Faldo: gave it his all
Ewen Murray celebrates a fine Ryder Cup and examines why Nick Faldo found captaincy so tough. < Back to Story
Faldo: gave it his all
Ewen Murray celebrates a fine Ryder Cup and examines why Nick Faldo found captaincy so tough. < Back to Story
Comments (61)
Simon Moore says...
Finally a very well balanced summary of our Ryder Cup experience in Kentucky. I've found the knee jerk reaction of golf fans across the country to be some what short sighted when Nick and his captaincy is concerned. Why when we lose must there always be someone at fault or to blame. I for one totally agree that we did not lose the Ryder Cup, America won it and to be honest it was going to happen at some stage. We didn't get crushed in defeat, we didn't ever not show up and play our best - we got out-played by some great players who were great on the day. Personally, Nick may not be the most charasmatic, he is no Sam Torrance that is for sure but he knows his game of golf and is the most successful Brit golfer we've seen for decades. Its time to get over it and look forward to another good match up in 2 years time.
Posted 19:09 28th September 2008
Laure Austin says...
I enjoyed watching all the games of the Ryder Cup. I would only like to add that the European Team as always were the better dressed. Congratulations to the suppliers of all the team outfits.
Posted 12:42 28th September 2008
Russ Smith says...
I think Ewan is spot on here. As I said on a previous thread the fault doesn't lie with Faldo he did everything he could, the fault lies with those who chose him. Everyone knows Faldo is a loner, a private man who has not exactly endeared himself to his peers throughout his career. Why that was not taken into account when the selection was made is anyone's guess. The Ryder Cup is as much about cameraderie and togetherness (as proved by the Americans this year) than it is about golf so its wrong to say Faldo wasn't responsible for this, he was, but he still did the best he could. Rather than castigate Faldo for his failings I think we should thank him for his efforts and learn that we need an inspirational captain for these events, it is not enough to pick someone on reputation alone. As for Poulter he deserves so much credit and has turned my opinion of him around in many ways, I still think the way he was selected was terrible but his performance was outstanding considering the level of criticism of him flying around. If Poulter can learn some humility and come out from inside his own a**e he might really amount to something.
Posted 11:31 28th September 2008
James Barclay says...
I feel Faldo would have been pilloried even if Europe had won the Cup - it would have been a case of "won in spite of" etc. Although a staunch Scot, this result is the best thing for the future of this fantastic event. The USA have lost interest in it over the last few years, both inside and outside the golf world. The American win should re-ignite their passion for it, especially with Boo in the team!
Posted 18:49 27th September 2008
Paul Power says...
I thought Boo was the player of the week, alright he was a bit OTT at times, but he got the crowd behind his team like never before and who can blame him for that. He controlled the crowd and he controlled the golf ball unbelievably. Player of the week by a mile. The European players of the week were Poulter and McDowell - what passion. Well done lads, you were great. The captain was a selfish disaster, constantly thinking about the personal impact during the week and not about the team. You couldn't say that about Tom Lehman two years ago. It just goes to show that it matters a lot who you pick as captain and Sandy Lyle isn't the guy I'm afraid. Bring back Sam or Ian, or else give it to Big Darren.
Posted 12:34 26th September 2008
Pete Coley says...
I was very critical of Nick Faldo before the Ryder Cup in relation to his wild card picks (Poulter especially). I would now like to eat humble pie, Poulter showed us exactly what determination can do for you. He played the best golf out of the 24 players in the field, hotly followed by Graham McDowell. Nick Faldo should be at least praised for Poulter and Casey's inclusion and I think we have to remember that Faldo does not hit the ball for the players. I do think at times the European Team looked disjointed compared to a fully functional happy American Team, is this due to Nick, I think the only people who could answer that is the 12 European team members. The only mistake I thought Faldo made was to put Sergio out first and his experince out in games that were likely to be pointless if we didn't get early points, we needed early points so why not put our best performers over the first two days out, I think I am now a clear Ian Poulter fan!
Posted 10:05 26th September 2008
Rob Bridgman says...
