Tiger’s ‘SHOCKING’ text to Ryder Cup stars revealed
By Alex Perry
Tiger Woods fired up the US team with some inspiring words – and Alex Perry can’t quite believe what he’s reading. It’s time for The Slam
Hello. Welcome to this week’s edition of The Slam. Excuse my tabloid-inspired headline. I’m feeling quite sassy tonight and apparently that’s the way we get your attention now. So, Tiger Woods and the Ryder Cup, let’s go…
Woods wasn’t present at Whistling Straits – you already knew that – because he didn’t want to take the limelight away from those actually playing. Captain Steve Stricker said he was still a huge part of the team though, and the old friends were in touch daily.
So when it emerged that Woods had sent the American players an inspiring text to fire them up, it piqued everyone’s interest. Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay even said it was something they “referred to a few times” during their 5&3 demolition of Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter on the opening day.
But while the players talked of Tiger and his text frequently throughout the week, no one would reveal what it said, though.
And then it was leaked to the press.
Are you sitting comfortably?
The text – and, please, if you’re easily offended, skip past this – read: “Step on their necks!”
Can you believe he actually said tha… Wait. What? That’s it? “Step on their necks”? I’ve heard worse things from parents at my eight-year-old niece’s ballet recital.
Honestly. Have they seen the stuff the European team have done to inspire their players?
In 2012 our boys had Seve Ballesteros talking to them from beyond the grave, for crying out loud!
“Step on their necks”? Honestly. I’d be embarrassed for him if the US team hadn’t spanked our boys all over Wisconsin.
Still, not the worst text I’ve seen that was sent from Tiger Woods’ phone…
While we’re here…
I know this gets bandied about a bit but the relevant authorities need to get this combined Ryder-Solheim Cup idea off the ground.
The players want it. The fans want it. Make it happen.
Another top 10 for Bryson
Bryson DeChambeau was on the end of a LOT of criticism ahead of the Ryder Cup. Mainly when he revealed that he would fly straight from Whistling Straits to Las Vegas to compete in the World Long Drive Championship, practice for which had left his hands “wrecked”.
But having notched two and a half points from three before hugging it out with Brooks Koepka, DeChambeau ended his week in Wisconsin an American hero before heading south west for a very different type of challenge.
DeChambeau, if this clip is anything to go by, had an absolute blast on his way to finishing seventh after his 391-yard effort in the quarter-finals was not enough to progress.
Bryson is feeling it. ? pic.twitter.com/RPyysyjipC
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 1, 2021
But don’t think this is a one-off. DeChambeau thinks he can get “bigger, better, and badder” ahead of next year’s event.
He added: “I really believe this is something that the world needs to see every single year because it’s pushing the game of golf in a really positive, fun, enjoyable way that nobody’s seen before to this level.
“Hopefully we can get pyrotechnics and fireworks blowing up everywhere after whoever wins. I’m very excited to see what the future holds. I am not sure what it’s going to be like, but we’re going to do our best to pump it up.”
This is Bryson’s world and we’re just living in it, baby.
So who’s in the winners’ circle this week?
Danny Willett doesn’t win just any old events.
Since slipping into the Green Jacket in 2016, the Yorkshireman has won the European Tour season-ending DP World Tour Championship, the BMW PGA Championship, and now the Dunhill Links at the Home of Golf.
And on his 34th birthday, too…
According to the European Tour, Willett is the first player to win one of their events on his birthday since Ernie Els lifted the 2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship on the day he turned 35. Whoever was tasked with trawling for that stat needs a raise.
There was a slice of Dunhill Links history, too…
Excellent from Burns
Sam Burns is a bit good, isn’t he? He picked up his second PGA Tour win in just his 87th start at the Sanderson Farms Championship, and got this rather lovely trophy as reward.
These are the types of players not making it onto the Ryder Cup team…
Boutier’s hat-trick
A month ago Celine Boutier was celebrating winning the Solheim Cup for a second time in a row. Two weeks ago she lifted her third LET title in her homeland at the Open de France. Now she’s won her second LPGA trophy, carding a final-round 63 to hold off the likes of Brooke Henderson, Jin Young Ko and Inbee Park at the ShopRite Classic.
Meanwhile on the LET, Maya Stark triumphed at the Estrella Damm Ladies Open – her second win in her last three starts.
Right, that’s enough from me for another week. If you missed the story about the incredible 58 on the Challenge Tour, you can read about that right here.
And remember, you can follow me on Twitter if that’s your thing.
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Alex Perry
Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.
