I’m back on the grid.  I spent the weekend camping in one of the most amazing places I’ve ever seen.  I’ll post about that later.

Upon my return I was happy to hear that the USA Ryder Cup team finally pulled off a victory.  In fact they won by a farily large margin too.  Why the win, especially without the world’s best player Tiger Woods?

Why Tiger may not be good for the USA Ryder Cup team

Flame me if you want but I’m going to comment on why it may be possible that the USA Ryder Cup team is better off without Tiger.

Exhibit A:  Tiger’s Personal Ryder Cup Record

It is well documented that Tiger doesn’t have the greatest Ryder Cup record.  The table below shows his results.  He’s sub 50% total, won 30% of foursome matches, won 40% of his fourball matches and won 60% of his singles:

Exhibit B:  Ryder Cup Results

Just looking at the years since Tiger started playing in the cup is exhibit B.  Tiger has played in five Ryder Cups, four of which the USA Team lost.

Exhibit C: 2008

In 2008 the USA Team wins without Tiger.

Assuming I’m correct then WHY?

I can think of a few reasons why the USA Ryder Cup team is “less effective” with Tiger on board:

First, Tiger is an “individual” player, used to working hard and excelling on his own.  Having to “depend” on other players or play in a “team” situation may not be his comfort zone or forte’.  It must be frustrating for Tiger to have to put up with partners who may bring him down.  It also must be frustrating to have his game and results not 100% dependent on HIS performance.

Second, I think other players feel pressure as Tiger’s teammate. Many players who Tiger has partnered with don’t perform very well.  The pressure of playing with Tiger must get to them.

3rd, camaraderie.  Many say that the European teams have camaraderie that the USA team doesn’t.  They eat dinner together, drink beers together etc.  Many USA team players, Tiger especially, have their own private worlds and may have less of a “locker room” vibe.

Tiger Woods may have a bum knee, but “other” body parts appear to be fully functional. Today on Tiger’s web site, he announced that his wife Elin is pregnant with their 2nd child:

This has been a year of contrasts. I had a solid start to the season, won the US Open in an exciting playoff, and then unfortunately had to shut it down after successful knee surgery.

And now, I have some wonderful news to report.

Sam is going to be a big sister.

Elin and I are proud to announce that we are expecting our second child in late-winter.

Congrats Tiger.  Nothing changes your perspective like producing offspring.  You better start saving up for their college education… Oh nevermind.

I had a great time with my new friend Frank Drollinger of United Golfers at the PGA Expo in Vegas. Frank is a German guy who lives in a town near Stuttgart and has been known to drive his Porsche 200MPH+ on the Autobahn. We had lunch together and talked about his product, the Free Release golf shoe. The Free Release has a moving sole which is designed for reducing stress and torque on the player’s body to prevent injury or to allow players who are injured (Tiger Woods perhaps?) to play without making their injuries worse.

It is around 100 degrees here. When it gets that hot I can’t just drink water on the course. If I only drink water I end up with what the Greeks call “evil eye.” Evil eye is a mind splitting headache centered in my right eyeball. It hurts so bad and the only thing that helps is putting a freezing cold towel on my head and neck.

Hydrate

If I hydrate with a sports drink in these extreme conditions I seldom get the evil eye. My strength, concentration and endurance are also better. I’ve been drinking Gatorade for years and have grown to love the purple fierce and red flavors. I drink so much Gatorade in the summer that I’ve started buying the mix at Coscto and making my own. The cost per ounce is about 100th as much when you make your own.

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Luke Donald hurt his left wrist in the U.S. Open.  He’s now going under the knife and he’ll be joining Tiger Woods on the injured list for the remainder of 2008.  That means no Ryder Cup for him.

It could be worse for Luke.  Assuming he’s right handed, he can still paint.

From Tiger’s newsletter:

“As far as swinging a club, that’s not going to happen until next year. I just don’t have a choice.”

The way I see it, I’ll be playing better golf than Tiger for the remainder of 2008.

There’s a weather delay today in round three of the 2008 PGA Championship. It isn’t looking like round three will be completed by day’s end.

Bonus

The good thing is that we get to watch the epic battle between Bob May and Tiger Woods, in a replay of the 2000 PGA Championship. Man what an amazing battle.

Tiger Woods is able to walk limp around and able to ride a stationary bike. He plans on returning in no less than five months, longer if the recovery time is needed. The word also is that he’s lost about 10 pounds.