Ryder Cup Preview

(BOD - Chick with Huge Knockers)

Before I begin today’s column, I feel the need to apologize to someone I was rather harsh to in yesterday’s piece. I hammered Travis Snider pretty good for his lack of maturity and stupid way he dealt with Cito’s advice on hitting last year.

Although I still believe in those sentiments, it’s obvious that Snider has come a long way since last year and has fully embraced the managerial style of Mr. Gaston, evidenced by his hitting prowess this season.

Full marks to Snider for providing one of the most enjoyable moments of the season when he kept wearing his eyeblack mustache that a few players wore to honour Cito in the pregame ceremony. It takes a lot of stones for the kid to willingly wear something so stupid on national television, but the look worked. Plus, he hit a jack in his first at-bat.

The Ryder Cup kicks off on Friday morning and there are a plethora of juicy subplots surrounding the biennial (or is it biannual?) event. I always enjoy watching the Ryder Cup purely for the opportunity to see stuffy golfers with no discernable personalities transform into wild, demonstrative athletes where patriotism and national pride, rather than money, is what’s at stake by the end of the weekend.

Typically, my rooting interests lie with the Europeans because they are usually the underdog and I never get tired of seeing the Americans get their comeuppance on the world stage. Plus, the Euros always seem like they’re having more fun and genuinely like each other, whereas the Americans act like a bunch of new hires meeting for the first time on Orientation Day.

This appears to be the first Ryder Cup in a long time where the Americans are widely considered to be underdogs. They have Jeff Overton on the team. Who the hell is Jeff Overton?

There are always a lot of tension-filled moments in the Ryder Cup and more than a few instances of inter-country chirping and this year appears to be no different. There are a few rumours flying around that Rory McIlroy called Tiger out and said that everyone on Team Europe is gunning for him. He then backed off and said those comments took place months ago.

Tiger was made aware of the comments and I saw the slightest glimmer of a smile on his face when he was asked about it. Tiger relishes the opportunity to use real or perceived slights against him as bulletin board material (remember Stephen Ames and 9 and 8). Woods has been struggling with his game this year, so the last thing the European team should be is awake the sleeping giant.

Then it was rumoured that Tiger actually approached McIlroy this year and told him “Be careful what you wish for.” How great is that? I hope against hope that Tiger and Rory play each other in singles on Sunday afternoon, mano a mano, and we’ll see who comes out on top.

Of course, Phil Mickelson had to ruin everything by saying the episode was blown out of proportion and McIlroy is a great guy who is liked by everyone. Nice job, Phil. That attitude is the reason the US is going to lose this year. No killer instinct.

I want these guys out for (blue) blood.