Retrospect: Lost this one on Saturday
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hurleyfor3
As much as I'd like to blame a unc person for this one, Europe simply got the job done and the us didn't. That includes Eldrick, who could have at least salvaged a technical tie. Not sure how Love could have rearranged the Sunday pairings to prevent what happened.
The loss of the last two matches on Saturday gave Europe hope. And not playing Mickelson and Bradley together on Saturday afternoon was like not starting Christian Laettner in the regional final against Kentucky because he might be tired later. Instead, Stricker and Woods did what they do best. We clearly outsmarted ourselves there. The reason? Didn't want to win one point because there were two up for grabs Sunday for M&B. Mighty Davis did strike out, and it cost us dearly.
Sunday was just choke day. We set ourselves up Saturday, and knocked ourselves down on Sunday. Holes 17 and 18 killed us on Saturday and Sunday. Nobody on the US team could finish with a flourish. Only one good finish would have probably been enough.
Amazing finish by Justin Rose, though. Never seen better under that kind of pressure. Justins are apparently good for that every 12-13 years.
Love could have done better
1. Furyk and Stricker were not good choices. As others have posted, Tiger and Phil provided experience as did the assistant Captains or whatever. He should have gone with younger guns.
2. I know Phil asked to sit out Saturday but why let him?
3. When I saw the lineups on Sunday I thought we could use. Went to play and told my partners it was not in the bags.
20 20 hindsight I know.
I happen to like Davis Love. Met him once at a golf tournament dinner many years ago and thought he was very nice and said he rooted for all the ACC teams, including Duke. Steve Stricker is a class act but should not have been playing.
Of course we only gave the Euros a chance. They had to play great to win and they did.
SoCal