Walker Cup

I see we've made an excellent start.  4somes thus far ... one halved, won two with the americans leading in the final match by one hole after 16 ... http://www.usga.org/WalkerCup/ChampEventScore.aspx?id=2147495184&year=2013&type=round1

Great start! But a long way to go yet.

Hi kwini.  Not that long; this event will be over in fewer than 30 hours (but I know what you mean). Wonder if and when the R&A and USGA will come to their senses and make this a 3-day competition.  To transfer a team across a vast ocean for a 2-day match play competition is sheer idiocy not to say a wasteful expense.  Let them thrash it out over 3 days if only to give the spectators their moneysworth for turning up!

Expensive tickets to a remote location; fine for those with summer digs in the Hamptons, but they are in the rarified income strata, not the 95% whose real income has dipped these past thirty years.

Promising start to the singles, but still a long way to go!

What the hell's going on on Lon Gisland?
Script gone a bit haywire.
Long way to go yet though.

Blimey, as of this moment, stars and stripes all over the singles.

If that's not bad enough, Tony Jacklin's 'doing Strictly'!

Could be worse - it could be Monty

Oof,
That was an old fashioned thumping.

A long way to go tomorrow.

For some reason the bbc think this is a boxing event;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/24005175

Great start indeed! If only GBI had a clue about team play. (Kidding all ... just my SR impression ...)
Play aside, a real treat to see this course and this event still wide open to be sure.

Don't know what the American team captain said to his team at lunch but it sure worked! 

Putting generally was pretty dire from our mob though.  A lot more pressure now on our guys to dominate the morning 4somes today.

Shotrock, it is a stunning setting.  There was one shot taken from a distance looking back to the clubhouse which was sort of silhouetted against its backdrop and it immediately reminded me of Skyfall.

McLaren wrote:For some reason the bbc think this is a boxing event;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/24005175

They have now moved it into the golf section.

I think I would be a lot more interested in this event if they leave the college kids (those on scholarships) out of the event.

The college kids have the resources that a pro has. Coaching, practice facilities, time, tournaments that a pro has. The true amateurs are the ones that go to a real job every day and have a couple rugrats, that limit practice time.

The college kids do have the Palmer Cup, which is played every year.

I didn't realise they don't play fourballs in this.
So much less a Team event than the Ryder Cup.

18 points in Singles, just 8 points in Team play.

Amazing GB&I ever win given that structure.

Singles domination won Euro the last Ryder Cup - dug the hole in partner play. GBI will need same today. Yanks better not think this over.

Anybody know why the GB&I side hasn't been expanded to include all of Europe? Seems to me the addition of Sebastian Cappelen (Denmark), Julien Brun (France) and/or Scott Fernandez (Spain) could really help the competiveness of this event.

robopz wrote:Anybody know why the GB&I side hasn't been expanded to include all of Europe?  Seems to me the addition of Sebastian Cappelen (Denmark), Julien Brun (France) and/or Scott Fernandez (Spain) could really help the competiveness of this event.

It's 3-3 this millenium, and we won it in '99. How competitive do you want it?

2-2 this morning.

In all fairness Smithers, I think robo's comment was a bit tongue in cheek following rumours that the R&A asked the USGA if they wanted help from Canada after the 2011 Cup . . . . . .

Lots of GB&I work to be done this afternoon - hopefully the spirit of Ian Poulter can prevail.


Shotrock,
Very true, although I would counter that the Singles effort at Medinah wouldn't have counted for a thing were it not for Donald & Garcia, and McIlroy & Poults winning the final two Fourballs on Saturday evening.

We're stuffed.  Hope I'm wrong.

Hopefully we can now close this thing.

Kwin, yes indeed it was the partner play that dug that big hole in Chicago.

Yup, Sr,
Woods I think was the first victim as Lukey and Sergio (despite the mental incapacity you attribute to him) matched his brilliant shot to the 17th and ultimately triumphed . . . . . .

Sergio's brain it seems left on that course. Or still bouncing down Golf Club road here in Ardmore. Medina miracle needed today for GBI. I'll be watching!

kwinigolfer wrote:In all fairness Smithers, I think robo's comment was a bit tongue in cheek following rumours that the R&A asked the USGA if they wanted help from Canada after the 2011 Cup . . . . . .

 

Where is TRUSSMANN? It's your time!

I thought it was a gutsy move putting the American mid-ams (who were 0-3-0) in the 4th and 5th slots where their scores would certainly count... well they ALL count, but I mean they could influence team momentum. But White and Smith seem to be coming through.....

Geez ... if only GBI and had a clue about "team" play and didn't have to again rely on their singles miracles ...

(Tongue implanted in cheek all!)

That's an ignominious thumping.
Won the team part, clobbered in the singles; still not sure why there's not a four-ball component to these Matches . . . . . .

But it looks like the Wildcats are getting a first class freshman, nothing much wrong with his weekend.

So the US won the "team" part of the last Ryder Cup???

