5 things we learned from the Presidents Cup
After a nail-biting finish to the 2015 Presidents Cup, it’s time to reflect on a few things we learned.
1. The players care about the Presidents Cup
Part of the criticism of the Presidents Cup has been the doubts as to whether the players care enough to want to win, but you only had to witness the nail-biting finish, Bubba’s dummy-spits, and the team comradery to know they in this all the way.
As to whether golf fans care enough about it remains to be seen. IT would have been a great advertisement for the game to have had this on free-to-air into Australia on the weekend. Teams match-play golf is the best golf to watch on TV by a long way and it would have captured a few new converts as well as cementing its place in the Australian golf psyche.
2. The rules of golf are confusing
We aren’t sure why Phil Mickelson had two types of golf balls in his bag in the first place, and why he didn’t consult rules officials before teeing off, but the rules needed to explain and deal with the situation on Friday was crazy complicated.
The obscure ruling meant that a hole was deducted on top of whatever the score was after the hole. It means that if it happens on the final hole of a match, you could technically lose 2up. Who knew? But as Mickelson admitted, it’s up to the players to know this. If I was a professional golfer I would have memorised the rule book from front to back.
3. We’re still confused about Adam Scott’s putting
Prior to the Sunday singles matches, Adam Scott’s putting was awful. The 2013 Masters champion missed putt after putt and only salvaged a half thanks to some good golf from playing partner Jason Day. (This should be raised when discussing Day’s fruitless Presidents Cup by the way). The new conventional putter was back in play and Scotty switched back and forth from the claw grip to the pencil grip to get something going on the greens.’
Our theory with Scotty is that his putting is ok, he’s just bad at reading greens. It’s all become a little too technical and he’s lost his confidence in picking the right line.
Then on Sunday that confidence returned and Scott rolled in some majestic putts to trounce Rickie Fowler 6&5. It was unexpected to say the least, but confidence on the greens can come and go very quickly. Lets hope it stays as Scott returns to Australian shores in the coming month.
4. Sangmoon Bae is going to be missed
If reports are correct, Sangmoon Bae may have played one of his last professional golf tournaments for a while as he is required to complete a 21-month stint in the South Korean military as part of their compulsory conscription.
Bae didn’t lose a match before his heart-breaking 2up loss on Sunday and in hindsight, should not have been rested by Nick Price on the opening day.
We did see a little of the dark side of the Moon on Sunday, when Bae almost took the legs out from his caddie after hurling his golf club at his golf bag, but it’s clear the South Korean is coming into the prime of his career. Time will tell if he can recapture this form on the other side of military service in 2017.
5. Brett Ogle can get a little excited about golf
Brett Ogle really excited about the President’s Cup. pic.twitter.com/efPFYeYaJ6
— Daniel Bermingham (@bermhabibi) October 11, 2015
Are the players paid for competing in the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup, are they paid significantly, and does their pay depend on how they perform?