Take Some National Pride Out Of The Ryder Cup

I'm probably setting myself up for some scathing email, but the U.S. Ryder Cup team has been taking itself a little too seriously over the last 20 years, which may be the biggest reason for it's terrible performance during that time. Unfortunately, it looks like Paul Azinger has decided to tighten the screws even more this year rather than back them off. Don't get me wrong, it's great to represent your team in international competition, but the outcome doesn't determine the value of your country or how much you love it. This is athletic competition. It's friendly. It's great fun. It's a chance to see some of the best golfers in the world play formats we rarely get to see, like alternate shot. If your team doesn't win, don't feel you have to go home in shame or be pilloried in the public square for the next year.

Listening to Nick Faldo's comments in recent weeks in between coverage of tournaments, he seems to have the same mentality as Jack Nicklaus about Ryder Cup - relax, have fun and let the players put on a show, maybe even smoke a cigar or two and sign autographs with abandon during the practice rounds. I believe that Nick Faldo and Paul Azinger really like each other, but Nick has mentioned more than once that Paul is already putting way too much pressure on his players. Paul Azinger has decided to have two assistant captains to help his players compete. Jack Nicklaus chimed in on that idea during the Memorial by gently reminding Paul that these are the best players in the world and they don't need help playing the game. He even went so far as to say there isn't a lot for the captain to do once play begins, just get out of the way and let your players do what they do best.

It's hard to find a country more enamored with itself these days than the U.S. and that may be the biggest factor in our Ryder Cup blues for that last 20 years. As we get closer to tee time, you'll see more national pride stories and quotes about the honor of playing for one's country. It's only a game, right! I like the eastern philosophy of honoring one's opponent, even more so if they win. Without a great opponent there are no great matches. Without great matches there wouldn't even be a sports page.

Paul Azinger, as captain, your biggest contribution to the Ryder Cup competition is to get your team to relax and to do this you're going to have to play down the 'national pride' angle. You can do more for our nation's image by showing that we can keep things in perspective, honoring the game and our opponents. After all, it's only golf and not the beaches of Normandy. If the Europeans win again, it says nothing about the manhood of our players or how much they do or don't love their country. It's all about how you act, win or lose. In the land where exploding Little League managers too often have to be removed from the playing field by police, it's about time grownups show children what competition is all about.