Faldo: gave it his all
Ewen Murray celebrates a fine Ryder Cup and examines why Nick Faldo found captaincy so tough. < Back to Story
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Comments (61)
Chris Dunn says...
Well put Ewan and good on you for not bashing Faldo like everyone else is doing. The bottom line is they did play better and deserved to win. His final day order of play was a good blend of quality out first and some reserved till the end, but no matter how hard they tried the PLAYERS didn't perform not Nick Faldo. A message too, to all those peolpe who emailed this column criticising the pick of Ian Poulter. You should be embarrased by some of the comments that you emailed in, because without him it would have been an even bigger margin of defeat. Chris, Cheshire
Posted 19:12 23rd September 2008
Tony Parsons says...
Welcome back Ewen and thanks to you and the team for your excellent coverage at Valhalla. (Uncle Bruce is excused for getting the matches mixed up a couple of times). I am sure that you will be commenting in much greater depth during the coming months but I was pleased at your following comment " Faldo did what he has always done. He gave this term of captaincy everything, 100% effort with meticulous planning. That is what Nick has done throughout his hugely successful career and it would have been a mistake to change that policy, because to him that would be foreign. " Don't forget also that the Captain is selected by the Ryder Cup Committee and they cannot expect anything more than what you have described in Faldo's performance. At the end of the day for whatever reason ON or OFF the course Europe were well beaten by a US team playing exceptionally well on Home ground. I suppose we will have to put up with the 'gutter' press on Faldo for a few more months until the next Captain is selected. Hey - It could be Nick again or even Woosie, and don't forget the same Press were pretty unkind to him before the 2006 match but on that occasion they had to shut up pretty quickly after Europe's Victory.
Posted 18:42 23rd September 2008
Jon Dunn says...
fair comment on many parts, the antics towards westwood by some U.S fans was shameful. i dont know why they do this. support your team to your hearts content but dont make one of the players a victim of sick abuse. hope the game of golf is nt decending into the depths of some other sports. that said america fully deserve it. enjoy the sucess and please sort the odd american idiot out which leave this wonderful event a little bit tarnished.
Posted 18:30 23rd September 2008
Richie Walsh says...
I agree with many if not all the comments made by Ewen Murray but i would like to add a few of my own. I agree that the best golfers are at there best when only lookin after themselves but the ryder cup is a huge pary of todays golf. Nick totally lacked the skills to lead a team. In my opinion his opening speech was a disgrace. His comments about Padraig and "potatoes" etc was ridiculous..and then asking GMac if he was Irish or Northern Irish (which obviously put him on the spot of a very touchy subject).... stupid comment... And poor Soren Hansen being called Soren Stenson... the ryder cup is about the players not the captain and Nick set the tone early on that to him it was his time to shine.. alot can be learned from the conduct of Zinger... Calm...Composed...and Respectfull..
Posted 18:27 23rd September 2008
David S says...
Hit the nail in the head there Ewen. Tiger and Nick play for themselves. That is not to be criticised. They have a dream to be the greatest individual and they fulfill that dream because they know they have the talent to do so. If participating in the Ryder Cup comes as a by-product of greatness then so be it - but for some, it will never be priorty. Nick will be primarily remembered for his major tally, not his Ryder record. This is not to take away from the Cup, merely to justify the occurence of mediocre performances from great players - team members and captains alike. Nevertheless the focus should remain on the event itself. A spectacle of sportsmanship, grit and commeradeship and if continued in this spirit, the Ryder Cup will remain the pinnacle of sport for years to come.
Posted 18:20 23rd September 2008
Hugh Gillogley says...
ewen once again you write a good piece but i feel you are not being so forthright as you were in your wee rant at monty. perhaps now is not the right time to have a go at nick, but i feel you missed out on some proper howlers by our captain .i think his captancy can be summed up by his unbelivable gaff at the opening when he turned to mcdowell and said "you from ireland or northen ireland" i cant imagine any other senior player on tour coming out with that and for me just showed a lack of class .however you must say he got his picks right and but for some great golf from the yanks on the final day he might have got away with it .i will watch with intrest to see who you think will be our next captain ideas on a post card !
Posted 18:12 23rd September 2008
Howard Eve says...
Ewen,you have summed it all up perfectly. The piece about Anthony Kim is very subtle,but true,we all know what you mean. I especially liked the piece on Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods,a fine article,thanks Ewen.
