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The 19^th Hole

September 27, 2007

I Just Don’t Feel It

The President’s Cup is this week.  What?  The President’s Cup.  What’s that?  Oh, haven’t you heard about it?  It’s the 10 year old team competition developed by the PGA Tour as direct competition with the PGA of America’s Ryder Cup.  It pits many of the same stars that appear on the Ryder Cup squad against a force of players from around the world that are not from Europe.  And there are more points.

Save for 2005 – the last time this competition was held – the President’s Cup has been largely forgettable and dominated by the American squad.  Since the Americans have largely owned the competition, there is little momentum or enthusiasm for the President’s Cup. 

Most people have no idea about the points system for either side.  The selection of the captaincy for each side is almost nonexistent because it is almost assured that Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus will fill those roles.  All of the drama that leads up to the Ryder Cup simply does not exist for the President’s Cup.

Even more than those factors, though, there is no real rivalry in the President’s Cup.  The other 5 and two-thirds continents that can be drawn upon for the International team are so broad that it becomes difficult to make a heated enemy. 

Politically, I have no qualms with any country represented in the competition.  I think that the only way that would happen would be if a player from a totalitarian state made the squad.  That’s yet to happen.

Each continent is so diverse that it is hard for the International team to present a unified front.  Mike Weir, from host country Canada, does not really have all that much in common with Fijian Vijay Singh.  Other than the fact that they were invited to play on this team, are professional golfers, and have boat loads of money and a major title, they really have no business teaming up together.

Also, it is tough to watch the same guys on the American squad play in seemingly the same event every single year.  Yes, the opponent is the same and beating the Internationals is a nice change from getting thumped by the Euros, but many average golf fans could not even distinguish between the two events.  The Americans are always playing for their country.  It used to mean more when it happened every two years.  Lately, the only real intrigue in these competitions is to see which American Ryder Cup captain can make lousy pairings in the team matches.  Paul Azinger still has a year before that could even happen, though I think he’ll do a great job.

The FedEx Cup has also somewhat undermined some of the intrigue behind the President’s Cup.  This event has traditionally been held around this time of year.  Before the FedEx Cup, most of the players in the top 20 in the world rankings that were on each team were sitting out of golf tournaments in order to rest up for the President’s Cup.  With the creation of the Playoffs, though, I just saw most of these guys two weeks ago playing for a combined $63 million – a motivator probably much larger than the pseudo-patriotism invoked by playing an amorphous enemy.

Even worse still is that Tiger Woods has been completely crushing everyone on the planet in golf tournaments for the past two and a half months.  Sure, he cannot play in every match and his record in these competitions in suspect, but can anyone seriously believe that he is not going to go out there and embarrass a bunch of unlucky saps?  If he does no, then the President’s Cup may have an exciting storyline.

With all of that in mind, what is the compelling reason to care at all about the President’s Cup?  I can think of only one standout.  I pray to all that is holy that captains Nicklaus and Player have the sense of humor and brilliance to put Tiger Woods against Rory Sabbatini in the Sunday singles match.  Rory has been asking to take on Tiger mano a mano all year long and this would be a great stage for Woods to show Sabbatini who is boss. 

Even that, though, is a tainted storyline.  After all, Tiger has been humiliating Sabbatini and the rest of the competition all year.  Come to think of it, maybe it should just be Tiger against the rest of the world.  That could be interesting.

Ryan Ballengee is host of The 19th Hole Golf Show, found at The Golf Newsnet.com.  Having graduated from the University of Maryland in 2004 and 2006, Ballengee brings the perspective of the younger golf fan to the microphone and his columns.  Over the nearly five years he has been broadcasting and writing, Ballengee has developed a reputation for a unique interviewing style that asks both the difficult and fun questions. You can also get The 19th Hole on the go through podcasting by clicking here The Golf Newsnet Contact Ryan via e-mail at the19thholeshow@hotmail.com.