Palmer and iconic draw recalled
‘The King’, selfless act loom large at Ryder Cup
MOVING tributes to Arnold Palmer and a celebration of sportsmanship from the Ryder Cup past highlighted the opening ceremony of the 41st edition of the match play event which started yesterday at Hazeltine.
Under blue skies and warm sunshine, Palmer, who died last Sunday aged 87, was honoured in a touching video montage of his life and exploits on the golf course and a moment of silence was observed for the man who was known simply as “The King”.
On Thursday thousands of fans crowded a grassy expanse in front of a stage set under a giant banner CHASKA, the suburb of Minneapolis where the Ryder Cup has alighted this week, was once little more than a collection of cow pastures. When the US Open was first brought here to Hazeltine in 1970, most of the players, it would be fair to conclude, were not impressed.
Take journeyman Dave Hill, who thundered that “they ruined a good farm when they built this course“. The story has it that Hill had enjoyed a few liveners before speaking but for decades his comments stuck. What, one local journalist persisted, did he recommend should be done about Hazeltine? “Plough it up and start again,” he replied. “The man who designed this place had the blueprints upside down.”
Poor Hazeltine. But then it is little more than a quirk of television scheduling that explains why the Ryder of the gold trophy donated in 1927 by Samuel Ryder as a prize for the international competition held every two years.
Before the introduction of US Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III and European captain Darren Clarke and their 12-man teams, two fabled Ryder players and captains – Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin – were saluted for an iconic moment of sportsmanship.
Jacklin and Nicklaus were deadlocked in 1969, as was the overall score, heading to the last hole of the closest Ryder Cup matches to date when Nicklaus conceded a two-foot par putt to Jacklin rather than make him convert in the intense pressure for what resulted in the first Ryder Cup draw, at 16-16.
After receiving a long, standing ovation, Nicklaus said: “Arnold touched every aspect of the golf world including the Ryder Cup.” He called his one-time rival, “the most popular person ever to play the game”.
“We all feel his love and dedicate these games to his honour.”
A US National Guard band, big musical production numbers, stirring renditions of the anthems and a rumbling jet flyover created a festive atmosphere.
The stars of the show were ultimately the players and they made their entrance dressed in dignified dark suits and took their places in the front row. “I am so proud to be captain and that pride stems from the people that I am representing and the players are at the top of that list,” said Clarke.
After four days ramping up to the matches the players looked raring to go, most noticeably world number three Rory McIlroy who pumped his fist with gusto when introduced.
Love, as did Clarke, also introduced his assistant captains, a US group that included 14-times major winner Tiger Woods. The Daily Telegraph
At the end of the introductions, the pairings for the first foursomes matches launching the three-day event were announced. Clarke put forward his top pair, Olympic champion Justin Rose and British Open winner Henrik Stenson.
Love countered with world number four Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, who were unbeaten in tandem two years ago at Gleneagles, winning two matches and halving another.
When their names were called, they jumped to their feet and highfived each other in anticipation of a big showdown.
Both Love and Clarke also paid homage to Palmer, with the US captain saying: “Arnold, this one’s for you.” — Reuters