OK, one more golf comment… No-one anticipated Europe’s crushing victory at Oakland Hills in 2004 and precious few more thought that the 2006 edition of the Ryder Cup at the K Club in Ireland would also end ina European blow-out victory. Time after time hotly fancied American sides have been found wanting even if the rankings and, perhaps, common sense suggest they should have won. Why?
Well, Padraig Harrington’s remarks today give credence to one powerful explantion for this success: european golfers care about the Ryder Cup much more than their American counterparts do. This isn’t a universal rule of course, after all Kenny Perry, for one, made making the US team his primary goal for the year. Nonetheless, I suspect he is the exception that proves the rule. It was significant that Harrington turned to Ian Poulter, just before he was due to lift the Claret Jug, and said that this was a fine week for european golf that had ensured the pair of them would, barring disaster or injury, be playing in the Ryder Cup at Valhalla in September.
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