Dog’s dinner
by claiming they are “maybe the best golf team ever”, but Garcia warns his grandiose claim will backfire on him, just like those of former American Ryder Cup player Johnny Miller, who rates Darren Clarke’s European team as “the worst they’ve had in many years”.
“You don’t win Ryder Cups with your mouth,” said Garcia. “You win them out there on the golf course.”
Nevertheless, Clarke could not resist a little swipe back yesterday.
“The guys have all seen everything that’s been said instinctively lined up alongside the 12 players only to be politely asked to move out of the way by the photographer.
Woods, sporting an elongated goatee these days, trotted away to join the rest of the American management, laughing at his error. but we have the Masters champion, the Open champion, the Olympic champion and the FedEx champion. You combine that with the way those guys have played and I don’t really need to respond to that,” said Clarke. For McIlroy, Europe’s kingpin, Clarke’s presence at the helm provides an added incentive this week.
“I met Darren for the first time on my 10th birthday on the practice range at Royal Portrush Golf Club,” recalled McIlroy. “I was chipping around the practice green and he was doing the same thing. He just said to me, ‘Practice, practice, practice’.
“That day has always stuck with me and this week all those memories came rushing back from the times that we’ve spent together.
“Here we are, on the biggest stage of the game, and I’m able to play under him as a Ryder Cup captain.
“I’ve always wanted the win for the captain but probably even more so this year just because of Darren and the relationship that we have.”