Second prize is fine for Bob but Europe need KO
THESE days when a kid rolls home with a black eye his folks are likely to call the Police, a team of crack psychologists and then the UN.
But back in the old days there wasn’t much sympathy when someone handed you a shiner.
A second prize was what it was called back then, when the shame of finishing runner-up in a square go was just as likely to get you another clip around the ear.
It wasn’t much fun when you could barely fight sleep but, hey, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?
The same goes for Bob MacIntyre. His runners-up finish at the Porsche European Open on Sunday would have felt far worse than any left hook.
The Oban lad looked like he’d taken a boot in the Pro V1s when he walked off the 18th green in Germany.
But the pain should have subsided by yesterday morning.
There’s no shame in a second prize but this one will make him stronger.
MacIntrye had a fourshot lead at the halfway stage then shot 68 on the final day only to lose out to Paul Casey.
A third second-place finish in his rookie season might feel frustrating. It shouldn’t though. The 23-year-old has had a stunning breakthrough season on the European Tour.
Waking up the day after in Germany to find another £135,000 in his bank account would have soothed the bruises but smashing into the top 100 in the world would cure any hangover.
MacIntrye is banging on the door of the elite and it’s only a matter of time before he’s invited in for the party.
But while there’s nothing wrong with second prizes usually, it’s simply not an option at Gleneagles this week.
The Solheim Cup has all the makings of a terrific square-go.
There’s always a delicious undercurrent when Europe and the USA women’s teams collide. Forget the bookies’ odds.
The Americans might be 6/4 on but we’ve seen in both the men’s and women’s team events that the form book is often lobbed on a bonfire of profanities.
Both teams will need to watch their step in the build up. Self-harm can do the most damage.
The Americans might boss the Solheim but they’ve been gubbed twice in Scotland and both times they ended up punching themselves in the coupon.
In 1992 at Dalmahoy, USA swaggered in after romping the first staging of the event two years earlier. American Beth Daniel shrugged, “You could put any one of us on the European side
MacIntyre is banging on door of elite and will be invited to party soon
and make it better.”Aye.
Europe ended up scudding them 11.5–6.5 and admitted Daniel’s comments lit the fire.
It was similar at Loch Lomond eight years later.
US captain Pat Bradley calling for Annika Sorenstam to replay her shot after chipping in, because it wasn’t her up, might have been a short term win but it caused long-term damage as p ***** off Europe won again. It swings both ways. Suzann Pettersen calling a penalty on Alison Lee for picking up a tiddler that wasn’t conceded caused a right rammy and the Yanks got their revenge.
There’s going to be some cracking set-tos but, unlike Glasgow in the 80s, there shouldn’t be any black eyes. OUR TOP WRITERS GIVE THEIR FEARLESS VERDICTS EVERY DAY IN RECORD SPORT CATRIONA MATTHEW’S Women’s British Open triumph a decade ago has gone down as one of the greatest moments in Scottish sport never mind the highlight of her glittering career.
But the proud Scot reckons leading Europe to Solheim Cup glory at Gleneagles this week would top her sensational success at Royal Lytham.
Matthew went into the history books as Scotland’s first female Major winner in 2009 when she claimed the title just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second child.
But she didn’t even blink when asked where the prospect of beating the USA on home soil in the Solheim Cup would rank.
Matthew said: “It would be right at the top. I’ve always loved m.gannon@dailyrecord.co.uk the Solheim Cup. It has been the highlight of my career every two years when it comes around.
“Some of my best moments have been at the Solheim and to be a winning captain at Gleneagles in Scotland would rank just above my Open win.”
Matthew, steeped in the Solheim with three wins in nine contests against the Americans, knows this biennial bunfight inside out and her experience is proving key in the locker room this week.
Flanked by stalwart vicecaptains Laura Davies, Kathryn Imrie and Mel Reid, the Scot has put her own stamp on the squad and is well aware points can be won and lost long before the first ball is hit.
Managing the build-up and down time is vital, to ease tension while motivating the troops.
A team quiz night on Monday lightened the mood, while a video with emotional messages from friends and family lit a fire under her side.
Matthew said: “I was in a team with Laura, we certainly didn’t win! I couldn’t even recognise myself at one question and Laura
MICHAEL GANNON