Pavin Overcomes Private Charter Jet Lag To Engage Monty In Witty Repartee

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You just can't get this kind of banter these days anywhere but in Ryder Cup captaindom.

Q. There were some quotes from you today saying that perhaps you would not have picked Tiger Woods on your team; is there a danger that those quotes might stoke up the Americans a bit more?

COLIN MONTGOMERIE: I don't know where that came from. I never spoke to any press yesterday, and I don't know where that came from. I've always said that  I've always said that Tiger, the best player in the world, and in my opinion, the best player who has ever played the game. Of course he would be on my team. I said that at the US PGA.

COREY PAVIN: He actually recommended to me.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE: Yes, I recommended to Corey to pick him.

COREY PAVIN: I was following his recommendation.

PGA Tour Fines Department Looking Into Kuchar's Alleged FedExCup Criticisms**

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Surely a sweety-pie with a smile like that, a family man to boot, a Southern gentleman, couldn't have said this. It just couldn't be!

Matt Kuchar must have been misquoted by the subversives in the media center. Paul Newberry reports:

Not that he had any idea what was going on, given the complex nature of the points system.
“It’s impossible to be aware of it,” Kuchar said. “Who really was aware of it? Maybe some kid in front of a computer. But certainly I was not.”

Kuchar was preparing to tee off at the final hole when thunderstorms swept into the area, leading to a two-hour break. Even then, he didn’t bother looking at the possible FedEx Cup scenarios.

“I watched football,” he said. “I had no real idea and was completely unconcerned with it today. It was not even on my radar screen. I was out there trying to hit good shots and really didn’t give the FedEx Cup one ounce of thought today.”

Hicks, Sands May Vie For Emmy In Lead Actor Comedy Series

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Of course, the FedExCup would have to qualify as a comedy but I think Sunday's tape would convince the nomination committee in no time that this farce should be recognized for the passion and salesmanship of NBC's Dan Hicks, and The Golf Channel/soon-to-be-nauseatingly-reinforced-NBC-sister-network announcer Steve Sands, given the hideous job of trying to make sense of the FedExCup points chase. Steve Elling wrote:
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Ryder Cup Viewing Questions...

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As a story appears acknowledging NBC's extreme tape-delay Saturday versus ESPN's decision to show it live, I'd like to know how you plan to watch the Ryder Cup.

1.) Will you watch the start of ESPN's live coverage starting Thursday at 11:30 p.m. Pacific, 2:30 a.m. Eastern, or DVR it and start from the beginning and fast forward through commercials (this is for those who don't have jobs!).

2. Will you watch NBC's tape-delay coverage on Saturday without checking results online?

3. If you could watch it live online Saturday, would you choose that over the tape delay, even if it means getting up very early or needing a DVR to record the early play?

Graeme: Monty Won't Blow It Like Faldo Did!

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Strong words from the U.S. Open Champion about 2008's Captain Faldo led squad versus what he expects in 2010 from Captain Monty. Douglas Lowe reports:

“Monty is running a good ship and the backroom staff are going to make a big difference this time as well. Having guys like Thomas [Bjorn], Darren [Clarke] and Paul [McGinley] – and wee Sergio [Garcia] as well – is going to be unbelievable. We’re definitely a lot more organised.

“At Valhalla, maybe just that extra spark in the team room was missing. Sergio had been sick the week before and was on antibiotics. Westwood got dropped on Saturday morning, and a guy like that needs to be playing every game. We just didn’t have that x-factor in the team room, someone to stand up and rally the troops.

“Jose Maria [Olazabal, Faldo’s only assistant] got up on Saturday night and made a great speech when the singles line-up came out. That was the first emotional speech we had the whole week. I think we’ll have the extra dynamic in the team room this time round. Our backroom staff will help to make sure we have that passion and really get guys up from it from the word go."