Has it reached the point of desperation yet? Will they play as if the well-being of their country hinges on every backswing? On every follow-through? On every knee-wobbling four-footer left for par?
If ever the United States faced a must-win situation in the Ryder Cup, ladies and gentlemen, this is it. The Americans are in the midst of two-match losing streak, which probably doesn't sound all that bad on the surface, but you could also just as legitimately say that they haven't won the Cup since 1999. That's seven years. That sounds a lot worse than a two-match losing streak, and quite frankly, it rings truer in describing just how dire the Ryder Cup situation has become for the Americans.
It's our albatross. And if it isn't, it should be.
Think of it this way. If the United States loses again this week at the K-Club in Ireland, it won't get another crack at the Ryder Cup until 2008. That means if Europe prevails once again, the Cup will have lived on European soil for a full nine years until it is put up for grabs the next time around. Maybe such a prolonged stay with an opponent would be bearable if you were the Ghanaian soccer team facing the Brazilians in a one-match-for-the-whole-thing World Cup every four years. But for an American team — one that should be and is more talented than their European counterparts almost every year — that is completely and utterly unacceptable.
Granted, this isn't war. Life does not depend on the outcome. Even if the Americans lose 28 points to nothing, they'll fly back to Ireland, the sun will rise on a new day, and life will go on. Compared to soccer, the World Cup, heck, even the European Champions League, this is a blip on the world of sports' radar screen.
But don't think for a second that this means nothing is riding on the Ryder. I'll just assume Tiger, Phil, and the other 10 guys along with captain Tom Lehman who make up the American squad know just how important this is. I'll assume they're feeling as much pressure, if not more, than they do at Augusta's Amen Corner on Masters Sunday. If any one of them doesn't, well, that one should have forfeited his spot weeks ago to someone like Davis Love or Justin Leonard who would do anything to be there this week and would do even more to win.
And if any one of them doesn't realize how the outcome of the 2006 Ryder Cup will contribute to the ever-increasing failures American sports, he doesn't need to be expelled from the team, but he does need a brief history lesson.
And by "history," I mean 2006, because there have already been more national flops in this calendar year than most sports fans in this country can stomach. Consider:
United States National Basketball Team
Without question, the most talented in the nation. Finish at the FIBA world championships last month: third place. How? you might ask incredulously. Simple. No team play. No team defense. Minimal effort. Even less heart.
United States National Soccer Team
Unlike the hoopsters, they have never been the most talented in the world. At the 2006 World Cup, they might not have even graced the top 10 in terms of talent. But that doesn't mean they had to get embarrassed by the Czech Republic, who, let me remind you, didn't even advance out of pool play. That also doesn't mean they had to lose to Ghana, whose entire population is probably less than what the attendance at the K-Club will be this weekend.
2006 Winter Olympics
The United States came in second in the medal count, four behind Germany, but it was not an impressive second. The Americans' effort in Turin this year will be remembered not for the 25 medals or the nine golds. Instead, it will be remembered for Bode Miller's 0-for-5 embarrassment and the ridiculously unnecessary Shani Davis-Chad Hedrick speed skating feud.
World Baseball Classic
The U.S. squad limped out of pool play after losing to lowly Canada, and then got erased from the tournament in round two via losses to Korea and Mexico. And our team featured the likes of Roger Clemens, Derek Jeter, A-Rod, Ken Griffey, Jr., Johnny Damon, and Chipper Jones?! And the tournament was on our own soil?! Ouch.
So the question remains: can United States athletes thrive in team sports?
Recent Ryder Cup results suggest a resounding no. In 2004 at Michigan's Oakland Hills, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson inexplicably were paired together by the much-maligned Hal Sutton and you'd be kidding yourself if you said that turned out okay. It wasn't mediocre. It wasn't even bad. It was an absolute disaster. It was the Hindenburg explosion, for crying out loud!
Meanwhile, the Europeans spent their time over in the U.S. wining and dining and acting as if they were in the company of each golfer's 11 best friends on this planet. And their golf certainly reflected the attitude, as the Europeans trounced the Americans 18½ to 9½, the largest margin of victory in the Ryder Cup since 1981.
