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RYDER CUP | BLOG

A year after the drama of the 2015 Solheim Cup and fresh off the amazing display of golf we watched at last week’s Ryder Cup, I can’t help but wonder what Suzann Pettersen is thinking.

Patrick Reed is suddenly America’s favourite son. A local newspaper in Minnesota’s headline read: “Reed, white and blue.”  He would not be getting all this adulation and exposure if it weren’t for his passion and the way he plays matchplay. I love it.

“it’s all about getting into the opponent’s head”

Example: In the first session on Friday he and his partner, Jordan Spieth, had a commanding lead at the ninth hole and made the Europeans hole out a putt that Sir Nick Faldo described as being ‘an inch under two feet’. Clearly, as one of the commentators said, ‘the Americans are trying to send a message’.

Exactly! That’s what you do in matchplay, make your opponents hole out some putts and give them others – it’s all about getting into the opponent’s head.

Read more -> BLOG: The truth about US crowds

CONTINUES BELOW…

The Solheim Cup - Day Three

What I don’t love is why it’s ok for the guys to do this but not the girls.

Example: This time last year in Wurttemberg, Germany, golf media went crazy over a small putt that Europe refused to concede during a pivotal point in the fourth session of fourball matches. To refresh your memory, Suzann Pettersen was fiercely, and wrongly, criticised for trying to do the very thing Patrick Reed does every time he plays matchplay.

“Everyone jumped on the bandwagon against Suzann”

It seemed like everyone jumped on the bandwagon against Suzann, suggesting she was unsporting and not playing in the spirit of the game. BS…she was playing the game of matchplay.

No one from Europe conceded the putt, Alison Lee picked up the ball after she boldly attempted to make her birdie putt, hole to Europe, end of story.

Read more -> Suzann Pettersen issues apology

CONTINUES BELOW…

The Solheim Cup - Day Three

And, before you say, ‘Ah, but the European team of Pettersen and Hull were walking off the green, giving the impression they had conceded the putt’, the fact check report will confirm Pettersen was behind the green, out of the camera shot, and Hull was walking over to her saying, ‘We’re not giving them that putt’.

This is the beauty of matchplay, and as David Feherty said: “The only thing wrong with the Ryder Cup is that it’s only played every two years.”

I truly hope the Olympic committee is taking notes for the format in Tokyo four years from now. No.1 on their note pad should be matchplay; No.2 should be matchplay; and No.3 should be matchplay. Throw in a mixed team event and you will have the sporting world riveted.

Ryder Cup/Solheim Cup blog :: Do you agree?

Do you agree with Kathryn Imrie that there seems to be a different sets of rules for both the men and women when it comes to matchplay? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.

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