Rory's Glory

by Justin Doyle

  Chapter 6

  Seve’s Miracle of Medinah

  (2012 Ryder Cup Part 1)

  He may have gone into the previous Ryder Cup in 2010 on the back of rash, immature and controversial remarks that he uttered in the past, but Rory McIlroy was now about to enter the bear pit of America’s backyard with their full and unambiguous respect.

  Professional golfers the length and breadth of the globe were doubtless in awe of this unbelievable talent. Furthermore, there is always a feeling in sport that if you’re going to talk, or make controversial remarks, then back up your talk in the heat of competition.

  Rory had done that. More than that, he had realised the inappropriateness and immaturity of his remarks about Tiger and the Cup being an exhibition. So rather than talk about them again – or dwell on it – he just forgot the talk, and he walked the walk.

  The Holywood man was about to strutt into Medinah, outside Chicago, as a Ryder Cup treasure. He was winner of five events; winner of both money lists; winner of both Tours’ ‘player of the year’ and as world number one he was officially the best player on view.

  This did not mean that the Americans had no ammunition of their own. Rory, after all, is only one man in a twelve man team. The USA had the all important home advantage which had proved so crucial to Europe on the last occasion in Wales 2010.

  The likeable and very popular Jose Maria Olazabal was the new European Captain. Although it was officially announced on 18 January 2011, there was really no need to do so.

  Thomas Bjorn echoed the situtaion when saying ‘it was the easiest decision ever’. In fact, it was so straightforward that the Ryder Cup Committee did not have to hold any meetings, nor did they feel any need to debate the matter.

  From the outset, there was only one thing the Committee wanted to know from Olazabal – was his health holding up (he suffers from rheumatoid arthritis)? When he gave them a clean bill on that issue, the selection proccess was a formality.

  It was an easy decision for one vital reason – he was the Vice Captain under Colin Montgomerie in the victorious 2010 team and he was seen to play a huge part in that win. Although captaincy was an altogether more demanding role, he was the only choice.

  J M Olazabal therefore became only the third Continental European, and the second from Spain, to become a European Ryder Cup Captain, following in the paths of Severiano Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer. On his appointment he said:

  Golf has been my life and representing Europe in the Ryder Cup has given me so much enjoyment, so to be named the European Ryder Cup captain is something very special and I am looking forward to the next 20 months before we reach Medinah.

  A masterstroke was also played at his press conference when he cleared any potential trouble spots up ahead in the future, or indeed at the Ryder Cup itself. He showed that he was a pacifist and that sleeves would be rolled up for golf only, adding:

  I’ve spent a lot of my career in America and the fans there have always been fair to me. We want to keep the Cup and that will be our priority but I know the American team will share with us the desire for this match to continue the fabulous tradition of the Ryder Cup with fair play and good sportsmanship as the vital ingredients.

  With those very words he not only threw a protecting arm around his players, like Rory, and the American players, but he also laid to rest the ghosts of past ‘unsavoury’ Ryder Cups involving the likes of himself, Sevy, Pavin, Lehman, Azinger, and indeed McIlroy.

  ‘Ollie’, as he is affectionately known to all in golf, was not only a two-time major winner of the US Masters, to add to his Ryder Cup successes, he was also a real fighter with balls of fire.

  Down through the years he had proved this as he forged a virtually indefatigible winning partnership with Severiano Ballesteros in many Ryder Cups. They had only lost two of 15 ties, so a long line of American team members wanted to avoid Seve and Ollie at all costs.

  Apart from that steely will to win, on and off the course, Olazabal was determined right from the outset to bring into play the ‘spirit of Seve’. When Seve passed away four months later on 7 May the world of golf mourned and many, like Sam Torrance, wept openly.

  As was only to be expected, Olazabal was affected most by the death of his close friend. They were like brothers. Even now, if Seve is brought up in conversation, his mood will dampen.

