Team USA Giving Captain Tom Watson a Dismal Farewell at 2014 Ryder Cup
GLENEAGLES, Scotland — This was going to be an exclamation point on Tom Watson’s great career, a final glorious farewell for a man appropriately in a land where much of his golfing reputation was established.
He would step out of the past, return as captain of an American Ryder Cup team and through his words and wisdom earn another generation’s accolades, maneuvering and persuading players, some of whom weren’t even born when Watson was one of the game’s greatest stars.
It hasn’t worked out that way for the eight-time major winner, who at 65 is the oldest captain in Ryder Cup history. Instead, the opposite has occurred. Europe virtually has won the Cup in two days.
Technically, of course, the U.S. has a chance as this 2014 Ryder Cup on Sunday reaches its ending at Gleneagles, tucked in a glen of the Perthshire hills. But trailing 10-6 with only the 12 singles matches remaining, it’s not much of a chance.
And please don’t mention that was the score by which the U.S. trailed after two days in the 1999 Cup at The Country Club, and Europe trailed after two days in the 2012 Cup at Medinah, and each rallied to win.
Even if Watson did mention it, which certainly was expected. "I trust in my players to get it done,” he said.
For Watson, an icon in Scotland where he won four of his five British Opens, the strain and pain of what is anything but a valedictory is heard in his voice and seen in his face.
Sport can be joyful. Sport can be cruel. Watson’s players, some of best golfers in the world, have failed, other than the two kids, rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, who in their three team matches—they should have had four, but Watson pulled the plug—have two wins and a tie.
That equals 2.5 points of America’s paltry six.
In replacing Davis Love III, the captain of the 2012 team that at home, Medinah, blew the Cup the final day, Watson came in with a more businesslike approach, grandfatherly you might say by the man who is a grandfather, reserved, a bit distant. That hasn’t worked.
Yet a captain, even less than a football or basketball coach, is limited to what he can contribute. Watson didn’t miss a putt Saturday. His crew missed a great many, including a three-footer by Reed at 16 in the afternoon that would have locked up a win. Instead, Justin Rose and Martin Kaymer got a halve, and a half-point.
“It was just one of those putts,” said Reed, “you happen to hit a little timid. You don’t put a good stroke on it.”
Still, it’s hard to berate Reed, 24, or Spieth, 21.
“The one bright spot for our team,” said a crestfallen Watson, “was the play of Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth. I love to see their fire, what they had out there. They got it done, and I couldn’t be more proud. That’s not to say I’m not proud of the rest of the team.”
Maybe he shouldn’t be. There’s no defense in golf. That’s a truism. When the other guy is rolling in 20-footers, or chipping them in like Ian Poulter, all you can do is watch and rue the moment. Of course, you also can roll in those 20-footers or at least keep your approach shots out of the bunkers.
“The rest of the team,” said Watson, “they fought their guts out. They just didn’t live up to the standards the Europeans did this afternoon. They did it [Friday] afternoon to us, and they did it [Saturday] afternoon.”
Watson again defended his decision to rest Reed and Spieth on Friday afternoon instead of playing them in the foursomes. But coaches and captains always defend their moves, don’t they?
And no matter who’s been the captain of late—Corey Pavin in 2010, Love in 2012, Watson this time—America gets its ego whacked around. You’d think a U.S. squad that has Bubba Watson and Jim Furyk and Zach Johnson—not to mention Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson—would pick up more than half a point in four matches.
Indeed, Mickelson, 44, was worn out from 36 holes on Friday, so he sat out Saturday. But Bubba Watson is the Masters champ. And Fowler is one of the best young players anywhere.
“We can talk about decisions about teams all you want,” Watson correctly pointed out. "It’s the players that perform. In the afternoons [Friday and Saturday], the Europeans performed the best.
“And yes, you might think it’s a given the Europeans are going to win, but I sure as hell don’t.”
He’s sending out Reed, Spieth and another rookie, Jimmy Walker, in the opening singles Sunday, planning on the miracle that seems almost impossible, especially the way the Ryder Cup has progressed—or, for the Americans, regressed.
“I think if Patrick and Jordan can turn the tide right there,” said Watson, “it would give us a boost the rest of the team can handle.”
That's a nice thought, but given the Europeans' dominance during the first two days, it's almost certainly wishful thinking, especially with the Americans needing an outright win, and not a tie, to take back the trophy.
Poor Tom. It would have been a wonderful last hurrah.
Art Spander, winner of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism from the PGA of America, is covering his seventh Ryder Cup. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand.
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