Posted 18:07 23rd September 2008
Rob Davis says...
I cant help feeling a little sorry for Nick . Not only because we lost but because he just does not have the ability to empathise with other people , to bond with other people and to enjoy that type of connection . Ewen yr so right , a loner through and through despite really trying to demonstrate otherwise . As for the singles order all i can say is we were 2 points behind and needed a good start . Sergio may be a big name but his form was off and his putting (crucial in matchplay ) was just not there . On that basis alone it was a poor choice to lead with and Kim played on his weakness from the start . Yes Kim played very well but it gets easier and easier when your opponent misses from 3 feet . All in all the Americans deserved their win which on the positive makes next time more interesting for me ..........
Posted 17:50 23rd September 2008
Simon Rourke says...
Nice balanced comments Ewen, as always. Firstly, I have to say the Americans fully deserved their victory, the standard of golf was incredible from start to finish and they have unearthed some future gems in Kim, Weekley, Holmes and Mahan. I was also really pleased, as a fellow lefty, to see Phil Mickelson display the kind of talent in the Ryder Cup that has perhaps been missing in past encounters, the fact this coincided with Tigers absence is perhaps no coincidence! As for Europe, we were simply outplayed. Someone had to win and the odds were it was always going to be the US given home advantage and their general desire and enthusiasm of Captain Azinger. Faldo will no doubt be beaten up by the media, but blame shouldn't be pinned on anyone, America simply were the better team - end of! Positives include Poulters fantastic display, who would have thought hey after all the debate on his selection. We have some of the most talented players in the world so don't bet against a Europe victory in 2yrs time at Celtic Manor where I wouldn't be surprised to see Woosie given the captaincy again. Personally, I thought this Ryder Cup was one of the best and long may they continue.
Posted 17:41 23rd September 2008
Damien Morris says...
the ryder cup coverage was first class.great 2 c so much quality shot making from both sides.i was very impressed with the rookies that performed so well like gMac booSA weekley.the european tour should consider giving him sponsors exemptions to attract more crowds.at the moment there isn't enough of characters in the game like Boo Weekley.i would also like 2 c JB Holmes and anthony kim come over 2 play in europe as Holmes is the new john daly and Anthony Kim just thrills galleries with his glorious shotmaking skills he displayed against sergio Garcia.i was disappointed with the european performances of garcia, harrington, westwood and jiminez.with all their experience of ryder cups they looked like they were rookies.who do u think will b the next captains of USA AND EUROPE?I'd like 2 c Couples be American captain andOlazabal b European captain.thanks 4 great coverage of ryder cup long may it continue.
Posted 17:33 23rd September 2008
Leonard Martin says...
you have said it all. I could'nt have put it any better.....................
Posted 16:56 23rd September 2008
Fergal Hickey says...
"The first time in nine years, their side was united and dedicated to the cause" First of all let me say congrad to the US team, they played the better golf over the 3 days & that's what it boils down to. On the above comment, I can't help but think that with Tiger not been there it made them more united,in a strange kind of way took the pressure off them. It most likely wasn't said in the team meetings,then again maybe it was that American golf wasn't all about Tiger & they proved that. But then again as you say Ewen "Nick and Tiger are similar and maybe that's why they have 20 majors between them. The great hunters, hunt alone"
Posted 16:55 23rd September 2008
Nick Cowling says...
I feel Europe still have greater strength in depth than the Americans but were simply outplayed. Does anyone know what happened during the altercation between Poulter and Kim during session 4? Would love to have heard what Poulter said in front of bleached jeaned MJ!!
Posted 16:27 23rd September 2008
Colin Duggan says...
Ewen Murray has to be diplomatic in his comments, that goes with his job, but how he can on the one hand defend our so-called 'Big Guns' of Messrs Garcia, Harrington and Westwood whilst suggesting that Nick Faldo is not cut out to be a captain beggars belief. Yes, Sergio got slaughtered in his singles match by someone who on that day could have played using a stick of rhubarb and he would still have won but what about the other four matches he played that yielded 1.5 points? If, as is suggested, that Pardraig Harrington had 'nothing left in the tank' then he should have have withdrawn from the team and not allow himself to become the liability that he was. This would have made way for Darren Clarke to play who I guarantee would have made a very positive contribution. Lee Westwood got himself in potential winning situations and bottled it every time. I'll put money on him trying harder defending his British Masters title this coming weekend, or am I being a little cynical I wonder! The bare truth of the matter is that these three gentlemen played 13 matches between them and did not win a single one. One win each would have meant Europe retaining the Ryder Cup. I rest my case.
