It has been a week since I returned from the Ryder Cup. I
prefer to digest the experience, while avoiding reading what others have
written about the event so as not to prejudice my own unique voice and then
share my thoughts with all of you. Before I get to my words about the Ryder Cup, I would love to share a slideshow with you that I have prepared.
Thank goodness, the US Team actually won at Hazeltine
National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. I was beginning to feel as though my
presence was a jinx. So much so that I purposely limited my purchases in the
merchandise tent, except for an RLX sweater for my husband, a beautiful 47
scarf and bedazzled USA hat by New Era for myself.
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| The 47 Ryder Cup Scarf |
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| The Bedazzled New Era USA Hat |
In advance of the Ryder Cup
my friend who works for a company called PRGolf, which makes Bespoke Golf
Accessories was kind enough to send me a 12 Strong Putter Headcover,
that they had created for the tournament. These were the putter covers in the
bags of all Team USA players. It is absolutely something that would have been
challenging to avoid buying within the merchandise tent.
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| How gorgeous is this head cover? |
The PRG Golf Website is www.prgolfonline.com
In the past, I have gone overboard in the merchandise tent
at Medinah and Gleneagles Country Club, purchasing what a friend of mine
coined, “loser gear” none of which I ever wear. I associate bad memories with
Sunday in particular and have no desire to rock. No Fashion Update exists for the Nike polo, which I doled
out $90 for at Medinah because it resides, where it belongs, in the back of my
closet. I did not even purchase a Pin Flag at Hazeltine because I feared it
would have brought uncertain doom upon the US Team. Confession, there are framed
“loser gear” flags hanging in my home. The US finally wins and I do not possess
the flag.
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| The victorious US Captain, Davis Love the III |
Hazeltine National Golf Club is outrageously beautiful; the
course conditions far surpassed those at Gleneagles or Medinah. The greens
looked gorgeous and the fairways were pristine. The Greens’ Staff, lead by
Chris Tritabaugh did a remarkable job caring for the course, in spite of the
excessive amounts of rain Mother Nature bestowed upon the Midwest during the summer
of 2016.
Yes, Davis Love, the US Captain decided the Set Up Strategy
for the golf course, which included shorter rough, much to Justin Roses’
dismay. The crowds want to see birdies;
this is, in spite of what it has morphed into, an exhibition, allegedly. It is
not one of golf’s majors. I do to truly appreciate the Olympic Gold Medalist as
a champion and for his philanthropic endeavors but his remarks were sour grapes
after losing. They were highly
ungrateful comments to the people who spent countless hours preparing the
course for the tournament. His comments seemed out of character, and now
looking back they can most likely be attributed to the fact that he was
suffering with back issues. Rose will be out of commission for eight weeks to recuperate
from disc herniation. I really want to give Justin a pass, for this remark that
irked me.
Which brings me to a few other instances that I took umbrage
with at the start of Ryder Cup Week.
Phil Mickelson decided Festivus came early. He initiated the Airing of
the Grievances by citing how he felt that Hal Sutton underprepared he and Tiger
Woods by informing them on two days notice that they were going to be partnered
together at the 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills Country Club. Which in turn
gave Tiger and Phil no time to adjust to each other’s golf balls. Of course,
Hall Sutton responded in kind and a mini-feud ensued. Shots are always fired prior
to the first tee ball being struck at a Ryder Cup but it is ridiculous that
Team USA was infighting at the offset of the week. I love that Phil is very
outspoken but timing is everything. Why did he have to unleash this at this
moment in 2016? He had been clearly holding onto these ill feelings and biting
his tongue for 12 years. Initiating this verbal sparring at the start of a
Ryder Cup week was in poor taste.
Since, I am addressing things in poor taste that brings me
to PJ Willett, who clearly has not adjusted to life as a mini twitter
celebrity. He thought it a good idea to craft a piece for National Club Golfer
attacking US Fans. Yes, what he wrote was in jest and I laughed about the bit
the shiny teeth and the Lego hair but, often our intent matters little and
perception is everything. If I was the reigning Masters’ Champion and PJ
Willett was my little brother, I would be mortified. I would also want to kick
his ass because he was essentially throwing me out there in enemy territory in
front of crowds that now harbored animosity due to his verbal attack, even if
it was in humor. It is horrifyingly embarrassing when the extremely classy
European Ryder Cup Captain, Darren Clarke has to come forward and issue a
statement that this is not the view of Team Europe.
Please do not waste your breathe telling me that the
spectators reinforced what PJ wrote with their behavior. What he did was stir
up a storm. I was at Hazeltine Thursday through Sunday from sun up to sundown.
A majority of the fans were respectful. I only encountered a few drunken idiots
on Saturday afternoon. Sidebar, I
encountered the same type of drunken stupidity in Scotland two years ago at
Gleneagles.
If the Ryder Cup tournament organizers are going to serve
alcohol for the duration of a day, this boisterous intoxicated boorish behavior
will continue to ensue among some. On Saturday afternoon I was by the seventh
green when one idiot accosted Rory McIlroy. I will not regurgitate here
verbatim what was said because why give some loser more airtime. From what I
understand, this guy was escorted out.
