On Ryder Cup Eve — a few tidbits
The players are ready. And now, after a hectic week, Valhalla Golf Club is ready — again.
The remnants of Hurricane Ike blew through the Louisville area last weekend and while it dropped very little rain, it brought 75 mph (165 Kph) winds that snapped tree limbs, took six whole trees over, tossed corporate tents about, and felled a television tower onto the 12th green, causing gouged spots that had to be repaired. But, club superintendant Mark Wilson and a crew of upwards of 75 volunteers worked to get the course back in playable shape. Folks watching on TV will never know the difference.
Speaking of the course, it will play at a stretched-out 7,496 yards, a full 300 more than it did during the 1996 and 2000 PGA Championships. The fairways will be generous out at 300 yards, giving a slight edge to folks who bomb it off the tee — such as the U.S.A.’s J.B. Holmes and Kenny Perry and Europe’s Henrik Stenson.
And now for a few quips from Wednesday’s press conferences:
SERGIO GARCIA
On his Ryder Cup sucess: “I’ve had good partners. It’s about enjoying the moment and that has helped.”
On whether he thinks he gets under the Americans’ skin: “”Get under their skin? Me, individually? Because I’ve played well?” (He then smirked and shook his head.)
On the fact that this European team doesn’t include the likes of Ryder Cuppers of yore — Colin Montgomerie, Bernhard Langer, Luke Donald, Darren Clarke: “You move on. You realize that the the best players right now are all here.”
Oh yeah, and Tiger Woods isn’t here either: “That doesn’t change things at all. At the end of the day we know it won’t be easy.”
On being a “graybeard” on this team, if it changes his approach and what feedback he’ll have for the “rookies”: “It won’t be different than in years past. If rookies want to come to me and talk, I’m willing. But am I a leader? I think we have 12 leaders on this team.”
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STEWART CINK, on Tiger’s absence: “I just hope he’s able to rehab and get back to wehere he was to help in the future. It’s time for the the rest of us now to step up.”
KENNY PERRY, on the format. “I love foursomes. It’s my game.”
PAUL AZINGER, on Team USA preparation: “I like the way things are going. I’m confident that we’re doing everything to try to get it right. We’re making this a group effort.”
NOTE: Friday’s pairings will be released shortly, so stay tuned.
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