ONE LAST ATTEMPT AT RYDER CUP SANITY

by Doug McAllister

Interesting goings on at the Deutsche Bank Championship! What? You don't think so? How could Mop Top Charley Hoffman's victory NOT be interesting? Precision shots all day — the sort that everyone used to expect from you-know-who. A personal cool that almost brought an early winter to Bean Town. Most interesting to anyone with good eyes and a fraction of a brain!

Still, despite Hoffman's stellar play, the spotlight kept drifting elsewhere. Oh well! Things are as they are. So, let's dig in.

Tomorrow is the big day. Captain Pavin will at long last announce his final four pick for the United States' Fall Golf Sales Event...er...sorry...the United States' Ryder Cup Team. Got confused there for a minute. All that nonsense about money making.

The waiting is nearly over and here's hoping that we are all in for a big surprise. The media has been appropriately scripted and the headline typeset: TIGER MUST MAKE THE TEAM — OR ELSE! The doomsday sales machinery is in place and humming furiously! Yeah, yeah! I get it. Eldrick has to be there because he deserves it. Because he's number one in the world. Because without him the result will be a mini-recession in the world of golf!

Rubbish! Folks, let's get real here. We saw a performance today that is far more deserving right now than Eldrick's claims. Hoffman played better over the course of the last four tournament days than Eldrick did.

Oh, so your fine with Hoffman on board but don't think anyone else deserves to bump the Striped One out of the picture?

Let's talk about just a few more: Ryan Palmer, Zach Johnson, Ben Crane and J.B. Holmes are all currently ranked higher in the FedEx Cup standings and seem far more hungry for the opportunity than El(drick) Tigre! But what does that have to do with it? EVERYTHING! As I have tried to note too many times already, the Ryder Cup is to be won and not simply attended. It's primarily a golf competition and secondarily a moneymaking scheme! Can we all please agree upon those two rather straightforward points?

Finally, everyone seems to agree that Eldrick is in no shape to compete in the Ryder Cup but afraid to actually push for it. Yes, he seems to be making progress back but this is not a futures game. I hear a lot of individuals arguing that he will be ready come the start of the matches in October. Unfortunately — and I hope Pavin is honest, smart and courageous enough to see this — the decision has got be made NOW! And right now, like it or not, Eldrick is not — I repeat NOT — among the 12 best golfers that the USA has to choose from. Period!

So, get out there and
Hit 'em Long and Straight!

I'm betting that Eldrick is not quite able to do that yet!

DON'T MISS TOMORROW'S POST:
RYDER-WHACKY PART II