The best possible thing KEEGAN BRADLEY could do, to make Ryder Cup next month in Bethpage Black Even more interesting, it would be to name yourself as a captain playing when he announces his semi -dozen elections on Wednesday morning. Why? Because it would do next month Ryder Cup in Bethpage Black Even more interesting.
The Ryder Cup is essentially a nonsense golf competition that attracts the interest of countless people around the world, including millions that are fans of golf nominally if that. In other words, the basic value of the Ryder Cup is to expand the interest in golf. If Bradley, in a bold act of immaturity, appoints himself to the team, he will only increase the audience for this 45th playing for the Wee trophy, with a golf player on his lid.
Bradley, a New England’s Feist boy, played his college golf at St. John University, 25 miles away from Bethpage Black. The black course is inside the ear of the world’s media capital – New York, NY Golf could not have a larger megaphone. The event will display players from PGA Tour, PD (European AKA) Tour and Golfall in one place. That’s good for golf.
Do Bradley deserve a place in the team? Of course he does. He is clearly one of the 12 best American players in him today. But by placing himself in the team he is saying some things. The first is that the team is better with me in it than not. Second is, our team is so good that we can afford to have a captain who is confused by his game responsibilities and a player who is distracted by his clusters.
In 1967, Ben Hogan He was the captain of the US team when the Ryder Cup was held at the Golf Club Champions in Houston. Presenting his team he said, “Ladies and gentlemen, can introduce you the best players in the world.” This is always the secure American message, spoken or unspoken. If Bradley puts himself in the 12-Golfer lineup, that implicit message becomes the Board of the Bulletin Board heard ’round the world. How fun! Ryder cups have to do with fun. Red entertainment, exposed to the stomach, painted by the forehead. C’mon, Keegan!
The last time he was a captain of the Ryder Cup was in 1963, Arnold Palmer at the helm. This was in the East Lake. Americans had five novice, and Jack Nicklaus was not in the team. (He was not yet a five-year member of America’s PGA, then a request to be in the team.) The Americans then confronted a team that included British players alone, earned by an unpleasant margin, 23-9.
Keegan can put himself in the team and come out swinging. This is what has to do with the Ryder Cup.
***
3 things I am thinking:
Mickelson missing: This Ryder Cup was supposed to be what Phil Mickelson Captain adopted New York’s son for his various close losses in Empire State. Or should it be Tiger’s turn? In any case, it just goes to show: No one knows anything.
This is personal: Ryder Cup is, of course, a match event. Your opponent is on your face, and vice versa. As Tom Lehman once used to say, a former US captain, “if we were to play the game every week, we would be as bad as tennis players.” In other words, head -to -head, golf becomes intensely personal. This is the essential emotion of Ryder Cup Golf. It’s not business. Is personal.
Call the black again: Bethpage Black, all stretched, can play at 7,500 yards. The American team is under control of how the course is set. For the game golf, a 6.900-yard course would be more interesting. When