Between 1987 and 2002, the greatest margin was only 15½ to 12½, and in 1995, 1997, and 1999, the score was 14½ to 13½. That's three consecutive years of the Ryder Cup competition ending as close as it possibly can without being a tie, making the abomination of 2004 seem that much worse.
Which means there is something else at stake this time. Something of which we are about to find out whether or not this American team has.
Pride. The same pride that has been on life support ever since the first ball of the last Ryder Cup was struck.
Whether they have it or not remains to be seen, but we do know whose pride is at stake this weekend at the K-Club. Here are the 12 Americans (in order of their value to the team) who will attempt to do what many think is beyond their capability and bring the trophy back home where it belongs; as well as the 12 Europeans, who are always the favorites in their own eyes, but who now assume the unfamiliar roles of being the true Ryder Cup favorites.
United States
1. Tiger Woods — He's the best golfer in the world and had been absolutely on fire until last week's first-round match play loss to Shaun Micheel. While he has lost some of his invincibility when it comes to match play, he is still the guy nobody wants to face and he gives the United States a chance to win every match in which he is participating.
2. Jim Furyk — Despite his quirky swing, Furyk has been playing great golf of late. The veteran should be an outstanding leader for the four rookies on the team, as he will lead by example both on and off the golf course.
3. Phil Mickelson — Phil is arguably the second best player in the world, although it remains to be seen whether or not he has recovered from the 72nd-hole debacle at the U.S. Open. If the enormity of the Ryder Cup can take his mind off the collapse, Phil is a good as anyone the Europeans' can throw at him.
4. Chris DiMarco — If the United States team had 12 Chris DiMarcos, its desire to win the Ryder Cup would not even be on par with the Europeans — it would be above and beyond. Remember last year's Presidents' Cup? That's DiMarco in a nutshell, that image of him sinking the winning putt on the 18th green in front of his captain, Jack Nicklaus. DiMarco has been tantalizingly close to three major wins, and although he has none, he treats international competition the same way. If the Americans' win another "major," this week, DiMarco will be a huge reason why.
5. David Toms — He is finally healthy, playing solid golf, and is a former major champion to boot. Toms has a winning Ryder Cup record at 4-3-1, so the veteran knows how to get the job done under pressure.
6. Chad Campbell — The 2004 disaster was his first taste of Ryder Cup action, so Campbell knows what it's like to be humbled in such a way and he'll be out to remedy the situation. He is a solid golfer and a solid teammate as well, so he's exactly what this team needs.
7. Stewart Cink — By far the better of Lehman's two captain's picks, Cink is a Ryder Cup veteran and he's had a solid 2006 campaign on the PGA tour. While his 2-4-1 record in Ryder Cups is unspectacular, at least he has experience, which is what one-third of the U.S. squad lacks completely.
8. Zach Johnson — The Cup rookie is 17th on the PGA tour's money list this year, and he is has four top-10 finishes. Unfortunately, Johnson made only one cut in his four major appearances this season, so we'll have to see how Johnson copes with the moment over at the K-Club.
9. Brett Wetterich — He absolutely massacres the ball off the tee and is a flat-out birdie machine. The Ryder Cup rookie should be one of the team's most valuable four-ball and alternate-shot players. Wetterich has had a solid year that includes a victory at the Byron Nelson Championship in May.
10. Scott Verplank — Verplank played in 2002 and posted a 2-1 record against the Europeans. However, he has struggled with his game recently, making his selection as a captain's pick a somewhat curious decision. Still, Verplank is an expert at putting the ball in the fairway and that will be a huge asset at this year's Cup.
11. J.J. Henry — Another Ryder rookie, Henry has been playing great golf in recent months and even won the Buick Open in June. To say he is unknown would be an understatement, so his performance at the K-Club will go a long way in terms of how golf fans think of him.
12. Vaughn Taylor — Who? His picture is not even available on his ESPN.com bio! But, hey, the rookie is a great putter, so maybe he can create some unexpected, Justin Leonard-like magic with the short club.
Europe
1. Colin Montgomerie — Monty is the leader of the European squad, and both the Europeans and the Americans know it. "If I had to pick one player out who has been their most outstanding Ryder Cupper over the last decade, it's been Colin Montgomerie," said America's Stewart Cink. The great Scot has amassed 21½ points in his Cup career with an overall record of 19-8-5 and he's an undefeated 5-0-2 in singles. In his last four appearances, Monty is an incredible 12-3-3. He won't surprise the Americans, but he will in all likelihood beat them.
