Format changes to 2008 Ryder Cup matches announced
 |
Bill Jempty | Thursday, January 31, 2008 |
This seems comprable to re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic to me
Paul Azinger has already introduced sweeping changes to the U.S. Ryder Cup team selection process. Now he has altered the format of the tournament.
The U.S. captain announced Wednesday that the order of the team matches on the first and second days of the competition will be reversed, meaning there will be four foursomes (alternate shot) matches followed by four four-ball (best ball) matches. As usual, the Ryder Cup will conclude with 12 singles matches on Sunday.
In each of the past two Ryder Cups routs for the European team the four-ball format was used in the morning each day.
“I believe it was 1997, I think Seve (Ballesteros) changed it to best ball in the morning and alternate shot in the afternoon. I felt like the Americans had an edge in alternate shot and I think it’s partly responsible for why Europe has gotten off to a pretty hot start,” Azinger said at a news conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he is competing in this week’s FBR Open. “So I’ve decided to change that back. I hope it’s the right decision. We’re switching, we’re going back to alternate shot in the morning and we’ll just see how it plays out.”
The matches will be played Sept. 19-21 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. As captain of the home team, Azinger has say over the order of the matches and course set up.
“I’ll do everything I can to get an edge,” he said.
What edge? Altering when the matches are played, isn’t gong to eliminate the cause behind the USA losing five of the last six matches. The American team needs to play up to what it is capable. If not, Europe will win in another rout this September.
- Corey Pavin named US Ryder Cup Captain for 2010
- Paul Azinger names his four Ryder Cup Captain’s selections
- Let the Solheim Cup begin
- Ryder Cup Day Two
- Ryder Cup Final Day
- Ryder Cup finale
- Paul Azinger named as 2008 US Ryder Cup Captain
- Ryder Cup starts tomorrow
- Ryder Cup begins today, USA leading 5.5-2.5
- Seve Ballesteros Retires
- Arizona State Baseball Coach Pat Murphy resigns
- Clipping their wings- Florida Panthers beat Detroit 2-1
- LA Clipper announcers suspended for one game
- Backup power- Miami Dolphins beat Carolina Panthers 24-17
- Steve Elling of CBS Sports is jealous
- Detroit Lions put two defensive backs on Injured Reserve
- The Dirty Dozen- Milwaukee Bucks beat New Jersey 99-85
- Outdueled- Florida Panthers beat Buffalo 6-2
- Collision Course: LPGA and Champions Tour in Oregon on Same Week
- Cleveland Brown QB Brady Quinn fined by NFL
Comments are Closed
