Monty Pays Back Bjorn for Ryder Cup Coup; Clarke, McGinley Also Vice Captains
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 20, 2010 12:36 PM EDT
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PrintThis morning at European Tour HQ in England (not the outpost in Dubai), Colin Montgomerie named Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke, and Paul McGinley as his vice-captains for the squad set to take on the US at Celtic Manor in the fall.
All three vice-captains were rumored for the 2010 job at some point in the process last winter. Bjorn repeatedly recused himself from any discussion about the captaincy. Perhaps being the head of the player board of the European Tour at the time kept him from seeking the position and any whispers of conflicts of interest.
Bjorn may have had a crucial hand in steering the job to Monty for 2010, not securing Jose Maria Olazabal for 2012, and effectively killing Sandy Lyle's chance to ever become Ryder Cup captain. In late January '09 in Abu Dhabi, Bjorn and his committee backtracked on their stated willingness to give Olazabal until after the Masters to decide if he could make the European team rather than captain it. He was given a two week ultimatum to decide.
In the end, the 15 man committee installed Monty four years ahead of his personal schedule, but did nothing else. This led to speculation that Olazabal never wanted the job and further panned the position after the trying experience of his dear friend Seve Ballesteros with cancer.
Since the coup by Montgomerie for the 2010 captaincy, a public spat with Padraig Harrington over a proposed increase in the minimum participation on Tour may have led to Bjorn's resignation from that post.
Despite a win on the European Tour in recent weeks, Bjorn is no where neat consideration to make the team. A recently resurgent Clarke - who had a nice runner-up at the Scottish Open two weeks ago - is not a threat either.
All three men have tremendous experience and success in the format. Bjorn is the first Dane ever to participate. McGinley won the Cup in '02 against Jim Furyk. Clarke has a 20-10-7 record.
As for Olazabal, Monty made it clear that his lack of presence on this year's team was the Captain's call - not Olly's.
"I think José Maria will be a captain of the Ryder Cup team in the future. Unfortunately, José Maria is not keeping good health right now. He hasn't played on the European Tour very much this last two years of qualifying, and I feel that it's important that the players assembled here - and I mean players, assembled here next to me play week-in, week-out on the European Tour are together with the players."
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lol – outpost in Dubai – great line. Do you suppose they have to wear those French Foreign Legion hats ?
Olazabal can’t be happy with that statement from Monty. What in the world does not playing week in and week out have to do with being chosen as a vice captain ? The VC’s ride around in carts most of the time.
Monty just loves making friends, doesn’t he ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Darren & Sunshine
will make wonderful VCs. Fiercely competitive but will bring some fun to the teams as well. Great respect & affection for Olly but I don’t recall him being touted as a VC this year. Wonder if Monty responded to a question on Olly? Otherwise, yes, it would have been better not to raise the subject.
Novel idea to have an International as a VC for the US team
especially one as popular as Rory. Should be fun in the team room, especially if TW makes the team. Court, you do know that Goydos is a VC, don’t you?l
Wendy...what would you think
if they had to wear foreign Legion Hats..? sometimes Court can be cruel, I’m sorry…..STUB.
Nothing wrong with a kepi or two
Kepis had to be earned – until they were, legionnaires wore green berets. Fact.
Fowler & Daly looked ridiculous as usual
Anyway, a man with a pigeon chest, ponytail, fat cigar and an impenetrable accent can wear whatever he likes.
they’re in the desert – when WASN’T it needed ? (and TX – don’t say at night !)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
oh sure – I’VE seen the movies !! they’re always in the desert ! :-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Hey, if Court didn't see lots of movies, we'd get much fewer movie-reference
comments, no? (That’s a line from Gone With the Wind, I think.)
Hah. Warned me just in time, Court. But have y'all noticed that some of the older pros have
lots of creases on the backs of their necks, most likely from too much sun. Examples: Els, Watson and Norman. Those hats might prevent that, but no one would wear them.
OK Easy...your gonna
get a Snarky from Wendy on that one….And a lovely neck she has too…..STUB
Why does poor Clarke get singled out
for the drinks….I bet McGinley would fit just as well…..STUB
Hey Easy, Isn't it
about time for you to leave for the IOW ?…take the sticks, play well, and stay thirsty my fiend….Didn’t Wendy say she can see the IOW from her yellow brick circle ?…STUB
I believe she did, Stub ..
I’m playing at least 3 of the courses there, probably on the south coast. But I’m shimp netting off Yarmouth, at some point at low tide..Wendy might see me waist deep with her binos.
Shrimp netting easing ?
^ 5’s to ya brother. I’m somewhat of an Old Salt myself.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Shrimp netting followed closely by cocktail sauce dipping.
I hope you don’t drink that sauce warm too.
Easing - I know there are around 7 courses on IOW
but I only know of Ventnor on the south coast – or were you including south coast of mainland?
I looked up the lyrics of “The shrimp boats are a-coming, they’ll be dancing tonight” which some ancient mariner friend of my parents used to sing (after a couple of pints). I never realised that it was about Louisiana – in my ignorance I thought it was local to the Kent coast where we lived at the time.
Wendy I have secured the yellow Srixons
and I will be heading over to Portsmouth CC tomorrow for the rest. :o)
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
What a toff you are!
For the nosey ones (that’s you STUB)
1. The yellow Srixons are for my husband (macular degeneration) who put up with me following The Open for 4 solid days.
2. It’s serendipity that PG is Portsmouth/New Hampshire and I’m Portsmouth/Old Hampshire, so anything with the former logo will delight me.
PS Eat your heart out, TXQ
That's your best shot?
You’d wish a 3-putt on me, wouldn’t you? Sheesh – I’ll let you win next time. Don’t know how to do that crossing-out thingy) ;-)
I'm staying in Ventnor Wendy
Playing that one a few times, it’s just up the street from where I’m staying. Then there is Shanklin, and a few more. I enjoyed Kent earlier this year. Nice people.
Wendy, I had to look up what a "TOFF" was as you have called me that twice now. :o)
And this is what I found, •In British English slang, a toff is a mildly derogatory term for someone with an aristocratic background, particularly someone who exudes an air of superiority.
hmmmm, doesn’t sound like me at all really, but thanks ( I think ) anyway. :o)
The Srixons say Yellow on the box, but they look more like tennis ball green to me.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
You're a toff means "you are a gentleman "
Easing will confirm that. If one says "He THINKS he’s a toff, then it’s a mildly derogatory term for someone who thinks they are superior to others. TXQ’s post popped up whilst I was typing this and it couldn’t be more apropos. Oh Bum, s’pose I may have to say thanks to him – - later.
ALLLLLLLRIGHTY then
thanks for the clarification. I’m only a gentleman part time though. :o)
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
I wasn much of a KO puncher
I’d wear guys down with body punches mostly. I only had 4 knock outs in my time in the ring. The good news is I was only KO’d twice.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Wilt claimed he'd slept with over 2,000 women.
I was joking that Wilt was not Tiger in that department.
Hyperbole, I think.
Right. I forgot Homecoming Weekend at Wilt's college
his senior year.
To quote that great baseball philosopher, “Jimmy Dugan”, “anything worth doing is worth doing well.” :-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
well
I doubt it was ever necessary for Wilt to tell the woman to get on there knees.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Anyone notice that Monty was sneaky?
Said he had spoken with all the Ryder Cup captains he had served under – meant he didn’t have to tallk to Faldo (who didn’t select him). Any kudos for Corey – pretty good at Carnoustie – no?
Don’t mess with the bulldog ! Pavin’s tougher than he gets credit for – but Langer was just steady enough.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
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