The President's Cup got underweay yesterday in Gainsville, and while I won't be paying for tickets, I will follow the event, as it is good drama and, in my opinion, on par with the Ryder Cup. Granted, it is not without flaws, including the miserable traffic situation on 66, 29 in Gainsville, RTJ losing 1/3 of its greens this summer, and the blatant attempt at exposure by stretching the event to four days, but it does have its advantages, which in combination with the Ryder Cup being overly trumped up, makes the two equivalent.
While the PC lacks the history of the RC, what venerable history are we talking about? The most remembered event causes the most acrimony between teams, in 1999 at Brookline. What else is there? 80 years where the Americans were dominant, a miserable stint where they played at PGA National, possibly the worst course to host an event of this caliber, and the US getting smoked when in Europe. Besides Valderrama and The Belfry, I can't name another European venue that has hosted the Ryder Cup.
What I like about the President's Cup is that it chooses a Captain who was integral to the game. I will gladly watch an event with is supported by Nicklaus and Player, two true gentlemen. RC captaincy is a process of elimination, not selection, based on unwritten criteria that is unfounded. Be between 45-52 in the twilight of your PGA career, and have won a major. The idea has led to miserable US Captains, most recently Hal Sutton, and most notably Curtis Strange, the biggest prick in golf of the last 20 years.
Finally, the PC brings a better field of golfers to the table. If the 2005 matches are closely contested and end in a late Sunday afternoon finale' that could swing in either direction, I will be both satisfied and looking forward to 2007.
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