2012 Ryder Cup Singles Pairings
/Bubba v Luke
Webb v Poulter
Keegan v Rory
Phil v Rose
Snedeker v Lawrie
D Johnson v Colsaerts
Zach Johnson v GMac
Furyk v Sergio
Dufner v Hanson
Kuchar v Westwood
Stricker v Kaymer
Tiger v Molinari
Thoughts?
When one comes to the quality of the bunkers and other hazards we pass into realm of much dispute and argument. Primarily bunkers should be sand bunkers purely, not composed of gravel, stones or dirt. Whether this or that bunker is well placed, has caused more intensely heated arguments outside of the realms of religion, than has ever been my lot to listen to. C.B. MACDONALD
Available via Amazon (US): Golf Architecture For Normal People
Barnes And Noble (online and in stores)
Bookshop.org option to support local independent bookstores.
Reviews:
"Golf Architecture for Normal People . . . should be required reading for those who are not ashamed to admit they know little about the subject, and for those who think they do . . . . Golf course architecture geeks have trouble slimming their thoughts down to bite-sized chunks, but Shackelford has achieved a remarkable success here." —Independent (Ireland)
"From the relative newcomer who’s slowly getting hooked to those that have played the game for most of their lives and think they know a thing or two, Golf Architecture for Normal People provides a solid and sober perspective that will help everyone recognize why some golf courses are worth playing more than once while a single trip around others is all you’re ever likely to want or need." —Links Magazine.
“It’s a wonderful book. An easy read that arrives just in time for your summer reading list. If you’ve never thought about how an appreciation for course design could heighten your enjoyment of the game, you must check this out.”—The Peterborough Examiner
"As in his prior publications, in his newest book Shackelford shows a deep appreciation for what can be done to create a golf course that appeals to the broadest possible golfing audience…Shackelford’s prose is succinct, often witty, and accessible."—Cape Gazette
"Author, blogger and golf architecture expert Geoff Shackelford, who helped Gil Hanse design Rustic Canyon and restore 2023 U.S. Open host Los Angeles Country Club, taps into his passion by creating a guide that helps every golfer understand the nuances of course design. Published by Tatra Press, the 164-page hardcover book is a must-read for every golfer to better understand the game they love." —Golf Pass
"Shackelford provides an informative picture [and]...sprinkles in history lessons about those who planted the game's architectural roots, defines common terms and helps you hone your eyes when it comes to identifying some of the tricks of the trade."—FORE Magazine
"This new book does a great job demystifying golf course design ideas for average players, but can also be a beneficial read fro PGA Professionals and other golf course employees to get a better understanding of their home courses." —PGA Magazine
Bubba v Luke
Webb v Poulter
Keegan v Rory
Phil v Rose
Snedeker v Lawrie
D Johnson v Colsaerts
Zach Johnson v GMac
Furyk v Sergio
Dufner v Hanson
Kuchar v Westwood
Stricker v Kaymer
Tiger v Molinari
Thoughts?
The US takes a huge lead into the afternoon four-balls and Captain Davis Love appears to be pulling all of the right strings while Captain Olazabal's lack of depth has been a detriment to the Europeans.
But the commercial breaks have been sensational! And so many of them too.
The afternoon fourballs:
Watson/Simpson vs. Rose Molinari (12:05)
D. Johnson/Kuchar vs. Colsaerts/Lawrie (12:20)
Woods/Stricker vs. Garcia/Donald (12:35)
Dufner/Johnson vs. McIlroy/Poulter (12:50)
Following up on Bubba's start Friday, is this a first tee trend? Probably not if you leave your partner in the fairway bunker...
Europe must pick up a point or two in the all-crucial Saturday morning foursomes, first tee time at 7:20 a.m. CT. NBC does not come until 8 a.m. but is promising "live look" (take that contract attorney!) coverage on Golf Channel during "Live From" coverage from 7-8 am CT.
You can track scoring here.
The matches:
J. Rose / I. Poulter vs. B. Watson / W. Simpson
L. Westwood / L. Donald vs. K. Bradley / P. Mickelson
N. Colsaerts / S. Garcia vs. J. Dufner / Z. Johnson
R. McIlroy / G. McDowell vs J. Furyk / B. Snedeker
A thrilling day of Ryder Cup golf that featured a bit of something for everyone, confirming the place of match play, team play and no rough as the best things in golf. The U.S.A. takes a 5-3 lead into Saturday's play.
Doug Ferguson's game story leads with Keegan Bradley and his amazing Friday performance partnered with Phil Mickelson.
Gene Wojciechowski on Bradley's sticking "a very large needle into Team Europe's balloon."
Alan Shipnuck talked to the significant others to better understand the Keegan-Phil bond.
Amy Mickelson shared that confidence. "At one point Jillian said, 'Oh, I'm sorry, Phil's in the trees.' I said, 'He's used to it, he'll be fine.'"
Adam Schupak of Golfweek--btw, it's so moving to see him back on the masthead!--has the money quote from Keegan's girlfriend on the bromance: “They look at each other like they are in love."
Dave Kindred analyzes the ass slap.
We saw the Dufner fist-bump. Then we saw Mickelson slap Keegan's ass and we loved it all because we've seen a zillion sweaty, dirty baseball players do it out of habit but here, in golf, where everything is manicured, it's the last thing we expect to see. Would Hogan slap Snead's ass? Nicklaus Watson's? Woods Mickelson's?
As for Tiger, Lee Trevino would have sat him down after the morning play. But Lee also reminds us he lost the one time he was captain. Bob Harig with the details.
Harig also on Davis Love benching Woods Saturday is all about Tiger being a gimpy geezer not wanting to play anyone five matches.