Posted 16:25 23rd September 2008
Teri W says...
My word Ewen, you have changed your tune, try reading you article of the 1st Septemebr again. Were you practically demonised Ian Poulter for the fact that he got a pick over your pupil Darren Clarke. Hope you didn't choke on the humble pie. Much should also be said of all the european rookies, G Mc, Wilson, JR, Robert and Hansen, who played thier socks off, but came up against birdie machines, Faldo can't do much about that. They were all brilliant, the heat was blistering, the crowd foromidable, if at times a little over the top and unsporting, I personally heard a shout of "miss it" ring out on one green as a player was over his putt, the stamina it must have take these guys to play 36 holes in those conditions, let alone the passion and the drive it takes is imeasurable. Well done Europe, well done Faldo.
Posted 16:16 23rd September 2008
David Levy says...
Delighted to read a piece that gives the American team the credit for winning the Ryder Cup, rather than suggesting Nick's captaincy lost it. While there are perhaps some valid criticism of Nick's performance (for a media man he did look remarkably uncomfortable at times in front of the tv), hats off to the US team. Equally, Nick was correct to say that our team can hold their heads up high (which could perhaps not be said for the previous two American sides). The quality of golf was magnificent over the three days, just a shame that the Americans were more magnificent than we were.
Posted 15:55 23rd September 2008
David Fisher says...
Excellent peice about our greatest golfer ever. I think Nick Faldo did a great job overall, though I would have still liked to have seen the likes of Darren Clark and Monty playing their parts, if not in the team, then definitely assisting. In sport there has to be a winner and a loser, this time the US were the better team, but all the players gave their all, in one of the few world sporting events left, that is still played by true gentlemen, in the highest traditions of sportsmanship.
Posted 15:46 23rd September 2008
Lee Graves says...
Ewan firstly can i say you and your team on sky sports, were as good off the course as the golf being played on it. The insight, commentary and general views given by the SS team was top draw. Now the real topic of conversation, is it faldo's fault? In my view NO, yes on reflection things could have been done better, but thats always the case when any team loses. The fact is i don't think 12 Tiger Woods could have tamed the USA, so would that make Tiger a bad player? I don't think so. Boo was -8, Perry -7, Kim -6 and the list go's on, did all european fans beleive The US would never win again? if they did then they have a very narrow mind! Like America the eurpeans will hurt for two years then seek revenge and i hope they acheive in the same way America did! the highest qaulity golf any tournament has ever seen. One thing i was disapointed with, was Azingers crowd tactics, when Lee made his comments i was a little surprised and i thought he was possibly wrong and quite daming of zinger, but i then watched SS News and they showed azinger before the event rallying americans to cheer europeans mis fortune. This is not golf and is not needed in golf, because there is always one idiot who takes it too far, for this Azinger was wrong and out of order. I would like to commend Ian Poulter and ask for all those who slated him and still continue to do so, to actually eat humble pie and appologise, without him Europe would have securred next to nothing. My final thought and question is when 2010 comes if America lose will Tiger take the blame, i think unfairly he is set to be the biggst scapegoat, more so than any captain. Well done all 24 players and the in the end the best team won. Lets hope 2010 is eqaully as good.
Posted 15:41 23rd September 2008
Tony Mundane says...
excellent piece of writing. i agree there is much positives we can take from this, the performance of poulter, mcdowell and hansen can give us hope for 2010. lets face it our big guns didnt fire this time plus the us fans cant have helped the players with all there antics. hopefully wont have to hear boooooooooooooooooooo for a while anyway. faldo proved what we all thought before hand, to much of an individual to lead a team that is full of individuals that need to be united. but we will come back stronger more rookies watch out for rory mcilroy and oliver fisher for celtic manor
Posted 15:34 23rd September 2008
Gary Tardivel says...
i thought our best should of been out first casey sergio both struggled and were not at there best. when you have a competition that first to a certain target wins you must put out the best or the ones on top form. i think one of sky lads said the same.
Posted 15:33 23rd September 2008