majors.
For Immediate Release:
Tony Finau is Final U.S. Captain’s Pick for 42nd Ryder Cup
Click here for interview transcript with Tony Finau
Click here for interview transcript with Captain Furyk
WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PENNSYLVANIA (Sept. 10, 2018) – United States Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk today announced that Tony Finau has been added to the U.S. Team as the final Captain’s selection for the 42nd Ryder Cup, which will be contested Sept. 28-30 at Le Golf National in Paris, France.
Finau joins Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods as Furyk’s four Captain’s Selections. Furyk named DeChambeau, Mickelson and Woods to the U.S. Team on Sept. 4.
"He has an unbelievable body of work this year," said Furyk. "All those top-10 finishes, the play in big championships and the Majors, and then his current form, a second, a fourth and an eighth in the playoffs. He checked a lot of boxes and made it impossible not to pick him."
Although this will be Finau’s first Ryder Cup, he has posted 11 top-10s this season, including three in major-championship play (T-10/Masters, 5th/U.S. Open, T-9/Open Championship).
A consistent presence on Sunday leaderboards throughout the year, Finau’s second-place finish at last month’s Northern Trust was his third runner-up of the season. The 28-year-old (he’ll be 29 when Ryder Cup play begins) ranks third on the PGA Tour with an average driving distance of 316.3 yards. He’s currently No. 17 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” said Finau. “I got the goosebumps when he told me, and I’m excited to add my skills and talent to the team, a team that’s stacked already. Hopefully I bring something to the team that can help us bring that Cup back.”
The final composition of Furyk’s 2018 U.S. Ryder Cup Team includes three Ryder Cup rookies (DeChambeau, Finau, Thomas), nine major champions (with 31 total major victories) and experience gained in 34 previous Ryder Cups.
Captain Jim Furyk has had a few wrinkles thrown his way given that a week ago Tony Finau was a near-unanimous pick, but with Xander Schauffele making a strong BMW Championship bid and Keegan Bradley (Phil's buddy!) winning. The late pick was created for situations like this, so who would you like to see Captain Furyk pick?
The role of Ryder Cup experience will forever be debated after players are selected by Captain's because of strong event pedigree. In the most recent case by Thomas Bjorn in selecting Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia for the 2018 Ryder Cup team, the struggles at Hazeltine of Darren Clarke's rookies may have played a role.
As Ryan Lavner points out in this commentary on the overrated nature of experience, that was a road game. Furthermore, as Lavner notes with recent records, younger nerves have come through under recent (and intense) Ryder Cup pressure.
The Bjorn pick stands out most is Garcia's selection in the midst of a poor year by his consistently-high standards.
Rafa Cabrera Bello, 29th in the world and heating up again after seemingly a team lock early in the year, was passed over despite still having an outside shot to win the FedExCup, as Zac Elkin writes. He was undefeated as a Ryder Cup rookie, has a impressive 15-7-1 match play record and is one of Europe's top 10 players based on world rankings.
As Alistair Tait points out, three-time European Tour winner Matt Wallace also has reason to be upset at his omission, writing that "Bjorn has taken a huge gamble on Garcia, one that could hinder Europe’s chances of winning the Ryder Cup."
Garcia, and to a lesser extent Stenson, will ultimately determine the wisdom of Bjorn's strategy. (Casey and Poulter seem to be unanimously well received selections.)
The greater concern for Europe should be what this says to younger players and those attempting to be loyal to the European Tour.
Rafa logged 9 starts on the tour in 2018, not including World Golf Champioships and majors.
Another contender for the team, Matthew Fitpatrick, made 7 European Tour non-major/WGC starts but is leaving for the PGA Tour.
Wallace has made 18 non-major/WGC European Tour starts in 2018. Despite three wins, he was 13th on the European Tour points list. Perhaps his inconsistency this year, coupled with an MC at the French Open proved fatal. But he also birdied 7 of the last 8 holes in front of Bjorn at the Made in Denmark event, then won a four-man playoff in a last minute bid.
Meanwhile, Garcia has posted just 3 non-major/WGC European Tour starts in 2018 and several other numbers are not helping his cause.
While the Ryder Cup team should not be filled out by those loyal to the European Tour, the Bjorn decision could have ramifications into the future.
Given the 2018 European team's emphasis on PGA Tour-based members and the strange point totals not benefitting European Tour play, the deck looks more stacked than ever against those loyal to Europe. Bjorn's pick could provide one more reason a European packs their bag and makes a go of things in America. Or, at the very least, give players a case to chase World Ranking points and money over loyalty to their home tour. Because it's clear Ryder Cup brownie points were not earned this year for showing loyalty to the European Tour.
We all knew Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau were going to be picked for the 2018 Ryder Cup squad on Tuesday. Golfweek's Dan Kilbridge reports.
