Thought for the Day:
The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard
Parity at last
It has always been, and will continue to be the case that because of inferior size and strength, women will, as a rule, never hit the ball as far as men. What has been less easy to understand is why they were traditionally not as good at the part of the game that does not require muscle and a Neanderthal wish to hit the ball as hard as possible – putting. Yet it is neither misogynistic nor sexist to suggest that, until comparatively recently, the best women could not compete with the best men when it came to wielding the flat stick; you only had to use the evidence of your own eyes. But that has changed, hopefully for good. Inbee Park, who sits comfortably atop the Women’s World Rankings, is probably the best putter in all golf right now. And the magnificent Solheim Cup demonstrated that, where the distaff side of the game once lagged behind, it is now the equal of anyone.
What was perhaps a little more surprising is that the European team showed the Americans how to putt, on greens and in conditions that would be expected to suit the home side in Colorado. But players like Paula Creamer, Cristy Kerr, Stacy Lewis and Morgan Pressel fell below their usually high standards and just about everyone on the European side stepped up to the plate.
And if the first European victory on American soil was, let’s be honest, a bit unexpected, the manner of it was even more surprising. Never behind, they comprehensively outplayed their hosts, winning four out of five sessions, for an 18-10 scoreline that is the sort of thrashing some Tory MPs would pay good money to receive. Charley Hull, the 17-year-old debutant received a great deal of deserved coverage for her no-nonsense hit the ball, find it and hit again approach but special mention has to go to Caroline Hedwall, the first woman in Solheim Cup history to have a record of 5-0-0.
Two rulings came close to derailing the whole event. In Friday’s fourball both Suzann Pettersen and Carlota Ciganda found a water hazard and the latter was eventually (27 minutes later) allowed to play from the far side of the hazard but wrongly allowed to go back 40 yards. The first rules official wasn’t sure what to do and called for back-up, and the second official made a wrong call. The next day it was two Americans in the water – Beatriz Recari and Cristie Kerr and, although the ruling they were given was correct, it took 31 minutes for it to be reached. That kind of sloppiness in an event of this importance is simply unacceptable.
Equally unacceptable was the behaviour of some of the home team, the worst offender being Michelle Wie. Several times they walked off the green while their opponents were still putting, or had putted fairly close to the hole, so the European players had no way of knowing if their next putt was conceded. Wie later Tweeted an apology but it smacked of PR damage-limitation rather than a true acknowledgement of just how childish she had been.
A shift of emphasis
And if the world of American golf is not smarting enough, there is great anguish in the States about the recent US Amateur Championship. It was won by Matthew Fitzpatrick, who becomes the first Englishman to win the event since Harold Hilton in 1911. Secondly, and equally as important for American pride, not one home-grown golfer advanced beyond the quarter-finals. In addition to Fitzpatrick, the other semi-finalists consisted of two Australians and a Canadian.
Try not to laugh.
And finally
As this week’s column seems to be having a good kick at all things American, time perhaps to dwell on the latest inanity shouted by American fans. You may have become aware that immediately after the ball leaves the clubface, some people in the gallery at US events scream ‘Mashed potato’ and I have been trying to find out why. It was first heard after a Tiger Woods shot at the 2010 US PGA Championship, and after a clip appeared on YouTube, stupid people at events all over America started to try and out-stupid each other – and no-one seems to quite know what the phrase means. The most logical suggested interpretation I have heard is that, because the ball is white it looks like a small peeled potato, and after it has been struck a particularly forceful blow, that potato is mashed.
I know, but stupidity comes in all sorts of guises…
…If proof were needed
And the biggest numpty of the past month is Lee Westwood – perhaps living in America means he has gone native. He got himself involved in a pointless, ridiculous spat on Twitter after a poor performance in the final round of the US PGA Championship. Among other things he Tweeted: ‘Just sick of negative a******** sat behind a keyboard with a pitiful life.
‘Like I give a f*** what the haters say! That’s life! Some people will always be just a little bit better and work just a little bit harder.’
He later added ‘Come on you girly boy trolls! I’ve only won just over 2 mill on course this year! Need you to keep me entertained a bit longer than this!’
Finally he signed off with: ‘Ahhh just when I’m in the mood the haters all go quiet!’ Obviously didn’t like a bit back at em!’
Err, no Lee. Even Twitter trolls recognise when someone else is behaving like an eight-year-old.
Quote of the Week:
You only have today’s game. It may be far from your best but it’s all you’ve got. Harden your heart and make the best of it
Walter Hagen