Sunday, September 24, 2006 Chiongbian: Ryder Cup singles best suited for US Team By Edgar R. Chiongbian Teetime
Today the Ryder Cup finale will feature 12 singles matches that will determine who will take home the cup. This segment of the competition is the equalizer for the Americans because they never do well in the team play competition.
The US team is very comfortable with this format probably because US golfers are individualistic players, unlike the Europeans who seem to genuinely like team play.
Since the Ireland golf course is not typical of British courses and instead similar to American courses, I expect the US team to do very well in the singles matches.
But the behind the scenes strategy is what makes the Ryder Cup for the players. For example, the team captain must know who is playing well and match him against a stronger opponent, or match a player who can intimidate a player from the opposing team and hope for an upset.
A team captain may also concede some matches by pairing his weakest players against the strongest but he must know his winners and losers to develop a solid plan and statistics to get the best odds. Unfortunately, it is not a secret and both teams know it.
The most difficult plan is in the pairings, which are done by alternating picks. Player’s names are presented so the other team matches him with a player, vice versa and so on. A key here is not to present your ace player and use him for matching against players being presented by the other team.
And what is going on at Mactan Island GC? People always say that you can tell a person is doing well because he will hold many parties. So if we consider this true then MIGC must be doing very well because in the lingo of golfers, parties are translated to golf tournaments.
Last weekend MIGC had their Chairman’s Cup golf tournament. This past Friday and Saturday they had the Mactan Open and on the same day, the quarterly members tournament. That’s more than a lot of parties. That is an avalanche of major golf tournaments within eight days. Keep up the good work guys. Just make sure you don’t run out of trophies.
By the way, while we were away trekking on golf courses at Saranggani and Dole Kalsangi in General Santos, we heard someone got himself in a big jam back here. Reports said that a club member’s putter landed on the head of a female caddie that required three stitches in the face. Evidently, the member is claiming it was an accident with the caddie disagreeing. I must say that accidents like that are hard to come by, but I guess it can happen to the best of people.
We shall soon know the real story because the board of the club has already started their investigation. However, while we were in Dole Kalsangi golf course, we also heard an incident involving a club member and caddie.
The story goes that the caddie picked up the ball of his player/member because it was inside the red-staked hazard. For some reason this totally enraged the member that he went on a rampage berating, the caddie to tears and would not accept an apology, sending the caddie home.
Instead the caddie went to the office and complained. Some officers of the club were called and a decision was made right there and then.
They went over to the hole where the member was still playing and asked him to leave the club and banned him from ever coming back. This was the final straw because this member had been doing this all the time.
Is that swift justice or just simple thinking? Another justice wanting to be served is the shooting-to-death of Roy Damole, a fellow Rotarian, whose life ended at the age of 38 because someone placed no value on life. I know our police and local governments are doing the best they can.
But please mister please, we don’t need more police and guns. What we need are programs and more education on the values of life. Let us see some placed on billboards so our people may see everyday.
Golf Tip: The best way to chip is to make a short backswing, accelerate through impact and keep the clubhead low on the follow-through. The worst way to chip is by making a long backswing, forcing you to decelerate on the downswing and then lifting the clubhead up to help the ball fly.
The standard set up is to use a pitching wedge or a 9–iron. Using a narrow stance, play the ball midway between your heels, and swing back until your hands are about even with your right pocket.
Pull the club aggressively down to impact, leading the stroke with your left hand and make a short follow-through. Your wrists and hands should feel firm so you won’t scoop the ball.
