18 thoughts, observations and predictions…
- Europe was gritty and resilient and earned the Cup back with a tie, but we are past these team events ending in ties. This is a compelling TV show, resolve the event with a winner determined.
- Caroline Hedwall paved the way for Carlota Ciganda getting the moment. Hedwall’s stroke play year has been very ordinary, didn’t matter, she’s a match play savant.
- Stacy Lewis played her cards and her insistence on trotting Lexi Thompson back out there the morning after the shank was gutsy and worked and to put her in the anchor match was the greatest show of belief in a player you’ll ever see.
- As for the Lexi and Stacy presser after the shank on the final hole. The question was asked clumsily but it was the only question. Anyone suggesting because writers aren’t elite players should disqualify them from asking the tough questions all need to remove themselves from all conversations on the role of the media.
- The Solheim Cup golf course, Finca Cortesin, looked pretty from afar but it was a dreadful design with way too much pitch and tilt throughout. Goofy seems about right.
- The reliance on world feeds for international competitions with a lot of attention on the event puts the host network in an impossible situation. The broadcast team for Golf Channel did their best, they were dealt an awful hand.
- In 2019 Norman Xiong had 21 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour and missed 15 cuts. He has looked into the abyss over the past three years, and he has come out the other side now a winner on Sunday. He was the “IT” kid and now at 24 he’s headed to the PGA Tour.
- Thongchai Jaidee won the Pure Insurance on the Champions Tour. I played a round with him at Carnoustie in 2012. A prince of a guy and a credit to the professional game for the past 30 years.
- Stewart Hagestad backed up his Mid Am win by winning the Crump Cup at Pine Valley. It included a hole in one on his first hole of the event on #10. The season of Stewart rolls on.
- Grant Boone who became ill midway through the Solheim Cup is a fantastic host and voice for women’s golf.
- Judy Rankin and Juli Inkster together in a booth should happen a couple times each year.
- Sensing a Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry pairing on day one of the Ryder cup.
- Expect Koepka and Harmon top play foursomes on Friday.
- If Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth come up empty on Friday in two sessions, will he break them up? Absolutely not.
- Viktor Hovland will be the best player in Rome for Team Europe.
- Expect a very good performance from Max Homa. I think he was built for this stuff because he appreciates things at a superior level.
- Ludvig Aberg will get a marquee partner for his first match of his Ryder Cup career. I’m leaning Hovland.
- Europe will keep the streak alive. They have a formidable front end will get a massive week from Hovland, Rory and Hatton. This will be a gut wrenching, enthralling and scintillating Ryder Cup in the shadows of one of the world’s greatest cities.