Adjacent the seventh green you had one large bleacher,
directly behind the green was what I will call an alcohol smorgasbord. It is a
fairly remote location on the golf course, running adjacent the water. People
could go perch on 7 and 8 with access to alcohol very convenient.
The worst thing that I witnessed on Saturday afternoon
happened on ten, where four men were yelling kick his drive when Thomas Pieters'
drive landed. Interfering with play is completely out of line. Thank goodness
for quick acting marshals.
One of my friends and I were talking about how this issue
could best be addressed, what we came up with after some discussion was a
bracelet that limits the amount of alcohol you can purchase over a set period
of time. This would also serve as an admission ticket to the event. People
probably would not go buy a beverage for a friend, if they knew they were
giving up a beverage for themselves in doing so. Perhaps then, I do not see a
dude vomiting behind a greenside grandstand late Saturday.
Sunday afternoon on the second hole, I parked myself
adjacent to a spot where the drives were landing. While I was perched in this
spot I met a lovely family who had traveled to Minnesota from San Diego for the
week. The parents were exemplary human beings I could assess that after about
ten minutes. The two little boys, I learned were both junior golfers. Each time
a pairing came through they were enthusiastic for the European and the American
player. The Mom was commiserating to me about how frustrating Saturday was due
to the drunken behavior and foul language being used by some. Over the course
of the week, I saw tons of kids out on the course. This is golf’s grandest event
and it is great for kids to see an exciting match-play format.
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| Me, chilling on the range |
If you are still following along with this blog, please
allow me to tell you about some of my favorite things. The music blasting from
the first tee was sensational. The sound system that was installed at Hazeltine
was epic. The sound carried all of the way to the driving range. How many times
can one hear Let’s Go Crazy by Prince, a lifetime Minnesotan? The answer is,
not nearly enough times. These beats pumped the crowd up into tremendous
spirits at the first tee.
The most terrific thing that happened at the first tee box
was the throng of spectators spontaneously busting into the National Anthem,
whilst taking their hats off. It really warmed my heart, people of every race
singing in unison. In light of all of the recent National Anthem protesting as
of late, this was just spectacular.
Speaking of national pride, adjacent the tenth hole there
were not one but three bald eagles nesting. I thought their presence was highly
fortuitous. On several occasions they swooped down while play was taking place.
Once Brandt Snedeker was addressing his second shot and two eagles gave him
pause.
Brandt Snedeker and Brooks Koepka were my favorite American
pairing on the golf course all week. They were visibly comfortable together and
based on the smiles plastered on their faces it was evident they were having
fun. Shouldn’t the essence of a match play competition be fun? I got to witness
their joint decision making skills up close when one of Brandt’s drives went
errant right directly to the space where I was standing. Brooks recovered
hitting a ridiculous shot around some trees toward the green. It was a thing of
beauty. I was a little disappointed when they were broken up for one round.
On 12 Brandt even donned a Viking hat belonging to some
jovial spectators, who wore USA hockey jerseys and had written a song for every
golfer that came through. These fellas were among what I will call the Best
Dressed at the Ryder Cup. I prefer to do red, white and blue in an understated
way(see Fashion Updates on Instagram) but, admire people that go all out. On
Thursday, I
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| An adorable couple that I met on the course |
encountered this adorable couple on 12. The woman confessed to me
that she collects patriotic attire and accessories specifically to wear to
Ryder Cup. I also saw, Abraham Lincoln on the first tee, people in USA Flag
onesies with fannie packs and European fans in European Flag plus fours. There
was no shortage of nationalistic clothing on display everywhere you looked.
There was also an array of bizarre: an elderly man donning nothing by a white
trash bag with a Santa hat and an individual with a cardboard cutout of a giant
cat face.
Sunday singles produced multiple amazing duels. Rory and
Patrick Reed were on fire. I did hear people complaining on Sirius XM PGA Tour
radio post Ryder Cup that they felt this match went overboard with the fist
pumping, that it was offensive golf. Who are these people that do not want to
see golfers wearing their emotions blatantly? I love seeing fist pumping. These
two were having good fun together, goading each other on. It was marvelous.
Patrick Reed is absolutely the American answer to Ian Poulter where Ryder Cup
is concerned.
Phil and Sergio had an insane match. Phil made ten birdies
and a bogie. Sergio made nine birdies, shooting nine under and still halving
the match. Once again this was a visibly emotional 18 holes. I thought Sunday
at the Open Championship was the best shot we were going to be privileged to
see from Mickelson this year but, I would put this duel with Sergio right up
there in the echelons of great golf.
In closing, the only disappointment that I have with regard
to this Ryder Cup was with the throngs of people and my desire to not sit in
one spot, it made it challenging to connect with friends. It was very crowded
in Chaska. Sorry I missed, Mary, Chris and Levi. On the plus side, I did film a
golf blooper video with one friend that may or may not see the light of day due
to my mediocre acting skills. You are apparently not supposed to laugh when you
are feigning unconscious…
