Woods, words and Wetterich
- 20 Sep 06, 07:21 PM
K CLUB - It wasn't all queues in the car park, American golfers skimming golf balls off the water like pebbles and , there was some excellent chat too.
With actual golf being not such an attractive proposition for the players today the assembled press were treated to a steady diet of press conferences and interviews.
The general themes? The Americans are having "a bunch of fun", nobody wants to be favourites and is actually a bit of a card.
Here are some of the best quotes that Rob (when he wasn't appearing on national radio programmes to defend his comments about the organisers' door policy this morning) and I heard at Ryder Cup HQ.
鈥淚 always wonder how he makes contact with the ball.鈥
Tiger Woods responds to Jim Furyk鈥檚 remark that the world number one likes playing with him in team competition so he can get a close-up view of Furyk鈥檚 famously freakish golf swing.
鈥淭here was no money involved. Gambling is illegal at Bushwood.鈥
Phil Mickelson, refuting allegations of a skins game, wins the Ty Webb award for the first quote this week from cult golf movie .
鈥淚t was kind of weird when my high school called and said they were going to induct me into their hall of fame because I don鈥檛 think my high school liked me very much. I spent a lot of time in the principal鈥檚 office.鈥
American rookie Brett Wetterich laughs at life鈥檚 funny ways.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a neat feeling to have the best player in the world on your side鈥nd the number two and number three guys also.鈥
Wetterich reminds us that the visitors are far from underdogs this week.
鈥淚鈥檓 starting to feel more comfortable around them [Woods, Mickelson etc]. Before, there鈥檚 no way I would ever go up to them and chop them in the shoulder. Now I feel more comfortable to go out and do whatever I want.鈥
Wetterich is coming to terms with life as part of the in-crowd. (Though Brett might not want to try that trick where Vaughn Taylor kneels behind Tiger and he pushes him over. Give it a few more days for that one, Wettmeister.)
鈥淲ell, first of all, I鈥檓 JJ.鈥
reminds a reporter that the Brett Wetterich interview session is over after he is asked, 鈥淪o, Brett鈥︹︹
Journalist: 鈥淒o you feel that you intimidate your own partners at all, especially in the foursomes?鈥
Tiger: 鈥淣o.鈥
Journalist: 鈥淣o?鈥
Tiger: 鈥淣o.鈥
Woods might not frighten his playing partners but he scares the life out of the press corps.
鈥淎s for the Sergio comments, hopefully we can get together out there and play.鈥
Woods moves on from growling at journalists to remind European star Sergio Garcia, who had the temerity to say Tiger鈥檚 Ryder Cup record ain鈥檛 that great, that history suggests it is not wise to say anything that might be construed as even vaguely critical. Just ask Stephen Ames, Nick Faldo, Butch Harmon, Dave Pelz鈥
"I never said that. I think he's a wonderful player."
Sergio Garcia proves there's two sides to every story.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 aware.鈥
David Howell tries to convince a room full of journalists that playing partner Paul 鈥楾he Chat鈥 Casey hadn鈥檛 mentioned overtaking him at to top the European Order of Merit.
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........that history suggests it is not wise to say anything that might be construed as even vaguely critical. Just ask Stephen Ames, Nick Faldo, Butch Harmon, Dave Pelz鈥
CLASSIC!
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I am Irish living in the States and I am so sorry and embarassed for the appalling comments published by a rag magazine about Tiger Woods' wife. How hurtful and disgraceful. He does not represent the rest of us Irish. Your wife is beautiful!
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It is truly disappointing to see an Irish publication has resorted to slurring the wives of the US Ryder Cup team as pathetic attempt to distract the US golfers.
Are the editors and staff of the Dubliner so desperate for a win that they will do anything for it? Or perhaps, that is part of their Irish famous hospitality - wait until your country's guests arrive then insult them and have a good laugh afterwards. Where is that sense of universal decency regardless of how desperate or competitive you are?
I'm reasonably certain that the Euro press would be pouncing on that the Dubliner had it dared to slur Messieurs Colin Montgomerie's girlfriend or P. Harrington's wife.
It is Not a satire after-the-fact check and somehow presume to think that is perfectly OK to say, "Oh, sorry".
Here's a thought, why don't Trevor White et al try that kind of "satire" on their own families and relatives and see how well that sit?
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鈥淚t鈥檚 a neat feeling to have the best player in the world on your side鈥nd the number two and number three guys also.鈥
If it was a league format then the above statement may have substance. In the ryder cup rankings means very very little.
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Fellows: Have you seen and smelt the grass yet. Smelt seen and tasted the "Black Stuff" yet - even heard the local accent? YET? Start enjoying yourselves.
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I think that Wetterich's comments underline the fact that, despite all their public proclamations of unity, the US team have had only 3 or 4 days to build a team spirit - impossible amongst a group like this. The Europeans seem to have had the spirit built long before practice even began.
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Nice one Sergio. Tiger's Ryder cup record really is dire.
I hope we can see a bit more humour (or is that homor) from the Americans this time. Brett sounds like he's having fun, maybe the others should take a leaf out of his book.
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It seems to me like the US team have been told to say "we're having a load of fun" every time they are asked a question!
The Europeans are having fun too but they are doing it without having to try and do it! That's the difference!!
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Oh Mary, we've done all of those things and now that we've worked out Dublin's one-way system and found a sneaky way into the car park closest to the buses at the Weston Aerodrome we've resolved to do a lot more of the things you suggest. Technical issues permitting, I intend to blog live from the bar in the tented village on Saturday.
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"Or perhaps, that is part of their Irish famous hospitality - wait until your country's guests arrive then insult them and have a good laugh afterwards. Where is that sense of universal decency regardless of how desperate or competitive you are?"
In response to Annes comments about the Irish, how can you slander an entire nation over one magazine's comments. Every nation have magazines that publish rubbish so don't go blaming the Irish nation for the words of a few.
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This stuff is too good to be true! Irish press is a joke, as is the English. I am American but my brother-in-law lives 10 miles from the K-Club so I absolutely love Ireland and the people. But due to what was shown in The Dubliner and Sergio's reacent comments on Tiger's Ryder Cup play, that adds up to a huge US win. People should know by now that when you make Tiger made, it makes pro golfers look real stupid! So, thanks for giving life to this boring match. US would have won anyway but this just makes it a whole lot sweeter now.
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It should be a great match. I thought Tiger's response to the Dubliner was correct. He did not blame the fans but the paper. Amazing that a paper could do this at all let alone get it completely wrong. The nude photos of "Elin" are of some playboy model not her. The paper is definitely going to get hammered in a law suit over this and rightfully so. Tiger in this case is completely justified in his anger. As for this correlating into a US victory remains to be seen but does spice up the competition for the rest of us.
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Brett is a funny guy; But I think his ability to carry his driver 330 yards is what the Euros will not find very funny...Toms and Wetterich 3 and 2.
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