As The World Turns

Like sands through an hourglass, so are the days of our lives....

Pace Neil Sedaka, breaking up is hard to do, but it can no longer be denied that Rory and Graeme are henceforth just friends.  Given their relative dynamics (a word not chosen at random), it was inevitable that Graeme would play the George Costanza role and give us the "It's not him, it's me excuse":

“Rory and I’s golf dynamic has changed significantly from the first time we ever played

together back when perhaps the older brother/kind of younger brother leadership role that maybe I had with him, that’s changed.

“He’s the world’s No. 1 player. He’s a four-times major champion. The dynamic between him and I is changed forever. He would now be the leader of the two of us and perhaps the dynamic doesn’t work as well as it did in the past. Perhaps I’m the kind of guy that needs that leadership role a little bit, who needs to feel like he is on at least on a level with the guy he’s playing with. I’ll be the first to admit it.

Oh, if only one of Paul McGinley's thirteen Vice-Captains was a licensed psychoanalyst he could help Graeme deal with these lingering fears of inadequacy.  Dammit Graeme, you're a good-looking and thoughtful guy, and you'll find a partner that'll make you happy.  Perhaps I could interest you in a Dubuisson or Donaldson ?

But Graeme rambled on, visibly progressing through the denial and negotiating stages of grief:

“At Medinah a couple of years ago, and Rory and I spoke about this, I found the better ball format very difficult with him because he likes to go first, I let him at it, and I kind of come second. You know, he’s standing there beating it 350 down the middle, and I put my tee in the ground thinking there’s not really a lot of point in me hitting this tee shot and find myself throwing myself at it, and literally it kind of didn't help my game much at Medinah playing better-ball with him. Foursomes I think is different. I think we could still play foursomes really well together.”

Graeme, I'm not now nor have I ever been a psychiatrist, but I think you're bitterly clinging to the past, and you're going to need to make a clean break.  And please, no leave-behinds in Rory's apartment.  James Corrigan tries to break it to Graeme gently:

It is understood that the plan at this stage is for Martin Kaymer to play with McIlroy in the Friday afternoon foursomes, although McDowell hopes he gets the chance to play with his countryman on the weekend. "Foursomes is different. I think we could still play foursomes really well together," McDowell said. "I love playing off his tee shot, as anyone would, 350 down the middle. We are both up for it. But like Paul says, he feels like I could be best used somewhere else… and Rory certainly can play with anyone. So we might be best served apart."

Hmmmm...he hasn't quite made it to the acceptance stage, but it's still only Wednesday.  Though if there's foul play, I'm guessing GMac in the library with the candelabra.

Writing in The Independent, Phil Casey reads the tea leaves practice round pairings and gives us this:

McIlroy and McDowell were kept apart for the first official practice session on Tuesday, with McIlroy alongside Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer while McDowell paired with Victor Dubuisson and Henrik Stenson. 

It looks increasingly likely that McDowell will partner Dubuisson in the fourballs, with McIlroy and Garcia another possible combination.

There have been Garcia-McIlroy whispers all week, though The Daily Mail's Derek Lawrenson casts a dissenting note:

Could Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter lead Europe out on the first morning of the Ryder Cup? That would create some noise among the spectators gathered in the wonderful

amphitheatre that has been created around the first tee, wouldn’t it? 

McIlroy and Poulter were the fourballs partnership that changed everything at Medinah, of course, but Europe captain Paul McGinley will be all too aware of the perils associated with such a pairing as well. 

It might be a decade ago but nobody as steeped in Ryder Cup lore as the Irishman will forget what happened when the Americans paired Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in 2004. When they were beaten comfortably it was such a psychological blow it set the tone for a record-breaking defeat.

I suspect that's right, that given the strength of the Euro team and home-field advantage, there's no reason to give the Yanks that big an opportunity that early.  But if Friday were to go badly for the home team, I could see them as the first game out on Saturday for sure.

OK, enough with the matchmaking, what else can we amuse ourselves with?  

Playing Those Mind Games - Are they effing with our guys, or is the home team simply unfamiliar with the complicated spelling of the name "Jimmy"?  As friend of the blog Al Z. could tell you, misspelling Spieth's name is entirely understandable, but Jiimmy?