2. Darren Clarke — Regardless of how Clarke performs this week, the captain's pick is the emotional force behind the European club. Clarke's wife passed away last month and the Europeans were quick to rally around their friend. With teammates and fans steadfastly in his corner, the support for Clarke will be radiating throughout the raucous K-Club. By the way, his golf game isn't too shabby, either. Clarke has contended for major titles, is a former World Match Play champion, and posted a solid 3-1-1 record in Europe's 2004 Cup victory.
3. Luke Donald — He is not as experienced as other members of the team, but Donald is perhaps playing the best golf of them all right now. He played with Tiger in the final pairing of this year's PGA Championship, and while he understandably struggled, he did recover to tie for third place. Donald also won the 2006 Honda Classic, and he should benefit this weekend from having been on the victorious 2004 Ryder Cup squad.
4. Sergio Garcia — Garcia is arguably Europe's most talented player, not to mention arguably at the head of the "best player never to win a major" conversation. What Garcia does have, however, is an incredible Ryder Cup resume. He is 10-3-1 overall and in the 2004 blowout he posted a dominant 4-0-1 record.
5. David Howell — Although not exactly a household name in the United States, Howell has quietly ascended to No. 13 in the world golf rankings. He has two victories in 2006 and was a member of the 2004 European team. Howell lost to Furyk in a singles match that year, but an American will really have to go low to defeat him this time.
6. Paul Casey — Ranked No. 17 in the world, Casey blistered the field at last week's match play tournament, rolling through Goosen, Weir, Montgomerie, and Micheel. No match was closer than 5 and 3, and the championship round lasted only 28 holes out of a possible 36. Needless to say, Casey looks good to go heading into his second Ryder Cup appearance.
7. Padraig Harrington — You know you have a good team when Padraig Harrington might be only your seventh most valuable asset. He hasn't been tearing up golf courses of late, but he did finish tied for fifth at the U.S. Open and reached the quarterfinals of the Accenture Match Play earlier this year. Padraig has been on three Ryder Cup teams and has a solid 7-4-1 record in those contests.
8. Henrik Stenson — At 30 years of age, this late-bloomer is just now reaching his potential. He has climbed all the way to No. 11 on the world golf rankings and has one win and two runner-up finishes in 2006. Stenson's only potential blemish is that he is making his Ryder Cup debut.
9. Lee Westwood — Westwood has not had a great 2006 campaign — in fact, he hasn't enjoyed a great season in quite some time. But don't write Westwood off in Ryder Cup play just yet. The veteran is 11-8-1 all-time and went 4-0-1 in Cup play in 2004. Furthermore, Ian Woosnam made Westwood a captain's pick, so perhaps that will restore some of his evaporated confidence.
10. Jose Maria Olazabal — I think the definition of a deep team is when a two-time Masters champion is arguably your 10th most valuable player. That is the case here, as Olazabal is competing in his seventh Ryder Cup. He is still a force to be reckoned with, especially in Cup play where the seasoned veteran is a career 15-8-5.
11. Robert Karlsson — Like Stenson, Karlsson was a late arrival in terms of establishing himself as solid player on tour. Karlsson has been playing some outstanding golf recently, racking up two wins in 2006 and just last week reaching the semis of the match play before narrowly losing to Shaun Micheel. He looks poised to make an effective debut for the European side.
12. Paul McGinley — His ranking here says more about the depth and talent of Europe's squad than it does about McGinley's value. After all, it was McGinley who sank the Cup-clinching putt in 2002 in a singles match with Furyk. Not only is the veteran a nine-time winner on various tours, but he is also a solid team guy and an outstanding leader for the few youngsters on the well-traveled European squad.
Of course what it all boils down to is not the individual parts, but how those individual parts coexist to form one, cohesive unit.
As Gene Hackman, playing Coach Norman Dale, says in the movie Hoosiers: "Team, team, team. No one more important than the other."
If the 12 American golfers do not have that idea firmly entrenched in their mind, it could be another long weekend of international competition for the United States.
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