USA 3rd in world golf race
As Ryder Cup approaches,
Americans must face reality
WINDERMERE — Sorry to have to report this, my fellow Americans, but our once unassailable advantage in golf has disappeared. The USA is now a third-world power.
Next week 12 Americans will tee it up against 12 Europeans in the Ryder Cup Matches, and the Euros are a statistically stronger squad.
Team USA players have an average berth of 28.17 in the Official World Golf Ranking, while the Europeans average 23.58. Our boys rank from Tiger Woods (No. 1) to Brett Wetterich (No. 65); Team Europe ranges from Sergio Garcia (No. 8) to Paul McGinley (No. 52). We have three players ranked lower than the Irishman.
And it's not surprising that non-Ryder Cup eligible players are the best of the bunch. The top 12 so-called Internationals, who compete against the United States in the Presidents Cup, have an average ranking of 16.08, ranging from Fiji's Vijay Singh (No. 4) to Australia's Nick O'Hern (No. 30).
The Southern Hemisphere has taken the lead in men's golf.
It's time for the PGA Tour to concede that point and allow the PGA of America's Ryder Cup to be the game's major team event. The winner of next week's matches should play the Internationals next year and start an annual competition, but that means the USA could be left outside the ropes.
Given the weakness of our team, that's where we belong.
Americans must face reality
WINDERMERE — Sorry to have to report this, my fellow Americans, but our once unassailable advantage in golf has disappeared. The USA is now a third-world power.Next week 12 Americans will tee it up against 12 Europeans in the Ryder Cup Matches, and the Euros are a statistically stronger squad.
Team USA players have an average berth of 28.17 in the Official World Golf Ranking, while the Europeans average 23.58. Our boys rank from Tiger Woods (No. 1) to Brett Wetterich (No. 65); Team Europe ranges from Sergio Garcia (No. 8) to Paul McGinley (No. 52). We have three players ranked lower than the Irishman.
And it's not surprising that non-Ryder Cup eligible players are the best of the bunch. The top 12 so-called Internationals, who compete against the United States in the Presidents Cup, have an average ranking of 16.08, ranging from Fiji's Vijay Singh (No. 4) to Australia's Nick O'Hern (No. 30).
The Southern Hemisphere has taken the lead in men's golf.
It's time for the PGA Tour to concede that point and allow the PGA of America's Ryder Cup to be the game's major team event. The winner of next week's matches should play the Internationals next year and start an annual competition, but that means the USA could be left outside the ropes.
Given the weakness of our team, that's where we belong.
posted by Ken Carpenter at 8:09 PM
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