The real shocker: three more vice captains were added to the two in place. Not only does this add more weight to the flight overseas when you include the cart drivers for the VC's, the WAG's for all and various cart drivers for the cart drivers, but this also declares the end of Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson's Ryder Cup careers along with David Duval's 2018 Ryder Cup broadcasting work.
I know what you're thinking: five vice captains seems excessive when you add on previously-announced VC's Davis Love and Steve Stricker, while subtracting now-former VC Tiger Woods, who moves to a full time player role.
Consider this:
--There is now one cart driver for every four PGA of America board members who will be lingering dangerously by the lavatories for the flight overseas, eager for an autographs, selfies or stories to tell the folks back home. Zach Johnson is a man who can stop a burly PGA blowhard from interfering with Bryson's sleep!
--One VC for every C-level title at the PGA of America who will, unfortunately, try to share their thoughts on pairings, uniforms, inspiration speech lineups and Heaven knows what else they do in full-fledged hanger-on roles.
--One VC for every two USA players, if you subtract Tiger and Phil, who don't need no stinkin' VC's. After all, they're Task Force VC's for life and likely captains in 2022 and 2024!
--The IFB industry rejoices, as does the golf cart maker charged with creating the custom shuttle-friendly rides that Mssrs. Love, Stricker, Kuchar, Johnson and Duval will tootle around in.
--Sea Island traffic. With three VC's from the greater Sea Island area, look for less time spent trying to turn into The Cloisters for the M-F evening 50% off Happy Hour!
The only real fun in the announcement press conference--embarrassingly light on attendance and questions since everyone knew who was getting picked and there was nothing new to ask--was Tiger's fun dance around the VC discussion over his selection, reports GolfChannel.com's Nick Menta.
Regarding Duval, who has never been given cart keys before after his criticism over Ryder Cup pay, is now seen as a contributor after his 2016 speech at Hazeltine following an on-air tiff with Brandel Chamblee, as reported by John Feinstein.
Menta reports on Duval's belief that he can do more than just shuttle WAG's around Le Golf National and actually influence pairings.
Bryson handled the trio's selfie duties:
Tiger's putting has been a little off but he continues to post low scores, Phil just shot 63 and thinks he's found something. He also talking like someone who knows he's going to be picked.
In the non-legend division, Bryson DeChambeau's play has been incredible and needs no further explanation. That leaves Tony Finau as the most likely fourth pick based on his continued strong play, though the chance for a political or golf course driven selection is still out there.
Finau is pretty bullish on his game and chances, writes GolfChannel.com's Will Gray.
Though as we discussed on Morning Drive today, there seems to be consensus about the picks. The only question now: who doesn't get the nod Tuesday at 5 pm ET (Golf Channel) when the first three are announced. The fourth-and-final will come after this week's BMW Championship.
Let the politics begin!
Now that Europe's eight automatic qualifiers have been determined for the 2018 Ryder Cup--and they even gathered for a picture already, imagine that!--we are left to wonder who will fill out the team.
First, the eight who make it to Paris based on European and World points:
Eight down. Four to go 🇪🇺#TeamEurope #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/B0WrdASPfV
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 2, 2018
Captain Thomas Bjorn has quite the decision before him after Matt Wallace won his third European Tour event of the season, yet is well down both points lists, starting with the European list where he resides several other contenders for a pick:
Same story with the World list:
According to this Sky Sports report, Bjorn is solid on two picks but still has some thinking to do.
"I'm pretty set on two or three names," Bjorn told Sky Sports. "We've still got a bit of discussion to do and a bit of golf to watch in America over the next few days and then we'll see.
"I'm pretty much there in my head of how I see this team being and how I want to try and mix and match everyone, but there's still one little doubt in my head."
Alistair Tait at Golfweek with more on Wallace, his amazing finish Sunday and the Englishman's unexpected rise in short time. Will it be enough?
Given that Captain Bjorn has emphasized form, it would appear the final pick is down to Sergio Garcia vs. Wallace, Rafa Babrera Bello, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Russell Knox and Eddie Pepperell. Got to go with the three-time winner this year, right?
The 2016 Made In Denmark Open winner is back and again on the outside looking in for a Ryder Cup pick. He can't make the team on points but a pick is not out of the question given the suspect play of Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson.
Pieters been playing beautifully, briefly snuck into PGA Championship contention Sunday and was a big success story in the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine.
Paired the first two days with vice captain Lee Westwood and likely team member Thorbjørn Olesen, Pieters is doing something this week that Stenson and Garcia are not doing in Europe this week before Captain Bjorn makes his picks next Wednesday: playing on the European Tour!
I make my case on today's Alternate Shot for player with the most to gain this week while Jaime Diaz went the PGA Tour Champions route:
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