Despite the result the Ryder Cup staked its claim to be in the top 3 of sporting events given the amount of excitment ,discussion ,passion and quality play it produces Conratulations to the states they played the better golf and got the bits of luck they needed when it mattered. I think the win will do the competition the power of good in the long run. Boo Weekley was the star whether you love or hate him i thought he was worth the admission price on his own and you cannot deny his golf ability. The real villian of the piece was Anthony Kim i found myself irritated to the limit watching his behaviour and have decided not to place any bets on him in the future! Faldo was unlucky but he does not come across as a top team player and the press was always going to jump on his every move the moment he left Clarke out who should have been a shoe in. He was right about Poulter though and who could have guessed that Casey was the passenger who should have stayed home. To end Ewan Sky can be guilty of overegging the sports they cover but i thought the coverage and insight was teriffic so you and your colleagues should be proud which leads me to ask can we make Howard Clarke the next Ryder Cup Captain because i think he would be a geat choice ex player and a man in touch with all of the European Tour players especially as he walks the fairways for SKY and this would mean you could get Wayne Reilly to do the on course stuff which would be a scream. I mean can you hear and see Wayne Reilly spends a minute with Boo Weekley!! Television Gold all r ound
Posted 16:40 25th September 2008
Kieran L says...
A pity really to see so much attention given to the Faldo captaincy issue, when in actual fact, America played superb golf, and from the opening morning we were struggling big time to keep in there. Yes, I think Nick might of made some poor calls, but at the end of the day, America I thought were superb to a man. Hindsight is a great thing, but prior to the start of this Ryder Cup, I think we were all more or less in agreement that it was very hard to pick a weak link in this particular European team, so the theory now that the order they were sent out in for the singles was wrong, does not really wash. Too many of our big players did not perform, maybe that was due to the golf being played by their opponents, and the pressure they were being put under. Overall though, it was a superb tournamnet, and in the long run, for the sake of the Ryder Cup, maybe it's not such a bad thing that America came away with it this time. Roll on 2010, and Celtic Manor.
Posted 14:02 25th September 2008
Kev R says...
Firstly Ewan, I must balance the books. Before the Ryder Cup, I wrote in a complained about Poulter. I hold my hands up and say a huge well done to Ian. He needed to step up and he did. Ian was outstanding and led by example. This Ryder Cup was littered with genius and jokes for me. Paul Azinger provided some of the genius, Faldo all the jokes. Faldo's opening speech had me cringing. Azinger's was excellent, all about the team, the tradition and respect. Then Azinger changed the format for Friday morning, another master stroke as it prevented the travelling Europeans the time to find their own rythm on a foreign course. Winding the crowd up is to be expected i'm afraid. Did we keep the crowd silent at the K Club ? So on to Joke Faldo. Darren Clark should've been there, no question. Speeches aside (which were all self-centred), Faldo drops Westy who had battled everything to secure his points. He splits up Rose and Poulter. He led singles day with out of sorts Garcia and back-loaded our singles list when we needed to get back on terms fast as possible. Poulter, Westwood, Harrington, McDowell - none had chance to influence the result on Sunday. If we front loaded, we could've got blue on the board early which puts doubt in American minds. They would see a Eurpoean fightback on the boards and the crowd would be somewhat quietened. When i saw the backloaded singles list i knew we would lose. Sure the American gamesmanship left a lot to be desired but sorry, we have to be mentally tougher than that. Getting upset just because Kim walked across the bridge while Sergio was hitting into the green is sad. If he was that angry, he should've aimed his second attempt at Kim, at least then he would've made it across ! My hat goes off to Azinger and to most of the Americans. It also goes off to Westwood, Rose, McDowell and Wilson. But, and by a massive amount, it goes off to Ian Poulter for dazzling golf and mental toughness
Posted 12:59 25th September 2008
Peter Scott says...
When the dust settled and i stopped hurting (sometime around Tuesday evening) i realised that we can't win all the time and the fact was that America played better golf and probably holed more putts than they did in the last 3 Ryder Cups put together, Hunter Mehan's on the 17th vs Casey a prime example/ I still have to gripe though because i feel a couple of Faldo mistakes cost us dear. Firstly i feel the singles should have been top loaded as we were 9-7 down. As it was it was too little too late from inform players such as Poulter and McDowell. Secondly Casey was woeful and the two half points he won were more down to the fact that he is tough mentally and grinds to the end but i firmly believe Darren Clarke would have made a more productive return. I suspect that secretly, Nick might agree
Posted 00:59 25th September 2008
Gary Y says...
