#graememcdowell

Gestern habe ich Dich schon auf den Ryder Cup eingestimmt und heute geht es mal um das Team Europe. Bevor ich mich mit den Akteuren auf dem Platz beschäftige, werfe ich mal auf das Team rund um den Captain Thomas Bjorn aus Dänemark.

Ryder Cup Team Europe - Captain´s

Das Team (die Vice-Captain´s) hinter dem Team besteht aus Luke Donald (UK), Padraig Harrington (Irland), Robert Karlson (Schweden), Graeme McDowell (Wales) und Lee Westwood (UK). Diese Herren haben sich alle bereits als Spieler einen Namen gemacht und Lee Westwood hat zwischen 1997 und 2016 jeden Ryder Cup im Team Europe bestritten. Aber natürlich hat auch der 45 jährige Thomas Bjorn bereits Erfahrungen als Spieler und Vice-Captain gesammelt und will jetzt in Paris den Cup holen. Also ich denke mal, zur Not können diese "Jungs" noch ins Spiel eingreifen, oder?!

Team Europe am Ball

12 Golfer aus Europa treten ab dem 25.9.2018 beim Ryder Cup an und ich fange heute mal mit den Captai´s Pick´s an. Dazu zählt Paul Casey, Ian Poulter und Henrik Stenson. Der Brite Paul Casey ist aktuell die Nummer 18 der Weltrangliste und spielt dieses Jahr ein solides Golf. In diesem Jahr gewann er die Valspar Championship und schloss 6 Turniere in den Top 10 ab. Nur zwei mal verpasste er den Cut und übrigens seit 2016 ist er in den Top 20 der Weltrangliste. Wenn das keine Aussagekraft in Sachen Beständigkeit hat, was dann. Der zweite Pick aus UK ist Ian Poulter und er befindet sich aktuell auf den Weltranglistenplatz 34. Auch er gewann in diesem Jahr ein Golfturnier, die Houston Open und landete bei 5 Cuts 6 mal in den Top Ten. Aber bevor ich über Ian weitere Worte verliere, schau Dir lieber das Video an und damit wird klar warum er dabei ist. Und dann ist da ja noch Henrik Stenson aus Schweden, der 3. Pick des Captain´s. Aktuell ist der Skandinavier auf den Weltranglistenplatz Nr. 23 und von seinen 17 Turnieren in diesem Jahr landete er 6 mal in den Top Ten. Dabei verpasste er nur 2 mal den Cut. Aber bei Henrik Stenson ist das wie mit Ian, er gehört einfach in das Team Europe und ich kann mir aktuell das Team ohne diese beiden Matchwinner nicht vorstellen. Also in meinen Augen machen alle 3 Pick´s ganz viel Sinn, auch wenn ich natürlich gerne einen deutschen Golfer im Team gesehen hätte.

Kein Deutscher im Team Europe

      The RBC Heritage has the daunting task of hosting the tournament directly following The Masters on the PGA Tour schedule, but has always managed to do so with a sense of grace and individuality that has given it a really cool place within the world of golf.  In place of the coveted Green Jacket that is offered the week before, players at The Heritage compete for the equally stylish – sarcasm? – Plaid Jacket, symbolic of victory at Harbour Town Golf Links, one of the most underrated courses on tour.  Located on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, it is a course that requires clever shotmaking and the ability to shape the ball both ways off the tee, a skill which must also be accompanied by a deft touch around the greens.

     After the flurry of activity that surrounded The Masters, it is nice for the players to be able to come to a more relaxed atmosphere, play a great course, and compete for a prize and a purse that still commands respect.  18 at Harbour Town is a classic finishing hole, and has often created some outstanding drama, as it is also the hole used for any playoffs, such as the one that occurred on Sunday between Graeme McDowell and Webb Simpson.  Both of these players are recent US Open champions, and are both up and coming superstars in the game.

     McDowell ultimately prevailed in the playoff, after striking a clutch 6 iron into the 18’th green and making a solid par for the win.  This marked McDowell’s second PGA Tour victory, with his first being the US Open win at Pebble Beach in 2010, meaning that this is his first regular win on the PGA Tour.  McDowell has won multiple times worldwide, but he seemed happy to capture a regular PGA Tour title as something to add to his already impressive resume.  A resume that is still in its infancy, and has almost boundless potential.  Graeme is definitely a fan favourite out there, with his flair for the dramatic and zest for life, as well as the panache he brings to every aspect of his appearance, from his clothes to the way he conducts himself in interviews.  It is hard not to root for McDowell, a genuinely good guy who still enjoys a pint or twelve with the lads, and isn’t afraid to play aggressive in search of wins, rather than playing it safe in order to collect pay cheques.

     Webb Simpson suffered the misfortune of losing the playoff, as well as an unlucky par putt that wouldn’t drop after his first putt slid an unexpected distance by the pin.  Still, it was without doubt a positive week for Simpson, who needed to play well in order to regenerate some of his old confidence that has been lacking this year.  Expect him to be back in contention more and more as the season progresses, now that his mental game has taken a turn for the better.

     Also in the Top 10 this week were Luke Donald, Kevin Streelman, Jerry Kelly and South Africans Rory Sabbatini and Trevor Immelman.  It was good to see Luke Donald once again playing well, and he is looking to sharpen his game for the upcoming major championships in the summer months.  Jerry Kelly, the native of Wisconsin, also brought significant entertainment value to the final round, playing, as always, with his heart on his sleeve.