Can the USA Cope without Tiger?

Posted by Sport.co.uk on: 20 September 2008 - 17:07
Author: Toby Draper
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For the first time since 1997 the European Ryder Cup team will be facing an opposition team without the World Number 1, Tiger Woods. 

Captain Azinger says he will have an open line to Tiger, believing him to be a man with an unmatched ability to read the game.  One would think that maybe Tiger Woods would actually be at the Valhalla course, cheering on his team.  This possibility has barely been mentioned.  The European team go in as favourites, it would have been difficult enough for them with Tiger, let alone without him.

Tiger the Sulk

The sulky, lip quivering face of Tiger Woods has become almost iconic.  He has never looked happy playing in the Ryder Cup.  As the best player in the world, winner of numerous majors and a man who saunters through some tournaments, it must be hard to be a team player.  The loss of control playing in pairs clearly affects Woods’ play.  The look on his face when his playing partner makes a mess of a shot is a picture of pain.  

The lack of success is said to exemplify that Tiger simply does not care, it does not bother him whether the U.S. team wins or not.  He may not be too bothered about the Ryder Cup but he still loves to win.  A man who is used to winning as much as Woods always loves to win.  He wants to win, he is a winner, a competitive winner.  The apparent lack of commitment or passion for the Cup may not actually be that much of an issue.  Two of the most patriotic players in the U.S.A. team, Justin Leonard and Kenny Perry have never won a Ryder Cup point.  However much they show their passion to win, they have been totally ineffective.

Whether Woods is a sulk or not, his presence in the American dressing room can surely only be a boost to the other players.  Knowing you have the best player in the world on your team has got to galvanize the whole team.  So, the Americans will miss him, any team anywhere in the world would like to have Tiger on their team, sulk or not.  The effect on the Europeans is that they would have loved to have had a crack at him in a format that he is uncomfortable with.  

Majors, Records and Experience

Even without Tiger Woods, the Americans have the advantage of more Major winners than Europe.  They have Phil Mickleson, Jim Furyk, Justin Leonard and Ben Curtis.  Europe has just Padraig Harrington.  Tiger’s 14 Major wins dwarfs the total of both teams put together, 6 for U.S.A. and 3 for Harrington.  So the pedigree is there for the U.S. team, it is just a question of whether they can use it.  Leonard for one, has to perform for once and get some points.

Tiger’s record in the Ryder Cup is not as bad as some think.  He has only lost one singles game.  His record overall is 10 wins, 13 losses and 2 halves.  That record does not read so well.  Only Phil Mickleson in the U.S. team can compete with it though.  The worry for them is that there are six Europeans who can.

A lot has been made of the Europeans missing from the team.  Players like Colin Montgomerie have a fantastic record in the Cup and would bring a lot of experience to the side.  This may bode well for the Tigerless Americans as four or five of European winners will not compete.  This evens up experience points.


Future in the U.S.A.

There is a slight worry in the U.S.A. that, with three losses in a row, another could spell the end for the Ryder Cup in America.  It is well known that Americans find much more pleasure in sport on their own shores.  A loss this time around could mean that the next tournament will be a victim of a lack of interest from across the Atlantic.  

The loss of Tiger Woods could effect the money that builds up around the tournament.  Sponsors, advertisers and television companies will not be pleased at the lack of the greatest player in the world.  The interest definitely drops if he is not playing.  

The U.S.A. team will be desperate to win.  It has been many years since they did.  Coping without Tiger may be tough but the fans will hope that it will spur the team on more.  For a win without Tiger Woods would be quite brilliant, a massive win against such a massively talented Europe side.  It would have been a difficult enough task with Tiger and after all, he is just one man.