Momma Says, "Let’s Share!"
On any other Sunday in mid-November, you can bank on the fact that
I can be found sprawled on the couch, remote control in hand, awaiting
the weekly gridiron clash of "The Beloved’, my Chicago Bears. Being
the sports fanatic that I am, this is usually a given. But sadly, I
have an Achilles heel, as far as sports go. Its called Golf. And this
past Sunday I was particularly riveted to the T.V. set because of the
match-play competition known as, The Presidents Cup.
The best that American golf has to offer, versus the top
international players in the world. To the normal sports fan this
seems like pretty lame stuff. But as anyone who has ever read my
column can surmise, I’m not your normal sports fan. Regardless, I
found myself missing not only the opening kickoff of the early game,
but I didn’t pick up my Bears game until halfway through the 1st
quarter, in favor of the Tiger versus Ernie, Vijay versus Toms, and
Love III versus Allenby contests. These were only 3 of the 12 singles
matched that were slotted for play on Sunday. And they were some great
matches to watch.
After the first two days of matches, the United States team had
been taking it to the International team and ended Friday with a
pretty commanding lead. Then came Saturday and the 4-ball matches.
4-ball matches pit two players from each side with all balls scored.
Low score wins the hole. International captain Gary player and
American captain Jack Nicklaus were expecting some heated matches, but
neither man was prepared for what transpired next.
The International team went on a 6-0 tear, to shut down the
American squad and go into the final day with the lead. With 17 total
points needed to win outright, Sunday morning saw the Americans
needing 8 points to win and 7.5 points to tie. All the international
team needed was 5.5 points to win and 5 points to tie.
The American, trailing by 3 points entering the final sessions of
singles matches, charged back into contention behind dominant play
from Tiger Woods, Charles Howell III, and Jay Haas. As well as some
great clutch shots by Jerry Kelly and Kenny Perry and great clutch
putting by Chris Dimarco.
I was all set to switch to my 3 O’clock Bears/Broncos game because
it seemed the United States comeback was pretty much in hand. But with
the Presidents Cup title coming down to the final match, not to
mention the final hole, Davis Love III choked on his chip on the par-5
18th and bogeyed. This gave Robert Appelby the win for the
hole and gave the International team the point needed to tie the
matches and set up a sudden death playoff between the two best players
in the world. Tiger Woods and Ernie Els. Actually Vijay Singh in the
number 2 player in the world, but international captain Gary Player
felt Ernie had the best chance to bring home the victory over the
worlds #1 player.
Only Tiger and Ernie know for sure the amount of pressure involved
in the playoff. It must have been tremendously painful. The two
matched each other shot for shot, through the first two-playoff holes,
and with darkness rapidly setting in, all in attendance felt it hard
not to get caught up the heart-pounding, nerve-wracking pressure of
the third playoff hole.
Tiger said of the last hole, " I’ve never faced so much pressure
from one putt."
And when the final putt was sunk there was only one thing missing.
A winner.
As darkness fell on the competition it was clear that neither Els
nor Woods could see the grain of the green enough to continue.
With that, captains Player and Nicklaus decided that enough was
enough and declared a tie.
In the event of a tie, the defending champion usually retains
possession of the cup. No other cup competition has a sudden death
option to decide the winner.
When the international team got wind that the Americans planned to
retain possession of the cup, the thought of a tie became ludicrous.
"If they’re going to keep the cup, then we want to play, " said Ernie
Els. The American team, with most players having prior commitments in
the states, was in no position to continue on Monday. So in the end,
after an offer was made by the Americans to share the cup, all
participants were declared victorious.
U.S. captain Jack Nicklaus summed it up best. " I have never seen
two teams that played harder or better. I did not find a team that
deserved to lose.
Tigers take? " I think that it’s the perfect decision. To have two
guys decide the fate of the whole team in extra holes like that, I
don’t think either side felt comfortable with that to begin with.
We’re here as a team and we’d like to decide it as a team."
To true. With that type of format, for a sudden death playoff, puts
to much pressure on one player. I don’t think either side ever thought
it could come to that. Well, surprise! And I was surprised. Surprised
enough to, lead even the most die-hard of sports fans to forsake his
home team for a links golf competition that’s being played half way
around the world in South Africa.
Go Figure!
I.S.
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