Who would have guessed! After more than a decade of defeat and disgrace at the hands of the Euros, the Americans would storm to a first day lead at the Kentucky version of the Ryder Cup. It has been eons since the US won both legs of first day play. (And, without a couple of watery drives on the eighteenth the lead would have been larger!)
And, they did it without Tiger!
I am among the few who believe that a Tiger-less American squad is a stronger team. The players have to look to each other for strength and not depend on the best golfer in the world to carry them.
And, for some reason, Tiger does not seem to perform well in team formats.
But the US success is not only about addition by subtraction. No, I think it is more about the subtractions made on the Euro team.
For whatever reason, Nick Faldo, decided that Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomery should not carry the Euro colors this year. Omitting these two great Ryder Cup stalwarts is like forcing a boxer to go into the ring with one arm tied behind his back while his opponent is allowed two helpers with baseball bats in the ring the same time.
Clarke and Montgomery have tortured the Americans for years and to leave them home is just plain dumb!
There are many who have suggested that Faldo would not choose two veterans who would command as much, if not more respect in the dressing room. If this is so, Faldo may go down in history as the captain who sunk the Euro’s long string of success at this event.
But, before I get too carried away I have to remember that it is only the end of Day 1 and there are two more days of competition.
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