Golf Tips & Quips

Both of the Ryder Cup captains are competing this weekend on their respective tours. Corey Pavin is playing in the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands located in Cromwell Connecticut. Colin Montgomerie is taking his shot at the BMW International Open championship at Golfclub Munchen Nord-Eichenried in Munich, Germany.

The Europeans have been dominating the PGA Tour over the past few weeks. The last three tournaments have gone to players from across the pond. An international player has won seven of the last eight events. Zach Johnson is the only American to post a win in that period with his win of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Country Club.

If the Ryder Cup were to be played right now, and I was a betting man, I would have to put my money on the Europeans. They are playing the best golf at the moment. Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, and Graeme Mcdowell all won for the first time on U.S. soil this year. Their confidence has to be sky high leading up to the dual in October. While the European players are coming into form, questions seem to arise about the top American players.

Tiger Woods is still working his way back into the game. He showed glimpses of the old Tiger that we had become accustomed to. He holed a few big putts, hit some big shots, and we were finally treated to the first real "Tiger fist pump" of the season. But people are still wondering if he will ever dominate the game again as did for so many years.

Phil Mickelson won the Masters, but everyone still holds their breath when lefty sets up over his Callaway. Mickelson does tremendous things on a golf course. He has thrilled with some of the most amazing shots of all time. But the question always looms. What will Phil do next?

Other members from the 2008 Ryder Cup team are struggling as well. Anthony Kim won earlier in the year, but had surgery to repair his thumb. It may take him some time to fully recover. Kim was the young spark that the U.S. team needed to help them to victory.

Kenny Perry has begun to question his own game, contemplating a run on the Champions Tour. His play this year has been inconsistent and he will probably not make the team this year. Last year, Perry used the fact the he was playing in his native Kentucky as motivation. Perry made his bid all season long and when he was named to the team, he took full advantage of the moment.

We all remember Boo Weekley's antics on the course, but Boo has also been dealing with nagging injuries. He was the guy that kept everybody loose. Every team needs that guy. The guy who can joke around, but still bring it when the time comes.

Don't get me wrong. I don't think all hope is lost. Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan, and Jim Furyk, all members of the last Ryder Cup team , have won this season. The Cup will be as competitive as ever. It just seems that in recent weeks, the Europeans have been able to make the clutch putts and close the door.

There is still a lot of golf to be played before we get to see this great rivalry play out. I'm sure that both Pavin and Montgomerie are both playing this weekend mostly to see how the guys are playing. They will be looking for the golfers who are playing the best and most consistently right now.

Every professional American or European golfer dreams of the day that they can compete in this historic event. It is a chance to be amongst the best and represent your nation. There is a lot of pride involved and neither team wants to be the one to go back home with their head hung low.

Have a good one and always hit your target.

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