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Running 2024 golf thread

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by playthrough, Jan 2, 2024.

Page 62 of 90
  1. hondo

    hondo Well-Known Member

    If this is a makeup call for getting snubbed by Zach Johnson, it's a bit of an overreach. He will be the youngest Ryder Cup captain ever, has won only six times, hasn't sniffed a major in 13 years and has never been an assistant captain for the Ryder or Presidents Cup.
    Unless he's some kind of sacrificial lamb until Tiger takes the job for Ireland because his buddy J.P. McManus owns the resort where it will be played, I'm just not seeing this. And if not Tiger, what about Cink? Toms? Duval? How about Couples, for crissakes, who won three Presidents Cups. I get that Freddie has this image as an unorganized, laid-back dude who would be too buddy-buddy with the guys to make tough decisions about lineups but jeez, why not?
     
    hondo, Jul 8, 2024
    #733
  2. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    If people were disgusted at the "boys club" that Johnson ran with his picks, I'm sure Freddie would be worse. He's far more suited for the no-one-cares Presidents Cup, where the U.S. can't lose.

    I don't understand the need to be an assistant captain first, nor do I understand assistant captains at all except to just make these events even more overcooked (for the most part--hiring an analytics-minded guy like Edoardo Molinari last year worked out for the Euros). One smart move the PGA made was to hire John Wood as U.S. team manager, who can handle a whole bunch of grunt stuff (it sure seemed like he was hired to pave the way for Tiger to have a less-busy captaincy but no dice there).

    Keegan is as passionate about the event as anyone, knows Bethpage better than anyone having played at St. Johns and has active-player credibility with enough wins including an elevated event last year (Travelers). I kinda like the move. But I would also hope that the U.S. could win a NYC Ryder Cup with a trained monkey as captain. It's gonna be wild out there.
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2024
    playthrough, Jul 8, 2024
    #734
  3. qtlaw

    qtlaw Well-Known Member

    I'm not worried about Keegan's credentials. You can have all of the accolades but many times a coach isn't the greatest player. I actually think Tiger's an exception because all of the current players hold him in such awe (rightfully so.) Even then though, can he connect with them? Watson (who I admired growing up) was a total stud player but he turned everyone off and was not the leader.

    Azinger, who I think was one of the best ever because of his innovative approach, had one PGA and a handful of tour wins.
     
    qtlaw, Jul 8, 2024
    #735
  4. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    If someone told you without giving you the name that the captain had a major plus a few more top-shelf wins, multiple RCs as a player, Tour-veteran status with enough game to be in the conversation for a spot on his own team and good intangibles (solid reputation, no trouble) -- would you be OK without needing to hear the name?
     
    playthrough, Jul 8, 2024
    #736
  5. qtlaw

    qtlaw Well-Known Member

    Who is Lucas Glover?? ;)
     
    qtlaw, Jul 9, 2024
    #737
  6. Chef2

    Chef2 Well-Known Member

    I figured it was Cinks to lose.
     
    Chef2, Jul 9, 2024
    #738
  7. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    Ha, he'd be a no-nonsense guy. And popular if the RC ever comes to upstate South Carolina.
     
    playthrough, Jul 9, 2024
    #739
    MileHigh and qtlaw like this.
  8. MileHigh

    MileHigh Moderator Staff Member

    Next one available is 2037.
     
    MileHigh, Jul 9, 2024
    #740
  9. Hermes

    Hermes Well-Known Member

    I was musing that the Ryder Cup is now the NBA regular season. Something for people to argue about for months and not actually watch.
     
    Hermes, Jul 9, 2024
    #741
    TigerVols, swingline and maumann like this.
  10. UNCGrad

    UNCGrad Well-Known Member

    I wonder two things with Keegan's announcement:
    1. Choosing Keegan as captain perhaps signals a shift in building a team of guys who want, need to be RC players, who have a personality for competition like Keegan, and building a well-rounded team based on skills for the course, for alternate shot pairings, etc., rather than simply the highest point-setters and throw them together. In other words, build a more Euro-like team that clearly has more passion for this than the U.S. players.
    2. The word is Tiger turned it down. I wonder if Tiger prefers to wait until the Tour-LIV split is settled before stepping foot into this. Because any U.S. team has to have Brooks and Bryson. I imagine they get there on points anyway, but if forced to choose, would the PGA of America allow him?
     
    UNCGrad, Jul 9, 2024
    #742
  11. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    Keegan said in his press conf that he'll take the best 12 guys and I believe him (there will still be the points list and all but there's no way he'd play favorites on his picks, after what he went through). I don't feel that he's as anti-LIV as guys like Zach Johnson and the older guard, and the PGA of America has been more neutral than the other governing bodies as to LIV. His best friend on tour, Brendan Steele, left for LIV and I think that made an impression. Here's a spicy take: if Patrick Reed went on a heater next year between LIV and the majors, I think Bradley would take a long look at him. The point is to win the damn Cup.

    Tiger is on the committee that is supposed to figure out the future of the PGA Tour and said that's taking a lot of his time, I guess you have to take his word on that. Maybe he does want to captain in 2027 overseas, where he'd either be a hero for breaking the 30-year losing streak or, well, just another guy who lost. But losing at Bethpage would be brutal.
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2024
    playthrough, Jul 9, 2024
    #743
  12. MileHigh

    MileHigh Moderator Staff Member

    I believe Tiger on how much time and effort it's taking to figure out the future of the PGA Tour. Spieth has said the same thing and his game this year reflects that. That said -- it's long overdue to get it figured out.
     
    MileHigh, Jul 9, 2024
    #744
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