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GolfBrief Staff
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Masters: Watson's take on Ryder Cup
- By GolfBrief Staff
- Published 04/10/2008
- Primary Cut
- Unrated
Other than making wild-card picks for their teams, a Ryder Cup captain
can't do much to influence the outcome of the matches, says Tom Watson,
the 1993 U.S. captain.
Watson was asked Wednesday at the Masters if new U.S. skipper Paul Azinger would benefit from having four wild-card picks instead of two.
"I would say yes. Right now, Europe is just plain better," he said. "They're winning because they play better."
Watson was the last U.S. captain to win abroad, leading the 1993 team to victory at The Belfry. The Hall of Famer said he didn't enjoy the experience because,"I had no control over the outcome. A captain's role is overrated."
He did give, sort of, a rousing speech on Saturday night before the singles matches.
"I simply told them, 'We're going to win because I'm lucky,' and Lanny Wadkins jumped up and said, 'That's right, you're the luckiest SOB alive.' And so we won."
Watson was asked Wednesday at the Masters if new U.S. skipper Paul Azinger would benefit from having four wild-card picks instead of two.
"I would say yes. Right now, Europe is just plain better," he said. "They're winning because they play better."
Watson was the last U.S. captain to win abroad, leading the 1993 team to victory at The Belfry. The Hall of Famer said he didn't enjoy the experience because,"I had no control over the outcome. A captain's role is overrated."
He did give, sort of, a rousing speech on Saturday night before the singles matches.
"I simply told them, 'We're going to win because I'm lucky,' and Lanny Wadkins jumped up and said, 'That's right, you're the luckiest SOB alive.' And so we won."
Paul Goydos, even by his own admission, is a veteran journeyman. What Goydos lacks in talent, he more than makes up for it in sheer character. And the PGA Tour could use more players like him.
Watson let his fair share of big tournaments slip through his hands before learning how to close the deal. Once he did, Watson, a two-time Masters winner, became one of golf's greatest champions.
Hale Irwin, the three-time U.S. Open champion who is the Champions Tour’s all-time leader in wins, cannot seem to find the fun in golf right now. He believes the answer is either change or just not play — and the latter is quickly becoming a serious option.
Some observers believe 27-year-old Adam Scott has underachieved in his career. His resume features seven wins in 115 PGA Tour starts, including a Players Championship and Tour Championship. That’s a haul far better than his contemporaries, so maybe it’s time to reassess Scott’s standing in the game.
Now that Tiger Woods’ opportunity to win the Grand Slam was slammed to pieces by Trevor Immelman at the Masters, the focus shifts to Lorena Ochoa. The 26-year old Mexican is not shying away from any talk that she could win the women’s version this summer.
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