It was a great weekend for golf fans. The Ryder Cup delivered again and one thing that really stood out to me is summed up in a single word – momentum. It is a strange and wonderful thing and I have been on the right and wrong end of it before. It is also something that is visible in all sports – tennis, soccer, rugby, you name it.
When you see the team with momentum they play in a relaxed and confident manner, whereas the other side plays with a regard for the outcome. You can see the tension athletes are under when that momentum is against them. And you don’t have to be a professional athlete to appreciate and feel it in sports. It is the same thing that you feel when playing golf with your buddies for a Nassau on a Saturday morning. You get two or three down quickly and it is the same pressure as those guys are feeling. You try to start pushing and effecting to change the situation and all too often your efforts end up just short or your opponent seemingly has the answer.
I thought the US played with enormous guts and heart, but it just didn’t quite happen for them in the foursomes over the first two days and then it is tough to catch up in the singles. I thought that ‘momentum’ was ever present for the Europeans. Even when it looked like the Americans were about to change it, the momentum swung back to Europe. Jordan Spieth was up early against Graeme McDowell on Sunday in the singles and as a pro when you get four down you know it is really tough to get back into the game. At three down Graeme managed to eek his way back into the game and with the added support of the crowd really seemed to shift that momentum back towards Europe.
I keep trying to draw parallels to my experiences at the Presidents Cup and this is something that we, the International team, have suffered from. It is such a fine line and we feel we are a match for the US team every time we tee it up, but sometimes we perhaps don’t play with that same freedom. It is so tough to explain but in these events you need to be playing with freedom and a relaxed enjoyment of the game even though there is a lot of pressure. I think that was visible in the European team’s play over the three days.
On a personal note, I have had three weeks off now so the family is probably keen to get me out of the house and on the road again! During that time I have been working out with my trainer Vern and adding some strength work, which is so difficult to do when you are on the road and playing in tournaments.
This week it is back to the Links with the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in St. Andrews. This really is a wonderful week of golf played at the Home of Golf. Johann Rupert, who is a great friend of mine, has made this event so special for the pros and amateurs that it really is one of the highlights of the season. Everything Johann is involved in he always has so much passion for – and we are all lucky that golf is one of his passions. He has done so much for the game of golf around the world.
I usually play with my Dad in this event but unfortunately this year he is struggling with a shoulder injury so I’ll be looking forward to playing some golf with him when I am back in South Africa for the holidays.
That’s it for now. Follow me on Twitter @TheBig_Easy
