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The final showdown

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V Krishnaswamy New Delhi
Last Updated : Jun 14 2013 | 3:27 PM IST
It's truly the Olympics of Golf. As the battle for the Ryder Cup takes off at Oakland Hills outside Detroit in Michigan between September 17 and 19, the best on both sides of the Atlantic will go head to head in a format they've rarely played since they left the amateur ranks.
 
For all the money there is to be won, most players would give their right arm to play for the Ryder Cup, a much sought-after chalice given by Sam Ryder for the biennial event. It is by far the most prestigious in the golf world, and even Tiger Woods would not miss it.
 
So it's easy to understand when someone like John Daly is upset at being left out of the team. A similar heartbreak story on the other side of the Atlantic is of Swede player Frederik Jacobson, who narrowly missed making it to the team.
 
The selection process for the American and European team differ slightly. For the American team, the top 10 players on the American Ryder Cup points list get an automatic spot at the end of the PGA Championships in the year the event is held. The captain then gets to make his two wild-card picks to complete the 12-member team.
 
The Europe team, meanwhile, gets selected in two segments before the wildcards. In the first part, the top five players are given berths as on August 23. Another five players join them on the basis of the points list on August 29, following which the captain makes his two wild-card picks.
 
Two-time Major winner Daly got edged out when captain Hal Sutton, an old friend, got put off by the way the media and the fans were rooting for the 'Wild Daly'. Daly himself blamed the media for the omission.
 
"Thank the media and thank the fans for kind of pushing Hal to pick me, but I think it kind of pissed him off, I really do. And then he comes out saying it's not a popularity contest... I think pressuring Hal like that, he may have turned away from it," he complained. Sutton selected Jay Haas and Stewart Cink as his wild-card picks to build his 12-man team.
 
For the Europe team, meanwhile, captain Bernhard Langer named veteran Scot Colin Montgomerie and England's Luke Donald as his picks for the golf's greatest battle.
 
A controversy erupted when Langer left out the unlucky 11th qualifier, Swede Fredrik Jacobson, who has a higher world ranking than almost half the team. Jacobson would have made it to the team if he had finished one or two places higher than sixth at the BMW International Open in Munich.
 
Langer has an excellent mix of youth and experience. Irishmen Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, as well as, Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland are in the team.
 
The two Spaniards "" Sergio Garcia and Manuel Angel Jimenez "" are in terrific forms and Englishman Lee Westwood, ready for his fourth Ryder Cup, also has plenty of experience. There is also the English brigade of Paul Casey, David Howell and Ian Poulter, besides Frenchman Thomas Levet.
 
Montgomerie, who has dominated European golf for seven years in the 1990s but whose personal life has lately been rocky, can pull some surprises. The 41-year-old was an inspiring figure when he starred in Europe's shock win in Ryder Cup at The Belfry two years ago.
 
The US has stars like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III, all with fine proven singles record. But the most robust player in the team is Jim Furyk, who tied for sixth at the Buick Open, his sixth event of the season.
 
Furyk, who has had a wrist problem, is largely in because of a great 2003 during which he won both the US Open and the Buick Open. He also has a fine Ryder Cup record in singles.
 
The Americans have terrific personal records and have a great chance of ending Europe's recent dominance in winning three of the past four Cups.
 
But like in every Ryder Cup, nothing defines the tournament or the player in it like his ability to stand up to the pressure in a singles play on the final day. But it could also ensure a place in the pantheon of golf.

The battle ranks
 
The US team: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III, Jim Furyk, Kenny Perry, David Toms, Chad Campbell, Chris DiMarco, Fred Funk, Chris Riley, Jay Haas, Stewart Cink. Captain: Hal Sutton
 
The Europe team: Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, David Howell, Ian Poulter and Luke Donald (all England), Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley (Ireland), Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain), Darren Clarke (Northern Ireland), Thomas Levet (France), Colin Montgomerie (Scotland). Captain: Bernhard Langer.

 
 

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First Published: Sep 04 2004 | 12:00 AM IST

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