Fantasy Favorite
How did the underdogs win? They didn't. The Europeans were the favorites, even in singles. Like a by-the-book baseball manager, Hal Sutton's lineup went straight down the qualifying list, highlighting the weakness of the American team: four major talents on top--and then what?
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You Gotta Have Heart |
In SI's Special Ryder Cup Preview (Sept. 14), we rated the competitive fortitude, or heart, of the U.S. and European team members. Here's how we rate them now. |
U.S. | W-L-T | Before | After | Analysis |
Woods | 2-3-0 | ♥♥♥♥♥           | ♥♥♥ | He was trying, but the team thing eludes him |
Mickelson | 1-3-0 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | His confidence shot, he played some dumb shots |
Love | 1-3-1 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | He played hard but missed a lot of putts |
Furyk | 1-3-0 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | Still undefeated in Prez and Ryder singles |
Perry | 0-2-0 | ‚ô•‚ô• 1/2 | ‚ô•‚ô• | Moped about sitting on Saturday, lost on Sunday |
Toms | 1-2-0 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | ‚ô•‚ô• | Low-key, he's the Larry Nelson of his generation |
Campbell | 1-2-0 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | Only nerves can explain his poor play on Friday |
DiMarco | 2-1-1 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• 1/2 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | Screw the standings, you want his fire |
Funk | 0-3-0 | ‚ô• | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | Lost because his game, not his heart, wasn't good |
Riley | 1-1-1 | ‚ô•‚ô• | ‚ô• | A rookie may never, ever take himself out |
Haas | 1-2-1 | ‚ô• 1/2 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• 1/2 | Played four matches, gaining some redemption |
Cink | 1-2-1 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | ‚ô•‚ô• 1/2 | Cautious on the course and with his teammates |
EUR. | W-L-T | Before | After | Analysis |
Harrington | 4-1-0 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | Should absolutely win a major in 2005 |
García | 4-0-1 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | The best of Seve and Ollie rolled into one |
Clarke | 3-1-1 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | He's so likable that it's hard to beat him |
Jimenez | 1-3-0 | ‚ô•‚ô• | ‚ô•‚ô• 1/2 | Outclassed by DiMarco, he made a match of it |
Westwood | 4-0-1 | ‚ô•‚ô• 1/2 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | Not for the wins, but for the comebacks |
Levet | 1-2-0 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | Extrovert warmed to role of support player |
Casey | 1-1-0 | ‚ô•‚ô• | ‚ô•‚ô• | Hasn't he heard? You don't have to fear Tiger |
Howell | 1-1-0 | ‚ô• 1/2 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | After big point, should start winning more |
McGinley | 2-0-1 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | Always looked as if he was having a great time |
Poulter | 1-1-0 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | ‚ô•‚ô• | A little more selflessness would help |
Montgomerie | 3-1-0 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• | If his Cup days are over, his reputation is secure |
Donald | 2-1-1 | ‚ô•‚ô•‚ô• 1/2 | ‚ô•‚ô• 1/2 | Lacks hint of cockiness found in great Cup pros |
  | ♥♥♥♥♥--Thank God he's on our side |
  | ♥♥♥♥--Wants to take last shot |
  | ♥♥♥--I think I can, I think I can |
  | ♥♥--Would rather be at Texas Open |
  | ♥--Tin Man |
Monday Morning Quarterback
LANGER'S UNCHARACTERISTIC TRASH TALK PROVED FATEFUL
TO THE VERY END, Bernhard Langer had his finger on his team's pulse. Handicapping the first three matches, Langer said, "I'd be surprised if we didn't get two points." Cheeky and freakishly accurate: The Euros went 1-1-1 for 11/2 points. Afterward Langer insisted that his words were not an attempt at gamesmanship, but rather a reflection of his gut feeling. "I didn't mean to be brash," he said.
"Overheard"
" I assure you, none of us wanted to see Sergio out there being Sergio. We wanted to kick his butt." --CHRIS DImarco
" That was a totally nuts shot." --JOHNNY MILLER, on Mickelson's approach shot into the water at 16
" He's going to lose. I can feel it." --MILLER, on Colin Montgomerie, who went on to beat Toms
Final Thoughts
THE PLAYING'S DONE, HERE'S WHAT REMAINS
• Phil Mickelson has hit crooked drives all his life, with clubs made by Ping, Yonex, Titleist and now Callaway. They were not the problem.
• The better team won, and--even worse--the younger, deeper Europeans are already favorites for 2006.
• Make Tiger Woods the playing captain for the '06 Cup and you'll see him and the entire country more into the match than ever before.
• Hal Sutton wasn't helped by the Steinbrenner-esque mandate from PGA honcho Jim Awtrey: Win. The trickle-down tension was obvious.
Golf Plus will next appear in the Oct. 11 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
COLOR PHOTO
DAVE MARTIN/AP (MONTGOMERIE)
SHOE-IN
Monty, playing in perhaps his last Cup, was the sentimental favorite.
THREE COLOR PHOTOS
COLOR PHOTO
ANDREW REDINGTON/GETTY IMAGES (LANGER)
GERMAN SHEPHERD
Langer had all the answers, as well as some eerily accurate singles predictions.
COLOR PHOTO
AL TIELEMANS (MILLER)