Good Article.. however I feel that the antics of the American players was disgraceful and not what you would expect on a golf course. Boo should stay on the States and forget about playing over here. His galloping off the first tee was shocking ... when he watches that back I am sure he will cringe as much as Faldo does when he watches the opening ceremony. Never in top class professional sport have I seen someone act the way he did... what a clown!! I also thought that the etiquette of Kim on the 7th during the singles was not in keeping with the game of golf, walking across the bridge and up the fairway whilst Garcia proceeded to drop a couple into the pond. There are better examples of good etiquette during the Saturday Medal. These points were not mentioned by the commentary team. I think Westwood was right to criticise the fans as their behaviour was very poor compared to that of the fans at the K Club. However the only way to quieten the crowd was to hole some putts and unfortunately we didn't manage to do that.
Posted 21:59 24th September 2008
Jamie Pickersgill says...
nice to see that you said nice words about poulter because you were quick to criticise is wildcard selection, perhaps with a slight bias towards your friend darren clarke, who by the way I would have picked too but over Casey. Also nice to hear you praise Boo Weekley who was great to watch, don't agree with you about the form of Garcia,Westwood and Harrington though, by their previous cup exploits, more so Sergio and Lee they played poorly. As for Padraig there was nothing left in the tank, theres only one man who can win two majors and then win the next half a dozen tournaments without showing any signs of fatique and we all know who that is.
Posted 17:52 24th September 2008
Alan H says...
I think the analogy of Harrington being the victim of his own success is a little of a double standard. When Tiger came to the Ryder Cup, no one said that he was the victim of his own success, he was just the man that all of the European team had to beat.... I think the effect of the Fed Ex cup can't be overstated for the effect of the US team. In previous cups, most of the US team didn't play too much after the USPGA, but maybe their tools were slighly sharper for this Ryder Cup... Can't wait for 2010. Great coverage of the week... Hope the fact that everyone was entertained with birdies and eagles won't be lost on those who organise the 4 majors next year
Posted 15:54 24th September 2008
Julian Cordner says...
A very good summary of 3 fantastic days of golf/sport. I would have to agree with much of what Tony Norstrom says in relation to the comment 'Rather than look at Faldo's failings, let's look at what he gave us' (In prefixing your appraisal of Faldo in this way Ewan you evidently had some gripes with his captaincy, all of which I don't feel you've brought to light?) Anyway, when considering Faldo I would agree with J Farrar in that he's not the most eloquent in front of the camera and obviously his relationship with the press has never been a match made in heaven. To be honest it was a bit of a relief when we finally got to Friday morning because the Faldo 'lead balloon' count was getting a little embarressing. I must also agree that his emphasis on 'I' rather than 'we' was unfortunately noticable. However, the most important aspect of the captaincy is what you bring to the team in terms of leadership, spirit and the decisions on picks and pairings. All I have read & heard from the players suggest that Faldo fostered a great team spirit in the European camp throughout the week. Poulter was picked against the opinion of most and played like a man possessed. As for the singles on Sunday, if Hunter Mahan's runaway train of a putt on the 17th had been an inch either side then the competition would have gone all the way to 14-12 with Westwood and Harrington left to pull something from the bag. In that circumstance Faldo's singles order would have looked very well judged whether we'd won or lost. All that aside, as Tony Parsons says, Europe were beaten fair and square by a US team (on home soil) that putted better over the 3 days. Any fan of golf can have no real complaints because it was once again enthralling and entertaining with the golf itself coming straight from the top draw. As much as I love watching the majors every year, The Ryder Cup takes golfing excitement and drama to a different level. Can't wait for 2010.
Posted 15:09 24th September 2008
Andrew Norrby says...
Hi Ewan, once again insightful words, thank you. It truly was a great Ryder Cup and although we are saddened that Europe did not win we have to accept that the Americans holed more putts at the crucial times. I agree with some of the other contributors that Faldo did not cover himself in glory during his week. The tetchiness over 'sandwich-gate' was childish, he should have held his hands up, admitted he'd been caught and moved on. His opening speech was equivalent to the worst wedding speech I'd ever heard. To forget Stenson's name and where G-mac was from was cringeworthy and I winced throughout most of it. Sky's coverage was brilliant as ever however I would question some of the commentators. Tony Jacklin is surely one of the most boring people ever to be on tv, we can live without his 'insights' into what he did back in 1985. Peter Oosterhuis seems to have transformed into a card carrying yankee doodle dandy. His sycophantry towards the american players was disappointing but worse was when he was in the commentary box. The old addage of drive for show, putt for dough seems to have been completely lost on him. Time after time he got excited by JB Holmes' undeniable power but then ignored the fact that he was inaccurate with a wedge and average at best with his putter. Faldo has to shoulder the blame for getting his singles wrong. Poulter was the more likely to get a better start. Sergio has an average singles record and should not have been out first. Westwood should have been out earlier as well. However, for a very long time it could have gone either way so I have to agree with Nick when he claimed there were small margins.