  At his funeral, Jose Maria Olazabal was determined that the memory of Severiano Ballesteros would not be forgotten. Silently, there and then, he vowed to do everything to bring Seve’s memory and spirit into play on behalf of the European team at Medinah.

  It was to be a staggering and stunning ploy. But the real beauty of it was that it was not a tactic: it was a real tool to use. It was genuine. Where golfers or other athletes can use physical skill and intelligence to win, Ollie would use Seve’s spirit. Plain and simple.

  Short of suggesting that he was using seances and ouija boards for much needed guidance and inspiration from Seve, he would in actual fact use the hard earned experience of real grit, determination, fire and fight that he and Seve had shown.

  At every opportunity he would use this first hand experience and instill it into each and every one of his players. It was not brainwashing or euphoria. Rather, it was a beautiful manual handed down from him and Seve of ‘how to win on the hot battlefield’.

  In the meantime, and with fully a year and more to the big day, he had to monitor the progress of every European player at home and in the US. Then all the names had to be whittled down resulting in the announcement of his team and wildcards, totalling 12.

  *********************************

  Rory McIlroy 468.81; Luke Donald 363.4; Justin Rose 322.3; Lee Westwood 280.2; Graeme McDowell 262.62; Paul Lawrie 211.49; Sergio Garcia 200.85; Francesco Molinari 191.25; Peter Hanson 189.32 and Martin Kaymer 172.2.

  They were the automatic Top 10 European players with Ryder Cup points who made it to Medinah. At his eagerly awaited press conference on 27th August, 2012 to announce his full team, it only remained for him to name his wildcards. This is what he revealed:

  Every one of you guessed Ian [Poulter] was going to be there for obvious reasons. He has a great Ryder Cup record, he was playing well – he had some issues earlier in the season, he got ill and he couldn’t play as much – but he is cured and his attitude and spirit in the Ryder Cup team has always been great. He likes to be in that situation, it gets the best out of him playing in the Ryder Cup.

  To finish, Nicolas Colsaerts became the first Belgian to be named in a Ryder Cup team. He was also the only rookie in the side which raised quite a few eyebrows. Explaining his decision to pick him, Olazabal said:

  His matchplay record is very good. He also had a very solid season. On top of that he made the extra effort to try to make the team. He showed me he wanted to be part of the team.

  Regarding some top players who failed to make it – including Padraig Harrington who was touted by some to be a ‘Captains pick’ – Olazabal elaborated on the omission of the Dubliner saying:

  I talked to him last night and I was very straight and to the point. I know he’s tried hard but he was 19th, just a little too far down the list. I know he’s a great player. I’d love to have had him in the team as I’d also love to have had Casey, Karlsson, Stenson – great players – but you need to be playing good. It’s as simple as that. I think he took it well.

  Nicolas Colsaerts was thrilled and gave this memorable reaction:

  This is something I’ve wanted since I was a kid – to be part of a big team with a captain with such a great history. It’s something I’m very proud of. I’m living proof that if you want something badly it’s only a matter of time if you put the work in. It’s a fairy story.

  Little did Ian Poulter know what lay in store for him at Medinah. The ‘obvious reasons’ which Olazabal made reference to in his announcement lay in the fact that the Englishman had won seven of his eight previous Ryder Cup games. Poulter said: ‘I’m absolutely thrill
ed to have got the call last night from Jose. It was a great moment.’

  American Captain Davis Love had a very strong looking American team. With the likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Bubba Watson, Zach Johnson and Keegan Bradley, they seemed formidable.

  Add to those names men like gritty Brandt Snedeker and Jason Dufner and they did not seem to have any weaknesses in the personnel department. It was easy to see why the bookmakers installed USA as the four to six favourites, with Europe at six to four.

  Almost exactly a month later, battle commenced. Rory would stride into Medinah, making his second Ryder Cup appearance in the 38th version of golf’s greatest team event. It was also his Ryder Cup debut in America.