Good luck selling that to anyone.

Sr,
Just wondering why 8 points are decided in the Team element, 18 in Singles.
I'm sure it makes perfect sense to you, but to me it's a bit of a puzzler.

There's no fourball because amateur team events at levels from area, county, national and international include foursomes and singles only.

Kwin - The puzzler to me is that you would declare any sort of "win" in such a team event. Teams win or lose in my book -- not "parts" of teams. But if it works for you ... congrats to your "team"!

Thanks George,
Wouldn't have thought of that.

My "Team" observation, Shotrock, was merely a note from your comments with super_.

Tough to deal with sometimes, it's not enough to acknowledge a beating, but there has to be a pound of flesh and an ounce of blood too.

Anyway, as Alan Hansen says, "You can't win with kids", but if the three teenagers and four 20-y-o's stay in the Am ranks, we should have a solid team for 2015. Until then, Congrat's to the American Team . . . . . . .

Indeed Kwin ... Super's never-ending narrative about "getting team sports" (flesh and) pounded ad-naseum during the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup.

I'm sure this is just an "anomaly" to the logically challenged.  

A walker in the park..

Oh that!
Well, Sr, super_'s definitely correct on that, if my 35 yrs in the U.S. are anything to go by.

Smartest guy I have worked for wouldn't hire anyone that didn't play a Team Sport. Curling counts!

NGLA a masterpiece IMO. That skyline green on 18 just one of the many highlights.

Strand me in London or Longuyisland ... and I could golf my way to end of days ...

Shotrock wrote:Indeed Kwin ... Super's never-ending narrative about "getting team sports" (flesh and) pounded ad-naseum during the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup.

I'm sure this is just an "anomaly" to the logically challenged.  

It still stands. A population of 300m+ against a population of 60m+ Mmmm. I wonder who is statistically more likely to win more often from two golfing nations?

Still, America hold ONE trophy out of about 6. So is it really anything to shout about?

Oh well there's always a silver lining.  At least we scots can't get the blame for breaking up 'the set'.

Congrats to the USA.

60mm v 300mm for 1 in 6?

You need to consult an Atlas for European population my friend.

Anyway US won the "team" part of the last Ryder Cup didn't they?

Walker Cup is USA v GB&I Shotrock, but even if you are talking about the Ryder Cup, the European team is usually garnered from a small number of countries in the European continent.
GB, Ire, Spain, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, so pretty even there.

Terrible show from GB&I, Fitzpatrick the only really positive to note. Will be interesting to see how he fares at Augusta.

Like to ongratulate my brothers on the walker cup win..........

Shame it was a slight anti-climax...........

This Country is nothing without continental Europe it seems..

Let's invite them next time..

Nah, I'd rather lose!

Well done TRUSSMAN, a bit late though, thought you'd be right on cue!

If the USA brings in Mexico, I'm sure we'll GB&I will consider appropriate reinforcements, perhaps Gibraltar.

Otherwise, thanks but no thanks.

Crans up in the Swiss Alps then NGLA... any other course on TV this week is just going to look Colin Nish.

Truss - GBI certainly weren't nothing last Walker Cup!

Well done surgical appliance guy. Even a broken watch is right twice a day

Aye well done to your compatriots Truss, must admit I totally missed the coverage this year. Who were the stars?

I tend to see the Walker Cup as a showcase for the top Ams who are about to turn Pro (although obviously not all of them do). Always interesting to see how the Walker Cuppers that do turn Pro get on. From the Class of 2011 Lewis has made a decent start, Sullivan has made the ET but not exactly setting the heather alight, similarly from the other side Uihlein. The brightest star so far from 2011 would appear to be Harris English. This year we've heard plenty about Fitzpatrick but who will we be talking about in 2 years time from last weeks showcase?

Kevin Phelan, young Irish lad, has just turned pro. He won two points this weekend and is teeing it up at the KLM Open on Thursday so there's your first one from this years competition.

JAS wrote:Aye well done to your compatriots Truss, must admit I totally missed the coverage this year. Who were the stars?

I tend to see the Walker Cup as a showcase for the top Ams who are about to turn Pro (although obviously not all of them do). Always interesting to see how the Walker Cuppers that do turn Pro get on. From the Class of 2011 Lewis has made a decent start, Sullivan has made the ET but not exactly setting the heather alight, similarly from the other side Uihlein. The brightest star so far from 2011 would appear to be Harris English. This year we've heard plenty about Fitzpatrick but who will we be talking about in 2 years time from last weeks showcase?

Think that assessment is a bit out of date... Lewis started fast but has started to struggle, looking like losing his tour card at the end of the year now. Sullivan is making a bit of progress and is better off than Lewis right now, and Uihlein is a tour winner and guaranteed to be top 40 or 50 in the R2D at worst this year. Then you also have US Tour winners in Henley and Spieth...

Will be keeping a good watch on Kevin Phelan, very good record in the States, wouldn't be surprised if he follows the Laird route and stays over there.