Harrington’s Ryder Cup secret is out
Who will be Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain? Well, it’s widely believed that Padraig Harrington will get the nod for several reasons, including the fact he is generally considered the right personality to lead our boys out in an away fixture and, of course, the fact he actually wants to do it.
A future Ryder Cup captain for sure, but now it’s clear why he’s keen to get it in two years’ time.
Speaking ahead of this week’s Turkish Airlines Open, Harrington told reporters that host venue Whistling Straits will be hugely advantageous for the team in yellow and blue – even going as far as describing it as “a European style golf course”.
He said that home advantage at Le Golf National played a huge part in Europe’s landslide win, adding: “We knew going into France, make par be very precious, and Europe will have an advantage, and it proved that way.”
Harrington pointed out that the Americans’ triumph in 2016 had everything to do with the venue, Hazeltine. He said: “They just knew. A stats guy came in and said, look, we make more birdies than the Europeans. We make this into a birdie fest, we should win.”
In what is a thinly-veiled dig at the powers that be for choosing Whistling Straits, Harrington added: “There are so many golf courses that they could go to in the States. They should just turn up in Hazeltine every year – it’s their cup of tea and gives such an advantage.”
“Let’s face it, if we were going to Riviera, that would be so hard for the Europeans to win on that style of golf course. It’s just US to the bone there.
It’s probably worth noting at this point that three PGA Championships have been played at Whistling Straits and not one has been one by an American. Having said that, only one of those three winners was European – Martin Kaymer. Remember him? German chap. Always… shiny.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that if Harrington doesn’t get the job in 2020, he probably doesn’t get it at all.
Bryson being Bryson
When the new Rules of Golf are introduced on January 1, players will be able to leave the flagstick in the hole when putting.
The idea, of course, is to speed up play. But BDC has other plans.
In a recent interview with Golf.com, he said: “It depends on the COR, the coefficient of restitution of the flagstick.”
Confused? Of course you are!
He added that in US Opens he’ll take it out, but every other tour event, where the flagsticks are made of fibreglass, he will “leave it in and bounce against the flagstick if needed”.
He also believes the USGA will backtrack on this rule when it comes to tour events – “They’ll be like, ‘Oh no, we made the hole bigger!'” – but who knew that US Open pins are thicker than normal pins?
No one on the planet thinks like this man. And we can learn so much from him. He’s basically golf’s Jesus Christ.
Halloween
As a scientist, DeChambeau is nothing short of genius. As a practical joker, there is work to be done. Check out this effort on fellow Cobra Puma Golf staffer Rickie Fowler at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open earlier this week…
? @B_DeChambeau dressed up as @RickieFowler.
What a treat. ?#HappyHalloween pic.twitter.com/TE4Ff90c99
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 31, 2018
DeChambeau will surely accept that his effort vs. pay-off ratio is way off here. Even Fowler seems embarrassed for him.
As for some of the better efforts from the golf world, we had Justin Thomas riding a dinosaur…
Michelle Wie joining The Addams Family…
Luke Donald’s family joining the LOL Dolls – whatever the hell they are…
This incredible effort from the Snedekers…
Happy Halloween from the Snedekers.. I mean Incredibles!! And yes, I’ve been working out.. pic.twitter.com/bcxRnwewQh
— Brandt Snedeker (@BrandtSnedeker) October 31, 2018
Paige Spiranac replicating that Farrah Fawcett poster, obviously…
She’s all about her golf, remember.
And, although not strictly a golfer, Paulina Gretzky simultaneously dressing as the world’s hottest and coldest eskimo…
The hottest because she’s an attractive person and coldest because she’s not wearing much and as an eskimo that’s counterproductive. I’m just saying the joke works.
Oh forget it.
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About the Slam
Founded in 2017 in a tiny green room in Leeds, The Slam, presented by Alex Perry, is National Club Golfer’s irreverent look back on the biggest news of the week from the golfing world.
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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.