  On the eve of the first day’s play, Rory was asked about the American tactics. More to the point, he was asked his views on their tactics concerning who they would select to play against him in the foursomes. This was his reply:

  Whoever wants to take me on they can take me on. I just want to get out and get a point for the team. Whether that means going out first, fourth or in the middle, it really doesn’t make a difference to me and it doesn’t make any difference who I play. I’m going to go out there and do my best and win that point. I don’t think I have a bullseye on my back. This week I’m not the world number one – I’m one person in a 12 man team and that’s it.

  As it transpired, Rory was out first. Surprisingly, there was no Tiger Woods or Phil Mickeslon pitted against him and his usual playing partner, Graeme McDowell. Davis Love opted instead to put Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker out first.

  Just what is it about this competition that, no matter what the authorities do to try to dampen down or prevent any potential hostilities or flash points, controversy is never too far away? We did not have long to wait for the first niggly and awkward moment.

  On the second hole, McDowell had sought relief from a sprinkler head but Jim Furyk disagreed with him! A rules official had to be called for and he ultimately sided with the Americans, denying McDowell any relief.

  The Americans went on to win the hole. Inwardly, the two Macs must have been livid and left somewhat embarrassed by being confronted. However, this is what Jim Furyk had to say about the incident afterwards:

  I saw that he was going to get relief. I went over and when I looked to see where the ball was, it was a good – and I’m being conservative – four to five inches ahead of the sprinkler head. So they would get a big advantage by being able to drop the ball. He had a sticky lie and a very delicate chip and to be able to putt that ball would have been a huge advantage and I really didn’t feel in any situation, whether it be matchplay or medal play that it could be deemed a drop. As I told Graeme and Rory, ‘I don’t blame you for trying, for asking – ‘trying’ is a bad word – for ‘asking’. Graeme then said to me ‘I thought it was 50/50 but you’re entitled to your opinion’. I’m not trying to incite any tension or bother anyone but it’s my job for my team mates and for my team to protect ourselves and the rules.

  Professional golfers are generally honest and there is no reason to suggest here that anybody was trying to cheat or gain an unfair advantage. Earlier in the book we saw how Luke Donald questioned Rory over his ball and Rory was penalised as a result.

  The ‘Macs’ felt it was 50/50 and that was fair. The Americans felt the ball was far enough away from the sprinkler that it did not constitute a free drop – also fair. So I contacted well known European Tour referee John Paramor about the case.

  Now, there is no actual direct reference to ‘sprinkler heads’ (nor has there ever been) in the updated Rules of Golf. So, this is what John Paramor told me and it seems evident that he would have done the exact same thing as the referee who ruled that day:

  Sprinkler heads are obstructions by definition - anything artificial - and clearly it is immovable. Therefore Rule 24-2 applies and if a sprinkler head interferes with a player’s stance or area of intended swing, the player is entitled to relief without penalty. If the player wishes to take relief, he must find the nearest point where there is no longer any interference from the obstruction and drop his ball within one club-length of this point, not nearer the hole or on a putting green. In the Ryder Cup match you cite, the player felt there was interference to his intended swing but Jim Furyk and the referee disagreed.

  Graeme and Rory’s reaction stunned the Yanks who must have regretted calling for the referee. The Northern Ireland aces went on a spree winning five out of eight holes to the 11th. They found themselves 3-up with the Americans shell shocked and running out of holes.

  The glorious unpredictability of the Cup and all its pressures took hold again. The Europeans then faltered in the face of an American blitzkrieg. After winning three out of four holes both teams were back where they began at the very first hole – all square.

  As the four golfers and their caddies stood on the 18th tee, ready to give their all one last time, you could hear a pin drop. The pressure, as only this event can throw up, must have been enormous.

  Something had to give. Would it be the Irish pair who had squandered a handsome 3-up lead, or would the Yanks continue their momentum and win the day? Brandt Snedeker cracked.

  He hit a very poor drive off the tee and as hard as Jim Furyk tried to retrieve the situation, he could not. They bogeyed the hole and a par from McDowell was enough for the Europeans to win the very first tie of 2012, 1-up.

