I'm not sure if you read the story last week about US Ryder Cup Captain, Paul Azinger taking pot shots at European Captain, Nick Faldo, but it resulted a lot of indignation by many golf analysts and commentators on The Golf Channel and in the golf forums. Whether you like this kind of tabloid talk or not, it does makes headlines and it does create drama...lots and lots of drama - very "Big Break-like".
Now, before we start throwing flaming golf balls at the guys for misbehaving, we golfgals should look at our own Solheim Cup antics and remember some mud wrestling of the female kind...
Remember the Irish Independent's story about Catrin Nilsmark's remarks about Cristie Kerr being a "brat" and Michelle Redman "having no talent"?
And what about Laura Davies saying she was friends with everyone on the US Solheim Cup team last year, except for "one". That really got us going - who was that "one"? Rumour has it that it was Nicole Castrale, but it really doesn't matter. I think Laura planted that statement for a reason -- drama.
Anyway, it would appear that even with Azinger's back peddling on the comments made about Nick Faldo in the Daily Mail, some European Ryder Cup members are not taking it lying down.
Lee Westwood, who is looking very fit these days and seems to be in a bit of a resurgence with his game (coincidence?), took no time stepping forward to defend his captain, "I don’t know why you’d stir it unless you were worried about the outcome. I think he [Azinger] must be trying to wind us up."
However, Westwood was quick to speculate that perhaps Azinger was just trying to create some early media attention for the Ryder Cup, "It must have been tongue in cheek. Nobody would be writing about the Ryder Cup just now if there wasn’t a bit of mud-slinging. It does sound like playground stuff. Next it will be my daddy's bigger than your daddy. Comments like that can't be serious."
So is Westwood brushing it off? Or is he trying to stir the pot a little more himself?
In reference to Azinger's comments that Faldo being unpopular with a generation of golfers, Westwood countered, "I think everybody gets on with Nick. There's no European who's better respected. I’ve played with him in the Ryder Cup and he's great to play with."
Darren Clarke, who is also showing some of his old talent these days shared, "They've obviously had a few clashes in the past, and you know Zinger's a very fiery personality – that's the way he is. The two of them don’t see eye to eye – that’s pretty much public knowledge. He's [Faldo] a six-time major champion and the best player we’ve ever had. Whether people like him or loathe him – and it's pretty obvious you have people in both camps – you cannot disrespect at any stage what he has done in the game. His record speaks for itself. He is a legend in the game of golf."
Anyway...I can't wait to find out what Monty has to say about all of this. Apparently, Faldo texted Azinger after reading the original article with this little jab, "Zinger, I read this whole article and you don't like Monty more than me, do you?"
I'm not sure who will win the "mudder" award this season - The Big Break Ka'anapali or the Ryder Cup. All I know is, I'll be following every minute of it -- aaaaand loving it!
Golfgal
Flaming golf ball from © Tom Schmucker | Dreamstime.com
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