"We just felt like we didn't want anybody to have to play five matches on this golf course," Love said. "It's a big, long golf course. It's tough. And exactly what we said was going to happen happened to one of our best teams. They played very well this afternoon, and just happened to get beat on the last hole."
Jeff Rude isn't so keen on the idea of benching Woods but otherwise loves Love's moves.
James Corrigan on Captain Olazabal's moves.
Olazábal’s selection for the afternoon session was inevitably questioned as he dropped Ian Poulter after the Englishman, in partnership with Justin Rose, had beaten Woods and Steve Stricker in the morning foursomes 2&1. But nobody should deny America’s excellence in the fourballs.
The Guardian's Ewan Murray on Nicolas Colsaerts and the round of his life. Murray also notes the key decision by Captain Olazabal to pre-determine his afternoon lineup to get everyone on the course Friday.
With that in mind, it seemed curious that Olazábal omitted García, Luke Donald and, particularly, Ian Poulter from yesterday afternoon's play. Even more notable is the fact that call appeared to be premeditated, made before cognisance of the foursomes had been taken.
Randall Mell with the American perspective on the amazing Colsaerts.
Martin Samuel thinks Rory McIlroy looked mentally exhausted late in the morning session and definitely in the afternoon.
Derek Lawrenson's Daily Mail game story also includes some stellar Getty Images from the day.
Martin Dempster was not impressed by Medinah's first tee atmosphere, calling it "standard stuff."
Gary Van Sickle thinks the 15th proved pivotal and certainly drivable.
Michael Smith at Sports Business Journal on the PGA of America telling vendors to expect as many as 60,000 a day and also reports on monster merchandise sales. All for such a good cause, the PGA of America's coffers!
Golf.com images. Golfweek images.
Golf Channel's highlight package.
Sportscenter's highlight package.
Based on Friday's play, no real surprises here...
Webb Simpson/Bubba Watson vs. Justin Rose/Ian Poulter
Keegan Bradley/Phil Mickelson vs. Lee Westwood/Luke Donald
Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson vs. Nicolas Colsaerts/Sergio Garcia
Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker vs. Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell
To be clear, the mostly NBC produced pictures, sound and announcing from Friday's Ryder Cup made the fantastic golf that much better.
Unfortunately, over the course of 11.5 hours, we were actually deprived of coverage.
We all know they have bills to pay, but showing a promo 18 times over the course of 11.5 hours? Obnoxious.
The primary atrocity committed by ESPN and the PGA of America was the call in three instances to leave live, thrilling Ryder Cup golf. Twice they showed a Scott Van Pelt narrated highlight package and most painful of all, an interview with PGA of America president Allen Wronowski that not a single person on the planet wanted or needed to hear.
John Strege noted the intrusions in his media column.
Thankfully, the Sky Sports feed was online (thanks reader Tim) and showed twice as much golf with solid commentary from Butch Harmon and Colin Montgomerie, among others.
Too many times in the past decade the PGA of America has shown a complete lack of interest in requiring their partners to present a fluid telecast and instead allows networks like ESPN to run every promo imaginable without regard for the viewer. (Including on-air spots read by the announcers plugging broadcasts competing with Saturday's Ryder Cup telecast.)
The agony was compounded by the unwatchable RyderCup.com stream, which was avoiding competing with ESPN's telecast, leaning heavily on pre-packaged highlights and full screen graphics.
For the 19th and final time (hopefully), the Lee Corso spot...
Ryder Cup honorary assistant captain Michael Jordan today at Medinah, captured by the Golf Digest photography staff.
An unbylined AP story on Jordan today and the various things the gallery has said to him.
After seeing that, I'll never make fun of all the groupees and hanger-on types wearing team uniforms again. This week, anyway.
It's 2-2 after a wild morning and the Captains are already under fire for their afternoon pairings. More great golf to come...
The matches:
P. Lawrie / P. Hanson vs.
B. Watson / W. Simpson
R. McIlroy / G. McDowell vs.
P. Mickelson / K. Bradley
L. Westwood / N. Colsaerts vs.
T. Woods / S. Stricker
J. Rose / M. Kaymer vs.
D. Johnson / M. Kuchar
The Big Lead with the GIF of Phil Mickelson giving Keegan Bradley a little pat on the tush. Over and over again.
**Dave Kindred on the ass slap. Words I don't think I ever imagined typing.
We saw the Dufner fist-bump. Then we saw Mickelson slap Keegan's ass and we loved it all because we've seen a zillion sweaty, dirty baseball players do it out of habit but here, in golf, where everything is manicured, it's the last thing we expect to see. Would Hogan slap Snead's ass? Nicklaus Watson's? Woods Mickelson's?
Deadspin with the video of Steve Hale celebrating after Keegan Bradley's 15th hole Ryder Cup birdie (wait until the putt replay).
The Ryder Cup's first rules brouhaha prompted a beautiful call from the gallery as Graeme McDowell sought relief and Jim Furyk refused, as did the rules official.
You've spoken and the Mickelson/Bradley v. Donald/Garcia match is what you are looking forward to most, and I would agree.
ESPN's coverage starts at 8 am ET with the Furyk/Snedeker v. McDowell/McIlroy slugfest.
But it's hard to imagine a better Ryder Cup scenario: the forecast is sensational, the course is immaculate, the setup figures to have some fun twists and the crowds will be primed and ready. Best of all, now we'll finally find out if too much table tennis will mess up the American team putting touch.
**In case you haven't discovered by now, the RyderCup.com feed is a pointless mix of taped highlights (from 2010!), commercials, full screen graphics and the occasional highlight from this year. Head to ESPN.com and ESPN3 or Watch ESPN to get the live telecast of commercials occasionally interrupted by golf, or courtesy of reader Tim, the SkySports feed.
**Golf Channel's highlights of the morning round.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.