  Rory had another precious point on his Ryder resume but there was no time to gloat or go to the media and tell how it was. Tieing in with typical tradition, he and G-Mac headed back out on the course to show support to their team mates.

  By the end of the morning foursome session, both teams were tied at two points each. Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley inflicted a first ever defeat on Luke Donald in foursomes. He and Sergio Garcia were well and truly put in their place and lost 4 and 3.

  The USA then took the lead when Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson defeated Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari 3 and 2. However, wildcard Ian Poulter came to Europe’s rescue as he and Justin Rose enjoyed a thrilling 2 and 1 win over Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker.

  McIlroy and McDowell went out again for the afternoon fourballs where they faced a daunting task taking on Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley who had been awesome against Garcia and Donald.

  After just a few holes things were looking bad, as all around the course the local crowds were hollering themselves into a right frenzy. Mickelson and Bradley began where they left off and tore into the Irishmen.

  They were 3-up through three holes and then 4-up through the eighth hole. Although that deficit was cut to 2-down, Mickelson sealed victory on the 17th with another one of his moments of magic and genius.

  Standing over his tee shot at the 193-yard par three and seeing water all around the front of the green, and with Rory and G-Mac and Bradley standing looking at him, he unleashed his shot high over Lake Kadijah.

  When his ball landed, the greatest explosion of noise reverberated all over the course like a cannon booming off. You know that noise you hear – ‘plump’ or ‘thud’ – when you are in the vicinity of a ball land on a green. Well, this was neither. It was a ‘boom’!

  The match was over. Lefty’s ball finished stone dead three feet from the pin. All four players shook hands after neither European ever looked like obtaining an unlikely hole-in-one to half the match. The American pair won 2 and 1.

  It had been a most memorable day for Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson and their day was made complete when two more USA pairings secured wins. In the first match out, Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson slaughtered poor Peter Hanson and Paul Lawrie 5 and 4.

  Then two big surprises unfolded. Firstly, Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar easily beat Justin Rose and Martin Kaymer 3 and 2, before the European Captain’s second wildcard choice helped to save the day for Europe.

  Nicolas Colsaerts enjoyed a dream debut as he and Lee Westwood secured an unlikely looking win over mighty Tiger Woods an
d Steve Stricker. The US looked set to win that tie, before losing it to Europe on the very last hole.

  That proved to be one of the turning points in what would eventually turn out to be a gripping Ryder Cup. Europe trailed by two points overnight after the first day’s play, but as Rory McIlroy stated afterwards:

  It’s not actually that bad and for a while this afternoon it looked like it was going to be a very bad day. We’re only two points behind with eight to play for on Saturday so we’re still in a decent position. We’re pretty strong on foursomes so if we get a good start in the morning and even things up that would be great.

  Davis Love created a sensation when he announced his Saturday morning foursomes next day. He dropped Tiger Woods. Now it can be dressed up and camouflaged in any manner the American Captain sees fit but the fact is Woods (and Stricker) were dropped.

  Tiger was deemed not to be the player to help increase the United States lead as he was not in good enough form. He and Stricker lost their two matches the previous day. Tiger would instead be brought into the afternoon fourballs.

  Europe got off to the perfect required start on Saturday when Ian Poulter and Justin Rose again showed great tenacious fighting spirit to pip Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson on the last hole.

  That was as good as it got for Europe that morning. The lethal cocktail of Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson absolutely destroyed Lee Westwood and Luke Donald 7 and 6. That was a real eye opener as the English pair had always been seen as so strong.

  America had restored their two point advantage and they increased it to three points when Zach Johnson and Jason Duffner beat Sergio Garcia and Nicolas Colsaerts 2 and 1. The last match of the morning was crucial for Europe with Rory and Graeme facing Furyk and Snedeker again!

  The Americans got off to the perfect start when winning the first hole and they maintained that advantage. Furyk and Snedeker were rock steady from tee to green as McDowell struggled.