This Date in Thuggish Jingoism - PGA of America Prez Ted Bishop took the Ice Bucket Challenge 

bait from captain Tom Watson and saw a local barber:

Lee Westwood drew laughs when he said he touched Rickie's scalp. but I'm thinking braille would be the only way to read it on Ted's scalp.

Ted was also in the news for sending a letter to his members last week apologizing for selling the advertising time on the Ryder Cup broadcast.  Seriously.

It seems that Dick's will be a frequent presence and that's offensive to the delicate sensitivities of PGA Members.  here' the text of the letter:

OK, nobody likes to see folks lose their jobs, but it's not like this was a positive experience for Dick's.  They remain the largest retailer in the sport, so I'm thinking your delicate flowers will have to suck it up.  I don't mean to sound harsh, but Dick's is your customer, Ted, so it's kind of bad form to sell them out to your members after, you know, cashing their check.  When you're upset enough to refund their money, then I'll listen.

Shack Attack - Geoff has two valuable contributions this morning, the first being an old note from Frank Hannigan.   We spoke of Frank after his passing, but he's one of those really interesting people that our sport has been blessed with, though on certain subjects (notably 6" rough) he can be quite stubborn.  Today we share his thoughts on Ryder Cup Captains:

1.   I don't happen to believe that the captaincy of the Ryder Cups has anything to do with the outcomes.     Especiallly given the randomness of the pairings. I do believe the outcome matters more to the Europeans overall.     

2.  On the captaincy business,  nobody writes about the commercial value. It's worth a hell of a lot. Varies with the name, of course, but I would guess not getting it was a loss of a million dollars to Larry Nelson. Watson?  I imagine the inevitable attention matters considerably to his sponsors. I think Tony Jacklin was the first captain who understood how it could be parlayed into serious money. 

When Curtis was captain ( & he got an extra year because of 9/11) I think it helped keep his Monday appearance fees up a great deal long after he was a truly competitive golfer. I don't say there is anything wrong with this. It's just consistent with what golf became. 

But it pisses me off that it is treated by what remains of golf media as if what is going on is the equivalent of the USGA picking Francis Ouimet to captain another Walker Cup team 80 years ago. Does anyone think that Lee Westwood or Luke Donald will try less hard if Paul McGinley is picked as distinct from someone who won a "major" ?  It's hard for me to imagine that a Westwood could think of Montgomerie as anything other than someone who had enormous and undeserved skills.

Undeserved?  Would love to follow that thread with Frank, though that ship has unfortunately sailed.

Second, he links to this most excellent Bob Harig item at ESPN.com 

But unlike the grand old layouts for which Scotland is known, the Gleneagles venue is an 

American-style course with lush, perfectly manicured fairways. Instead of pot bunkers and scorched earth, it is a place you might find any given week on the PGA Tour.

Designed by Jack Nicklaus in 1993 and given a makeover by the Golden Bear in anticipation of the Ryder Cup, it serves as an annual stop on the European Tour.

And yet, with all the surrounding traditional and historic Scottish golf courses, they come here?

As Scotland on Sunday columnist John Huggan is proud of saying, the course is the fourth best in the Auchterarder area. (Da-dum. It is a town of four golf courses.)

The reason is as simple as a few symbols on the keypad: $ £ €.

Yes, which is why we're saddled with such dreadful venues, but I did like that Huggan snark.  Like Shack, what's most interesting is the reaction of those that have popped for the big bucks, most notably the owner of Celtic Manor:

And it doesn't hurt that his golf business prospered because of it. According to Matthews' communications director, Paul Williams, golf revenues doubled at Celtic Manor between 2008 and 2011 and have maintained that level. 

"I have to tell you," Matthews said. "It was probably the best investment I ever made."

It astounds me that anyone who saw the 2010 Ryder Cup would be motivated to go there instead of to Royal Porthcawl or Nefyn & District.

And it's not going to change soon, as while I was away Shack had this item on the finalists for hosting the 2022 edition, which include such notable golf destinations as Austria, Denmark and, ugh, Turkey.  And yes, part of Turkey is technically in Europe, but the only relevant issue will be the number of zeros in their bid.