Jim Gray and Corey Pavin Argument Needs To End Here

The ongoing feud and supposed altercation that took place between journalist Jim Gray and US Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin stems over none other than Tiger Woods.  It’s crazy to see how golf’s once renowned golden boy continues to get involved, one way or another, into the media with news that sparks controversy.

Gray reported earlier this week that Pavin informed him that Tiger Woods would make the US Ryder Cup Team if he does not make the team based off of his US Ryder Cup standing.  Pavin refuted the report.  Gray confronted Pavin and things got heated.

Ultimately this feud needs to come to an end.  It puts golf into the spotlight, but for reasons that you do not want to be in the spotlight for.  The longer that this feud goes on, the longer the reputations and images of both of these men become at risk.

Corey Pavin is right in his reaction to how Gray revealed Woods’ supposed selection because it would damage the motivation of some players that are trying hard to make this year’s team.

This also leads me to believe that Pavin is lying to the public because it would not make sense for Jim Gray to put his reputation as a journalist on the line to report news of this magnitude. 

Pavin has to lie to make himself look better as the captain and to keep the field of players vying for a spot on the roster hungry.  It also would not make sense for the current number one ranked player in the world to not represent his country’s golf team in competition. 

Those reasons alone are enough for me to think that the addition of Tiger Woods to the US Ryder Cup team by way of play or invitation is inevitable.  That means that this argument is more than likely over something that is going to happen one way or another.

The last thing that the PGA wants right now is for its best player to be at the center of the golf news for something else that is negative.

The last thing the US Ryder Cup team needs is a distraction like this that could cause the team to have imbalanced chemistry and result in poor play.  They cannot afford to lose this Ryder Cup because they have only won four times over the previous 12 Ryder Cups.

Therefore it is in the best interest of Pavin and Gray to settle this dispute and move on.  I can only think of two ways for this to be settled while still maintaining a positive view in the public’s eye: 1.) Gray and Pavin admit their mistakes and settle this dispute with maturity OR 2.) Tiger Woods finishes high enough on the US Ryder Cup standings to be declared an automatic qualifier.

If they go the way of suggestion number one then this controversy will be settled in a civil manner and the public will most likely dwell upon it.  If suggestion number two occurs, then the public will applaud Tiger Woods’ ability to make the team as a result of his play and will follow the Ryder Cup with a greater interest because Woods is in the field.

If one option is to be held higher than the other I would say that the second suggestion would be the recommended option.  That way Tiger Woods begins to generate interest again because he is playing well, people know he made the team fair and square, and other players vying for a spot on the team will not feel spurned by a potential, “unfair” selection of Woods for the Ryder Cup team.