Heady USA 78pt ‘non’ newsr to French lessons
THE United States possess all the cards three months out from the Ryder Cup but the make-up of this week’s field at the French Open hints at some complacency.
The favourites and holders can rightly walk with a strut as the contest comes into view. Americans have won the last five Majors and can boast the world’s No1 golfer.
But the fact that just one of the likely US team will bother to test out the course on which September’s event will be played this week should be of some encouragement to Europe.
It is rare for a Ryder Cup course to stage a Tour event so close to the biennial bust-up between Europe and the USA. What a chance then for the visiting team to take a sneak peak at the topography that awaits them.
World No2 Justin Thomas, who is set to make his Ryder Cup debut at Le Golf National, is clearly smart enough to realise the head start he can gain by playing in Versailles.
The same cannot be said for his likely team-mates who, like Thomas, have little or no experience of the venue. It is not as if there is a megaPGA Tour event exerting a strong pull across the Atlantic. Had any other top Americans indicated their desire to play in France this week you can be sure the organisers would have found room for special invitations. The fact is they did not.
USA captain Jim Furyk was keen for as many of his team as possible to sample the arena before the Ryder Cup. To that end he has also flagged up the Saturday before the Open as an opportunity for a flying visit.
It will be interesting to see the take-up. Golf is ostensibly an individual game and PGA Tour golfers tend to think as individuals. They will look after number one 99 per cent of the time.
Europe is also a ‘me-first’ environment but by virtue of its more congregational Tour leans more easily towards a team-centric approach and the field for the French Open is overflowing with candidates to join Thomas Bjorn’s collective.
Ryder Cup reconnaissance is not the only attraction – there is a £5.25million prize fund – but five of the eight Europeans currently in automatic Ryder Cup qualification positions plus another bunch intent on usurping them will be in Versailles. They include Sergio Garcia, making his first appearance in the event. “I wanted to make sure I know the course well because one of my biggest goals is to make Thomas’s team to try to win that trophy back,” he said.
Geography means it is easier for the home-based Europeans to shape their schedules for a Ryder Cup warm-up but the fact that Americanbased players like Jon Rahm and Ian Poulter have also done so speaks volumes for respective priorities.
Both teams will have three days’ practice in Ryder Cup week at Le Golf National but that time will fly by. It will be a rush for those Americans who have not played it to familiarise themselves with the course.
Europe need every advantage they can grab and home advantage may yet prove their best shot.
MARKING YOUR CARD
NEXT month’s Open Championship will be a family affair for Ernie Els after his nephew qualified to join him at Carnoustie.
Jovan Rebula, 20, accomplished something his four-time Major champion uncle never managed in three attempts, by winning the Amateur Championship at Royal Aberdeen at the weekend to earn a spot in the field.
“My uncle is always motivating me,” said Rebula. “He said this would open doors for me and told me to go out there and to have fun.” PAUL CASEY has vowed to be a winner again before 2018 is out after blowing a four-shot final round lead at the Travelers Championship.
Casey, who won the Valspar Championship earlier this season, finished with a share of second behind Bubba Watson after shooting 10 shots worse on Sunday than Saturday.
“It’s annoying but I’m very excited for the rest of the season,” he said. “I’ve got 12 events to play and if I don’t have another victory, I will be disappointed.” PAUL LAWRIE will miss out on a return to the scene of his 1999 Open triumph after mothballing the clubs for the rest of the season.
The last-but-one Carnoustie champion has struggled with back and foot injuries and will take a break in the hope of being fit to join the seniors’ circuit next year when he turns 50.
“It is particularly disappointing that I’ll miss the Scottish Open and the Open,” said Lawrie. “I want to get the required treatment and come back next season as strong as ever.”