Thought for the Day
Why is it that no matter what colour bubble bath you use, the bubbles are always white?
Solheim shocker
Trish Johnson, an on-course commentator for Sky Sports and a veteran herself of eight Solheim Cups, summed it all up neatly as the final day at Killeen Castle was reaching its climax. I quote from memory.
‘It’s always the same,’ she said. ‘Europe does well in the fourball and foursomes but gets pegged back over the last few holes. And then the Americans win the singles.’
And so it appeared this time until those final three, magnificent matches. Suzann Pettersen one-putted the last four greens, birdying the final three holes, to turn a two-hole deficit into a one-hole win against Michelle Wie. Rookie Caroline Hedwall won the last two holes against Ryan O’Toole to grab a crucial half point. And fellow rookie Azahara Munoz held on for a one-hole win in the final match to seal the deal at 15-13. We can only hope that the result will not always have an asterisk next to it, with the footnote: ‘Europe gained a vital edge because Cristie Kerr withdrew because of injury, handing a point to Karen Stupples.’ Kerr had managed 2.5 points from a possible 4, while Stupples had two losses from two outings, so form suggests the American would have won, tieing it all up at 14 apiece, which would have meant that team USA retained the trophy. And there are bound to be inquests in America at captain Rosie Jones’ decision to play Kerr in all four matches, knowing she had a wrist problem.
Hopefully there will also be an inquest into the behaviour of Paula Creamer, who did not enjoy the experience of losing in the singles for the first time, being thoroughly dusted by Catriona Matthew, 6&5. Creamer is a superb match player who loves this competition and has previously graced it with passion and considerable skill, having taken over the role of team cheerleader from Dottie Pepper. But it’s a thin line between appropriate aggression and unacceptable gamesmanship, and Creamer crossed it. She was not conceded a short putt on the eighth and made her displeasure clear, with gestures that seemed to ask: ‘What the heck was that about?’ She then made her opponent wait on the next tee for a full five minutes, a tactic which singularly failed to ruffle the magnificent Matthew feathers, or derail the remorseless thumping she handed out. Paula is still young but needs to quickly learn to take defeat as gracefully as she takes victory. She also needs to get a move on because her pace of play throughout the week was criminally slow.
The dramatic European victory was not good for the nerves but essential for the competition, which was becoming a bit of a procession, and the overall tally is now 8-4 in favour of America.
What team Europe must do now is prove that it can win away from home but in the meantime it’s just good to savour the moment.
Final thoughts
At the highest level of the women’s game it is still a surprise to witness how the best players can hit both the sublime and the ridiculous. Several years ago it used to be said that the top women golfers could never match the men because they were let down by their short game, particularly with a flat stick. But at Killeen Castle the overall quality of putting was excellent, and driving the ball has always been a strength of the best. It was the approach play that was disappointing. Too many iron shots – often with no more than a wedge – came up short, flew the green or missed the target by a considerable margin. I have no idea why but it needs to be sorted.
At one point on the first day the cameras gave us a close-up of a young woman golfer. She had the stars and stripes painted on her face (both cheeks) and fingernails, and was wearing stars and stripes earrings. She was also wearing red, white and blue clothes, and had a scarf and hair ribbon in the same colours.
I wasn’t sure which team she was on.
Damp squib
The US Tour is, understandably, trying to hail the conclusion to the latest FedEx Cup Playoffs as the most dramatic yet, because eventual winner Bill Haas made an unlikely par from a water hazard on the second playoff hole of the Tour Championship. And although it was a memorable moment, and one that saw Haas eventually capture $11.44 million, including the $10 million FedEx Cup bonus, the truth is that he won because his opponent, Hunter Mahan, bogied the 18th. Drama and excitement? It doesn’t come close.
Luke Donald, incidentally, was a stroke out of the playoff after a last day 69 but his remarkable season still almost defies belief. In America he has made 13 top-10 finishes from 16 events, won once, been second twice and third twice, for an aggregate purse of near $6 million. In Europe he has won three times from just 10 tournaments (several of which, such as majors and WGC events, are co-sanctioned by both main tours), picking up nearly €4 million. He is unlikely to be deposed from the top of the European Tour Race to Dubai money list and is, of course, number one in the world.
Do you think he regrets his decision to base himself in America?
Quote of the Week
Show me a golfer who doesn’t have a mean streak, and I’ll show you a weak competitor
Lee Trevino