Posted 14:01 24th September 2008
Stuart Rankin says...
Bit of a yucky post, sorry about this, but have to say it. Excellent coverage, in particular the way your directors postpone advert breaks when their is tension building in a match or a crucial time is reached. I think I notice one time there was 40 mins between breaks and when they do come, it's like the end of a chapter and we all take a breath. More than happy to pay my monthly sub's for this level of service. Well done to you and all the Team Ewan. On the blog, clear to see you are a considerate man and think very deeply about your topic, as a result a very well balanced and insightful piece, thanks.
Posted 13:12 24th September 2008
Midgeley Taylor says...
Well done Sky sports for your excellent coverage. From a viewer's perspective, may I suggest a small improvement. During the pairs matches, please keep a small window showing the current scores of each game. It was difficult to 'tune in' each time you switched match - especially in our noisy clubhouse where you can't hear the commentary. On the subject of captaincy, personally I don't see how Faldo can be criticized nor Azinger applauded because (apart from their wildcard picks) I can't see how they make any significant contribution. They don't dictate course management, don't determine matchplay strategy, don't decide club selection, don't read putts. They don't hit a single shot. The players are grown men at the top of their profession. They don't need any motivation, and if they need any assistance with their game, they consult their coaches. The players determine the outcome of each match, not the captain. He is really just a figurehead who is being honoured for his contribution to the game. Its an easy job. Virtually anyone could do it.
Posted 12:42 24th September 2008
Mike Petre says...
I agree with your comments. Watching the PGA Tour in Canada, and also the Euro Tour on TV, we all have our own ideas. Nick is one of the most respected Commentators in North America. His knowledge/experience and humor help to make even the dullest competition worth watching. I think the team was good, with only one error. Clarke for Casey. Kim got to SErgio on the first hole when it was not "Good for Good". Sergio has had a great year and would have been even better with more consistent putting.Nick's decision to leave some of the top players to the end on sunday was the right decision. We only needed a couple of half points in the midle and the result may have been different. L At the end of the day the Americans were better ON THE DAY.
Posted 12:01 24th September 2008
Hugh O'connor says...
The Europeans can't be faulted - they all put in so much, and most of them played some of the golf of their lives. Robert Karlsson had seven birdies in the last ten holes on Friday afternoon, and got a half a point. Graeme McDowell played beautiful golf all week, and yet after two matches of stellar golf he was on half a point. The Americans just made so few mistakes. WHen Kenny Perry, Jim Furyk, Hunter Mahan - when they had putts, they made them. They took all of their opportunities, and gave precious few to the Europeans. They were a phenomenal team. The guys I feel sorriest for are McDowell and Poulter - they continued their superb golf into Sunday, and by the time they won their matches it mean very little - the adrenaline was gone and the fist-pumps were omitted. I was one of the loudest critics of the decision to leave out Clarke for Poulter, and while I said it wasn't Poulter's fault to be chosen, I still didn't accept that he was right for the team. He was fantastic for the team - Faldo got that right - when it came to making birdies and pars to win and halve holes, Poults knew what he was doing, slammed them in the back, and fed off the excitement. He's a brilliant Ryder Cup player, and I'll be delighted when he makes it into the Celtic Manor team on Merit. Oliver WIlson played some of the best golf of the Europeans. He showed how level-headed he is, particularly today, where he kept his match against Boo going for a couple of holes more than it looked like. He had a great up and down on the 14th, and then holed out from fifteen feet on the 15th. He played lovely golfy, and got beaten 4&2 by a guy who was about 8 under. My favourite moment of the weekend was his putt on the 17th on Saturday morning to win his foursomes match with Stenson - he showed himself to be a great player under pressure, and he'll be back in Wales as well.
Posted 10:56 24th September 2008
Mike Robinson says...
Spot on as usual Ewen. Great weekends golf, shaded in the end by the better team on the day. Haven,t heard much praise for Karlsson, I thought he was outstanding over the whole event, if Casey could have putted like him who knows what might have happened. Thought the banter with your team was great (bit like the Walton Heath boot room with Landsie, Tim, Ken and Mace in the old days!). Lets all get our breath back and prepare for Wales.
Posted 10:50 24th September 2008